How Much Does Air Conditioning Service Cost?

August 05, 2016

Not only does air conditioning help you to stay comfortable, it’s also vital to your health when we’re here in the extreme temperatures of summer. For that reason, when the cold air suddenly isn’t blowing or the system won’t come on at all, you’re don’t have time to shop around for a few days.

When your AC goes out in the extreme temperatures of the summer, you might not have time to call around for competing quotes or research how much you may have to pay. Not knowing how much repairs can cost when the air conditioner service tech shows up can be intimidating, so we’re here with a few price ranges on some basic services so you won’t be caught off guard when Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning shows up to get you cooling again.

  1. Refrigerant Leak Detection & Repair: $150 - $500
  2. AC Circuit Board Replacement: $450 - $1300
  3. Thermostat Replacement: $200 - $500
  4. Capacitor Replacement: $250 - $350
  5. Contactor Replacement: $150 - $350
  6. AC Fan Motor Replacement: $500 - $1200

Refrigerant Leak Detection and Repair

Depending on how accessible the leak is, whether or not there needs to be a leak test, and what exactly needs to be repaired, an average refrigerant leak detection and repair can actually cost anywhere from $150 to $500 depending on how accessible the leak is for the technician. If you’re not confident, you can ask your AC repair technician to walk you through his or her process and review their findings.

AC Circuit Board Replacement

At times the culprit may be beyond the AC equipment itself and the circuit board may be in need of replacing. Depending on your AC make and model, a new circuit board for your equipment could cost anywhere from $450 to $1300.

Thermostat Replacement

If you’re looking to replace your home’s thermostat, a smart wifi thermostat will typically cost more than a traditional thermostat. Depending on which style of thermostat you go with, you’re probably going to pay anywhere between $200 and $550 to install a new one. Fortunately, the newer thermostats may pay back their investment in energy management savings, provided they are programmed accordingly.

Capacitor or Contactor Replacement

If your air conditioner is still young or you want to repair your older equipment instead of buying an energy-efficient A/C system upgrade, a capacitor will most likely cost $250 to $350 and a contractor can run a little lower, ranging from $150 - $350. These repairs are a couple of the most common for your AC system.

AC Fan Motor Replacement

Again, it’s always responsible to weigh the pros and cons of paying to repair your current air conditioning equipment versus investing in an upgraded, more energy-efficient air conditioner. If replacing your AC’s fan motor is the better decision for you, a fan motor replacement could cost between $500 and $1200.

NOTE: Part repair under warranty

A common confusion is that if a part replacement is required, that it is covered under the manufacturer’s equipment warranty; however, there are several additional costs that may not be covered under the warranty that you will be required to pay for out-of-pocket. Even with standard repairs, for example, a capacitor replacement, the company still has to process this warranty through the manufacturer so they can receive the credit on the part. Additionally, all manufacturers demand the contractor to hold the part for 60-120 days and may make the contractor return the malfunctioned part at the contractor’s cost. Larger repairs, a compressor for example, are included in this process but those types of repairs have more supplies and materials required (i.e. refrigerant, copper fittings, etc.) that are not covered by the Original Equipment Manufacturer warranty. If you don’t have a labor warranty you will always have to incur charges for the technician’s labor.

Some of our Membership Plans have parts and labor coverage that work with the manufacturer’s warranty to protect you from sudden repair bills.

Always understand that these ranges are estimates and many times they can increase or decrease depending on where the home is, the actual issues with your system, the age of your system, and whether or not you’ve been having annual maintenance to maintain the health of your air conditioning system and your manufacturer’s warranty. If your unit has seen its last summer and replacement is looking more likely, take a moment to read our air conditioner pricing guide.

If you want to find out more or ever need expert air conditioner repair, call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning 24/7/365.

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