Patch or Pitch
Costs checked Oct 26, 2026
Should you repair it or replace it? Real 2026 cost data for US homes, standard lifespan figures, and an honest take on home warranties. All prices in US dollars.
Illustrative image.
Repair or replace: run the numbers
Pick what broke, tell us its age and the repair quote you got. You get both scenarios side by side, from 2026 installed replacement costs and standard lifespan data. No verdict: the right call depends on things a calculator cannot know.
What broke?
Enter the repair quote to compare the scenarios.
Typical means the midpoint of the installed cost range. All figures US dollars.
Scenario oneRepair it
Scenario twoReplace it
What this leaves out
The quoted repair may not fix the real failure. Installation prices vary by region and home. An existing manufacturer warranty or service contract can change the math. Safety faults on gas or electrical systems are a licensed pro's call, not this page's.
A rule of thumb many pros use: lean toward replacement when a repair passes about half the cost of a new unit on a machine past mid-life. It is a heuristic, not an answer.
What things cost in 2026
Installed replacement cost ranges from HomeGuide (2026), all US dollars. Lifespans from the InterNACHI home life expectancy chart.
Cost guides
One guide per system. These three show the format.
Costs: HomeGuide installer-reported data, 2026. Lifespans: InterNACHI home life expectancy chart. All prices in US dollars.