How Much Does Air Conditioning Service Cost?

Not only does your air conditioner help you to stay comfortable, it’s also crucial for your health through the dog days of summer. Unfortunately, when the cool air stops blowing or the system won’t start up at all, you’re not in a position to shop around for more than a couple days.

When your AC breaks down in the heat of the summer, you might not have time to call around for competing quotes or research how much you may have to pay. Not being sure how much you can expect to pay when the air conditioning service expert knocks on your door can be intimidating, so we’re here to show you a few price ranges on some common services so you won’t be caught off guard when Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing arrives to get you up and running again.

1. 1. Refrigerant Leak Detection & Repair: $150 – $500

2. 2. AC Circuit Board Replacement: $450 – $1300

3. 3. Thermostat Replacement: $200 – $500

4. 4. Capacitor Replacement: $250 – $350

5. 5. Contactor Replacement: $150 – $350

6. 6. AC Fan Motor Replacement: $500 – $1200

Refrigerant Leak Detection and Repair

Depending on how accessible the leak is, whether or not it requires a leak test, and what actually needs to be repaired, an average refrigerant leak detection and repair can end up costing anywhere from $150 to $500 depending on how accessible the leak is for the technician. If you’re not confident, you can ask your air conditioner repair expert to guide you through his or her process and review their findings.

AC Circuit Board Replacement

Sometimes the issue 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 system could cost anywhere from $450 to $1300.

Thermostat Replacement

If you’re interested in replacing your home’s thermostat, a smart wifi thermostat will usually cost more than a basic thermostat. Depending on which style of thermostat you decide on, you’re most likely going to end up paying anywhere between $200 and $550 to get it installed. Fortunately, the newest thermostats may pay back their purchase price in energy management savings, if they are programmed correctly.

Capacitor or Contactor Replacement

If your air conditioner is still only a couple years old or you decide to repair your older system instead of buying an energy-efficient air conditioning upgrade, a capacitor will typically 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 air conditioning system.

Air Conditioning Fan Motor Replacement

Again, it’s always important to review the pros and cons of repairing your current air conditioner versus buying an upgraded, more energy-efficient AC system. If replacing your AC’s fan motor is the better decision for you, a fan motor replacement might be between $500 and $1200.

NOTE: Part repair under warranty

A common misconception is that if there is a part that needs to be replaced, that it is covered through the manufacturer’s equipment warranty; however, there are many additional costs that may not be covered by the warranty that you will be required to pay for out-of-pocket. Even with common repairs, such as a capacitor replacement, the contractor still has to process your warranty through the manufacturer so they can get the credit on the part. Also, all manufacturers demand the contractor to keep the part for two to four months and may require the contractor return the malfunctioned part at the contractor’s cost. Bigger repairs, a compressor for example, also require this process but these larger repairs have ancillary supplies and materials required (i.e. refrigerant, copper fittings, etc.) that are not covered through the Original Equipment Manufacturer warranty. Without a labor warranty you will continue have to pay additionally for the technician’s labor.

Some of our Membership Plans have parts and labor coverage that works in tandem with the manufacturer’s warranty to guard you from unexpected repair bills.

Remember that these costs are estimates and costs can increase or decrease depending on where the home is, the actual issues with your equipment, the age of your air conditioner, and whether or not you’ve been having annual maintenance to maintain the AC’s health and your manufacturer’s warranty. If your unit has seen its last summer and replacement is looking more likely, take a moment to review 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 & Plumbing 24/7/365.