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Repair or Replace

  • Serving Los Angeles for 75 Years

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  • Award-Winning Service

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By clicking “Send Message”, I am providing express written consent to receive autodialed and pre-recorded calls, texts, and SMS/MMS with marketing communications from Brody Pennell regarding home services at the phone number provided above, even if the number is on a corporate, state, or national Do Not Call list. Consent is not a condition to purchase services or products.

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FAQs to Determine if You Should Repair vs. Replace HVAC

When it comes to your Los Angeles home, comfort is a priority. After all, your house is where you spend so much of your time living life–from relaxing and sleeping to entertaining and making memories. So when a broken heater or AC disrupts your life, it’s reasonable to want some kind of assurance that it won’t happen again anytime soon. If repairs become more frequent–or the repair is very expensive–you may wonder if it’s worth it just to replace your HVAC.

Or you may be in the opposite scenario. A home service provider has recommended that you replace your HVAC, and you wonder if it can’t be repaired and last you a few more years. How do you know for sure?

Here at Brody Pennell, we complete HVAC installations every single day. Our award-winning HVAC team has truly seen it all, in every neighborhood across sunny LA. We talk to homeowners just like you every single day and answer questions about this same conundrum. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and our expert answers.

How long does an AC or heater last?

A residential AC unit can last 20 years or longer. Heaters can last 25 years or longer. But don’t be fooled; this is not a hard and fast number to go by. From an equipment and component standpoint, your HVAC units need annual maintenance to reach their maximum age.

So let’s be honest: have you had a technician visit your home every year for preventative maintenance since installation? Was the previous owner of your home diligent about service? If not, your HVAC simply won’t last as long.

The other side of this equation is simply your tolerance. As heating and cooling units get older, they get less efficient, meaning higher energy bills. They may get noisier, or struggle to keep your home at comfortable temperatures, both of which can be a nuisance. And yes–HVAC units will require repairs throughout their life. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide if you can put up with these annoyances or if you’d rather replace the system.

How many HVAC repairs are too many?

At most, you should expect to repair your AC or heater once a year. If you have to call an HVAC technician twice, three times, or more over the course of 12 months, there is an underlying issue.

However, that issue isn’t necessarily that your HVAC needs replacement. It could be that a previous repair was unsuccessful–either poor workmanship or a failed component. Another potential problem could be that your home is suffering from leaky doors or windows, and your HVAC is overworking to compensate. –maybe your AC or heater really is on its last legs and needs replacement.

If you’ve had two or more repairs in the last 12 months, you should consult with one of our Brody Pennell comfort advisors. Our team will work with you to determine the underlying problem and guide you in the next steps.

How should I compare the cost of AC repair vs. the cost of AC replacement?

If your faulty air conditioner is more than 10 years old, ask a trusted HVAC professional for two quotes: one for repair and one for replacement. If the AC repair estimate is less than 25% of the cost of a new system, it makes the most sense to repair it. Over 25%, start looking at a replacement.

Don’t forget to include lucrative extras in your calculation. For example, is your AC under warranty? If so, that may reduce or eliminate the repair cost. Another item to consider is incentives and rebates. During the slower season of spring and fall, you can find the deepest discounts on a new unit. Be sure to factor in those savings!

Do I need to replace my HVAC if I’m doing a home renovation project?

It depends. The size of your HVAC unit (expressed in Tons or BTUs) depends on how much heat exists in your home before a heating and cooling system is involved. Heat in your home comes from all sorts of sources, like the roof, walls, windows, people, electronics, lighting, and equipment. Have you made any of these changes to your home during a renovation?

  • Added or removed windows, or changed their location
  • Added or removed interior or exterior walls
  • Added new spaces entirely, like a finished attic or garage, or an enclosed sunroom
  • Added or changed equipment, especially in a kitchen


If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you should call our team at Brody Pennell for an evaluation. In some cases, a simple change of a damper or re-sizing of ductwork will do the trick. But in other situations, you may need to upsize your HVAC or invest in a small mini-split to ensure new spaces are comfortable.

Answering your HVAC Repair and Replace Questions

At Brody Pennell, we are committed to education first. We want our customers to be confident in their purchasing decisions, especially when it comes to investing in a new HVAC unit. If your question wasn’t answered here, please give our team a call at (310) 810-2721.

Put your family’s comfort first this year and schedule a no-obligation consultation with one of our many experienced team members. Call (310) 810-2721.

WE OFFER FINANCING!

