[Rob Hood]

Just need some info/guidance on "maintenance" versus upgrades. Once of our AC units quit last night and I had the company come out today to diagnose/repair. They are just under 5 years old and we are the original owners.

[00 SS]

I design commercial HVAC system, but I may be able to help. 5 years is not very old. Most systems should have a useful life of 15-20 years. Have it diagnosed. If it's simply a leak, get it fixed and recharge. If the compressor is shot, you'll need to weigh the cost of repair vs a new condensing unit. New ones will likely be more efficient and save you a few bucks on the electric bill. Unless you existing one is a low efficiency unit, less than 12 SEER and the new one is more than 19 SEER, the new one will not likely pay for itself in reduced energy costs. Even if you can drastically increase efficiency, it will likely take most of the life of the unit to pay back. Of course this is totally dependant on your electric rates (now and future). Some electric companies wil offer rebates if you upgrade to a high enough efficiency or install a heat pump. You might want to scan the local companies web site before making a final decision.

Hopefully, that helped some, I'm not really sure what your questions are.