{"id":1292,"date":"2020-04-13T11:00:17","date_gmt":"2020-04-13T15:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/?p=1292"},"modified":"2025-09-12T13:48:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T17:48:29","slug":"when-hvac-system-repair-too-expensive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/hvac\/when-hvac-system-repair-too-expensive\/","title":{"rendered":"When Is an HVAC System Repair TOO Expensive?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Badges_Elements_Icons_1009934_61187394_600x600-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"blue-question-mark\" class=\"wp-image-1115\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Badges_Elements_Icons_1009934_61187394_600x600-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Badges_Elements_Icons_1009934_61187394_600x600-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Badges_Elements_Icons_1009934_61187394_600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re asking yourself about whether a repair for your faulty HVAC system is too costly, it\u2019s either because a) your heater is starting to fail at the end of the season after a long winter, or b) you\u2019re concerned about your old air conditioning system and if it will manage the coming summer weather. In some cases, it may be time to<a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/heating-service\/should-replace-hvac-system-with-heat-pump\/\"> replace your HVAC system<\/a> with a more efficient heat pump setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In either case, you\u2019re already asking the right question.\nRepairs for an HVAC system early on in its service life are usually worth the\nprice, and many will fall under the warranty. With older systems that are out\nof warranty, price becomes a bigger concern. The cost to fix an older AC,\nfurnace, boiler, or heat pump is often steeper, and you may be on the edge of\npurchasing a new system. Is the cost of a repair worthwhile, or is the repair\ntoo expensive and it\u2019s finally time for a replacement system?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s see if we can offer some guidelines. You\u2019ll still want to consult with a <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"\/service-areas\/milford-de-hvac-refrigeration-services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Milford, DE, HVAC<\/a> professional for an expert opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>When is heating and air conditioning repair too expensive?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>If the system needs more than two repairs in a year<\/li><li>When annual repair costs exceed $500<\/li><li>If the system&#8217;s age multiplied by the repair cost is $5,000 or more<\/li><li>When a single repair costs more than 50 percent of a new unit<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Frequency of Repairs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If this is the second repair you\u2019ve needed to schedule within\nthe last twelve months for the heater or AC, then the cost isn\u2019t too important.\nIt\u2019s <em>frequency<\/em> that matters. An HVAC system shouldn\u2019t need more than two\nrepairs annually just to keep it going. One repair each year is already getting\ntoo close to excessive. A system that needs professional repairs this often is\nprobably wasting energy and is at a high risk of breaking down at the worst\npossible time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Accumulation of Cost<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s another way to look at the frequency of repairs: the\ntotal cost per annum of keeping the HVAC system working. If those extra repairs\nadd up to paying more than $500 annually, that\u2019s paying too much. You\u2019re\nthrowing money away that you could instead put into purchasing a new, reliable,\nand energy-efficient heater or air conditioner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Rule of 5,000<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No, this doesn\u2019t refer to a period in ancient Greek history.\nIt\u2019s a rule of thumb you can use to get a quick idea of how worthwhile an HVAC\nrepair is. Take the cost of the repair the technician quotes and multiply it by\nthe age of the system. If the product is 5,000 or greater, the repair is\nprobably not worth it. For example, your 14-year-old air conditioner needs a $400\nrepair. Multiply the age by the price and you get 5,600 \u2026 looks like its time\nfor a new AC. (Most ACs should be replaced before they reach 15 years anyway.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>The Rule of 50%<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another quick calculation that can help you focus on the best choice. Take the cost of a new system installation\u2014the one you\u2019re most likely to purchase next\u2014and reduce it by 50%. Compare that to the quoted cost of the repair. Is the repair greater? A repair that\u2019s more than 50% of the cost of a new system is too expensive. If you&#8217;re unsure,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/heating-service\/when-to-call-an-hvac-contractor\/\"> call an HVAC contractor<\/a> to help evaluate your options with a professional inspection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A reminder: it\u2019s always best to speak to trained HVAC technicians before making a firm choice. Our experts will help guide you toward the repair or new system that\u2019s ideal for your situation. Even if you\u2019re not replacing your system yet,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/heating-service\/give-your-heating-system-some-love\/\"> giving your heater some care<\/a> can improve performance and extend its life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>At Atlantic Refrigeration &amp; Air Conditioning, Inc. \u201cWe Take Pride in Your Comfort.\u201d <a href=\"\/contact\/service\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Schedule HVAC repairs or replacements with us.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is the cost of a repair worthwhile, or is the repair too expensive and it\u2019s finally time for a replacement system?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[48],"tags":[89,14,109,15,189],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1292"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1292"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2138,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1292\/revisions\/2138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanticrefrigeration.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}