Should You Repair or Replace Your HVAC System in Pierce County?

If your furnace or heat pump has been giving you trouble, you might be wondering: Do I fix it again, or is it finally time to replace it? Homeowners in Tacoma, Puyallup, Graham, and the surrounding areas face this question all the time. At GreenFlow Heating & Cooling, we want you to feel confident making the call here are some key things to look at:

Repair	What to look at	Replace
System is under 12 years old	Age of System	System is over 12 years old, possibly running outdated refrigerant (like R-22) and losing efficiency
Minor issue (drain line, electrical, ductwork)	Extent of Problem	Major issue (blower motor, compressor, condenser coil)
Repair cost is less than 50% of a new system and may still be under warranty	Cost of Repair	Repair cost is more than 50% of a new system
SEER 13 or higher, still reasonably efficient	Efficiency	SEER below 14, upgrading to high-efficiency can lower monthly bills
Fewer than 2 major repairs in 10 years	Repair History	Third (or more) major repair
System is properly sized for the home	System Size	System is too big or too small, causing comfort and efficiency problems
Keeps the home comfortable with even temps	Comfort	Struggles to maintain consistent airflow or temperature
Still under warranty (repairs cost less)	Warranty Status	Warranty expired, repairs fully out-of-pocket

One quick way to weigh repair versus replacement is the “5K Rule.” Here’s how it works: take the age of your system and multiply it by the cost of the repair. If that number is more than $5,000, replacement usually makes the smarter long-term choice. For example, say your 12-year-old furnace needs a $600 blower motor repair. Multiply 12 × 600 and you get $7,200 over the $5K threshold making it time to replace. At that point, putting more money into the old system probably isn’t worth it, especially since efficiency tends to drop off after year 12. On the other hand, if your 6-year-old heat pump needs a $400 fix, that’s only $2,400 well under the 5K Rule which means a repair is the more practical option.

$5k Rule to Repair or Replace HVAC System

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Still not sure if you should repair or replace your HVAC?

Here’s the good news you don’t have to figure it out alone. At GreenFlow Heating & Cooling, we’ll walk you through your options with straight answers and honest recommendations. If your system just needs a quick fix, we’ll tell you. If it’s time to think about a replacement, we’ll explain why and what your options look like.

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