Repair or Replace? A Quick Check for Your Furnace, AC or Water Heater
Answer four quick questions and get a plain-language read on whether a repair makes sense or it's worth getting a replacement price. No contact details required — the answer shows right here.
Owner-operated means the owner is the one working on your system. We'll look at it in person and give you a price before any work starts.
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Residential homes only. We'll get back to you during business hours, Monday-Friday 7AM-5PM. Weekend emergency? Call (412) 900-8688. Don't use the form.
How long do furnaces, AC and water heaters usually last?
General life ranges — not promises. Some systems go longer, some less, depending on usage, maintenance and the unit itself.
| System | General life range |
|---|---|
| Gas furnace | About 15–20 years |
| Central air conditioner | About 10–15 years |
| Tank water heater | About 8–12 years |
The age-times-cost rule, in plain English
The rule of thumb is simple: take the system's age in years and multiply it by the repair cost in dollars. If that number is more than $5,000, the repair usually isn't worth it compared with putting that same money toward a replacement.
The idea is that an older system has fewer good years left in it, so a big repair on an old unit is money you may not get back. A small repair on a younger system usually makes sense. The age-and-cost math is just a starting point — it can't see the actual condition of your equipment.
A few things nudge the answer toward replacement regardless of the math: a system past its general life range, a water heater leaking from the tank itself, or a unit that's needed more than one repair in the last two years. When a system keeps coming back, that pattern often says more than any single quote.
Repair-or-replace questions
Plain answers about the rule of thumb, system life ranges, and what the tool can and can't tell you.