The short answer
Multiply the repair price by the age of the AC.
Under 5,000, fix it. Over 5,000, replace it. Two things override the sum: the big motor inside the outdoor unit failing on an older AC, and a leak in a system that runs the old refrigerant that is no longer made.
Side by side
Both sides, including the parts nobody likes to mention.
Fix it
Replace the one part that failed and carry on.
- Usually hundreds, not thousands
- Most AC repairs are one visit
- Our AC only runs a few weeks a year, so units here last well
- A 14-year-old AC in good shape can still be worth fixing
- An old unit may find something else to fail next summer
- It will not cool the house any better than it did when new
Replace it
New outdoor unit, new indoor coil, fresh start.
- Quieter, cheaper to run, and it keeps up in a heat wave
- Comes with a fresh warranty
- A good moment to add heating from the same box, if you want it
- Thousands, not hundreds
- A full day of work
- Not worth it if the AC is young and the repair is small
Which one is you?
Fix it if…
The AC is under about 10 years old, or the repair is a small one. Small is the common case — the part that gives the motor its kick to start, the switch that turns the unit on, a proper clean of the outdoor coil.
Replace it if…
The big motor inside the outdoor unit has failed and the AC is past 10 years, or it is leaking and runs on R-22, the refrigerant that stopped being made in 2020. R-22 still exists but it is expensive now, so a leak changes the sum completely.
Been told you need a whole new AC?
Get a second set of numbers. We price the repair and the replacement together, and tell you which one we would choose.
Get My Upfront Quote60 seconds online · or call (206) 486-6373
What each one costs
Typical industry ranges for Western Washington — not a quote. Your exact price comes upfront, before any work starts, and you approve it first.
Why homeowners hand it to us
- You approve the price first. Upfront quote before a single screw turns.
- Same-day service. Book in a minute, hear from a tech within 1 business hour.
- 500+ jobs done by 4.9★ rated, professional technicians.
- Fixed right, guaranteed. If it’s not right, we make it right.
Quick answers
What is the 5,000 rule?
Repair price multiplied by the age of the AC in years. Under 5,000 and fixing it usually wins. Over 5,000, the money is better spent on a new one.
My AC uses the old refrigerant. Do I have to replace it?
No. If it is not leaking, keep using it. What changed in 2020 is that R-22 stopped being made in the US, so a top-up costs a lot more than it used to. The moment it develops a real leak is when replacing usually starts to make more sense.
Should I replace the furnace at the same time?
Often yes. They share the indoor cabinet and the same install work, so doing both at once avoids paying twice for the same labour. We price it both ways so you can see the difference for yourself.
How long does an AC last in Western Washington?
Twelve to seventeen years is normal, and often longer here. Our cooling season is short, so the unit racks up far fewer running hours than the same model in Phoenix.
Get both prices before you decide.
Book the visit. Repair price and replacement price, upfront, and you choose.
Get My Upfront Quote60 seconds online · or call (206) 486-6373
More comparisons: Heat pump vs AC · Replace both together? · Is my quote fair? · all comparisons