Repair or replace? How we make the call on an old unit
There is a simple rule we use before quoting a repair on equipment that is over ten years old. It saves owners from paying twice.
Every repair quote on an older unit starts with the same question: is this the last repair, or the first of several? Here is how we think about it, out loud, so you can push back.
The rule
If the repair costs more than half of what a comparable new unit costs installed, and the unit is past the middle of its expected life, we recommend replacing it. Compressors on old reach-ins and control boards on old combi ovens are the two most common examples.
What we look at
Age and hours, parts availability for that model, energy use compared to a new unit, and whether the failure is a one off or a symptom of a unit that is wearing out everywhere at once.
If we recommend a replacement, we will set it, connect it, and start it up. If we recommend the repair, it is because we think it will hold.
