Air Conditioner Repair Cost vs. System Replacement: Which Choice Is Best?

It is a common fact with all air conditioner units, as with just about any piece of equipment or machinery, that performance will eventually begin to fade over the years. Wear and tear from regular usage will have an impact on the ability of a unit to cool your home as efficiently as before. Eventually this can even lead to breakdowns and the need for repair. When this happens, you will be faced with a choice. Is the air conditioner repair cost worth it? Or is it time to replace the unit with a new air conditioner?

Sometimes, the choice is a fairly straightforward one. Other times, the surrounding factors are more complex, and it is hard to tell whether repair or replacement is the better alternative. Even after comparing the air conditioner repair cost with the replacement cost, there still might not be a clear favorite. The heating and cooling experts at Galmiche & Sons Heating and Cooling in St. Louis can offer tips to help you make the best decision. For personal information and a consultation to help you determine what choice is most cost effective for you, contact our heating & air conditioning company today us via our contact page.

Comparing Replacement & Air Conditioner Repair Costs

The following are some key factors that need to be weighed when considering air conditioner repair cost vs. replacement:

1. Is Your Air Conditioner Repair Cost Covered by a Warranty?

One of the first things that you should do is check if the air conditioner servicing warranty is still in place and what is covered. If there is a warranty or service contract, which allows you to have repair service, without having to pay for labor and/or parts, then this makes the decision less complex. In most cases, if the air conditioner repair cost is nothing or very low due to service contract or warranty coverage, then fixing the unit becomes the obvious choice.

2. Consider the 50% Rule for Air Conditioner Repair Cost and Replacement

Another common way for determining whether to choose AC replacement or repair is commonly known as the fifty percent rule. This rule says that you should compare the air conditioner repair cost with the cost of getting a new unit. Is the air conditioner repair cost less than fifty percent of the price of a new unit? If it is, then it makes more sense to repair the existing air conditioner.

However, you will also need to take into account the performance and reliability of your existing machine. Are you having to call in professionals on a regular basis, just to keep the air conditioner up and running? Is your air conditioner no longer reliable or able to function on a consistent basis? If the reliability of your machine has taken a turn for the worse, then notwithstanding the fifty percent rule, it may still be better to replace it with something that is more reliable.

3. Are There Simple Maintenance Steps that Can Be Done?

Even after comparing the air conditioner repair cost with the cost of replacement, it may still be difficult to make a choice. If you are on the fence about air conditioner repair or replacement, you can look into simple maintenance options to help keep air conditioner repair cost low. In a case like this, you can get in touch with a trusted HVAC contractor to find out if there are simple, straightforward and inexpensive maintenance steps that can be taken to improve the life and performance of your air conditioning units.

Learn More About Air Conditioner Repair Cost vs. Replacement

If you would like more about comparing air conditioner repair costs and replacement, the experts at Galmiche & Sons can help. As expert heating & air conditioning service providers serving the St. Louis areas, we can help you determine the most cost effective solution. Contact us online or by phone at 314-993-1110.