Repair or replace a heating or cooling system?
Age, repair history and how well the system keeps the house comfortable matter more than any single repair quote.
Start with the age
Furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps wear out on different schedules. The age on the unit's data plate and the repair history are the first two facts a contractor asks for.
Look at the repair
A small part on a younger system is usually worth fixing. A major part on an older system is the point where many owners compare a replacement quote.
Think about comfort, not only cost
Rooms that never get comfortable, high humidity or short cycling can point to a sizing or duct problem that a like for like replacement would repeat.
What to ask for
Ask for the diagnosis in writing, the repair quote, and if you are comparing, a replacement quote sized to the house.
Sources
Other jobs
Questions
Is this a booking or a price?
No. A request is free and is not a booking. The contractor gives you a real price before any work is booked.
Are you the contractor?
No. We pass your request to one independent local HVAC contractor who serves your ZIP. Only that one company gets your details.
How old is too old for a furnace or air conditioner?
There is no single age. Tell the contractor the age on the data plate and the repair history; together they say more than the age alone.
Should I switch to a heat pump?
It depends on your climate, your fuel and your ducts. Ask the contractor to compare a heat pump with a furnace and air conditioner for your house.
What if nobody can take it?
We tell you plainly. We will not invent a contractor or a price.
