Should You Repair or Replace Your AC in Corpus Christi?

Start with four questions

1. How old is it? The manufacture date is usually on the outdoor unit's data plate or coded in the serial number. In Corpus Christi's long cooling season, systems log more hours per year than in most places.
2. What failed? Capacitors, contactors, fan motors, thermostats, drain lines and float switches are normal repairs at almost any age. Compressors and coils are the expensive parts.
3. What refrigerant does it use? The data plate says. R-22 is no longer produced, so any repair that needs refrigerant gets expensive. R-410A systems can still be serviced, but new equipment has moved to refrigerants like R-454B and R-32 (EPA, Technology Transitions HFC Restrictions by Sector).
4. What shape is it in? Near the water, a coil that is flaking apart from salt corrosion is near the end, even if the system still runs.

Usually repair

• A failed capacitor, contactor, fan motor or relay on a system with years left.
• A clogged condensate drain or a tripped float switch.
• A small, accessible refrigerant leak at a fitting on an R-410A system.
• A thermostat or wiring problem.

Usually replace

• A failed compressor on a system more than about 10 to 12 years old.
• A leaking indoor or outdoor coil on an older system, especially R-22.
• A badly corroded outdoor coil from salt air.
• Repeated major repairs year after year.
• A system that never kept the house comfortable or dry, which may be the wrong size.

The "50 percent" rule of thumb

A common rule of thumb: if a repair would cost more than about half the price of a new system, and the system is past the middle of its expected life, replacement usually makes more sense. It is a starting point, not a law; your plans for the house and the system's condition matter too.

What you get with a new system

• Efficiency: new split air conditioners installed in Texas must be at least 14.3 SEER2 for typical home sizes (U.S. Department of Energy, 2023 Central Air Conditioner and Heat Pump Standards FAQ), well above what most systems from 15 years ago delivered.
• Humidity control: two-stage and variable-speed systems run longer at low speed and remove more moisture.
• Coastal options: corrosion-resistant coils and coatings.
• A chance to fix the ducts: leaky attic ducts can undo much of a new system's efficiency. See ductwork.

Replacing only half the system

With older systems, replacing just the outdoor unit to save money used to be common. Now that new equipment uses different refrigerants, the indoor coil and outdoor unit generally need to be designed for the same refrigerant and rated as a combination. Ask for the AHRI certificate number for the indoor and outdoor pairing.

Related services

• AC Installation & Replacement: New central air, full system replacement, sizing, SEER2 efficiency and the new refrigerants.
• AC Repair: Warm air, no cooling, frozen coils, water leaks, noisy units and systems that run without catching up.
• Heat Pumps: Heat pump repair and replacement, defrost and reversing valve problems, and whether a heat pump fits your home.

Sources: EPA, Technology Transitions HFC Restrictions by Sector; U.S. Department of Energy, 2023 Central Air Conditioner and Heat Pump Standards FAQ.