When To Repair Your Aircon and When To Replace It
Repair keeps the bill low today. Replace removes the risk for years ahead. The right answer depends on the unit, the fault, and what you are trying to avoid.
Age Is the Starting Point
Residential aircons have a typical lifespan. When a unit is relatively new, repair almost always makes sense — most of its useful life is still ahead.
Older units change the calculation. Parts are harder to source, efficiency drops, and one fault often signals that others are close behind.
Age alone does not decide it. A well-maintained older unit can still be worth repairing. A neglected younger unit might not be. Age sets the context — fault type and repair cost close the decision.
The Fault Type Matters More Than the Cost Alone
Some faults are isolated — a capacitor, a PCB, a fan motor. These parts fail on their own and the rest of the unit can still have plenty of life. Repairing an isolated fault on a unit with a good service history is often the right call.
Other faults signal systemic decline. A compressor that fails on an old unit is expensive to replace and may be a sign the system is at the end of its useful life. Refrigerant leaks on old units often recur because the pipework is worn.
The question to ask: is this fault isolated, or is it a sign the whole system is degrading? A good technician will tell you which one you are looking at.
| Fault | Likely Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Capacitor failure (younger unit) | Repair |
| PCB board failure (younger unit) | Repair |
| Fan motor failure (unit in good condition) | Repair |
| Compressor failure (older unit) | Replace — assess first |
| Recurring refrigerant leak (old pipework) | Replace |
| Multiple faults appearing together | Replace |
The 50% Rule
If the repair cost is more than half the cost of a replacement unit, replacement is usually the better decision.
Get a replacement quote alongside the repair quote. When the repair price closes in on the replacement price, the case for repair weakens — especially on an older unit.
This is a guide, not a rule. A significant repair on a young, otherwise healthy unit is still a good decision. The same repair on an old unit with a history of faults is not.
What a Repair Buys You
A repair fixes the fault in front of you. It does not reset the unit's age or condition. If the unit is old and poorly maintained, a repair extends the life by a short period — not a long one.
If the unit is young and well-maintained, a repair buys back most of the remaining lifespan. That is a good trade.
Ask the technician: if we fix this, what is the realistic lifespan of the unit? If the answer is uncertain or short, replacement deserves more weight.
When To Replace Without Hesitation
Replace when the compressor fails on an old unit. Compressor cost plus installation often approaches or exceeds the cost of a new unit — and the rest of the system is equally aged.
Replace when you have repaired the same fault more than once in a short period. A recurring fault means the underlying cause has not been fixed.
Replace when energy bills have risen noticeably without a change in usage. Old refrigerant systems lose efficiency over time. A new inverter unit runs meaningfully cheaper than an old non-inverter model.