Understanding your result
The headline is the typical cost range for the repair, with the verdict and the system’s age in the sub-line. The bars compare the repair’s midpoint with the midpoint of a new system of the same size. The stats give the midpoint, the age-times-cost figure and the verdict. The table shows the repair cost, both rules of thumb, the replacement range used for comparison and the source of the repair range.
The verdict has three levels. “Repair” means both rules say the repair is good value. “Borderline” means the age-times-cost figure is between 3,500 and 5,000, which is the point to get a replacement quote alongside the repair quote. “Lean towards replacing” means one of the rules is exceeded, or a major component (compressor or coil) has failed on a system 15 years or older.
The replacement figure comes from the same ranges as the replacement cost calculator, which prices the replacement in detail. The lifespan and replacement planner puts the system’s age against its expected life, and the SEER upgrade savings calculator shows what a new unit saves in electricity, which tips borderline cases.
How we calculate this
The repair ranges are from Fixr and This Old House cost guides (2024–25), named for each repair in the result. The R-22 multiplier and the coil range are our estimates. The replacement comparison uses the 2025 central AC range (HVAC.com, $3,300 to $7,800 at 3 tons) scaled for size and region as in the replacement calculator. The two rules are common industry rules of thumb, not standards, and are set out so their thresholds can be checked. The refrigerant and efficiency background is on the efficiency ratings table.
The assumptions behind the numbers
| Repair | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Capacitor | $100 to $400 | Fixr (average about $175); This Old House $150 to $400 |
| Contactor or relay | $150 to $450 | Fixr $150 to $400; This Old House $100 to $450 |
| Condenser fan motor | $300 to $800 | Fixr $200 to $700 (average $500); This Old House $300 to $800 |
| Indoor blower motor | $450 to $2,000 | Fixr |
| Refrigerant leak and recharge | $200 to $1,600 | Fixr (average $800); This Old House $200 to $1,500+ |
| Control board | $200 to $800 | This Old House |
| Compressor | $1,000 to $3,000+ | This Old House |
| Evaporator coil | $1,000 to $2,500 | Our range from published repair guides |
| Rules of thumb | Age × cost > 5,000; repair > 50% of new | Common industry practice |
Assumptions last reviewed October 8, 2026.
The calculator does not know the warranty status (a compressor under a 10-year parts warranty may cost only labour), the condition of the rest of the system, or local refrigerant prices, which change fast. Refrigerant work requires EPA Section 608 certification and electrical repairs a licensed technician; the calculator is for budgeting, not for doing the work. The guide on repairing or replacing covers what the rules miss, and the guide to reading an HVAC quote covers repair quotes too.
Two worked examples
A capacitor on a 12-year-old unit
Capacitor, 12 years old, 3 tons, R-410A, no separate service call, average-cost area.
- Repair: $100 to $400, midpoint $250
- Age × cost: 12 × 250 = 3,000, under 5,000
- Share of a new AC: 250 ÷ 5,550 = 5%
- Verdict: Repair
The commonest AC failure, and not a sign of the end. A unit this age has several useful years left if it is maintained.
A compressor on a 14-year-old unit
Compressor, 14 years old, 3 tons, average-cost area.
- Repair: $1,000 to $3,000, midpoint $2,000
- Age × cost: 14 × 2,000 = 28,000, well over 5,000
- Share of a new AC: 2,000 ÷ 5,550 = 36%
- Verdict: Lean towards replacing
The share rule alone would say repair, but the age-times-cost rule is far over, and a new compressor in a 14-year-old system still leaves the coil, the fan motor and the controls at their age. A new system at SEER2 15 also uses about a third less electricity than a 2011 unit at SEER 13.
Where to find your inputs
Repair. From the technician’s diagnosis; ask them to name the failed part.
Age. On the outdoor unit’s nameplate, encoded in the serial number (most brands’ websites decode it), or from the installation paperwork.
Refrigerant. On the nameplate: R-22 or R-410A (or R-454B and R-32 in units from 2025 on).
Warranty. Register the equipment and keep the paperwork; many parts warranties run 10 years if registered.
Common mistakes
- Replacing over a capacitor. It is a cheap, common part; one failure says little.
- Recharging without finding the leak. The refrigerant will leak out again.
- Repairing a compressor on an old R-22 unit. It is usually the time to replace.
- Forgetting the warranty. Parts may be covered; you pay labour only.
- Choosing the cheapest quote for a major repair. Ask what is replaced and what is guaranteed.
- Deciding on the repair alone. Look at the age, the efficiency and the rest of the system.
Questions people ask
- How much does an AC repair cost?
- Most common repairs cost $100 to $800. A capacitor is about $100 to $400 (Fixr puts the average near $175), a contactor $150 to $450, a condenser fan motor $300 to $800, and a control board $200 to $800. Refrigerant leak repair and recharge runs $200 to $1,600, an indoor blower motor $450 to $2,000, and a compressor $1,000 to $3,000 or more, according to Fixr and This Old House cost guides.
- When should I replace instead of repair my air conditioner?
- Two rules of thumb are common. Multiply the repair cost by the system's age in years; if the result is over 5,000, replacing is usually the better value. And if the repair costs more than half of a new system, replace. A $250 capacitor on a 12-year-old unit (3,000) is a repair; a $2,000 compressor on a 14-year-old unit (28,000) is a replacement. Neither rule replaces judgement about the rest of the system's condition.
- Why is refrigerant so expensive now?
- Two reasons. R-22, used in most systems installed before 2010, has not been produced or imported in the US since 2020, so only reclaimed R-22 is available and it is costly. R-410A, used since about 2010, is being phased down under the AIM Act, and Fixr notes price rises of 40 to 60%. A leak repair is also labour-intensive, because the leak must be found, repaired and the system evacuated and recharged.
- Is a capacitor failure a sign my AC is dying?
- No. Run and start capacitors are the commonest AC failures, often after heat waves or power surges, and replacing one is a quick repair whose price is mostly the service call. A unit that keeps failing capacitors may have a voltage problem or a failing motor, which is worth having checked, but one failed capacitor says little about the rest of the system.
- How much is an AC service call?
- About $100 to $180 for a diagnostic visit in many areas, and usually waived or credited if you go ahead with the repair. After-hours and weekend calls cost more. A maintenance plan often includes free or discounted service calls and priority scheduling in a heatwave, which the maintenance cost calculator compares with paying as you go.
- Should I repair an R-22 system with a refrigerant leak?
- Usually not, unless the leak is small, easily found and the system is otherwise in good shape. R-22 recharges are expensive and the system is at least 15 years old, so the leak is often the signal to replace. The calculator adds 50% to the leak repair range for R-22 systems and the verdict usually leans towards replacing.