Guide
Repair or replace: how to decide
There is no single age when an air conditioner has to go. There are a handful of questions that make the answer clearer.
(727) 292-1764Start with the part that failed
Small electrical parts, such as capacitors, contactors and relays, are routine repairs on any age of system. Fan motors sit in the middle. Compressors and coils are the expensive end, and on an older system those are the repairs that most often lead people to ask about replacement.
Questions that push toward replacing
- Has the same system needed repeat repairs in one season?
- Is the outdoor cabinet or coil corroded through from salt air?
- Has the equipment been in flood water?
- Does it use an older refrigerant that your contractor says is getting harder to source?
- Has the house changed enough that the old size no longer fits?
What drives the cost either way
For a repair: the part, the labor and access, and whether a leak has to be found first. For a replacement: the size and efficiency of the new equipment, whether the indoor side is replaced too, duct work, electrical upgrades, a new stand or pad, the permit, and any flood-zone requirements. This site lists no prices, and quotes vary between companies, so compare written scopes item by item.
Talk it through with an independent contractor
Ring from St. Petersburg, Florida or a neighboring town and mention which rooms stay warm, what the thermostat reads and roughly how old the equipment is. Scope and price stay between you and that independent company.