Repair the AC if it's under 10 years old and the fix is a single component like a capacitor, fan motor, contactor, or drain repair. Lean toward replacement if the system is 12 to 15 years old in DFW (the end of typical life here), if it uses R-22 refrigerant, if the repair is a compressor or evaporator coil, or if the repair quote is more than a third of a replacement quote. When it's close, get both quotes in writing and decide in the morning, not on a 105°F afternoon with a tech in the driveway.
The numbers that decide it
Age. DFW systems run from May through September at full load and carry heating in winter, so 12 to 15 years is a full life here. A major repair on a 13-year-old system buys less time than the same repair elsewhere.
Repair cost vs. replacement cost. A common rule: multiply the repair quote by the system's age in years. If the result exceeds roughly the replacement price, replace. A $1,500 repair on a 12-year-old system (18,000) against a $9,000 replacement points to replacement; a $400 repair on the same unit (4,800) points to repair.
Refrigerant. R-22 systems (generally pre-2010) are expensive to recharge and parts are scarce. Any refrigerant-related repair on an R-22 system is a replacement conversation.
Humidity performance. If the system cools the air but the house feels clammy, it may be oversized or worn. That's a design problem a repair won't fix, and it's a reason to replace with a correctly sized two-stage system.
Repairs that almost always make sense
Capacitors, contactors, fuses, thermostats, drain line clogs, float switches, and fan motors on systems under about 12 years. These are inexpensive relative to replacement and don't signal that the rest of the system is failing.
A single refrigerant leak at a fitting or valve on an R-410A system under 10 years old. Repair and recharge, then watch it.
Blower motors and control boards on newer systems, especially under parts warranty where you pay labor only.
Replacements that almost always make sense, and how not to get oversold
Compressor failure on a system over 10 years, an evaporator coil leak on an R-22 system, or a repair quote approaching half the replacement price. Also: a system that can't hold the house below 78°F or control humidity on a hot afternoon even when working.
To avoid being oversold: ask for the diagnosis in writing with readings, ask what the repair would cost even if the tech recommends replacement, and get a second replacement quote before signing. A legitimate replacement recommendation survives a night's sleep and a second opinion.
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