The practical test has three inputs: the age of the system against its expected life, the repair cost against replacement cost, and how long you plan to own the home. If the repair costs more than about a third of replacement on a system past two thirds of its life, replacement usually wins. Below that, repair almost always does.
Work through it in order
Answer these in sequence and the decision usually makes itself.
- How old is it, against 15 to 20 years for a furnace here?
- What does the repair cost as a share of replacement?
- Is this the first repair, or the second or third in two seasons?
- Are bills climbing without a rate or habit change?
- How long do you plan to stay in the house?
When replacement is not a judgement call
A cracked heat exchanger ends the discussion. So does a compressor failure on a system out of warranty and past twelve years, and any repair on obsolete refrigerant where parts are no longer available.
When repair is clearly right
A system under ten years old with one failed component is worth fixing, especially if the part is under warranty. So is a system you are keeping through a sale, where a working unit matters more than an efficient one.
If you are on the fence, ask for the repair quote and the replacement quote at the same visit. We will give you both without pressure, and the numbers usually settle it.
We still service furnaces we installed decades ago, so we have no interest in replacing equipment with life left in it. We will quote both and tell you which we would choose.
Get Both Numbers
Repair quote and replacement quote from the same visit, no pressure either way.