Around here, A/C repairs typically run anywhere from about $150 for a simple fix to $1,500 for major components — so the repair-versus-replace question is really about what that money buys you in remaining life.
Two rules cut through it. The 5,000 rule: multiply the unit's age by the repair cost; over 5,000, lean replace. The one-third rule: if the repair costs more than a third of a new system, replacement usually wins. Under both thresholds on a younger unit? Repair it and move on.
The trap to watch is refrigerant. If your A/C uses an older, phased-out refrigerant, every leak repair gets more expensive and less sensible — that's often the moment a mid-life unit becomes a replacement candidate regardless of the rules above.
Whatever you decide, get the replacement quote at the same visit as the repair diagnosis. Comparing real numbers beats comparing fears.
Lean replace when
- The unit is 12–15+ years old
- Age × repair cost exceeds 5,000
- It uses a phased-out refrigerant and leaks
- This is the second major repair in two seasons
Related
Cost figures are typical local ranges for guidance only — your written quote is the number that counts.
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