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Key takeaways
If your air conditioner is 15 years or older, runs on R-22 refrigerant, or needs a repair that fails the $5,000 rule, replacing it is usually the smarter move. If it's under 10 years old and one part failed, repair it and enjoy a few more summers.
Here's how to make the call for a Coachella Valley home, where an AC works harder than almost anywhere in the country, and why the cooler months are the best time to decide.
Start with the age of your system, then look at the repair price and the refrigerant. Those three things settle most decisions in a few minutes.
Comfort counts too. If some rooms never cool down or the system runs all afternoon without reaching the thermostat setting, an older AC may simply be too worn or too small for your home.
Most central air conditioners and heat pumps last about 10 to 15 years, and valley systems tend to land at the shorter end. Our guide to what HVAC is and how it works explains why desert systems work so hard. Long cooling seasons, afternoons well above 100°F and blowing dust all add wear to the compressor, fans and coils.
ENERGY STAR recommends having a professional evaluate your system if your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old or isn't keeping your home comfortable. That doesn't mean a 10-year-old AC has to go. It means it's time to start planning, so a breakdown doesn't make the decision for you in July.
Older systems also cost more to run. A local report on aging units found that systems 15 to 20 years old may work much harder than newer ones to hold the same indoor temperature, which can show up on your summer electric bill.
Multiply your system's age by the repair cost. If the result is more than $5,000, replacement is usually the better value. If it's less, the repair usually makes sense.
The rule is a starting point, not a verdict. A well-maintained 12-year-old system with one failed part can still be worth fixing. Your technician should give you both prices so you can compare them side by side.
No, you can keep running an R-22 system as long as it works. But it changes the math the moment it needs refrigerant.
New R-22 hasn't been produced or imported in the U.S. since January 1, 2020, under the EPA's HCFC phaseout. Any recharge has to come from recycled or stockpiled supply, which makes a refrigerant leak on an R-22 system one of the most expensive repairs you can buy. If your system was installed before about 2010, check the label on the outdoor unit. If it says R-22 and it's leaking, replacement is almost always the better choice.
Here's how the most common deciding factors compare.
If most of your answers land in the right-hand column, it's time to plan for a new system. If they land on the left, a repair is a reasonable bet.
Fall and winter. Replacing your AC between October and March means you choose the system and the schedule, instead of taking whatever is available during a 115°F heat wave.
A new system should be sized to your home, meet today's efficiency rules for the desert, and fit your budget
Call a licensed HVAC technician as soon as your AC blows warm air, trips the breaker, freezes up, leaks water or refrigerant, or makes grinding or squealing noises. Running a struggling system in desert heat can turn a small repair into a failed compressor.
A diagnostic visit is the fastest way to make the repair-or-replace decision with real numbers. Proformance's diagnostic is $99 and credited toward the repair, and first-time customers can save 20% on the diagnostic. Our NATE-certified technicians will tell you what failed, what the repair costs, and what a replacement would cost, in writing, so you can choose. See AC repair or AC installation for what each visit includes.
Look for the data plate on the outdoor unit. The manufacture date is often listed directly, or it's built into the serial number. Many brands use the first few digits of the serial number for the year and week. If you can't decode it, a technician can tell you during a visit.
Sometimes, but it's rarely the best choice. The indoor and outdoor units are designed to work as a matched pair, and a mismatched system can lose efficiency and comfort. On an R-22 system, the indoor coil usually has to be replaced too.
Only for a small, inexpensive repair that buys you time to plan a replacement. At 15 years in the desert, most systems are near the end of their life, and a major repair like a compressor or coil is rarely worth it.
Most straightforward replacements take a day. Jobs that include ductwork changes, a new air handler or electrical upgrades can take longer. Your installer should give you a timeline before work starts.
Repair a younger AC with one failed part. Replace a system that's 15 or older, runs on R-22, or fails the $5,000 rule, and do it in the cooler months so you're not shopping in a heat wave. Plan it now, and you stay cool all summer with no July breakdowns. Schedule a visit or call (760) 812-0872, and a Proformance technician will give you both options in writing.