In Brevard County, the average central AC lasts 12 to 15 years. Salt air shaves that down on the barrier islands. If your system is in that age range and shows any two of the signs below, it is usually cheaper over five years to replace than to keep repairing.
1. R-22 (Freon) refrigerant. Production was banned in 2020. The remaining supply is recycled, scarce, and expensive. A single recharge can run $400 to $800. If you have a leak, that money is literally evaporating.
2. Repair quotes north of 50% of replacement. The classic test. A new mid-tier 3-ton system in the Brevard market generally runs $7,000 to $9,500 installed. If a single repair quote is above $3,500, it is worth getting a replacement number for comparison.
3. Hot and cold rooms. This is sometimes a duct problem, but on an aging system with a tired blower or undersized return, you will never balance it without a new unit and possibly new duct runs.
4. Indoor humidity above 60% with the AC running. The system is not pulling enough latent heat. It could be oversizing, it could be a dying compressor. Either way, the cure is right-sizing during replacement.
5. Climbing electric bills. A SEER 10 system from 2008 uses almost twice the energy of a current SEER 18. Across a Florida summer, the difference can be $80 to $150 per month.
The honest answer is not always "replace." Ask for a written diagnosis with photos and refrigerant pressure readings, not a verbal "you need a new system." A trustworthy contractor will give you both numbers so you can compare.