HVAC Repair San Antonio: $150 to $1,200 + CPS Rebates (2026)

San Antonio rows are published local ranges and the CPS Energy rebate; the last row is national.

Do this now: no AC or no heat in San Antonio

Gas and heat risk come first: a gas smell or CO alarm means get out, and above 90 F indoors the CDC says a fan can raise body temperature.

1. Gas smell or a CO alarm? Get everyone out and call CPS Energy at 1-800-870-1006 or 911 from outside.
2. Heat stroke signs? A body temperature above 103 F, hot red dry skin, a fast strong pulse or confusion: call 911 first (Ready.gov).
3. Over 90 F inside? The CDC says a fan can raise body temperature at that point, so go somewhere with air conditioning. Dial 2-1-1 to find one.
4. No cooling? Check the thermostat, the breaker for the outdoor unit and the filter first.
5. Power out? Report it to CPS Energy at (210) 353-4357.

San Antonio HVAC permits: licensed and registered contractors only

San Antonio's Development Services Department tells homeowners they "must use licensed trade contractors for new electrical, plumbing and/or HVAC project components." It also says: "Trade contractors that are licensed by the City or State and registered with the City may obtain trade permits." Mechanical is one of the trade permits on DSD's list. In practice, the company you hire pulls the HVAC permit, so ask for the permit number before the old unit comes out.

For the state license, TDLR regulates the air conditioning and refrigeration trade and says contractors must still follow city permit rules. TDLR's Class B license covers cooling systems of 25 tons and under and heating up to 1.5 million BTUs an hour; Class A has no size limit. Class B contractors must carry at least $100,000 per occurrence in liability coverage, and Class A at least $300,000.

Local rules, contacts and climate for San Antonio, from official city, state, utility and NOAA pages unless the source says otherwise.

CPS Energy rebates for a new AC or heat pump

As of October 2026, CPS Energy pays $90 to $310 per ton for a qualifying central AC or heat pump, and $50 to $75 for a window unit. You can apply on CPS Energy's online rebate site or with a paper form, and the rebate line is 210-353-2728. CPS does not publish efficiency rules on the summary page, so ask the contractor which models qualify before you sign. It matters more now that the federal credit is gone: the IRS says the federal 25C credit does not apply to property placed in service after December 31, 2025.

HomeAdvisor's 2026 guide puts an installed heat pump at $6,087 on average, and a new AC at $5,978. Both are national figures. For how the pieces add up, see heat pump installation cost and AC replacement cost.

San Antonio heat and freeze: the two kinds of emergency

San Antonio gets more triple-digit days than Houston. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for San Antonio International Airport show 17.7 days a year at 100 F or above and a July high of 94.9 F. A breakdown on a hot evening costs more: HomeAdvisor says after-hours calls run $160 to $250 an hour nationally against $75 to $150 in business hours.

Cold is the other risk. The same normals show 14 nights a year at or below 32 F. In February 2021, the City of San Antonio's storm report says the city stayed below freezing from Feb 14 until Feb 17 and CPS Energy shed load for about 71 hours. Texas DSHS counted 16 storm deaths in Bexar County. If the heat goes out in a freeze, treat it as an emergency HVAC repair.

What to ask before a San Antonio HVAC visit

1. Are you registered with the City of San Antonio to pull trade permits?
2. What is your TDLR license number and class?
3. Which CPS Energy rebate tier does this unit qualify for, and will you file it?
4. What is the diagnostic fee? ConsumerAffairs lists $75 to $150 locally.
5. Can I see proof of insurance and a written quote with parts and labor?

TDLR takes complaints about licensed trades online within two years, and the Texas Attorney General has an online consumer complaint form. Calls to the heating and AC line go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job; see how calls work.

More San Antonio repair guides

Breakers tripping when the AC starts: electrical repair in San Antonio. Leaks and drains: plumber in San Antonio. Solar owners: San Antonio solar service. Compare AC repair in Houston and AC repair in Phoenix, or start at HVAC repair and home repair costs.

AC installation in San Antonio: cost and rebates

AC installation in San Antonio costs $5,500 to $11,500 for a full system replacement, ConsumerAffairs reported in April 2026. Nationally, HomeAdvisor puts AC installation at $3,887 to $8,073 with a $5,978 average, and HomeGuide puts a standard-efficiency system for a 2,000 square foot home at $5,000 to $8,300.

CPS Energy pays $90 to $310 per ton on qualifying new central AC and heat pump systems, while no federal 25C credit applies to equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025, the IRS says. DOE's Southeast standard requires at least 14.3 SEER2 on a new split AC under 45,000 Btu/h. DSD says trade permits are pulled by contractors licensed by the City or State and registered with the City, so ask the installer to include the permit in the quote.