Repair or Replace? Expert Advice on Making the Right Decision for Your HVAC Unit

By Aztil – December 4, 2024

Air conditioners last between 10 and 20 years depending on the model, maintenance, and climate. Some have long lifespans while others fail early. While there is no exact date, the time to replace your AC is based on when it needs repairs, and how serious those repairs become. Deciding whether to repair or replace your HVAC is crucial for your home’s comfort, budget, and energy efficiency. Consider new regulations like the AIM Act 2025. If you want to save time and money while ensuring reliable heating and cooling, we can help you determine the best course based on several important factors.

1. Age of the Unit

Most AC units have a lifespan of 10-20 years, with an average reliable performance of 15 years. If your AC is over 10 years old, consider a replacement rather than repairs. An AC unit loses efficiency as it ages, leading to higher energy bills and more frequent repairs. Eventually, it will be more cost-effective to replace instead of continuing repairs.

The AIM Act 2025

The AIM Act will phase out older eco-harmful refrigerants that pose global warming risks. Older ACs may become more costly if they use banned refrigerants like R-401A. If your old AC has a refrigerant leak, it may be a good time to upgrade.

2. Cost of Repairs vs. Replacement

The 50% rule states that if a repair costs 50% or more of the cost of a new appliance, then replacement is the wise choice. You will get better performance from a new unit, so the other half of the price will pay itself back quickly compared to the lost expense of repairing a unit that will continue to fail and need more costly repairs in the future.

With the AIM Act, you can also be certain that HVAC replacements in 2024 will all be manufactured with eco-friendly refrigerants. An upgrade will be good for the environment, more efficient, and cheaper for many years.

3. Energy Efficiency and Your Utility Bills

How energy-efficient is your old HVAC unit? HVACs have to use more electricity for heating and cooling as the years go by. A steady increase in your seasonal power bills can mean your HVAC will cost more than you realize. Repairing an older unit may come with that half-hidden higher cost of continued operation.

Upgrading to a more efficient new HVAC comes with advanced technology, a higher SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating, and lower power bills. With the AIM Act, newer systems also use low-GWP refrigerants, making them eco-friendlier and more efficient, leading to lower utility bills.

4. Frequency of Breakdowns

Constant repairs are a sign that your AC will continue to fall. If repairs are more than once a year, it’s probably time to schedule your HVAC replacement. The AIM Act phase-down also means it will become more costly to service older units with phased-out refrigerants.

5. Indoor Comfort and Air Quality

An older HVAC may struggle to keep up with your home’s air needs. If you notice hot and cold spots, the blower fan or motor fails to push enough air evenly through the house. If you notice poor air quality, it could mean a failure of filtration or humidity control.

A newer system that meets the AIM Act standards provides advanced efficiency and environmental controls. You can ensure perfect air balance and reduce pollutants and allergens in your home.

6. Environmental Impact and AIM Act Compliance

The AIM Act 2025 ensures that new HVAC units are more eco-friendly than older models by phasing out high-GWP refrigerants. New systems will reduce your carbon footprint with eco-friendly refrigerants and more efficient electricity use.

7. Current Rebates and Incentives

If now is the right time to replace your HVAC, several great savings opportunities are available. Many utility companies offer rebates, discounts, and other incentives for purchasing a new high-efficiency AIM Act-compliant system. You can use these savings to reduce the upfront costs of your energy-saving upgrade. This is a chance to reduce installation costs and start saving immediately with lower seasonal power bills.

Making the Best Choice for Your Home

Should you repair your HVAC or plan to replace it? Consider your system’s age, repair frequency, seasonal power bills, and your current home comfort. If now is the right time to replace, take advantage of the savings and quality upgrades inspired by the AIM Act 2025, which drives eco-friendly and energy-efficient changes in the HVAC industry.

What Our Clients Think Of Us

Excellent

Aztil Air Conditioning

Based on 1475 reviews

Nico

Michael K. came out and did a wonderful job. There was condensation on my air filter and I was concerned about a leak. He was very thorough and made sure all avenues were checked. He also answered my questions and showed me parts on my AC. Great service!

Ana Maria Mini

Niko was great.

