Repair or replace your AC? A simple way to decide

Last checked October 29, 2026

If your AC is under about 10 years old, repairing usually makes sense. Past 10 to 12 years in Las Vegas heat, or with a big repair like a compressor or coil, replacing usually wins. A quick check: multiply the unit's age by the repair cost, and if it's over $5,000, get a replacement quote too.

Want the math done for you? Try the repair or replace calculator.

Start with age

Vegas is hard on AC. A local company puts typical lifespans here at:

System	Typical life in Las Vegas
Central split AC	10 to 15 years
Heat pump	10 to 14 years
Rooftop package unit	10 to 14 years
Ductless mini-split	12 to 18 years

Trane's general advice lines up: under 10 years, repairing is usually the cost-effective choice; near 15, replacing usually makes more sense. Check your warranty too. Most run 5 to 10 years, and a covered part changes the math.

The $5,000 rule

Unit age times repair cost. Over $5,000, lean toward replacing.

12 year old unit, $400 capacitor: 12 × $400 = $4,800. Repair it.
12 year old unit, $1,600 compressor: 12 × $1,600 = $19,200. Get replacement quotes.

It's a rule of thumb that gets passed around the industry, not an official formula. Use it as a gut check, not a final answer.

The repairs that usually tip it

Repair	Published Vegas range	Usually means
Capacitor or contactor	$90 to $400	Repair
Fan motor	$100 to $300	Repair
Refrigerant leak find and fix	$225 to $1,600	Depends on age
Evaporator coil	$650 to $1,200	Replace if older
Compressor	$1,350 to $1,800	Replace if 10+ years

Ranges from a Las Vegas HVAC company; see AC repair cost for all of them with sources.

Signs it's time

Two or more major repairs in two years
A failed compressor on an older unit
A leaking evaporator coil
It uses R-22 (no new R-22 has been made or imported since 2020)
Power bills keep climbing even with regular maintenance

A warning about refrigerant top-offs

Refrigerant doesn't get "used up." If your system needs it, there's a leak. In 2024 FOX5 covered a Las Vegas family who paid $850 for a Freon repair, and the unit broke again the next day. If someone keeps recharging instead of finding the leak, get a second opinion.

Common questions

How long does an AC last in Las Vegas?

A Las Vegas plumbing and HVAC company puts a central split system at 10 to 15 years here, and rooftop package units and heat pumps at 10 to 14. That is shorter than the 15 to 20 years often quoted nationally, because of the heat, dust and long cooling season.

What is the $5,000 rule for AC?

Multiply the unit's age by the repair cost. Over $5,000 leans toward replacing, under leans toward repairing. It's a rule of thumb, not a law of physics, but it's a quick gut check.

Is it worth replacing just the compressor?

Out of warranty, a compressor alone runs about $900 to $2,900 nationally and $1,350 to $1,800 in published Las Vegas ranges. On a system 10 or more years old, that money often goes further toward a new unit.

My AC uses R-22. Should I repair it?

Usually not for anything big. No new R-22 has been made or imported in the US since January 1, 2020, so refills come from recovered or old stock and get expensive. A major repair on an R-22 system is usually a good time to replace.

Sources

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