The variables that matter
Age of equipment, cost of proposed repair, expected remaining life if repaired, efficiency of current vs. new equipment, refrigerant considerations, condition of the ducts, and how long you plan to stay in the home.
A rule of thumb (not a rule)
If a single repair exceeds 30–40% of replacement cost on a system past its expected life, replacement usually wins on total-cost-of-ownership. But 'usually' isn't 'always' — we run the numbers with you.