Repair or ReplaceYour Air Conditioner

The Impact of the Desert Heat

Las Vegas summers run for months with temperatures often topping 100 degrees. Outdoor units sit in direct sun and take a beating from monsoon dust. This means your equipment works harder here than it might in milder parts of the country. A breakdown in July is an urgent problem. When the technician arrives, you face a tough question. Do you spend money on another repair, or is it time for a new unit?

Age and Service Life

The age of your equipment plays a large role in this decision. According to Carrier and ENERGY STAR, central air conditioners commonly last about 15 to 20 years. Heat pumps typically run for 10 to 15 years. ENERGY STAR suggests that if your air conditioner or heat pump is older than 10 years, it may be time to consider replacement. We never recommend replacement on age alone. Age simply gives you a baseline for what to expect. A minor fix on a 10-year-old system and a compressor failure are different decisions, and in both cases you should see the repair price and, when replacement is reasonable, a replacement estimate side by side.

Frequency of Breakdowns

Think about how often you call for service. A system that runs well year after year and suddenly needs a small part is a great candidate for repair. On the other hand, if you find yourself calling for help every summer, those bills add up. Repeated breakdowns on an older system are a good reason to ask for both options in writing.

Repair Costs Versus New Installation

A helpful way to evaluate your options is to look at the cost of the repair. A general guideline is to compare the repair estimate to the price of a completely new installation. Consider these factors when reviewing your estimate:

• The total cost of the parts and labor required to get the unit running again.
• The warranty status of your current equipment and whether parts are covered.
• The likelihood that another expensive component will fail in the near future.
• The available manufacturer warranty on a brand new system.

A new system carries the manufacturer’s warranty (set by each manufacturer; registration may be required) and our two-year labor warranty on the installation.

Energy Efficiency Standards

Efficiency is another factor to keep in mind. Nevada is part of the Department of Energy Southwest region. Since January 1, 2023, new split central air conditioners installed here must meet a higher minimum efficiency standard. New units are built to reach 14.3 SEER2 and specific EER2 minimums. If your current system is quite old, a new unit will meet these modern standards. New equipment is built to these higher minimums. NV Energy offers the PowerShift program which provides discounts on qualifying equipment applied through approved contractors. We help homeowners check which programs apply to the equipment they select.

Comfort and Performance

Sometimes the issue is not just a complete breakdown. You might notice that your two-story home has uneven temperatures between floors. Perhaps the air coming from your vents feels weak or not quite cold enough. Uneven temperatures often come from ductwork or the home’s layout, so the replacement estimate looks at the ductwork, and zoning can help two-story homes.

What to Expect from Your Technician

You need clear information to make this choice. Your service technician should inspect the entire system and show you what failed. They should provide a written price for the repair. If replacement is a reasonable option, they should also provide a free written estimate for a new system. A proper replacement estimate looks at the whole home, not just the square footage. It considers your existing ductwork, windows, sun exposure, and how your family uses the house. Having both sets of numbers in writing allows you to compare them side by side.

How We Help You Decide

Kestrel Heating & Air provides free written estimates on new systems and replacements. Our technicians find the cause of the problem and show you the failed parts. We provide a written price before any repair work begins, and we present both repair and replacement options when both make sense. We help you weigh the costs so you can choose the path that fits your home.