How Long Does an AC Unit Last?
Most residential AC systems last 15 to 20 years. In North Texas, plan on 12 to 17 — our cooling season runs long and hard, and…
Most residential AC systems last 15 to 20 years. In North Texas, plan on 12 to 17 — our cooling season runs long and hard, and equipment here simply does more hours than the same unit would in a milder climate.
What actually shortens it
- Skipped maintenance. The single biggest factor. Dirty coils make the system work harder for the same cooling.
- Wrong size. An oversized system short-cycles, which wears the compressor faster than running longer, steadier cycles would.
- Restricted airflow. Undersized or leaky ductwork keeps the system straining for its whole life.
- Running it iced or overheating. One bad week can cost years.
Where Frisco sits
Frisco built out heavily through the 2000s and 2010s. That means a very large number of local systems are hitting 15 to 20 years right now — which is exactly the age where the honest answer to "should I fix it?" changes.
The $5,000 rule
Multiply the age of the system by the cost of the repair quote. If the answer is over $5,000, replacement is usually the better use of the money.
A twelve-year-old system with a $500 repair gives you $6,000 — worth a conversation. A six-year-old system with the same repair gives you $3,000, and you fix it without thinking twice.
It's a rule of thumb, not a law. A fifteen-year-old system with a failed capacitor is still worth fixing. The same system needing a compressor and a leak repair usually isn't.
Signs yours is near the end
- It's on its third repair in two years
- It still runs R-22 refrigerant
- Your electricity bill is climbing with no change in habits
- Some rooms never reach temperature any more
Need this looked at in Frisco or nearby? Our diagnostic is $99, credited to the repair, and you get a fixed price before any work starts. Get an honest repair-or-replace answer →
Get a real price for your repair
$99 diagnostic, credited when you go ahead.