Start with a calm decision
When the air conditioning fails on the hottest week of the year, the quickest fix is tempting. Sometimes it is exactly the right call. But patching an old, inefficient system can simply delay the inevitable, and you keep paying higher energy bills in the meantime. Here is how to weigh it.
1. How old is the system?
With good care, air conditioners and heat pumps typically last around 12 to 15 years, sometimes less near the coast where salt air is hard on metal. Gas furnaces often last 15 to 20 years or more.
A system near the end of that range that breaks down once is likely to break down again. A young system with a single failed part is usually worth repairing.
2. What does it cost to run?
A repair brings a system back to how it was, not to how efficient a new one would be. Air conditioners from fifteen years ago are far less efficient than today's minimum standards, so an older system costs you more every month it runs.
Weigh the repair against what you would save each year with a new, efficient system, not just against the price of replacement.
3. What refrigerant does it use?
R-22. Systems installed before about 2010 often use R-22, which has not been produced in or imported into the US since 2020. Any repair that needs refrigerant is costly, and replacement is usually the better investment.
R-410A. Most systems from roughly 2010 to 2024 use R-410A. It can still be serviced, but supply is being stepped down under federal rules, and an R-410A system cannot be converted to the newer refrigerants. Expect refrigerant repairs to become gradually more expensive.
Read: Refrigerant changes explained
4. Is there a safety issue?
Some problems should never be patched. A cracked heat exchanger in a gas furnace can allow combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, into your home's air. If we find one, we will tell you plainly and recommend replacement.
5. Look at the whole system
Each part of your system depends on the others. A new outdoor unit paired with an old indoor coil will not reach its rated efficiency. A new furnace controlled by an old thermostat cannot use its comfort features. Replacing the furnace and air conditioner together usually costs less in labor than replacing them a few years apart.
It is also the right moment to look at the ducts, which may be the real cause of uneven or dusty rooms.
A simple way to think about it
Usually repair
- System under about 8 years old
- A single, inexpensive part has failed
- Comfort and bills have been fine
- No safety concerns
Worth weighing
- System in the middle of its life with a costly repair
- Bills rising, comfort slipping
- Uses R-410A and needs refrigerant work
- You plan to stay in the home for many years
Usually replace
- System near or past the end of its typical life
- Repairs needed every year
- Uses R-22 and needs refrigerant
- Cracked heat exchanger or other safety fault
Permits and testing
In California, replacing heating or cooling equipment requires a permit, and in most cases the ducts must be tested for leakage and the installation verified by an independent rater under the state's energy code. It adds a step, but it protects you: it confirms the system was installed to deliver the efficiency you paid for.
How we advise
We will tell you what we find, what each option costs, and what we would do in your position. If a repair is the sensible choice, we will say so. When it is time to replace, we will help you plan rather than rush.
Lifespans are typical industry ranges, not guarantees.