Repair or Replace the AC? How Las Vegas Technicians Decide
On a unit under ten years old, repair almost always wins. Over fifteen, replacement almost always wins. The hard decisions are the years in between, and Las Vegas summers tilt them toward replacement sooner than in milder cities.
The rules of thumb
- The 5,000 rule. Age of the unit times the repair cost. Over 5,000, replace. A 12-year-old unit needing a $600 repair scores 7,200.
- Half the cost. If the repair is more than half of a new system, replace.
- Three strikes. Three repairs in two summers means the fourth is coming.
- R-22. Any major refrigerant repair on an R-22 system is a replacement conversation.
What replacement costs here
A standard 3 to 5 ton split system installed with permit runs about $5,000 to $14,000 in Las Vegas, more for high-efficiency or two-stage equipment and for rooftop package units that need a crane. A new system typically cuts summer cooling costs noticeably against a 15-year-old unit and comes with a 10-year parts warranty if registered.
Questions that settle it
- What is the repair price, and what is the replacement price, today, in writing?
- What is the unit's age and refrigerant type?
- Does the replacement quote include the permit, disposal, and warranty registration?
- Are there NV Energy rebates on the equipment you are quoting?
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