Cynthia Dagan

Niko was very patient and professional. Looking forward to cleaning this system.
He was great!

bernice demanche

Niko came out promptly on a Saturday and fixed my problem easily. Great customer service

Response from the owner:Bernice Demanche, I'm glad to hear that Dana provided prompt service and fixed the issue easily. Excellent customer service can really make a difference in situations like these.

Sonya S

Niko was great- very informative

Nell McLamb

Niko very nice and did a good job explaining.

HOMETOWN LANDSCAPING CO.

Niko, great service! Thank you!

Leslie Sigale

Scott McKeon

Niko was personable and knowledgeable

Alice Doyle

Antonio was great and he was personable and I really do like him the next time that I have a visit from you guys it will be from him and I almost decided not to use you guys no more because of the other two gentlemen that came they were young boys, and they did not do things properly, but Antonio was very very good and I really liked himHe was very professional so thank you very much for letting Antonio come and giving yourself a second chance have a blessed day.

Al Levy

Nicholas (I think that’s his name) was very thorough and knowledgeable. I’m going to take his recommendation for a UV light. Please send him back to install when I order it. He furthers my trust in Aztil.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your review, Al Levy. We're so glad you had a positive experience with our appliance repair services!

Betty Brousseau

Very happy with the service provided by Niko

Rick Riccardi

Technician Lazaro Powery arrived much sooner than I expected. He looked professional, and his behavior matched his appearance. I really enjoyed our brief personal chat. I always ask people I deal with if their company treats its employees well, as it matters to me. I was happy to hear that he enjoys his employment with Aztil.

His professionalism and attitude well matched his positive comments. I'm not surprised as I find Aztil to be excellent people to deal with in all requests and transactions. Lazaro sets a good example for Aztil. Thanks for sending him. When he asked, I signed another one-year service contract

Judith Vile

I had 3 terrific technicians Paul Gross who found the problem fixed it but also found a leak so I had 2 technicians Jordan and Hero come and do the duct work I was so impressed by all 3 of them their knowledge professional and the enjoyment in doing the work for their clients I give all 3 of 10 gold stars😀

Daniel Upbin

AZTIL is a real COOL company and Jackie my rep @Aztil responds ASAP when I get HOT on the phone. Seriously Jackie’s the nicest person. I don’t want to leave anyone out but Juan the technician goes above and beyond trying to solve my HVAC problems.

Brent Headberg (SummerSky 3DCAD)

Alex was very thorough and knowledgeable.

Kathy Pollett

Tino was professional and friendly. Thank you for a great service over the years.

benny pittari

I have used aztill air conditioning service for over 15 years. They have always been prompt and have always done a great job. I recently would like to praise Dana who came to my home today and his boss Jack for the great price. My wife and I feel blessed to have found them. They have been reasonable in their prices and the technician are right on point. Thank you Aztill Air. 😁😃

anna karachristos

This was my first experience with Aztil as a new homeowner. I purchased a service agreement which I thought was reasonably priced. My first scheduled maintenance was this past week by Michael King .He was extremely professional, knowledgeable and very kind in explaining everything I needed to know. He made a great suggestion in which I followed through with. He’s an asset to this very professional company. Thank you Aztil and Jonathan for a job well done!

larry nyman

Mike came by for an A/C maintenance check up. He came on time and was very friendly and professional.

Response from the owner:Hi Larry, thank you for taking the time to leave us such a positive review about Fabio. We are delighted to hear that he was on time and provided excellent service. We appreciate your feedback and are glad that you had a good experience. Thanks again!

Carole Michel

Excellent service very knowledgeable Niko send him hereafter

Marvin Kaplan

Tino was exceptional in sevicing both of my AC its. I renewed my contract with Aztil and I look forward in having Tino service me again Thanks for great service

Kath bruce

I had to have my air conditioning HVAC system replaced. I bought RHEEMS from them nine years ago or just shy of nine years ago and I had to have the whole thing replaced. It had a leak. The pressure was down 3 pounds and to pay $475 only because I had a contract with them otherwise it would’ve been 675 to check for the leak.. I decided to replace it cause I knew it was around the corner anyhow. They installed it the next day I couldn’t have been more pleased. It was effortless. It took them a while because we had some rain on and off and they couldn’t be on the roof, but they came at 9:30 and they left at 3 o’clock. I thought they did very well. They left my house clean as a button just exactly the way they found it. They were very polite and did everything that they were supposed to do in a very neat and tidy and timely manner.

