{"id":883,"date":"2023-12-18T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.robertsheating.com\/blog\/?p=883"},"modified":"2023-12-19T13:07:03","modified_gmt":"2023-12-19T19:07:03","slug":"the-50-rule-for-replacing-vs-repairing-your-air-conditioner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.robertsheating.com\/blog\/air-conditioning-service\/the-50-rule-for-replacing-vs-repairing-your-air-conditioner\/","title":{"rendered":"The 50% Rule for Replacing vs. Repairing Your Air Conditioner"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Nobody is excited at the cost of replacing an air conditioner, but how can you tell when it\u2019s time to replace it vs. when it just needs a repair or two? When you get hit with a huge repair bill that you weren\u2019t expecting, that question comes up, and it\u2019s hard to navigate for any homeowner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either way, you need air conditioning repair in Northbrook, IL<\/a>, but thankfully there\u2019s a rule of thumb that can help you figure out what the right move is for you and your family: the 50% rule. It\u2019s designed to help you make a smart decision for your home without being too stressful, now let\u2019s break down what it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Basics of the 50% Rule<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In short, the 50% rule dictates that if you get a repair bill that\u2019s 50% or more of the price of a brand-new air conditioner, then it\u2019s time to replace the entire system. Paying 50% of the sticker price of a brand new unit just to repair your current one doesn\u2019t make sense, because that new unit doesn\u2019t have years of wear and tear on it like your current unit does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This rule comes up when you have one or more critical components of your air conditioner break that you simply can\u2019t replace for cheap, or if there\u2019s a chain reaction of damage in your system as it stands now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The argument is that the efficiency of your current unit won\u2019t be as good as a brand new system, and that isn\u2019t the last big repair you\u2019re going to pay for on this one unit. After enough time, you\u2019re essentially paying the full price of a new air conditioner just to maintain your current one. Doesn\u2019t make much sense, does it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Identify When the Costs Are Too Much<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Maybe the price is around the 40-45% cost of a new air conditioner. Well, what do you do then? Tally up a few thing and you\u2019ll quickly know what makes sense:<\/p>\n\n\n\n