--- title: "Repair or Replace Your AC? How to Decide in Coastal Georgia | Veteran Home Service" description: "Age, repair cost, refrigerant type, and how hard our summers are on equipment — a straight guide to repairing or replacing your AC in Savannah." url: https://www.veteranhomeservice.com/blog/repair-or-replace-ac-coastal-georgia/ --- [ HVAC](https://www.veteranhomeservice.com/hvac/) # Repair or Replace Your AC? How to Decide in Coastal Georgia By [Daniel Merritt](https://www.veteranhomeservice.com/about/) October 30, 20263 min read When your air conditioner quits in the middle of a Savannah summer, the first question is usually “what’s this going to cost?” The second is harder: is it worth fixing, or is it time for a new system? Here’s how we think it through with homeowners. ## Start with the age of the system Most central air conditioners and heat pumps last somewhere around 10 to 15 years. In coastal Georgia, they work harder than almost anywhere else in the country. They run most of the year, they fight humidity as well as heat, and near the coast, salt air corrodes outdoor coils. - **Under 10 years old:** repair is almost always the right call, unless the compressor has failed and the system is out of warranty. - **10 to 15 years old:** it depends on the repair. This is where the rest of this guide matters most. - **Over 15 years old:** a major repair is usually money better put toward a replacement. ## Use the “$5,000 rule” as a starting point A common rule of thumb: multiply the age of the system by the cost of the repair. If the result is more than $5,000, replacement is usually worth a serious look. A $600 repair on a 6-year-old system comes to $3,600, so fix it. The same repair on a 12-year-old system comes to $7,200, so get a replacement price before you decide. It’s a starting point, not a verdict. A system that’s been well maintained can beat the average. One that’s been neglected may not make it that far. ## Check what refrigerant it uses Look at the label on your outdoor unit. If it says **R-22**, the system is old enough that refrigerant is the problem. R-22 has been phased out in the U.S. and is no longer produced, so what’s left is scarce and expensive. If an R-22 system has a leak, recharging it is usually throwing good money after bad. ## Watch for the signs it’s wearing out One repair doesn’t mean the end. A pattern does: - **Repeat breakdowns.** Several service calls in the last couple of years. - **Rising power bills** without a change in how you use it. - **It runs constantly** and still can’t keep up on hot afternoons. - **The house feels clammy** even when it’s cool. In our climate, that often points to a system that’s oversized, low on refrigerant, or short on airflow. - **Corroded outdoor coils** or a cabinet that’s rusting through, common on homes near the water. ## Don’t skip the ductwork A new system won’t fix a duct problem. Leaky or crushed ducts in a hot attic can waste a big share of the air you’re paying to cool. Before replacing anything, make sure the ducts are checked. Sometimes sealing and repairing them is the fix the house needed all along. ## Questions to ask before you decide 1. How old is the system, and what refrigerant does it use? 2. What exactly failed, and what will the repair cost? 3. Is anything still under warranty? 4. Are other parts close to failing? 5. What would a right-sized replacement cost, and what would it save on power bills? A good technician should answer all five without pressure. If a repair makes more sense, you should hear that too. ## Get a straight answer We’ll diagnose your system, give you prices for both repair and replacement, and tell you honestly which one we’d choose if it were our house. [See our HVAC services](https://www.veteranhomeservice.com/hvac/) or call for a free estimate. [ Daniel MerrittOwner & President of Veteran Home Service. U.S. Army veteran, serving Savannah and Southeast Georgia homeowners since 2015.](https://www.veteranhomeservice.com/about/) ## Need help with HVAC? Honest pricing up front, tidy work, and a guarantee behind every job — from a veteran-owned crew serving Savannah and Southeast Georgia. [Our HVAC services](https://www.veteranhomeservice.com/hvac/) --- ## Contact Veteran Home Service - Phone: [+19126586779](tel:+19126586779) - Email: [contact@veteranhomeservice.com](mailto:contact@veteranhomeservice.com) - Address: 834 Northside Drive East, Statesboro, GA 30458 - Free estimate: https://www.veteranhomeservice.com/#contact _Markdown version of https://www.veteranhomeservice.com/blog/repair-or-replace-ac-coastal-georgia/ · Site index for AI agents: https://www.veteranhomeservice.com/llms.txt_