A useful rule of thumb: if the system is over 12 to 15 years old and the repair costs more than about a third of a new system, replacing usually costs less over the life of the equipment. Under 10 years old with a straightforward repair, fix it. The awkward middle is where age, repair history, and efficiency all matter.
Most residential systems in this climate run 12 to 18 years. Ours work harder than systems up north because the cooling season here is long. Past about 12 years, every repair is money spent on equipment that is closer to the end than the beginning.
If a repair is running past roughly a third of replacement cost on an older unit, replacing is usually the better financial call. A ,800 compressor on a 14 year old system rarely makes sense. The same repair on a 6 year old system usually does.
Two service calls in a season is a pattern, not bad luck. Components age together, so when one goes, others are often close behind.
Systems built before roughly 2010 typically use R-22 refrigerant, which has been phased out of production. It is still available as reclaimed stock, but the price has climbed steeply. If you have an R-22 system with a leak, the cost of recharging it alone often pushes the decision toward replacement.
Ask which refrigerant your system uses. It is on the data plate of the outdoor unit. If it says R-22, factor that into any repair decision, because the running cost of keeping it charged is only going one direction.
Efficiency has improved substantially. Replacing a fifteen year old system that has lost performance often cuts cooling costs noticeably, which offsets part of the price over time. A new system also comes with a manufacturer warranty, so you are not paying for the next failure.
We give free estimates on replacements, and we work with financing so the decision does not have to come down to what is in the account this month. If a repair is genuinely the better value, we will tell you that. Selling someone a system they did not need is a good way to lose the next twenty years of their business.
Common Questions
Most residential systems here run 12 to 18 years. The cooling season in Southeast Georgia is long, so systems accumulate more running hours per year than in cooler climates, which tends to pull the practical lifespan toward the lower end of that range.
Usually only for small, inexpensive repairs. On a system that age, a major repair such as a compressor or coil often costs a substantial share of a new system, and you are investing in equipment near the end of its service life. We will give you both numbers so you can compare.
R-22 is the refrigerant used in most systems built before around 2010. Production has been phased out, so it is only available as reclaimed stock and the price has risen sharply. If an older R-22 system develops a leak, the recharging cost often makes replacement the better value.
We answer 24/7, weekends and holidays included. diagnostic, waived if you go ahead with the repair.
Where We Work
