HVAC Repair Cost: $350 Average, $130 to $2,000 (2026)

Installed price for parts and labor. Older, high-efficiency or hard-to-reach equipment costs more. Ask for the part and labor on separate lines.

Do this now: heat or AC not working

1. Smell gas? Leave now. Do not touch light switches, the thermostat or appliance controls. From outside, call 911 and the gas utility (Southwest Gas).
2. CO alarm sounding? Do not look for the source. Get everyone outside, call 911, and stay out until responders say it is safe (CPSC).
3. Thermostat: check the mode (HEAT or COOL) and set the fan to AUTO. Carrier says a fan on ON, or a heat pump set to cool, blows air that feels cold.
4. Breaker and filter: check the breaker and the filter. Bryant says not to keep resetting a breaker that trips again.
5. Write it down: note the brand, the rough age and any blinking light code, and read them to the company that answers. A furnace blowing cold air has its own guide: furnace blowing cold air.

How much does HVAC repair cost

Most HVAC repairs cost $150 to $450, according to HomeGuide, with a national average of $293 and a range of $75 to $2,900. HomeAdvisor's 2026 data puts the average at $350 and the normal range at $130 to $2,000, with some invoices reaching $3,000. Small electrical parts such as capacitors, contactors and igniters sit at the low end. Refrigerant leaks, coils, compressors and heat exchangers sit at the high end and are where repair versus replacement becomes a real question. HomeGuide says the average AC service runs $319 and the average furnace service $268.

HVAC service cost: service call fees, hourly rates and emergency rates

An HVAC service call costs $75 to $200 in HomeGuide's figures and $100 to $250 in HomeAdvisor's 2026 guide, and many companies apply it to the first hour of work. HomeAdvisor says a two-hour job runs $200 to $500 before parts.

Ask the company to quote the service call fee on the phone, and whether it is credited toward the repair.

Emergency HVAC repair costs more. HomeGuide puts emergency labor at $140 to $250 an hour, and says some contractors add $40 to $80 an hour for nights and weekends. HomeAdvisor gives no figure but says rates rise. If the house is safe and the weather is mild, a weekday appointment is the cheaper call. If it is not, see emergency HVAC repair for what to do first.

HVAC repair or replace: the 50% rule and the $5,000 rule

Replace instead of repair when the repair costs more than half the price of a new unit, says HomeAdvisor; HomeGuide sets a lower bar of 30% for systems older than 10 years. HomeAdvisor's heat pump guide also gives the "$5,000 rule": multiply the repair cost by the unit's age in years, and if the result is over $5,000, replace the outdoor unit. A $600 repair on a 10-year-old unit gives $6,000, which points to replacement.

Age matters too. HomeGuide says a properly installed HVAC system lasts 15 to 25 years if well maintained, and HomeAdvisor gives the same 15 to 25 years. Price the replacement before you decide: furnace replacement cost, boiler replacement cost, heat pump installation cost and AC replacement cost each list installed prices. HomeGuide puts a full HVAC system replacement at $5,000 to $11,000.

Heating and air conditioning repair by system

Each system fails in its own way, so start with the guide for the equipment you have.

• Furnace. HomeGuide puts the average furnace service at $268. Igniters, flame sensors and blower motors are the usual parts. See furnace repair for a check-first list.
• Boiler. Hot water and steam systems have their own pumps, valves and pressure controls. Low pressure, leaks and banging pipes are covered in boiler repair.
• Heat pump. HomeAdvisor puts heat pump repair at $200 to $2,000. Ice on the outdoor unit and cold air during defrost are explained in heat pump repair.
• Central air. Capacitors, refrigerant and coils are the common fixes. See AC repair, and AC not cooling if it runs but the house stays warm.
• Ductless systems. Mini split installation covers ductless units for rooms the main system does not reach.
• Ducts. HomeGuide puts duct cleaning at $450 to $1,000 and minor duct repair at $200 to $700. See duct cleaning.
• Businesses. Rooftop units and service contracts are covered in commercial HVAC repair.

HVAC maintenance: what a tune-up costs and what it prevents

An HVAC tune-up costs $70 to $200 per visit in HomeGuide's figures, and a maintenance plan $10 to $25 a month or $150 to $300 a year, usually with one or two tune-ups. CPSC says to have the heating system professionally inspected and serviced every year, and to install CO alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Southwest Gas also recommends having gas appliances serviced every year by a trained professional. HomeGuide says capacitors last 10 to 20 years and may fail sooner after power surges or in extreme climates, which is why a tune-up checks them. Heating maintenance is one line in home maintenance cost, and the full list of trades is in home repair costs.

HVAC company near me: how to choose one

Hire a company that holds the state or local license for heating and air conditioning work where you live, and ask for the license number and proof of insurance before anyone starts. Licensing rules in our six states:

Look up the license number with the agency yourself. Rules can change; check the agency site.

Questions worth asking before you book:

• What is the service call fee, and does it count toward the repair?
• Is the price flat-rate or hourly? Get the part and labor as separate lines.
• Is the part under warranty? Ask whether the failed part is still covered by the manufacturer before you pay for it.
• For AC and heat pump work, is the technician certified to handle refrigerant?
• For a replacement quote, will they do a load calculation (Manual J) instead of matching the old unit's size?
• Red flags: a replacement pitch before anyone has diagnosed the problem, refusing to show you the failed part, or a refrigerant top-off with no leak search on a system that keeps losing charge.

HVAC repair by city

City guides list local permit rules and climate notes for heating and cooling repair:

• AC repair in Houston
• AC repair in San Antonio
• AC repair in Miami
• AC repair in Tampa
• AC repair in Orlando
• AC repair in Los Angeles
• AC repair in San Diego
• AC repair in Phoenix
• AC repair in Las Vegas
• AC repair in Denver

Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job. How calls work. Not sure it is an HVAC problem? See who to call.

AC problems, one guide each: AC not turning on, AC leaking water, AC freezing up and AC compressor repair.

More cooling guides: AC tune-up and maintenance, bad AC capacitor, and HVAC system replacement cost for replacing the furnace and AC together.