"Should I fix it or replace it?" is the question every AC company hears daily — and the one too many answer based on their commission rather than your wallet. Here's the math we actually use.
Multiply the repair cost by the system's age in years. Under $5,000, repair usually wins. Over it, replacement usually does. A $350 fan motor on an 8-year-old system ($2,800)? Fix it, confidently. A $700 blower motor on a 15-year-old system ($10,500)? That money belongs in a new system.
If your system uses R-22 (pre-2010), any refrigerant-related repair is a bad investment — the refrigerant itself can cost more than the fix is worth. R-410A systems are fine today, though the phase-down is slowly pushing those prices up too.
Augusta's long cooling season means efficiency differences are real money. Going from a 2008-era 10 SEER unit to a 16 SEER2 system can cut cooling costs by a third — often $400–$700 a year on a typical Columbia County home. A new system can partly pay for itself.
Qualifying heat pump replacements earn a 30% federal tax credit up to $2,000 under 25C. That closes much of the price gap between a high-efficiency heat pump and a basic straight-cool swap.
One repair in ten years is normal. Three repairs in two years is a system telling you something. Each new failure gets more likely to cascade.
We'll diagnose the failure, quote the repair flat-rate, and quote a replacement side by side — then let the numbers talk. Call (888) 217-1674 for a straight answer.
Summers on the Savannah River don't wait and neither do we. Call now for 24/7 emergency dispatch anywhere in the CSRA.
