It\u2019s getting warmer and warmer, and you\u2019re not sure whether your AC system is going to be up to the challenge of another cooling season. You noticed problems the previous season, but you put off repairing them as long as possible. Now, you\u2019ll have to have it fixed soon. But can it be repaired? Or will you need to replace it?<\/p>\n
Of course, repairs are possible in many cases. When your AC fails, you might need to have a technician seal a leak, you might only need a new capacitor, or you could need to replace the compressor (a costly part). You likely won\u2019t know until you call a technician.<\/p>\n
However, oftentimes a repair is not worth what it would cost. You might have a technician tell you that a replacement is your only option (and you\u2019re welcome to request a second opinion). You might have to decide for yourself. Here\u2019s our rule of thumb: If a technician quotes a repair as being half the cost of a brand new system, it\u2019s not worth it!<\/p>\n
Mismatched AC system components don\u2019t operate as smoothly as a unit that has all of its original parts. It\u2019s more likely to fail prematurely and operate less efficiently when the components are not designed to work with one another. Besides, if one part has already deteriorated, the others are likely soon to follow.<\/p>\n
We already discussed above that you should probably replace your AC system when the cost of a repair would be about half what a new system would cost anyway. And, of course, if a technician condemns your system (confirmed, perhaps, by a second opinion), it\u2019s time to move on. We also recommend a replacement if:<\/p>\n