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Repair or Replace

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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
atman
Anthony was a Pro!
Definitely recommend him!
Showed up on time and was very friendly!
Great costumer service!
10 stars!!!
Response from the owner:Your satisfaction is our reward. Thank you for the 5-star review!
Takanori O.
Kevin was fantastic! We have an old system and Kevin took the time to explain every piece of equipment in the HVAC. Appreciate the attention to detail and will be definitely using them in the future. Thanks!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the perfect rating! We're pleased to know you had a great experience.
Kathie K.
Both Justin’s that came to repair our unit were on time, very polite and explained what needed to be done in order for our unit to function. They took their time and were very thorough. Greatly appreciated. We are still deciding on the project .
Response from the owner:Your 5-star review made our day! Thanks for choosing us.
William W.
Hamachi’s Acosta and Allen Urquidez did a great job and now I have great air flow on “fan” function. I could not do it on my own.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind review! Your satisfaction is our top priority.
William W.
Had a great experience with today with the team from Brody Pennel. Punctual, professional, and effective. Would definitely use them again!
Response from the owner:Your 5-star review made our day! Thanks for choosing us.
LETICIA L.
Ruben Medina was very professional and pleasant and did a great job analyzing the issue with my AC, and came back to finish the job although it was later in the day.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words about Juan! We appreciate your feedback and are glad to hear that he provided you with excellent service.
Cathryn F.
I was referred to Brody Pennell from a friend who has utilized them for decades. There is something so comforting about working with True experts that know how to install a machine and how to ensure that it runs properly for years to come. Had a great experience with installation and with Jason, who came to service our units.
Update:
We just had Justin and Allen service since inexplicably our power was out to the unit. They resolved it so quickly and are wonderful gentlemen! Grateful for a company with integrity and happy staff.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the high praise! We're glad you enjoyed our service.
D S.
Very good service call. Very thorough!
Response from the owner:Your satisfaction is our reward. Thank you for the 5-star review!
Vin of the V.
Leaving a quick perfect review because of the super kind man that talked to me on the phone at this place - he was leagues away more professional in his brief conversation with me than someone else from a different local AC company was that I spoke to yesterday. If that other place falls through this afternoon, I will immediately be contacting these guys back, because they clearly value mutual respect and human decency over that of at least one competitor out here in LA
Response from the owner:Thanks for the fantastic review! We're happy to have served you well.
Kicheko H.
Daniel B. and David E. Both did such an amazing and mindful job diagnosing my AC unit. They took their time, and kept me informed each step of the way.I highly recommend both of these gentlemen.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the 5-star review! We're thrilled to know you had a fantastic experience with us.
Steven D.
Fantastic service. Technicians Jose Castillo and Misael Ramirez were consummate professionals. Wouldn’t trust any other company to service my HVAC system.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind review! Your satisfaction is our top priority.
Lani O.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the fantastic review! We're happy to have served you well.
Mary G.
Kevin was extremely polite and professional and explained everything he worked on and inspected and was very thorough in his work. We are very happy with his service and promptness.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the high praise! We're glad you enjoyed our service.
Taylor L.
Hands down the best HVAC service I’ve used. My home’s never felt more comfortable. Reason are very reasonable amazing service 😀
Response from the owner:We're delighted you had a great experience with us. Thanks for the 5-star review!
Blake T.
Giovanny came on the same-day to look at our HVAC system. Very professional and solid experience !
Response from the owner:Thank you for the high praise! We're glad you enjoyed our service.
Raul J.
Jonathan came and not was able to quickly fix my HVAC but spent the time to teach me what went wrong. Very friendly and helpful!
Response from the owner:Thanks for the fantastic review! We're happy to have served you well.
Phil A.
Excellent and knowledgeable service
Response from the owner:Thank you for the perfect rating! We're pleased to know you had a great experience.
J N.
Ivan Diaz was fantastic! Professional courteous and knowledgeable. He advised me of everything he would check for both of our house systems. After reviewing, cleaning condensers and changing filters. He also tactfully suggested a few recommendations which would be useful for our home. Mr. Diaz is a credit asset to your organization.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the fantastic review! We're happy to have served you well.
Sally R.
Great inspection/maintenance service today from Alex and Alberto. They were very thorough in both thier inspection and wonderful in explaining what they found and had a picture for everything. Very personable too. I believe you can't go wrong with Brody Pernnell
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind review! Your satisfaction is our top priority.
Junko T.
He explained so politely we were satisfied his maintenance and we hope he will come back for next maintenance.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the perfect rating! We're pleased to know you had a great experience.
lynn H.
Great experience. I was notified of an estimated arrival time so I could plan. When the tech came,he listened to my concerns and didnt try to diminish my concerns or upsell because im a woman. He took his time and triple checked everything. He didnt rush or try and sell me anything I didnt need which is everything. So I would recommend and will use again if need be.
Response from the owner:Your satisfaction is our reward. Thank you for the 5-star review!
Anthony G.
Great service.
Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback and the 5-star rating! It means a lot to us.
Kevin T.
Matthew was great! Subscribed so I"ll be seeing him again:)
Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback and the 5-star rating! It means a lot to us.
Crystal Z.
Great work from Juan and David, both were very professional. They explained things thoroughly showed me pictures of a rooftop unit, and we’re very detailed oriented. Will definitely use this company again.
Response from the owner:Your 5-star review made our day! Thanks for choosing us.
DM G.
Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback and the 5-star rating! It means a lot to us.
Jomar E.
Jonathan from Brody Pennel was very professional and skilled. He kept me informed throughout the servicing of my AC unit and discussed what was needed to keep it running in optimal condition.
Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback and the 5-star rating! It means a lot to us.
Lee L.
Giovanny was extremely professional and thorough. I felt like I received exceptional service from him and am continuing to work with Brody Pennell to replace my AC unit.
Response from the owner:We're delighted you had a great experience with us. Thanks for the 5-star review!
Andrew K.
Replacing my HVAC through Brody Pennel, I am very satisfied with my experience. From making an appointment to finishing the work, the process was systemized and thorough. Actual work was clean and timely. Thank you very much!
Response from the owner:We're delighted you had a great experience with us. Thanks for the 5-star review!
adrienne B.
I've finally found an AC maintenance company I can trust! Octavio and Armando serviced my two ACs today, checked and rechecked everything, cleaned the system, identified problems and solutions, and were incredibly professional, thorough and clear in all their explanations! They also wore booties and were nice to my dog :)
I've tried three other companies and have never had the great level of inspection and service that I had today.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your experience with us, adrienne bell! We're grateful for your kind words and we're glad Octavio and Armando provided you with such exceptional service. We appreciate your trust in us!
Loryn N.
Ivan was fantastic. He arrived on time, was very friendly and respectful of my home. He explained everything he was doing and answered all my questions. Everything was left in clean condition and my unit is running perfectly. I am 100% satisfied.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the glowing review! We're thrilled to hear that you're happy with our service.
Leslie C.
Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback and the 5-star rating! It means a lot to us.
Girsh I.
Response from the owner:Your satisfaction is our reward. Thank you for the 5-star review!
Jane S.
Outstanding service! Juan R. Worked on 2 HVAC Units in our building. Professional, knowledgeable, thorough, respectful and explained everything. He is outstanding and provided exceptional service!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words, Jane! It was a pleasure assisting you and I'm glad I could help resolve the issue for you.
Jim G.
Jaime was very polite and informative. He did a thorough job. But I was not impressed with the heavy handed up sell. I just wanted my system tuned I didn’t want to buy new components. Also their marketing is gorilla style. 4 days after having service done they hit me up to service my system. I’m not a fan of Brody Pernell.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the high praise! We're glad you enjoyed our service.
Georgia
Super impressed with their fast service and honest pricing . Got my AC running in no time . Great company 😃
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind review! Your satisfaction is our top priority.
Alessandra R.
Second time that I get them. Christian Flores was the technician. He did a maintenance check and fix some issues I had. I bought the maintenance plan from them. I highly recommend
Response from the owner:Thank you for trusting us with your HVAC needs, Alessandra! We appreciate your recommendation and are glad to hear that Shawn provided you with efficient service for both your A/C and heater.
Landon B.
Justin was very kind and helpful.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the glowing review! We're thrilled to hear that you're happy with our service.
Mara Hartwig C.
I was so impressed with the professionalism and workmanship done by Rosendo and his team from Brody Pennell. They got our entire HVAC replaced within 3 days. Ashton, the supervisor, was available by phone or in person every step of the way. I would whole-heartedly recommend Brody Pennell to anyone, and would use them again for any needs that might come up.
Response from the owner:Your 5-star review made our day! Thanks for choosing us.
Conner F.
Matthew was the best! 11/10 stars. Super helpful, knowledgeable and just a cool dude!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words, Conner! It was a pleasure assisting you.
DeAnna T.
Anthony (service tech) was timely and efficient. He clearly explained the service for both units (including pictures), checked the ductwork and made recommendations to keep the system at peak level.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your experience, DeAnna! We appreciate your feedback and are glad to hear that Daniel provided you with efficient service and clear explanations. We are here to help with any future needs you may have.
Sandra P.
The service rep was very thorough and explained what he was going to do. We were very pleased with his thoroughness to clear out some clogged areas to help with our breathing problems.
Rene Morales was the best. He slipped covers on his shoes as he stepped into the house.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the perfect rating! We're pleased to know you had a great experience.
airika K.
Brody Pennell serviced my AC unit today and Rene was great as always. Always in great spirits and professional.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words, Airika! We appreciate your continued support.
Gary H.
HVAC installation was done quickly and professionally!! They were on time and a pleasure to have around my home!
Response from the owner:We appreciate your 5-star rating! It's wonderful to know we met your expectations.
Shannon H.
Pascual, Frank and Nico were very professional and hard working! They completed my HVAC on time and did a really nice job! I highly recommend them!!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind review! Your satisfaction is our top priority.
SEAN H.
Brody Pennell serviced our AC unit in our condo today and they were excellent. Their technician was prompt, considerate and well qualified. I definitely recommend their service.
Response from the owner:We appreciate your 5-star rating! It's wonderful to know we met your expectations.
Estela N.
Jose Rivera was helpful, polite and clearly explained what he was doing.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your experience with Jose! We're glad to hear that he was able to assist you with fixing the issue promptly and ensuring everything was working well for you.
John S.
Juan was very detailed oriented and took the time to explain things to me in a technical way that was easy to understand.
Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback and the 5-star rating! It means a lot to us.
Simon F.
Today, Alberto M. from Brody Pennell came to provide annual maintenance to our HVAC system. His service was outstanding, he provided a super thorough explanation of all the work he did, and any potential recommendations for additional maintenance.

He took extensive photos that helped show the details of what was done and what might be needed down the line. I will definitely be calling Brody Pennell again for any HVAC maintenance or repair needs in the future.

Thanks again Alberto!
Response from the owner:We're delighted you had a great experience with us. Thanks for the 5-star review!
Arundhati N.
Very thorough and honest
Response from the owner:Thank you for the perfect rating! We're pleased to know you had a great experience.

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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.

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