How Much Does Air Conditioning Service Cost?

Not only does your air conditioner make you comfortable, it’s also vital to your health during the dog days of summer. For that reason, when the cold air stops blowing or the system won’t start up at all, you’re not able to shop around for more than a couple days. 

When your air conditioning goes out in the extreme temperatures of the summer, you might not have time to shop around for multiple quotes or research average costs. Not knowing how much you can expect to pay when the air conditioning service expert arrives can be unnerving, so we’re here to show you a few price ranges on some basic services so you won’t be shocked when Stevenson Service Experts comes to get you up and running again. 

  1. Refrigerant Leak Detection & Repair: $150 – $500 
  1. AC Circuit Board Replacement: $450 – $1300 
  1. Thermostat Replacement: $200 – $500 
  1. Capacitor Replacement: $250 – $350 
  1. Contactor Replacement: $150 – $350 
  1. AC Fan Motor Replacement: $500 – $1200 

Refrigerant Leak Detection and Repair 

Depending on where the leak is, whether or not it requires a leak test, and what actually demands repair, an average refrigerant leak detection and repair can end up costing anywhere from $150 to $500 depending on the technician’s accessibility of the leak. If you’re not confident, feel free to ask your air conditioner repair professional to guide you through their 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 equipment could cost anywhere from $450 to $1300. 

Thermostat Replacement 

If you’re looking to replace your home’s thermostat, a smart wifi thermostat will likely cost more than a basic thermostat. Depending on the type of thermostat you go with, you’re looking at anywhere between $200 and $550 to have a new on installed. Luckily, the latest thermostats might pay back their purchase price in energy management savings, if they are programmed properly. 

Capacitor or Contactor Replacement 

If your AC is still young or you decide to repair your older AC instead of buying an energy-efficient air conditioning upgrade, a capacitor will typically cost $250 to $350 and a contractor can cost a little lower, ranging from $150 – $350. These repairs are a couple of the most typical for your air conditioner. 

Air Conditioning Fan Motor Replacement 

Again, it’s always good to examine the pros and cons of choosing to repair your current air conditioning equipment versus investing in an upgraded, more energy-efficient piece of equipment. If replacing the 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 confusion is that if there is a part that needs to be replaced, that it is covered by 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 standard repairs, such as a capacitor replacement, the company still has to process the warranty through the manufacturer so they can get the credit on the part. Additionally, all manufacturers instruct the contractor to keep the part for eight to sixteen weeks and may ask the contractor return the failed part at the contractor’s cost. Greater repairs, a compressor for example, are included in this process but these bigger repairs have more supplies and materials required (i.e. refrigerant, copper fittings, etc.) that are not covered by the Original Equipment Manufacturer warranty. Unless you have a labor warranty you will continue have to pay additionally for the technician’s labor. 

Some of our Membership Plans allow for parts and labor coverage that functions in tandem with the manufacturer’s warranty to protect you from unexpected repair costs. 

Remember that these ranges are estimates and costs can increase or decrease depending on the climate of your city, the particular issues with your AC, the age of your air conditioner, and whether or not you’ve been getting yearly maintenance to maintain the AC’s health and your manufacturer’s warranty. If your system has seen its last summer and replacement seems more likely, take a moment to look at our air conditioner pricing guide

If you have any questions or ever need expert air conditioning repair, call Stevenson Service Experts 24/7/365.