Normally the home warranty will repair if repairable or replace. 

Who was president is not a factor  Most warranty companies policy states they determine repair or replace. If is can be repaired ... then they repair it. Otherwise they replace it.  

I have not had experience with this particular issue. Mostly issues have been water heaters, appliances (microwaves, dishwashers, etc.). They have been replaced and sometimes just a part to repair. 

I hope you can get this resolved to your satisfaction.  Call your rep and see what they can do. 

Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTACONDOS.COM  nailed this one!

They will repair if they can since is cheaper than a new one. Hold on there. Wow! 47 year working AC! 

Read your contract.

My thoughts are similar to Kathleen Daniels . I've not had this issue but the focus usually IS on repair whenever possible. No doubt it depends on the warranty company, too. I would also suggest callling the area rep or perhaps the next level up!

Choice Home Warranty is wonderful - I'd let this company put a band-aid on it, then change warranty companies. The next time it fails, Choice has proven to my clients that they will do the right thing. I'm more pleased with this warranty company than any I've ever tried!

Can't say I have attempted this, Christine.

Follow the terms of the policy. They will take the least expensive route.

good luck on getting it replace but they should repair or replace.

Good grief 47 years old!! There is usually a depreciation scale and 47 years old is unbelievable (never appen in TX) .. bite the bullit and replace it..it's part of home maintance!

That is pretty old!  Our experience has been good with home warranty companies if the units are broken and not able to be repaired AND if they were in working condition at time the home warranty was issued (sometimes we've had to provide an A/C invoice or inspection to show it was in working order.  Otherwise we have had good experiences with home warranties covering things.  But that's a darn old unit, I can't believe it lasted that long. -Kasey

They tend to only replace if it's dead.  Usually a spark plug and a recharge is all they need (on mine).

I find it hard to believe they covered a 47 year old unit

Mine is going on 29 years.  AC repair/replacement is included in my Home Warranty. 

all you can do is ask

You would think they would just replace it and it would cost them less in the end.  Write lots of letters.

I've never dealt with anything that age and I can't believe it's even possible to repair at that point.

If the technician can fix it, it gets fixed and if not, replaced!

ditto to what Anthony said....

From what I understand old A/C units can not be fixed due to the new laws pertaining to the Freon gas that is used

The Home Warranty Companies are definitely getting much more conservative in their approach to repairs or replacement. Good luck!

Yes, we had what was considered the best warranty in the business and when our old one quit it was better and cheaper as well as faster not to use th warranty. Haven't recommended them since.

I have never seen a warranty co actually pay up for a claim or do what is suppose to be done

Don't know what your deal is with your home warranty company. In my case, my HVAC's are serviced professionally twice each year (fall and spring). So when my 8 year old AC needed replacing and then my 10 year old AC needed replacing, I had not arguments from the Warranty Company. Total cost to me: $200. They had all the records of top of the line ongoing maintenance. But typically they will continue to try to fix something until they know there's nothing to be done expect replacement.

Christine Kankowski North SD and Temecula - I think they should understand that.

One of my recent client with a home warranty got the 'aged' water heater replaced!

 I offered the home buyer a choice. Cash or warranty. If home is that old take the first.

Please let us know the outcome of this, and a hint as to which home warranty company is involved. 

The warranty company I mostly use will do what it takes to make it right. Old Republic home Warranty. If parts can't be found, they put in new.

If the system has failed, I don't know how they can repair. I would think parts would be so impossible to find. I've had appliances much newer that HW company just replaced, didn't even try to fix because the amount of time it would have taken to get those parts or similar enough parts to use would have exceeded the cost of the unit in labor. AHS?

This is a good one to know...Lets find out Christine

If I was running a warranty company, a 47 year old ac unit wouldn't be covered.

I am surprised that they were willing to warrant it.

Many of the commenters have given you answers, I wish you the best of outcomes. A

Unreal...who wouldn't recommend to their clients that a 47 year old unit with outdated freon and not be energy efficient be replaced?  Seriously?

47 year old AC - holy smokes hard to imagine here in AZ! Unfortunetly if HW says fix not replace - that's what they'll do. I have run into other issues where parts are not available so they did a cash offer - but it hardly was worth it.

Not may claims at all from my people.

   They need to live up to the terms of the contract.

The Home Warranty company should stand behind their policy no matter how old the unit is. As long as it was working at the time of the inception of the warranty.