Your air conditioner technician comes in, inspects your AC, and hands you the bill. It’s not your first rodeo with this old machine, but the price baffles you–how can it be that high? What gives?
It’s like getting a signal fire from your air conditioner that it’s in distress. It means air conditioning repair in Long Beach just might not be enough this time, and you may be looking at the need for a full replacement.
But before we jump to that, let’s walk you through the 50% rule for replacing that AC. It turns out you might just have a little more life left in it and repairs will do for now. Let’s talk about that.
What’s the 50% Rule for Replacement?
It states that your air conditioner repair bill’s price determines whether or not you need a replacement. If it’s 50% or more than the cost of a brand-new air conditioner, then it’s time to replace it. If it falls under that, you should be okay with repairs.
So what’s the reason behind replacing it at that point? Because your AC isn’t going to magically stop having repair problems, and the cost isn’t exactly going to go back to what it used to be for simple repairs.
With all that wear and tear, the next replacement could be approaching faster than you think. As a matter of fact, let’s break into the talk about wear and tear real quick.
Time Marches On, Your AC Does Not
Your air conditioner incurs wear and tear, just like your car, furnace, dishwasher, and everything else you own. If your shirt gets a hole in it, you can stitch it up. Sure, it still works as a shirt, but it’s not the same, is it? That patch is now a weak point.
Take that same mentality to your air conditioner. Repairs are like patches, and while they help for a long time, other parts of your unit are going to wear down. Eventually, you’ll have a lot of patches.
Wear and tear is slow degradation over time that can’t be 100% fixed or undone. It happens to your AC, but that level of degradation also depends on how well you maintained it or not. Don’t forget that.
After 10 Years, It’s Time to Plan for a Replacement
Your air conditioner has a life expectancy of about 10-15 years. That’s a wide range, but it’s because those first ten years are hard to account for.
Make sure you have good maintenance hygiene, call for timely repairs, and you’ll have a higher likelihood of seeing your AC last towards the more favorable end of that scale. Start saving money for a replacement now or around the ten-year mark so you aren’t blindsided by replacement costs.
Repairs vs. Replacement Are Tricky
You want to pay the repair bill because it’s easier in the short term, but if you have to replace that unit in 1-2 years, that could be a 50% down payment on that new unit and limit your financing requirements. It’s a hard choice, but it also depends on exactly what happens during your AC inspection.
Contact Southwest HVAC today to schedule your air conditioner repair or replacement today.