When your air conditioner stops performing properly or breaks down completely, it can be difficult to decide whether to repair or replace it. The experts at Duncklee Cooling & Heating in Stonington, CT, know it’s tempting to repair it because it’s a smaller expense, but there’s always the possibility of it breaking down again in the near future. Yet, you don’t want to spend the money on a new unit if yours still has a few good years left. 

Stonington's air conditioning experts offer some advice to help you decide how to proceed:

The key factors in deciding whether to repair or replace your air conditioner are the age of the unit and the cost estimate of the repair. Multiply the cost of the repair by the age of the unit in years. If the result is under 5,000, repair the unit. If the result is 5,000 or more, it’s probably time to replace your air conditioner.

Here are a few examples:

• If your system is 10 years old and the cost to repair it is $700, replace it.
• If your system is five years old and the cost to repair it is $1200, replace it.
• If your system is 10 years old, and the cost to repair it is $400, repair it.

Nearly any air conditioner over 15 years old is a candidate for replacement, simply because a new unit is far more energy efficient. The cost of the new unit will be offset by lower energy bills, starting in the very first year. Most units don’t last more than 15 years, so replacing your unit at or around its fifteenth birthday may prevent you from waking up sweating because your air conditioner gave out in the middle of the night.

The air conditioning experts at Duncklee Cooling & Heating provide air conditioning and furnace repair, as well as the installation of heat pumps, air conditioners, furnaces, and more. Call (860) 535-2552, or visit the website for a full list of HVAC services.