Break-Even Year

Watch the cost curves
cross.

The break-even year is the moment cumulative replacement cost drops below cumulative repair cost. Plot both paths over 20 years and the crossover is undeniable.

Break-even point

YEAR 11

Hold this property fewer years → repair. Hold it longer → replace.

Try it yourself.

Drag the slider to set how many years you’ll hold the property. The math reruns instantly.

Repair path

$1,000/yr

cumulative ÷ years held

Replace path

$1,467/yr

cumulative ÷ years held

Hold years 6 yrs

3 yrs · repair wins 11 yrs · tipping point 20 yrs · replace wins

Repair wins by $467/yr — you’ll hold this less than the tipping point.

Two sides of one number.

The tipping point is the year where the math flips. Hold less than it — repair. Hold more — replace.

Before the tipping point

< 11 yrs

You’re selling, refinancing, or moving the property inside the next decade.

Repair pays for itself before you’d see the cost of replacement amortized.

After the tipping point

≥ 11 yrs

You’re holding this property for the long haul — rentals, generational wealth.

Replacement gets cheaper per year for every year past 11. Repair money is wasted.

A worked example, year by year.

HVAC condenser: repair $2,400 upfront + $600/yr accelerating maintenance vs replace $8,500 upfront + $50/yr light maintenance.

Hold yrs

Repair total

Replace total

Verdict

$4,200

$8,650

Repair wins

$6,000

$8,800

Repair wins

$7,800

$8,950

Repair wins

$9,000

$9,050

Tipping point

$10,800

$9,200

Replace wins

$13,200

$9,400

Replace wins

Explore More Features

See everything Repair or Replace Decision Tool has to offer.

The 13-Factor Verdict

Stoplight Repair / Monitor / Replace verdict scored on 13 weighted factors — remaining life, cost-per-year, break-even, condition, ROI, and more.

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True Cost Per Year

Normalize repair vs. replace into a single apples-to-apples cost-per-year — with cumulative cost chart and crossover year.

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How Many Years Are Left?

Tree-rings remaining-life model: install year + expected lifespan + a 0.5×–1.3× condition multiplier = an honest end-of-life forecast.

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40+ Components, One Custom Slot

8 component categories — HVAC, roof, plumbing, electrical, appliances, exterior, interior, foundation — with built-in defaults, plus a blank custom card.

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