On The Purchase and Installation of Our Air Conditioning Products and Systems
Get Financing That Works For You
Karen M.
James Handy from Brody Pennell was great! He solved the problem we were having of installing a new, upgraded Nest Learning Thermostat very quickly. He was courteous, communicative, helpful and well-informed. I would definitely recommend him.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the high praise! We're glad you enjoyed our service.
Wichanee P.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the glowing review! We're thrilled to hear that you're happy with our service.
Chris G.
Daniel B. is a true professional. Very thorough and explained everything as he was working. Would highly recommend.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the glowing review! We're thrilled to hear that you're happy with our service.
Vlad S.
Very knowledgeable processional
Response from the owner:Thanks for the fantastic review! We're happy to have served you well.
Delvin G.
Daniel was a great technician, he thoroughly explained each step if his original assessment. Then walked me through everything he was going to do to service my furnace. He was very knowledgeable and explained everything to me in an easily understandable manner.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Delvin! We're glad to hear that Daniel provided clear explanations and made the process easy to understand. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!
nancy M.
This Company exceeded expectations every step of the process. The office staff, management, sales and definitely the techs. They showed on time, met every unexpected challenge with calm proffesionalism and cleaned up the work daily. I love to give them 5 stars.
PS...price point is competitive
Response from the owner:Your satisfaction is our reward. Thank you for the 5-star review!
Greg C.
Ruben Medina arrived on time and quickly surveyed the situation from our description and the conditions and determined the likely cause of the problem. He was friendly but professional and efficient, confirming the cause and dealing with a part which had failed. After replacing it, he made sure through restarting and subsequent testing that the system was operating normally.
We were completely satisfied with Ruben's work and him personally.
Response from the owner:Your 5-star review made our day! Thanks for choosing us.
Lanell O.
German was professional and easy to converse with. He explained the situation clearly and gave me his honest thoughts on the issue. Amazing professional!
Response from the owner:Your satisfaction is our reward. Thank you for the 5-star review!
Andrew H.
The system needed cleaning, Justin & Phillip did an outstanding job.& very kind, taught me about what was needed to matain my wall heater.
Response from the owner:Thank you for recognizing Rene's outstanding job and kindness in teaching you about the cleaning process!
Daniel R.
I had Giovanny Quintero as my HVAC inspector, and he did a wonderful job.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the high praise! We're glad you enjoyed our service.
John F.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the perfect rating! We're pleased to know you had a great experience.
Damian H.
Amazing!!!
Response from the owner:We're delighted you had a great experience with us. Thanks for the 5-star review!
Rose B.
Your technician, Ricky Sanchez was prompt, efficient, patiently answered my questions, and left everything clean. Great experience
Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback and the 5-star rating! It means a lot to us.
Ronni K.
Always reliable and thoughtful about figuring out what is wrong. I trust them!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the perfect rating! We're pleased to know you had a great experience.
Edward L.
Justin was great explaining what things need updating to ensure the longevity of my unit. Very professional. Will work with him again.
Response from the owner:Your 5-star review made our day! Thanks for choosing us.
Joseph S.
Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback and the 5-star rating! It means a lot to us.
Deborah S.
I found this company online when we had a furnace emergency. EVERYONE connected with this company had been professional, kind and efficient. They came out and showed me things about my furnace that TERRIFIED me. They will be back tomorrow to fix ever And I could not be happier. They are my go-to heating, AC and Electrical company from now on. AAA+++
Eric
Much appreciation to Ricky and Phil for the professional service today. Respectful heating and air conditioning technicians who will get the job done correctly. They shared some good advice to help keep my split unit running smoothly. I highly recommend purchase of a split wall unit through Brody Pennell as well as Ricky and Phil.
Thanks again.
Eric
Response from the owner:We appreciate your 5-star rating! It's wonderful to know we met your expectations.
Elaine K.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the fantastic review! We're happy to have served you well.
BPS Sports 2.
Justin. Was very helpful and help me understand the procedure

