What AC repair actually costs in the sun belt — 2026 prices
Real numbers for the most common AC repairs. By an EPA-certified tech.
The most common AC repair calls and what they cost
Capacitor failure: $165-$325. Most common single call in summer. The capacitor stores electricity to start the compressor and fan motor. When it fails, fan and compressor won't start.
Refrigerant leak: $240-$650 to find and seal small leaks, plus refrigerant. Refrigerant prices vary by type — R-410A is currently $80-150 per pound at retail, R-32 and R-454B (newer) are similar.
Contactor replacement: $185-$340. The contactor is an electrical relay that switches power to the compressor. They wear out with cycle count.
Condenser coil cleaning: $95-$195. Dirty coils reduce heat transfer efficiency 15-25%. Most homeowners haven't cleaned theirs in years.
Compressor replacement: $1,800-$3,800. The expensive one. On units over 10 years old, replacement of the whole system usually makes more sense.
What drives AC repair pricing up or down
Refrigerant type. R-22 (used in pre-2010 systems) is essentially banned now and runs $200+ per pound when you can find it. R-410A is current standard. R-32 and R-454B are next-gen and slightly cheaper to source.
System age. Parts for systems older than 12 years sometimes need to be sourced from refurbished or third-party suppliers, which costs more.
Brand. Trane and Carrier parts cost more than Goodman or Rheem. Lennox parts are notoriously hard to source.
Access difficulty. Attic-mounted air handlers, rooftop commercial units, and tight crawl-space access add labor time.
When repair doesn't make sense
The $5,000 rule: multiply system age in years by repair quote in dollars. If the result exceeds $5,000, lean toward replacement.
Examples: 8-year-old system needing $400 capacitor → 8 × 400 = $3,200 → repair. 15-year-old system needing $2,200 compressor → 15 × 2,200 = $33,000 → replace.
Other replace-not-repair triggers: cracked heat exchanger (carbon monoxide risk), refrigerant lines kinked or damaged beyond repair, multiple component failures within 12 months, R-22 system needing significant refrigerant.