How Much Does a New Air Conditioning Unit Cost
Y’all, the dog days of summer have arrived. It’s hot and muggy and miserable outside, and you’re just counting down the days until fall.
This is the worst possible time for your air conditioning to break down so, naturally, it has. You know this could be expensive, but how expensive depends upon the nature of the breakdown. You need to know, going into your repair appointment, how much is too much to pay for repairs, so you can make the right choice regarding air conditioning replacement or repair.
How Much Is Too Much?
The most important factor in choosing between AC repair and replacement is the age of your AC unit. You can find the manufacture date on the data plate of your AC unit. This database includes instructions to find the manufacture date on every make and model of air conditioner.
If your AC is more than 10 years old, it will likely need to be replaced in the next five years, so the amount you’re willing to spend on repairs should be fairly low. If, on the other hand, your air conditioner was installed in the last few years, even the most expensive repairs will be less expensive than a replacement unit.
The best way to calculate how much is too much to invest in repairs is to follow the 5000 Rule. Take the repair estimate provided by your Doug’s technician and multiply it by the age of your air conditioner. If the total is higher than $5000, it will be more cost-effective to choose replacement.
Example 1
Your AC unit is 7 years old and the estimated repair cost is $350.
350 x 7 = $2450
In this case, it makes more sense to pay for repairs than to pay for a new air conditioning system.
Example 2
Your AC unit is 9 years old and the estimated repair cost is $785.
785 x 9 = $7065
In this case, it makes more sense to replace the air conditioning system than to repair it.
Consider Repair
Many repairs are fairly inexpensive, with an average cost of about $300. If your Doug’s technician diagnoses a problem with any of the following components, repairing the air conditioner is probably the most affordable option.
- Control Circuit Board
- Thermostat
- Fuses, Circuit Breakers & Relays
- Condenser Fan Motor
- Drain Line or Drain Pan
Consider Replacement
Depending on the age and expected remaining service years of your air conditioning unit some major repairs could be too costly to justify. If your AC has the following problems, discuss having Doug’s replace the unit.
- Refrigerant Leak
- Compressor Malfunction
- Broken Condenser Coil
Doug’s Won’t Let You Down!
Your Doug’s technician will discuss your options with you during your air conditioning repair appointment. These are the same guidelines we use to make service recommendations during our service calls, so you know we’re not trying to sell you something you don’t need. Don’t sit and swelter in the heat.
