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When deciding whether to repair or replace your air conditioner, several factors should be considered. It is generally worth repairing the unit if it's less than 10 years old, the warranty is still active, and you're dealing with a one-off issue. Most central AC units last about 15 years, while window units last 8 to 10 years. If your unit is approaching or has surpassed the 10-year mark and requires frequent or costly repairs (e.g., over $5,000), replacement is often the more sensible long-term investment. For older, inefficient, or out-of-warranty units experiencing multiple problems, replacing it is typically the better choice.

You should plan to change your AC unit's filter every one to three months, depending on the manufacturer's recommendations. You should also clean the coils at least once per year, but if you have pets or someone in your household has allergies, you might need to clean them more often. Fortunately, many pros will clean the coils and change the filter for you during an inspection, which you should schedule once or twice per year.

Not if you have a standard unit. Because portable AC units actually work to dehumidify the room, you’ll likely need to drain the unit from time to time—but you won’t have to put water into it. There is, however, another type of air conditioner called a swamp cooler that requires water to operate. If you have a swamp cooler, you may need to fill a reservoir with water and potentially ice. But a swamp cooler is different from a standard portable AC unit.

It depends on how fast an HVAC technician can resolve the issue. First, if there's a refrigerant leak, you’ll want to keep small children and pets out of the house. Next, you’ll want to turn off the AC unit to ensure no more freon enters your home. Finally, you’ll need an AC technician pro to come to your home and fix the leak immediately. Ultimately, it’s best to leave your home if you discover a freon leak—the risk of exposure is very high, and it’s not worth risking your health to stay.