Free tool · Florida homes
AC: repair or replace?
Enter the system's age, its refrigerant, what's wrong and any quote you have. Get a plain answer with the reasons and what to ask your MB pro.
The guidelines behind the answer
The “$5,000 rule”is a common homeowner guideline, not a law of physics: multiply the system's age by the repair quote, and if the result is $5,000 or more, replacing usually makes more sense. Type the quote your pro gave you and the tool does the multiplication. A small part on a young system passes easily; a big repair on an old system doesn't.
R-22(Freon) was phased out under the Clean Air Act: no new R-22 has been made or imported in the U.S. since January 1, 2020, so what's left is recycled stock and the price per pound is high. A refrigerant leak, coil or compressor on an R-22 system is usually the point to replace.
Since January 1, 2023, new central air conditioners must meet the U.S. Department of Energy's SEER2 standards, and the Southeast, including Florida, has a higher minimum than northern states. Systems made since 2025 use the newer low-GWP refrigerants (R-32 or R-454B). Replacing the condenser or air handler typically needs a mechanical permit from your city or county building department — verify with them, since rules vary by city.
Before you decide
AC work in Florida must be done by a licensed air-conditioning contractor — we match you with one near you. Ask your MB pro for the repair and the replacement side by side, with the SEER2 rating and the refrigerant of any new system, and whether the quote includes the permit. To see what the old system costs you in electricity, try What does my AC cost to run?. AC & heating is available in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
How it works
Step 1
Tell us what you need
Call or send the short form with your city and the job. Estimates are free.
Step 2
We match you with a vetted pro near you
We pick a vetted pro from our network who works in your part of Florida and book the visit.
Step 3
Your pro gives a free estimate and does the work
Your MB pro looks at the job and gives you a free estimate. You decide whether to go ahead — and we stay your point of contact.
Request a free AC estimate
Tell us the system's age, what it's doing and your city. AC & heating is available in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
- 1Tell us what you need.
- 2We match you with a vetted pro near you.
- 3Your pro gives a free estimate and does the work.
Prefer to talk?
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