AC Replacement

AC Repair or Replacement – Which Do I Need?

When determining if your air conditioning [AC] can be repaired or needs to be replaced, there are many factors to consider before you jump to replacing the entire HVAC system or opting to settle with a repair.

Consider: Is the unit leaking freon?

The refrigerant or freon system in a AC unit is held in the copper lineset from your condenser to your blower section. Package units have an internally held freon system. However, split systems have a copper lineset from the condenser outside of the house, to the blower section inside of the house. Either indoor or outdoor coils could be leaking – the evaporator coil or the condensing coil. Even the refrigerant lineset itself connecting the coils can leak. Leak stop is a great way to seal small or micro leaks in the coils or copper. A leak stop injection is generally around $150 and up, depending on the tonnage of the unit. However, there’s a point when the leak is too large and the sealant won’t work. If you’ve tried leak stop before, chances are leak stop will not work for your leak – or the last injection of leak stop would have already fixed it. This means its time to invest in a new working system.

Consider: How much will the freon cost per pound [LB], and how many pounds are needed to complete the repair?

New condensers are still coming pre-charged with Puron R410A even though the EPA has already begun phasing-out R410A. To determine if a R22 or R410A freon repair is worth it, you will need to know how many pounds and how much per LB it is to fix the existing system. Comparing the cost of recharging an existing freon system to the savings of a new HVAC unit that comes pre-charged is vital to know if repair is worth it. If you are paying more than a couple hundred dollars for freon, you might want to invest that money in a new unit that comes with a freon charge built into the price.

Consider: Has a major component like the compressor, coils, or ECM motor gone out?

High cost repair might mean its time to invest in new equipment. If your air conditioning unit is more than 10-15 years old, you will want to look into purchasing a new system, as that is more than the average lifespan of most air conditioning units, and repair will probably not be worth it. Older units are more likely to use the R-22 refrigerant, which causes environmental damage, and is a more expensive freon to buy. If your unit is using R-22, you will definitely want to get rid of your old system and consider purchasing a new AC system to get the Inflation Reduction Act tax credits while they are still going on! If your HVAC unit is no longer under warranty and the whole system is more than eight to 10 years old, it might be worth it to replace the whole system.

Consider: Is your unit less than ten years old?

You might have a manufacturer’s warranty still active if the unit is less than 10 years old. The current industry trend among manufacturers is to provide longer parts warranty coverage. The warranty period has grown significantly over the last decade from 3-5 years in the 90’s and 2000’s to the 10+ year warranties generally provided today. The equipment isn’t significantly more reliable now – if anything, HVAC equipment is often made more cheaply now, so the likelihood that you may need to rely on your warranty has increased over time.

Most new air conditioners come with limited warranties that cover parts such as compressors. These warranties usually don’t cover labor, and they may only apply if there’s a manufacturing defect in the part that fails. After coverage lapses, you’ll need to pay the full cost of replacement if your AC compressor wears out. Unless you have a home warranty that could cover it.

To know if you still have an active manufacturer’s warranty, you will need to know the manufacture of the unit. Find and take a clear picture of the model number and serial number of the unit. Then, go on the manufacture’s website to lookup your warranty there using the model and serial numbers. If you cannot find the nomenclature or the registration on the website, try to give the manufacturer of the HVAC unit a call. Go to our Installations Page for the links to many common HVAC/R manufactures. Or, having trouble? Book an Appointment for us to come out and find this info for you.

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Consider: Do I have a home warranty?

A home warranty, on the other hand, typically applies to multiple home systems and appliances and covers all wear-and-tear damage, no matter how old your air conditioner is. You’ll pay a monthly premium and a service fee for a contractor to diagnose and replace the part, and the home warranty company will cover the rest of the cost, and even replace the unit if the unit cannot be repaired. These warranties do have limits—for air conditioners, you’ll often need to show that you performed proper maintenance in order for repairs or replacements to be covered. However, for older but still functional AC units, this is your best bet for warranty coverage.

We recommend First American Home Warranty because we find that they are the most honest and trustworthy home warranty company today. From our experience, they offer the best service, they are the easiest to deal with, and they cover the most. We find they honor their word instead of trying to back out of responsibility like most other home warranties. View Consumer Advocate Reviews. View Trustpilot Reviews. View Consumer Affairs Reviews.