Cost to Repair an Air Conditioner – 2024 Prices
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Even two days can seem like an eternity without an air conditioner during the dog days of summer - when it's so hot you hate to move. When your A/C is on the fritz, you need relief fast.
Keep reading to learn more about the cost of repairing an air conditioner.
2024 Air Conditioner Repair Costs
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| National Average Price | $410 |
| Typical Price Range | $175 - $650 |
| Minimum Price | $75 |
| Maximum Price | $1,800 |
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How Much Do AC Repairs Cost?
The average cost to repair a broken air conditioner is $410, and most homeowners spend between $175 and $650. The cost could be much more, though, depending on the issue with the system. Too many uninformed homeowners pay a service fee just for the technician to flip the tripped circuit breaker back on to restore power.
When you experience a non-working air conditioner, there are a few things you should check before calling customer service. Complete this checklist before making the call; it could save you a few dollars.
Items you should check yourself before calling for service
- Thermostat set to “cool”
- Thermostat set to below room temperature
- Tripped circuit breaker or blown fuse
- The filter in a window unit is clean and the plug is firmly seated
If all these are working, you should call a service technician.
Preventive maintenance could help you avoid this occurrence. Having a technician do a general cleaning and maintenance check in the spring can prevent many of those mid-summer miscarriages of maintenance.
Most technicians will charge $75 – $150 for preventative maintenance, and that could identify issues before they arise and require an emergency service call.
A/C Issues & Repair Costs
Whether your A/C unit is two years old or twenty, most of us cringe at the thought of replacing it. Well, one issue might be the expense of replacement, which could easily be $4,000 to $8,000, installed.
When your AC is leaking, strange odors are coming from your unit, or different noises than the usual hum from the A/C, something is likely wrong. Those bad smells could be caused by mold or leaking coolants, which could spell danger to your family’s health, so get your A/C checked right away.
The price of repairing your air conditioning unit and components will depend on what the malfunctioning part is. Below is a list of possible problems and the expense of repairs:
| Common A/C Repairs | Estimated Price |
|---|---|
| Replacing circuit breakers, relays, or fuses | $200 – $300 |
| Replacing a thermostat | $100 – $300 |
| Troubleshooting service calls | $100 – $300 |
| Annual maintenance or system tune-up | $80 – $150 |
| Replacing the condensation pump | $475 – $600 |
| Replacing the condenser fan motor | $150 – $300 |
| Replacing contactors or capacitors | $200 – $400 |
| Replacing circuit boards | $200 – $600 |
| Recharging the refrigerant | $400 – $1,500 |
| Tracking down refrigerant leaks and repairing | $200 – $1,500 |
| Replacing evaporator coils | $600 – $1,200 |
| Replacing the air compressor | $600 – $1,800 |
This information is for an estimate only and should not be considered a price quote. Contact an air conditioning professional to troubleshoot your system. How much they charge will depend primarily on the time of year, geographical area, and the type of unit you have.
Remember, to minimize or prevent problems, always have an HVAC professional or A/C technician do an annual tune-up before you start using your unit daily.
Check our Refrigerant Line Charge Calculator to ensure you have the right charge.
Window Unit Issues and Repair Costs
A window unit A/C is like an entire HVAC system in one small unit that you can put in any window of your home to cool the room. Many of the same issues you face with an HVAC system can occur in a window unit.
The filter is dirty or clogged. The evaporator or condenser coil malfunctions. The thermostat or condenser is not working. One of the two fans is not functioning; the one blowing in or the one transferring heat to the outside. When the repair equals 50 percent of the price of a new unit, it is time to replace it.
Before installing a new unit, ensure the drain plug is open so the water from the evaporator drains outside and not into the room. Check your owner’s manual. Some units work correctly when level, while others require sloping the unit slightly downward toward the outside. Otherwise, the water will sit in the bottom of the A/C and possibly short out internal parts.
If you need to replace your window unit, the first step is to consult our window unit size calculator to determine the size of the unit needed. The cost of a window unit generally ranges between $175 and $850.
Need Repairs to Your Air Conditioner?
Always use trained and certified heat and air professionals. Make sure they are licensed and insured. Anyone can start a handyman service or call themselves heat and air specialists.
However, North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certified technicians, Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), or the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) certified technicians are usually trustworthy HVAC professionals.
If possible, contact the company that installed the unit first, before moving to others. You may find that the unit is still under warranty, which can help lower costs.
In addition, the people that install units tend to be familiar with them and will likely be in a good place to offer advice on repairs.
To find qualified heat & air technicians in your area and get free home repair estimates, use our contractor locator tool. Staying cool requires knowing your A/C system and where you can find qualified technicians to make necessary repairs.
All pricing information on this page is based on average industry costs, and is subject to variance for project-specific materials, labor rates, and requirements.