Repair or Replace? How to Decide When Your Utah Air Conditioner Breaks Down
Every summer, thousands of Utah homeowners face the same question: put more money into the old air conditioner, or replace it? Here is how we think about it, and it is the same math we use when we give you the numbers.
The 5,000 rule
Multiply the age of the unit by the repair cost. Under 5,000, repair. Over 5,000, replacement is usually the better value. A 6-year-old unit with a $600 repair (3,600) gets repaired. A 16-year-old unit with a $600 repair (9,600) is a candidate for AC replacement.
The R-22 problem
If your system was installed before about 2010 it probably uses R-22 refrigerant, which is no longer produced. A refrigerant leak repair on an R-22 system can cost as much as a good portion of a new unit. That tips the math toward replacement.
Repairs that make sense at any age
- Capacitors and contactors
- Fan motors
- Thermostats
- Drain line cleanouts
- Minor refrigerant leaks on R-410A systems
Repairs that deserve a second look
- Compressor replacement on a unit over 10 years old
- Evaporator coil replacement on an older system
- Any major repair on an R-22 system
Before you accept a quote for compressor replacement, get a second opinion. We test compressors properly and a real share of them are not dead at all.
What a good replacement looks like
A Manual J load calculation, a ductwork evaluation, a properly matched indoor coil, a weighed-in refrigerant charge and airflow set to spec. Anything less and a new system will not live up to its efficiency rating. See what is included in our AC installation service, or consider a heat pump that handles both heating and cooling.