Repair or Replace? The Honest Decision Tree

Work through these six questions in order. At the end you'll have a clear answer without any sales calls.

Q1: How old is the system?

• Under 8 years → Almost always repair. Even a $2k repair on a 5-year system is right.
• 8–12 years → Continue to Q2.
• 12+ years → Lean toward replacement. Continue if repair is small.
• 15+ years → Almost always replace, especially with major failures.

Q2: What refrigerant does it use?

• R-22 (pre-2010) → Replace. Recharge cost is prohibitive.
• R-410A (2010–2024) → Continue. Recharge cost is elevated but reasonable.
• R-454B or R-32 (2025+) → System is too new to be at a replace decision.

Q3: What's the failed part?

• Capacitor, contactor, thermostat, drain issue, filter-related → Repair. Under $500. Always.
• Fan motor, blower motor, control board → Continue.
• TXV, evaporator coil, condenser coil, compressor → Lean toward replacement if system 10+ years old.

Q4: Is the repair cost more than 40% of replacement cost?

• No → Repair.
• Yes → Lean toward replacement. Do the multi-year math.

Q5: Have you had multiple failures in the last 2 years?

• No → Continue.
• Yes → Lean toward replacement. Two failures in a year is the system telling you it's done.

Q6: What's your remaining time in the house?

• Under 3 years → Repair unless the failure is safety-related. Buyers rarely credit prior HVAC upgrades at full value.
• 3–7 years → Balanced decision.
• 7+ years → Lean toward replacement. You'll see the operating-cost savings.

Get a free replacement estimate when...

• The first contractor jumped straight to "you need a new system"
• You haven't seen a written diagnosis
• The recommended repair is over $1,500 and you haven't compared to replacement
• Anything feels like pressure sales

We give free estimates on system replacements — no sales pressure, just an honest read of the situation and the numbers.