To Repair or to Replace Your Air Conditioner? That Is the Question.

As the summer winds down, your air conditioner might be showing signs of wear after a long season of use. You may be noticing some ominous sounds, finding that it has trouble coming on, or feeling like your house isn’t as cool as it was in June. It may be that your unit only needs an inspection and a tune-up—or it may be time for a replacement. Replacing your A/C is a large investment, but depending on the age of your unit and the extent of its issues, replacement could prove cheaper in the long run. Here are some factors to consider when deciding which is wiser, repair or replacement.

Age of the unit

A general rule of thumb is that if your A/C is more than eight years old, it’s a better investment to replace it than to repair it. Unless the issue is something simple like debris clogging airflow or a worn fan belt, it’s probably not worth the expense of fixing it only to have a new problem crop up in a matter of months.

System efficiency

Air conditioning technology has come a long way in the last few years. Even if your system isn’t quite eight years old yet, the money you save in energy costs by installing a newer, more efficient unit might be worth the extra cost. Have an expert technician inspect your system. A technician can estimate what your energy savings are likely to be if you upgrade your system so that you can make an informed decision.

Cost of repairs

We recommend weighing the cost of the repair against how much extra life the repair will buy your unit. If the repair is going to cost $900, but it will buy the unit several more years of life, the repair might be worth it. But if it’s going to cost $900 and your A/C is already almost eight years old, your money is probably better spend purchasing a new system. A good rule to follow is the 50% rule. Once the cost of repair starts to approach 50% of the value of the system, it’s time to replace. Ask your technician to estimate the overall value of your system when you’re given the estimated cost of repairs.

If your A/C system is acting up but you’re not sure whether it’s more eligible for repair, replacement, or just an end-of-season tune-up, call Bonfe today to schedule an inspection from one of our licensed technicians.