12/25/24
Jason. Was helpful . He had my heat on in a heartbeat and he explain about the pressure switch and the issue.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your experience with Emmith! We appreciate your feedback and look forward to assisting you with any future HVAC needs.
Esther K.
I'm so glad I just happened to find this heating company! Kevin Lopez was fantastic. Kind patient and knowledgeable. Mine was a complicated case that he helped me with. Highly recommend the company and kevin.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the high praise! We're glad you enjoyed our service.
Mark Antonio G.
Let me state, first, that it would be an injustice to limit my comments about the service we have received from Brody Pennell to what has been provided by Rosendo Valdez, and the two fellows of his installation crew on January 2nd. I have to add the initial contact we had with technician, Daniel, and his manager, Brett. Collectively, these five gentlemen were not only excellent representatives of the company, they were also great lightening rods for the practice of customer serve in general. In all cases, their professionalism was tempered with culture of care, comfort, and concern for what we needed and what the company could provide, all in an effort to close the gap between where we were when we initially contacted Brody Pennell and where we wished to be in addressing the issue with heating our home. The character of their work easily surpassed the goal of meeting the needs of our household, going hand in hand with meeting their responsibilities as company employees providing a product to the public.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the fantastic review! We're happy to have served you well.
Nick H.
Justin U. was friendly, knowledgeable, and extremely helpful. He quickly diagnosed the issue with my heating system and walked me through the steps that needed to be taken to repair it.
Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback and the 5-star rating! It means a lot to us.
Brigitte C.
Justin was prompt, explained our issue and very professional. Pleased with the service.
Response from the owner:Your satisfaction is our reward. Thank you for the 5-star review!
Carolyn P.
Really impressed with the service. I arrived home to discover my heater stopped working and they were at my house within 2hr of calling, and had it fixed about 2hr after that. Justin was very helpful and explained everything that caused the issue and how to prevent it going forward. Thank you!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Carolyn! We're glad you were impressed with our service and that Justin could help explain everything. Your satisfaction means a lot to us!
Small-T G.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Small-t, for taking the time to leave a review. Your feedback is appreciated!
Maureen C.
A complete professional knowledgable and went above and beyond in making sure I had a full picture of what was needed and addressed anything he could immediately Grateful
Response from the owner:Thank you, Maureen, for your kind words! We're glad to hear that you felt well informed and supported. Your appreciation means a lot to us.
John B.
Louis is a quality professional. Engaging, informative, receptive to questions, and very transparent with his system diagnosis. Would happily have him back again and would recommend him to anyone looking for a thorough rundown of their HVAC performance.
Response from the owner:Thank you, John, for your kind words about Louis! We're glad to hear you had a positive experience and appreciate your recommendation.
E F.
Very knowledgeable easy to communicate with Very likeable
Response from the owner:Thank you, E, for your kind words! We're glad to hear you found our team knowledgeable and easy to communicate with. Your satisfaction means a lot to us!
Clarence D.
Juan was awesome, courteous and patient
Response from the owner:Thank you, Clarence! We're glad to hear that Juan made such a positive impression with his courteous and patient demeanor. Your feedback is appreciated!
Houry Y.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Houry, for taking the time to leave a review. We appreciate your feedback!
J
Javier was terrific and answered all my questions! Hearing back in action and understand my system more….
Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback and the 5-star rating! It means a lot to us.
Hugh K.
Alex did a superb job. He serviced my mini split inside then climbed a ladder to my second story to service my mini split's outside. In addition he showed me in detail how to use my Mitsubishi unit more effectively.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the fantastic review! We're happy to have served you well.
Dominic T.
Great service
Response from the owner:We're delighted you had a great experience with us. Thanks for the 5-star review!
Anne B.
Louis was fabulous. He was on time, courteous and knowledgeable. He has many years of experience and I trust his advice regarding my heat pump. I am buying a new heat pump system to replace my old one, and will use BrodyPennell for my heat pump service in the future.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the fantastic review! We're happy to have served you well.
Eddie L.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the perfect rating! We're pleased to know you had a great experience.
Walid B.
Professional service
Response from the owner:Thank you for the perfect rating! We're pleased to know you had a great experience.
Kaycee M.
Great team. Great staff.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the high praise! We're glad you enjoyed our service.
Anne Marie K.
Juan was great even my 2 Golden Retrievers enjoyed him coming - he was efficient and explained the result in easy to understand terms
Response from the owner:Your 5-star review made our day! Thanks for choosing us.
Greg H.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the high praise! We're glad you enjoyed our service.
Gus C.
Response from the owner:We're delighted you had a great experience with us. Thanks for the 5-star review!
Timothy L.
Juan Carbajal Brody Pennell was friendly, professional and thorough. He replaced all blower parts for our home HVAC and installed the entire unit efficiently and tested temperatures at vents upon completion.
I recommend him highly!
Tim L
Santa Monica
Response from the owner:Thank you for recommending Ivan and Jason, we appreciate your feedback!
Mike and Melissa M.
The technical staff at Brody and Pennell are experienced, knowledgeable, and communicate very well. They will investigate and answer any questions without difficulty. They clean and inspect older HVAC equipment, recommend upgrades or replacements, and install new gear rapidly and in excellent condition. The cost is higher but the quality is worth it.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the fantastic review! We're happy to have served you well.
Sandra S.
Daniel B and Kavin L. They are nice technicians
Response from the owner:We appreciate your 5-star rating! It's wonderful to know we met your expectations.
Jacqueline B.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the glowing review! We're thrilled to hear that you're happy with our service.
Richard T.
My technician was very thorough and professional. He was very detailed in his inspection of the equipment and in letting me know his assessment. It was very easy to communicate with him and he was not bothered with any of the questions I had. Even though the company gave a discount for the service, I feel it was a very through inspection.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Richard, for your kind words! We're glad to hear that you had a positive experience with our technician and appreciated their thoroughness and communication. Your feedback means a lot to us!
Jennifer M.
The "comfort club" is well worth the annual fee. Our system is checked and cleaned twice annually, and the staff have been superb.
Response from the owner:We're so glad to hear that you're finding value in our Comfort Club membership! Thank you for your kind words about our staff.

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This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

By clicking “Send Message”, I am providing express written consent to receive autodialed and pre-recorded calls, texts, and SMS/MMS with marketing communications from Brody Pennell regarding home services at the phone number provided above, even if the number is on a corporate, state, or national Do Not Call list. Consent is not a condition to purchase services or products.