Guides / Updated 2026-06-09
Repair or replace the AC in a Central Florida home
Age is a clue, not a verdict. A five-year-old system with a bad capacitor is a repair. A twelve-year-old system that needs refrigerant every June is a different conversation.
Lean toward repair
The system is under about five years old, the failure is a component (capacitor, contactor, fan motor, drain), and the rest of the readings look normal. Fix the part. Put it on a six-month maintenance schedule so the next failure is not a surprise.
Lean toward replacement
The system is past ten years, the power bill has climbed, it short cycles, or it needs refrigerant every season. Newer equipment is more efficient, but only if it is the right size. An oversized replacement will feel worse, not better.
Get the number before the opinion
Ask for a load calculation, not a tonnage copied off the old condenser. TXT Home Services does that analysis before recommending a system. You should see the price before anyone orders equipment.