Same-day AC repair
By Arman Hakobyan, lead technician2 min read
Multiply the system's age by the repair cost. If the result is more than about $5,000, replacement usually makes more financial sense; under that, repair. Also replace when an older system uses R-22 refrigerant and needs a recharge, when a compressor or coil fails on a system past 12 to 15 years, or when a utility rebate makes a heat pump cost about the same as a new AC.
The age times cost rule
A 14-year-old system with a $450 repair gives 14 × 450 = $6,300, so replacement is worth pricing. An 8-year-old system with the same repair gives $3,600: repair it. The rule is a starting point; we show both prices side by side.
| System age | Repair quote | Age × cost | Usually |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 years | $450 | $3,600 | Repair |
| 14 years | $450 | $6,300 | Price a replacement |
When replacement wins
- The system uses R-22. Production ended in 2020, so recharges are expensive and supplies shrink.
- A compressor or evaporator coil fails on a system older than about 12 years.
- Repairs keep coming every season.
- Rooms are uneven and bills are high, often a sign the system was oversized or the ducts leak.
- Your utility pays a heat pump rebate that makes a heat pump cost about the same as a new AC and furnace.
When repair wins
- The system is under about 10 years old.
- The part is a capacitor, contactor, fan motor or drain issue.
- It cooled well until this failure and bills are normal.
What a replacement costs here
Central AC replacements start at $7,900 installed with Airwork, including the permit and HERS testing. A heat pump replacing both the AC and the furnace starts at $9,400 before rebates.
Questions
How long do ACs last in Los Angeles?
Typically 12 to 15 years, less in the hottest parts of the Valley where systems run long hours, and more with yearly maintenance.
Should I replace the furnace at the same time?
If the furnace is also old, replacing both with a heat pump is often cheaper than separate replacements, especially with an LADWP, BWP or GWP rebate.
Need it fixed today?
Open Mon-Sun 7 AM-9 PM. 24/7 emergency line.
Arman leads diagnostics at Airwork. He has spent nine years on residential systems across the San Fernando Valley and the foothills, from 1950s ranch houses with attic ducts to new heat pump installs, and writes our guides from what he sees on calls.
Airwork Heating & Cooling, Burbank, CA (CSLB #1148919). Published .More guides
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