Do I really need to replace my entire AC system or can it be repaired?

Frank Landwehr
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Find out what you need to know about replacing your air conditioner

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Ultimately this question is best answered by a qualified contractor, but there are some general rules that can help guide your conversation.  Depending on the age, how often your system runs and where you live you could be better off replacing rather than repairing it.  If the problem is something simple and inexpensive like a failed part you are much better off repairing it.  However, if a contractor tells you there is a refrigerant leak or the compressor needs to be replaced you should weigh the cost-benefit options of replacing the whole system versus paying for costly repairs.  You will also need to consider what type of refrigerant your old system has (likely R-22) since it is being phased out in favor of a more efficient and environmentally friendly refrigerant, R410A.  It could be more costly in the long term to continue servicing a system with out-of-date refrigerant.

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45 thoughts on “Do I really need to replace my entire AC system or can it be repaired?”

  1. Hi Tiffany – I am sorry it took me a while to respond to this but our research shows that on average, HVAC units are about 16 years old when they are replaced. The age can be more or less depending on geography and run time – shorter in the south where the cooling season is longer and also shorter for heat pumps that run all year round. I hope it worked out for you. Thanks for visiting our site.

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  2. Hi! I just had a repairman tell me that I will likely need a new ac and furnace. The ac stopped blowing air through the vents and when he checked the ac it was iced over as a solid block. He said he can’t run diagnostics until the ice has defrosted which will take a couple of days. While defrosting the ice is going to run down into the furnace most likely ruining it. The furnace and ac is 17 years old. Should I replace both or have them come run diagnostics in 2 days and see if it is repairable??

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  3. hi, my contractor told me that i may need a new system because my Ac is frosting up the copper line at the unit and at the furnace. He said this could leak condensation into my new furnace and cause problems so we should just replace rather than repair. My unit is almost 9 yrs old.

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    • Hi Ron,

      It is difficult to comment on the assessment without even knowing the specifics of your problem.

      As our standard practice here at the site, we would suggest that you get at least 3 different contractors to inspect and quote before deciding what to do on your system. Some contractors also have fairly innovative methods which allows them to keep your cost low during repair or if replacement is really needed.

      Here is the link to a contractor locator tool of ACCA – which is a national contractor organization. http://www.acca.org/locator#sthash.8lqQQsRu.dpuf

      Hope this could help.

      Thanks.
      Scott

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  4. Hi Benjamin – It sounds like you might have a refrigerant leak or some other problem. You should probably call around to get 2-3 estimates from various HVAC contractors about your options. Repairing or replacing the leaking coil might be a good solution but it is difficult to know this without a full, on-site inspection by a qualified HVAC contractor.

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  5. Hi! I have been told that my evaporator coil is getting to cold from both air flow and refrigerant flow and needs to be replaced. Because there is a pipe outside that keep getting ice on it and a c stop working. Help please.

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  6. Hi, i have been told my pipework has been split on the air con in a different spot this time.

    Roughly how much would a new pipe cost, the unit is approx 10 years old. It was leaking and had to be regassed i have already paid $500.

    It is blowing hot air but not cold air.

    I guess what i am asking is this unit salvagable?

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    • My service man has told I have the old R-22 and the pressure coil has a leak and that it would be more cost efficient to replace than to try to repair. The one I have is 10 yrs old it is a TraneTW-407-3906. I would like your opinion as weather to replace or repair. I live in AZ and use the AC all summer.

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  7. The home I live in currently has AC problems. The home was built with the basement unfinished, but they put in a blower with the capacity for the whole house. However, they only put in ventilation sufficient for the home while the basement was unfinished. This causes the condenser to freeze over and make the AC stop working. Any suggestions for me?

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    • Hi Jonathan – Sometimes improper air flow across the coil could cause it to freeze up but from your comments it sounds like something else might be causing the problem. You should probably have a qualified HVAC technician check your system to make sure you have the proper refrigerant charge and that the indoor coil and metering device are matched properly to your outdoor unit. If it turns out to be an airflow problem, sometimes the blowers can be adjusted by the contractor.

      Hope this helps.

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    • Hi Jackie – Sometimes the outdoor units can be repaired or replaced depending on the nature of the problem and the age of the system. We recommend getting 2-3 quotes or estimates from various, qualified contractors before deciding, but here are few things to consider and discuss with them. I repurposed this from another similar question so some of this might not apply to your particular situation.

      The outdoor units need to use the same refrigerant as the indoor unit. If you have an old R22 system and go to R410A on your new outdoor unit you might be able to replace the expansion device on an old R22 indoor unit so you can use the new R410A refrigerant but only if it was designed for this modification as the pressures are different. Your contractor or the OEM who built your system should be able to help with this.

      However, our research shows that, on average, HVAC systems in the US last about 16 years before they are replaced but the replacement age might vary due to geography (e.g. more run time in the south) and whether it is a heat pump (runs both winter and summer). So, if your system is over 16 years old and/or has had a lot of run time you might want to consider replacing both the indoor and the outdoor units to avoid having to spend more money for future repairs on the old indoor unit. Also, a failure of your old indoor unit might actually end up damaging the new outdoor unit you just replaced.

      Another reason for replacing both is to get the full energy savings from the new outdoor unit – which probably has a higher SEER (Seasonal Energy efficiency Ratio) of 13 or 14 SEER. If your indoor unit is/was a lower efficiency you will probably not realize the rated efficiency of the new outdoor. If you match the efficiency and the refrigerant on the indoor and outdoor units you will get a matched set with the right efficiency and you will probably get a full, new warranty on both if something happens in the future.

      I hope this helps. Good luck with your HVAC project!

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  9. During the recent cold spell my outside unit had ice all around the louvers. Can this be economically fixed and if so How?

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    • Hi Doug,

      Ice being present on the lower outdoor portion of a Heat pump system could be normal.
      Heat pumps have defrost cycles, like a house hold refrigerator. These defrost boards time out a defrost cycle to remove the ice from the outdoor coils. In your case, as long as the unit is proving heat (from the heat pump unit itself (not auxiliary or back-up heat) to your home, it could have been in the process of going into to defrost.

      Hope this helps,
      Scott

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  10. what is the cost difference between R-22 and R410A per #, and what is the repair or recharge tipping point of cost vs Replacement.

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