How much does A/c repair cost?

On a hot summer day, nothing beats central air conditioning for cooling down the house. If the AC stops working, however, it can be a stark reminder of how important this appliance is when outside temperatures are climbing.

To keep your cooling system functioning at its best—and prolong its life—you need to maintain it regularly and quickly fix issues when problems arise. That includes tuning up your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) system annually for energy efficiency and lower utility bills, according to the US Department of Energy.  

Knowing how central AC works can put repair costs in perspective. An outdoor unit, called a condenser, has a compressor that pumps refrigerant through sealed copper tubing, which in turn chills an indoor evaporator coil. A blower passes room air over that cold evaporator coil, then circulates cool air through your home via ductwork (a system of large metal or flexible tubes). A thermostat turns the AC off and on depending on the room’s temperature.

Before calling a repair service to fix your AC, it’s a good idea to double-check your thermostat’s settings and batteries—an improperly adjusted thermostat is often the culprit. If your HVAC equipment seems completely dead, check the electric panel that serves the AC unit, to make sure a circuit breaker hasn’t tripped or a fuse hasn’t blown. 

Because air conditioner repairs involve high-voltage electrical components, fixing them isn’t a DIY project. Homeowners should leave repairing AC systems to qualified HVAC contractors. 

Learn more about air conditioning: See Why you need a good heating and cooling contractor and Servicing your AC for the summer.

HVAC technicians usually charge a flat service-call fee of $75–180 to visit your house, which often covers the first hour of troubleshooting or air-conditioner repair. 

For a routine tune-up, expect to pay a total of $125–250. That generally includes such tasks as a basic inspection, cleaning the condenser coils, flushing out the drain, changing the air filter, and lubricating fans and motors.

The HVAC repair service might charge an additional $40–60 for simple repairs, such as unclogging a condensation drain tube or replacing an electrical relay. You’ll typically pay up to $300–1,500 for a bigger problem, such as a refrigerant leak or figuring out why your AC is “short cycling” (turning off and on too often). 

The average cost of repairing a malfunctioning AC is $150–550. But this is highly dependent on the problem. Thermostat replacement can cost less than $100. Outdoor AC compressor replacement or condenser coil replacement can cost $575–2,500. An evaporator coil replacement can cost up to $2,000.

Here are some typical repair costs for components that commonly need fixing:

Air filters. Changing filters is the easiest DIY activity that people can do to keep their systems (and the air in their homes) healthy. Conventional filters cost $10–50 each at home-improvement centers, depending on size and quality of filtration. You can ask an HVAC pro to change your filters—this task is often included in a service call or tune-up, but you may be charged for the new filter.

Blower. If your AC produces little or no airflow through the system’s ductwork, or the air handler makes a buzzing or grinding sound when turned on, the fan/blower motor may have burned out. Fan motor replacement costs $300–700. If a belt that connects the motor to the fan is broken, replacing the belt will cost ​$75–130.

Capacitor. If an AC unit won’t start, the problem is likely to be a faulty capacitor—an electrical device in the outdoor condensing unit that boosts the compressor motor. “For 70% of the calls we get, it’s the capacitor,” says Menooa Akbari Masihi, CEO of So Cal Air Conditioning and Heating in Glendale, California. A bad capacitor in the AC system will cost an average of $200–350 to replace. You can also talk with your HVAC service person about a “hard-start kit” ($100–200 installed) that may solve the problem.

Circuit board. If your AC is acting strangely—turning off and on or changing temperatures by itself—one of the circuit boards that controls the equipment may be failing. Cost of replacing a circuit board is generally $125–600. For certain electrical parts that don’t turn on or off, the issue may be a defective contactor (similar to an electrical switch), which can cost $135–400 to replace.

Condensation pump and drain. An air conditioning unit won’t run if there’s condensation buildup. Water drips off of the indoor unit’s condenser into a drain pan where it collects, and then a condensate pump works to send it outdoors through a hose or pipe called a condensation drain line. If the drain becomes clogged with algae and dirt, cleaning can cost $100–150. Replacing the pump costs $270–450.

Evaporator coils. This component, which usually sits near or inside the indoor furnace or air handler, is what cools your home’s air. It can freeze up, shutting down the system. Cleaning evaporator coils is a full-day process that can cost $500–1,600, says Manny Saavedra, president of Manny’s Heating & Air Conditioning in Los Angeles. “Homeowners can usually avoid this expense by changing air filters regularly,” he adds.

Refrigerant leaks. If air coming from the AC never seems cold enough (or is actually warm), a licensed HVAC professional may need to test and recharge the system’s refrigerant. A refrigerant recharge costs $150–300 on average. Certain types of refrigerant are being phased out, so ask your HVAC technician about your best option for an older AC unit. 

Here are some other issues that can affect how much you’ll pay to repair or replace air-conditioning parts:

To reduce expenses for air-conditioning repair, try the following:

How much does it cost to repair AC in house?

HVAC contractors typically charge $150–550 to diagnose and repair a home AC unit. But for serious issues, the cost can rise to $2,500 or more.

How much does it cost to replace Freon in an AC unit?

The production of Freon was halted by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2020 due to concerns about ozone depletion. Air conditioning systems now use more environmentally friendly refrigerants, which cost an average of $150–300 to recharge.

Is it worth repairing an air conditioner?
Central air-conditioning units last an average of 10-15 years, while HVAC systems last 15-20 years. A newer system is worth repairing, especially if some or all of the parts are under warranty. But if air-conditioner repair costs are high and a unit is near the end of its natural lifespan, it may be cost-effective to buy a new, more energy efficient model.

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