Repair or Replace an Old Air Conditioner? A Tech’s Honest Advice | Ontario

Hey there, I’m Terence. For the last fifteen years, I’ve been the guy you call when your house feels like a sauna on that first, unexpectedly sticky day in May. I’ve spent my career navigating the attics, basements, and backyards of homes all across Ontario, from the Hamilton, North York up to Barrie and everywhere in between. In that time, I’ve seen it all.

You get to know the personalities of different HVAC brands when you work on them day in and day out. Lennox units are like the luxury sedans of the industry packed with features and wonderfully efficient. KeepRite and Goodman are the trusty workhorses; they’re reliable, no frills, and parts are easy to come by. Trane systems are built like absolute tanks. But Carrier? Carrier has a special place in my toolkit. They’re engineered with a toughness that I’ve come to deeply respect. In the latest AC models, I find they’ve enhanced their systems with advanced technologies that optimize operation speed and humidity control for superior performance and energy efficiency.

The reason I’m writing this today is that I see a worrying trend: good, solid machines being condemned to the scrap heap prematurely. A homeowner gets told their 12 yrs old AC needs a $4,500 replacement, they panic, and they sign on the dotted line. Sometimes, that’s the right call. But a lot of the time, it’s not.

Today, I want to share a couple of stories from the field, pull back the curtain on the “repair vs. replace” dilemma, and give you the same honest advice I’d give a family member.

The Big Question: How Long Should an AC Really Last?

Before we dive into my war stories, let’s start with the official word. I always believe in starting with what the manufacturer thinks. Carrier has a fantastic, honest article on their own Canadian website about HVAC lifespan. They state, and I quote, that “a well-maintained furnace can last 15 to 20 years… A well maintained air conditioner can last 10 to 15 yrs.” You can read their full take on it right here: How Long Do HVAC Systems Last?

They use a key phrase there: “well maintained.” That’s the linchpin. Those numbers are averages, not expiration dates. I’ve serviced 22 yrs old Carrier units that still hum along beautifully because the owner treated them right. And I’ve seen 8 yrs old units that were completely neglected and on their last legs. The age is just a number; the story of the machine is what matters.

This brings me to my first case study to share with you today.

Case Study #1: The Newmarket Scare and the $200 Fix

Last summer, during a brutal heatwave, I got a call from a homeowner in Newmarket. Their voice was thick with stress. “Our AC just stopped blowing cold,” they said. “We had another company come by, and they took one look, said the compressor was shot, and quoted us $4,500 for a new system. We just can’t afford that right now.”

This is the kind of call that gets my attention. A “shot compressor” is the death sentence for an air conditioner, and it’s what a lazy or unscrupulous tech will often claim when they want a quick sale on a new unit.

When I arrived, I saw a classic Carrier system, probably about 14 yrs old. It looked clean, and the homeowner mentioned they changed the filter regularly. First things first, I did my basic checks: thermostat is calling for cool, breakers are on, filter is clean. All good.

I went out to the condenser unit outside. The fan wasn’t spinning, but I could hear a faint humming sound. For any experienced technician, that hum is a huge clue. It means the motor is getting power but can’t get started. It’s like turning the key in your car and just hearing a “click.”

I powered down the system, opened the service panel, and I saw it immediately. The dual run capacitor was bulging at the top, domed like a muffin. In simple terms, a capacitor is like a big battery that gives the compressor and fan motor a powerful jolt to get them moving from a dead stop. Over time, they wear out and fail. And when they do, the motors can’t start.

I showed the homeowner the swollen capacitor and explained what it did. I had a new one in my truck. Fifteen minutes and one new capacitor later, I switched the power back on. The system kicked on with a satisfying thump humming and the air coming out of the vents inside was crisp and cold.

The total bill, including the part and my service call fee, was less than $200. The homeowner went from facing a nearly $4,500 bill to being out less than the cost of a fancy dinner. They were ecstatic, and I felt good knowing that a perfectly fine Carrier unit would live to fight another summer.

The takeaway: If you get a catastrophic diagnosis, always get a second opinion from a reputable, independent technician. Sometimes the scariest problems have the simplest solutions.

Case Study #2: The Tough Call in Hamilton and the R-22 Dilemma

Not every story has a simple, cheap fix. Sometimes, the tough “repair vs. replace” conversation is unavoidable. This happened with a client in Hamilton who had a 13 yrs old Carrier system. Their complaint was that the AC was running constantly but the house never really felt cool.

This is a classic sign of a refrigerant leak. When I hooked up my gauges, sure enough, the pressure was low. Now, here’s where it gets complicated. This system used R-22 refrigerant, often known by its old brand name, Freon. As of 2020, R-22 is no longer produced or imported in Canada due to its environmental impact. We can still use recycled R-22 to service older systems, but it’s incredibly expensive, and the supply is dwindling.

I explained the situation to the homeowners. We had two paths:

1. The Band-Aid (Repair): We could spend hours performing a leak search on the system’s coils. If we found it and it was accessible, we could try to patch it. Then, we would have to refill the system with pricey R-22. The total cost would likely be in the $1,200-$1,800 range. My honest caveat was that on a 13 yrs old system, you might fix one leak only to have the aging compressor fail next year. It was a gamble.
2. The Long-Term Solution (Replace): This was the big investment. A new, high efficiency Carrier system would be installed. It would run on the modern, environmentally friendlier R-410A refrigerant. It would come with a 10-year warranty, and their hydro bills would be noticeably lower due to the massive jump in efficiency (SEER rating).

This wasn’t a pressure sale. It was a transparent conversation about risk, cost, and long-term value. I laid out the pros and cons of both choices, answered all their questions, and then let them decide. They ultimately chose to replace the unit. But they did it feeling empowered and informed, not scared and rushed. They knew they were making a strategic investment in their home, not just grudgingly paying for a surprise expense.

The takeaway: A good technician’s job isn’t just to fix things; it’s to provide clarity. When dealing with older systems, especially with the R-22 issue, the context is everything.

Giving Your AC a Fighting Chance

So, how can you be the owner of that 20 yrs old Carrier that’s still going strong? It’s not magic. It’s about basic, consistent care. You don’t have to be an expert. In fact, CBC News put out a great, common sense guide on this a while back that’s full of practical advice. You can check it out here: Tips for getting the most out of your air conditioning unit.

My top three tips, echoing what they say, are:

1. Change Your Air Filter Religiously. I cannot say this enough. A clogged filter suffocates your system. It makes it work harder, get dirtier, and fail faster. It’s the single cheapest, easiest thing you can do.
2. Keep the Outdoor Unit Clean. In the spring, before you even think of turning the AC on, take a hose (on a gentle setting!) and rinse the cottonwood seeds, dust, and winter grime out of the fins of your outdoor unit. Let it breathe!
3. Get Annual Professional Maintenance. Yes, I’m a tech, so I’m biased. But an annual check-up isn’t a cash grab. It’s where we clean the components you can’t reach, check electrical connections, measure refrigerant levels, and spot things like that bulging capacitor in Newmarket before it fails on a 40°C day. It’s preventative care that pays for itself.

An old Carrier AC isn’t a liability; it’s often a testament to quality engineering. Before you let someone tell you it’s time to pull the plug, make sure you’re talking to someone who respects the machine and respects you as a homeowner. Ask questions. Get that second opinion. You might just save yourself thousands and keep a reliable old guard on duty for a few more years.

Finally, I’d like to share a great video from the “Word of Advice TV” YouTube channel. They demonstrate 15 air conditioner maintenance tips that you might find helpful.

Stay cool, Ontario. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any help with your air conditioning.