AC Repair vs. Replacement: How to Decide (With Real Numbers)
Every homeowner facing a big HVAC quote asks the same thing: patch it or replace it? Here are the three tests we actually use, plus the numbers behind them.
Test 1 — The $5,000 rule
Multiply the age of the system by the repair cost. If the result exceeds 5,000, lean toward replacement. A 12-year-old unit needing a $500 repair scores 6,000 — replace. A 4-year-old unit needing the same repair scores 2,000 — repair it.
Test 2 — The 30% rule
If the repair costs more than 30 percent of a comparable new system, replacement is usually the better investment — you're pouring money into equipment already past its efficiency prime.
Test 3 — The R-22 test
If your system uses R-22 (often called Freon), replacement almost always wins. R-22 was phased out of production and remaining stock is expensive, so any leak repair becomes disproportionately costly on obsolete equipment.
Typical repair costs
| Repair | Typical installed price |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic / service call | $0 – $99 |
| Run capacitor replacement | $145 – $325 |
| Contactor replacement | $165 – $350 |
| Condenser fan motor | $395 – $750 |
| Blower motor | $450 – $950 |
| Refrigerant leak repair & recharge | $425 – $1,500 |
| Evaporator coil replacement | $950 – $2,400 |
| Compressor replacement | $1,400 – $2,900 |
| Furnace igniter or flame sensor | $165 – $395 |
| Furnace control board | $395 – $850 |
Typical replacement costs
| New system | Installed range |
|---|---|
| Central AC only (14–15 SEER2) | $3,800 – $6,200 |
| Central AC + coil (16–18 SEER2) | $5,400 – $9,500 |
| Gas furnace (80% AFUE) | $3,200 – $5,400 |
| Gas furnace (95%+ AFUE) | $4,600 – $8,200 |
| Complete system changeout | $8,500 – $16,000 |
| Heat pump system | $6,500 – $13,500 |
| Ductless mini-split (single zone) | $3,400 – $6,000 |
Four signs it's time to replace
- Twelve or more years old with a major component failure
- Two or more repair calls in the last two seasons
- Energy bills rising every year with no change in habits
- Rooms that never reach setpoint during peak weather
We give you both numbers — repair and replace — in writing, and we're happy to repair a system when repair is genuinely the smart move. Get a free second opinion: request a quote.
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