AC Repair San Antonio: $150 to $1,200 + Free Tune-Up (2026)

San Antonio rows come from ConsumerAffairs' 2026 San Antonio HVAC page; national rows from HomeAdvisor and HomeGuide.

Do this now: quick checks before you book

1. Set the thermostat to cool and a few degrees below room temperature; replace its batteries if the screen is blank.
2. Check the breaker for the outdoor unit and the furnace or air handler.
3. Ice on the lines or coil? Lennox says ice signals restricted airflow or low refrigerant and to switch the thermostat off cooling and run the fan; Bryant says not to chip the ice or restart while much ice remains.
4. Water around the indoor unit? The condensate drain may be clogged; HomeGuide prices clearing it at $75 to $250.
5. Write down what you notice: noises, smells, short cycling or warm air.

Is it urgent? When AC repair cannot wait

No cooling at all on a hot day, a burning smell, or anyone in the house showing heat illness is urgent; for those, see emergency AC repair in San Antonio. A system that cools but runs constantly, makes a new noise or leaks a little water can usually wait for a regular appointment, which avoids the after-hours labor rate of $160 to $250 an hour that HomeAdvisor reports.

What common AC repairs cost in San Antonio

A capacitor replacement runs $150 to $350 in San Antonio and a refrigerant leak repair with recharge $275 to $850, ConsumerAffairs reported in April 2026; a diagnostic visit costs $75 to $150. Nationally, HomeGuide prices a contactor at $200 to $450 installed, a fan motor at $200 to $700 and a compressor at $600 to $2,500, and says the diagnostic fee is often applied to the repair.

Free AC tune-up from CPS Energy

CPS Energy's High-Performance A/C Tune-up is no cost for residential customers in single-family homes in CPS territory, the utility says. The system must be a working central AC or heat pump at least one year old; ductless and window units are excluded, each home can get one every 5 years, and the outdoor temperature has to be at least 55 F on the day of service. Call 210-353-2728.

San Antonio's airport averages 122.4 days a year at or above 90 F, NOAA's normals show. HomeAdvisor puts a yearly tune-up at $80 to $100 for homes that do not qualify for the CPS program.

Repair or replace in San Antonio

A full system replacement costs $5,500 to $11,500 in San Antonio, ConsumerAffairs says, and CPS Energy pays rebates of $90 to $310 per ton on qualifying new central AC and heat pump systems. HomeGuide expects 12 to 15 years from a maintained AC. No federal tax credit applies in 2026: the IRS says 25C does not cover property placed in service after December 31, 2025. A new split AC in Texas must meet at least 14.3 SEER2 under DOE's Southeast standard. See AC replacement cost for prices by size.

Hiring an AC repair company in San Antonio

1. Check the TDLR air conditioning contractor license on the TDLR License Search.
2. DSD says trade permits are pulled by contractors licensed by the City or State and registered with the City; ask whether your job needs one.
3. Ask whether the technician holds EPA Section 608 certification for refrigerant work.
4. Get a written price before work starts.

All San Antonio heating and cooling topics are on HVAC repair in San Antonio. The national AC repair cost guide covers each part. Compare AC repair in Phoenix and AC repair in Orlando, or see home repair costs.