Is it Time to Repair or Replace Your Heating and Cooling System
Is it Time to Repair or Replace Your Heating and Cooling System?
August 4, 2025
Did your air conditioner fall short of your cooling requirements this summer? Are you getting to know your Mechanical Man technician a little too well thanks to repeated service calls and repairs? Unfortunately, heating and cooling systems – like most intricate machinery – have finite lifespans and aren’t designed to last forever. Sometimes you have to consider replacing the unit. Your friends at Mechanical Man in Goshen, Indiana, understand the dilemma. With more than 25 years of service under our belts, we can help our customers make this decision and offer solutions that work for your home, your family and your budget.
How old is too old for a heating and cooling system?
It’s easy to ignore your system’s age when it’s working well. But if you’re noticing strange noises or uneven heating and cooling, you may want to dig out the bill of sale to find out when you bought it. System lifespans vary, depending on things like climate extremes and regular maintenance. But as a rule of thumb, systems last between 15 and 20 years, with AC and heat pumps lasting between 10 and 17 years and furnaces, boilers and geothermal heat pumps lasting between 15 and 30 years.
But age is just a number, and several other factors influence the decision on whether you should repair or replace:
- Is your system’s warranty still valid?
- How much is the repair going to cost?
- Do newer systems offer energy savings and other benefits that make the investment worthwhile now?
Consider the repair cost
The industry likes to roughly refer to what we call the “$5,000 rule.” Take the age of your unit and multiply it by the cost of the repair. If that amount is more than $5,000, it may be time to consider a replacement:
2-year-old unit x $1,000 repair = $2,000. REPAIR.
12-year-old unit x $500 repair = $6,000. REPLACE.
How often does your unit break down?
Frequent repairs are a sign that something bigger is happening behind the scenes. If you’re relying on a company you can trust like Mechanical Man, you can be confident that you’re getting a thorough repair each time you call us out for a problem. But even the best technicians can’t predict the future, and if the future is full of continued problems with your heating and cooling unit, it may be time to consider a replacement.
Always check your system’s warranty to determine if partial or complete replacement of a defective product is covered. Remember, many manufacturers require regular maintenance as a condition of the warranties, so those regular tune-ups can pay you back.
Are your energy bills climbing?
Inflation has hit everyone with higher energy bills. But if you notice an inordinate increase, the culprit may be your heating and cooling unit. Older units don’t necessarily have the same energy efficiency as their newer counterparts. Over time, as the machinery ages, it may have to work harder to produce the same comfortable indoor air that we enjoy regardless of the season. Newer systems are built on current technological breakthroughs, meaning they can do a better job keeping you comfortable without wasting so much energy in the process. A new system can literally pay you back in energy bill savings.
What about your budget?
We understand. A new heating and cooling system can be an expensive purchase, especially if you were hoping to get a little more time out of your own unit. That’s why Mechanical Man offers flexible options to fit every budget. We’ll give you clean, upfront pricing with no hidden fees. We also offer financing through Synchrony, one of the nation’s premier consumer financial services companies. Please feel comfortable asking us about the various financial options so we can make sure we help you find the arrangement that works for you.
If you’re ready to talk about replacing your heating and cooling system – or if you’re wondering whether a repair can buy you some time with your current one – reach out to Mechanical Man now at (574) 825-4686. You can trust Mechanical Man for all of your heating, cooling, air quality, electrical and plumbing needs. Let Mechanical Man take care of your home for you!