At 15 years, most central ACs are past efficient life. The standard rule: if the repair costs more than ~30% of a new system and the unit is 12+ years old, replacement usually wins — especially with today's efficiency gains.
What drives the price
Repair cost vs replacement cost
Current SEER rating vs new SEER2 minimums
Refrigerant type (R-22 = expensive)
How long you plan to stay in the home
Red flags in a quote
Big repair quote on a 15+ year R-22 system
No efficiency comparison offered
'Just one more season' every season
New system quoted without load calculation
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