Nina Kilroy

Jorge and David were the installers today. They were timely, professional, mannerly, exceptionally clean and efficient. And Sabrina in their office went beyond in responding as the cost of new units today is sticker shock!

kathy cummings

Nico is absolutely amazing! Very informative and an excellent technician! This is the second time we’ve had him and he’s great

Response from the owner:Hi Kathy, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Ramon was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!

Lisa and Scott Pullman

After 40 hours without A/C in August we were saved by Rafael. He was polite, professional and courteous. He is an asset to the company. On another note, the scheduling system used for after hours is quite poor and needs to be looked into. Thank goodness Jackie called us and attempted to remedy the situation.

jane

Naraldo Bunsie did an excellent job installing my new Trane A/C! Thanks !

juddy henry

Michael was very knowledgeable and efficient in providing service for us today. We’d love for him to come again

Larry Zauder

Your service techs and general service has improved since the corporate take over. Raphael Curci was efficient and kept us u[p to date on the progress of the installation. The person I'd like to call out as exemplary was Nico who guided us through the process and went out of his way to help us through this time. Ultimately the air handler was faulty and it took several visits to repair it. Meanwhile the handler leaked water all over the garage ceiling ruining it and causing damage to my model trains beneath. In addition the last tech broke my cable power supply which he had no business touching. I had to call Xfinity to come as an emergency for which they charged me $150.00. I will also be sending Aztil a bill for the repair of my ceiling and any damage done to my model trains.

Don Walling

Dana just finished a service call. He was very professional and explained to me what he was doing and gave me tips for the future. I have been an Aztil customer for many years and people like Dana keep me coming back.

Response from the owner:Hi Don, thank you for your kind words! We're so glad to hear that Angel did an excellent job and that you were pleased with the outcome. Thank you for being a valued customer.

davidsflorida

Michael was efficient and thorough. I am very pleased with this service.

Response from the owner:Thank you

Jeffrey Welton

Juan was fantastic!

Steve Froggatt

Michael was great, he called in advance arrived on time, very professional and knowledgeable, and got the job done in a timely manner, highly recommend.

Vlad Filyakov

Michael provided excellent service on unclogging our drain line and explaining what options we have to prevent it getting clogged in the future.

Erlene Ratz

Naraldo was was a competent and efficient skilled worker..
Doesn't talk much but gets the job done quickly.

Replaced and rewired our new water heater in a very short time.

Left everything clean and Sparkling..

Would have him return anytime for the next project that might pop-up.

Response from the owner:Hi Erlene, thank you for your kind words! We're so glad to hear that Rafael did an excellent job and that you were pleased with the outcome. Thank you for being a valued customer.

David Shamash

Dana Dussault, the technician that came to fix my AC and installed a new compressor was so efficient and courteous and is an asset to Aztil. I was very happy with the work.

Ilene Mack

Nico and Adrian were great. Cleaned my ac and found an oil leak. Very personable.

Response from the owner:Hi Ilene, thank you for your kind words! We're so glad to hear that Niko and Adrian did an excellent job and that you were pleased with the outcome. Thank you for being a valued customer.

shanti gilbert

Rico was friendly and very competent & efficient

Response from the owner:Hi Shanti, thank you for your kind words about Ricardo and Aztil. We are so glad to hear that you had a great experience with us. We will make sure to pass along your positive feedback to Ricardo. Thank you for choosing Aztil!

Jill Rene

Dana came on a Saturday in the pouring rain. Totally professional and knew what was wrong right away. Great job guys!

Joanne Bornstein

Dana was efficient and effective and answered all my questions. Top notch

Anthony Spinnicchia

I had a new central AC installed by Aztil today. Both of the techs, Jorge and David, were professional and friendly. I used Aztil because I have used them for service for over 10 years and have been very satisfied. I can recommend them for service and installations.