Should you repair your AC or replace it?

First, understand the proposed repair

Ask for a plain-language explanation of the problem and the tests behind it. “Not cooling” describes the symptom; it is not enough detail to compare a repair with a new system. Ask whether the proposed work addresses the cause as well as the failed component.

If the quote includes a compressor, request a breakdown of the part, labor and other required work. If refrigerant work appears, ask which refrigerant the system uses, what work is included and whether further charges are possible. These are questions for the technician, not instructions to service refrigerant equipment yourself.

Record the outdoor and indoor model numbers, service history and warranty details. Check whether coverage applies to parts only or also to labor. An expensive-looking part may have warranty coverage while installation and other charges remain payable.

Compare the whole job

Use the total installed price before rebates and financing. Ask for missing items to be priced explicitly so one quote does not look cheaper just because it leaves work out.

• Repair: diagnosed fault, named parts, labor, refrigerant-related work if needed, tax and warranty.
• Replacement: is the quote for an outdoor unit, an indoor coil, an air handler, or the complete combination?
• Proposed thermostat, line-set, electrical, drain or duct work: identify inclusions and exclusions.
• Model numbers, sizing assessment, permits, old equipment removal, commissioning and installation schedule.

ENERGY STAR lists an air conditioner older than 10 years as one reason to consider a contractor assessment, alongside frequent repairs and comfort problems. It does not say every unit must be replaced at that age. Read the age and condition guidance.

For replacement, ask how the contractor determined the size and assessed the home and ducts. ENERGY STAR recommends a home evaluation and itemized proposals that let you compare efficiency and warranties as well as price. Read the contractor checklist.

A worked comparison

Use the calculator to compare your own written quotes. Its percentage bands are editorial rules of thumb, not a validated engineering standard. Without a replacement quote, it shows an example and asks you to get a real price.

Free to use. Your quote amounts stay in your browser.

Questions to take to your contractor

1. What failed, and what evidence explains the cause?
2. If this is compressor work, what warranty coverage and additional charges apply?
3. Which indoor and outdoor components are included in the replacement?
4. How was the proposed system sized for my home?
5. What testing and documentation will I receive when the job is finished?

If replacement is on the table, ask whether a heat pump is a suitable alternative for your home. The home energy savings calculator can help explore running-cost assumptions; it cannot establish equipment compatibility or replace an installation assessment.

Sources and limits

Official guidance supports the general considerations here. The checklist and worked example are FrugalWatt's editorial aids; the linked organizations have not endorsed them. Source pages were read September 10, 2026 with AI assistance.

• ENERGY STAR: replacement considerations
• ENERGY STAR: hiring an HVAC contractor

This page does not diagnose equipment, certify safety or promise savings. Have urgent faults assessed before using price comparisons. Incentive eligibility and any older financial figures on source pages need a current program check; this guide does not rely on them.

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