Various things could go wrong with your air conditioning unit that lower the system’s energy efficiency and make your energy bills rise. When Louisville area homeowners experience troubles with their AC units, it’s important to call a repair company and have an HVAC technician make an air conditioner repair to avoid ongoing issues.
Air conditioning repair needs can include repair services such as fixing a refrigerant leak and performing a refrigerant recharge or flushing a clogged condensate drain line. To correct certain issues, AC repair may require replacement of vital HVAC system parts such as the circuit board, fan motor, evaporator coil, AC capacitor, AC compressor, or circuit breakers. Because system flaws can affect many different components of an air conditioner, it is difficult to say just how much you’ll pay for the air conditioning repair cost without checking out your AC unit.
Every air conditioner repair is situation-specific, but the average AC repair cost helps you know what you can expect to pay for the HVAC repair your AC system needs. Jarboe’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing shares the average cost to repair common AC unit problems, depending on the diagnosis for your home AC system.
Don’t put off calling for air conditioner repair, as problems can worsen as time goes on. Contact an HVAC professional repair company as soon as your AC unit or heat pump starts producing symptoms like strange noises, blowing warm air, or a lack of cool air from your central air conditioning system. The repair company will set an appointment for HVAC services and send a licensed HVAC technician to meet with you on the specified day.
This appointment is what’s known as a service call, and it’s an opportunity for HVAC technicians to examine your central air conditioner as well as perform diagnostics to uncover the repair issue at hand. HVAC technicians report their findings to you as well as the proposed AC unit repair needed to fix the problem. You’ll also receive an estimate of the air conditioner repair cost, covering labor costs per hour as well as replacement AC parts needed to restore the function of your air conditioner.
If you accept the proposed HVAC services and repair costs, HVAC technicians will move forward performing the AC repair. Occasionally, it may be necessary to schedule a return visit so that replacement AC parts can be ordered and arrive to the HVAC professional.
You can get free estimates from many HVAC companies for the cost to replace an entire air conditioning system, and it is common for homeowners to obtain estimates from a few different businesses before selecting an HVAC professional to do the job. When it comes to air conditioner repair, you likely won’t be able to get free estimates as most companies charge a service call fee to come take a look at your malfunctioning home AC unit.
The service call fee covers the costs the business covers for mileage, vehicle maintenance, and paying HVAC technicians per hour, as the average AC repair cost is much less than the cost to replace a whole air conditioning system. Expect to pay this cost whenever you request an HVAC technician to come to your home to diagnose your system for HVAC repair.
The cost of this visit may or may not include costs for diagnostic testing of your air conditioner. When diagnostic costs are separate from the service visit cost, some companies choose to waive charges for diagnostics when you choose to have their HVAC technicians perform the air conditioning repair.
The cost of a service call is entirely separate from the air conditioner repair cost. The repair cost will cover any replacement parts needed to repair your central air conditioning unit or heat pump, along with the labor fees for the technician’s work per hour. The average cost of a service visit usually runs between $50 to $250, depending on the company’s AC repair cost rates and if you need emergency repair services.
While AC repair costs vary greatly depending on the air conditioning unit issues at hand, the average cost gives you a clue what to expect to pay for the solutions your system needs. Across all the different types of air conditioning repair, the average cost is between $150 to $600 for most situations. At the average cost of around $150, this would be a relatively straightforward air conditioner repair with inexpensive replacement parts if necessary, like thermostat replacement with a manual model or flushing clogs from a condensate drain line.
So you have a better understanding of what you can expect to pay for the cost to fix your AC unit, here you’ll find the average cost for AC repair of the various common AC issues that impact air conditioners.
An air conditioning unit that has a refrigerant leak needs repair right away, especially since a Freon leak in an older AC unit can be harmful to the environment. A refrigerant leak can occur at various points in the central air conditioning system, either within the refrigerant lines, the AC compressor, or the evaporator coil. To diagnose a refrigerant leak, HVAC technicians look for damage as well as listen for strange noises, as a Puron or Freon leak can produce a hissing noise at the opening. The cost to repair a refrigerant leak commonly runs between $225 to $1,600, depending on the parts affected or new replacement components needed to complete the leak repair.
If a Puron or Freon leak stems from damage to the evaporator coil, the whole evaporator coil needs replacement. Corrosion and rusting are common causes of a refrigerant leak in an evaporator coil, making the coil unsuitable for repair. For a new evaporator coil, you will likely pay a replacement cost between $600 to $1,200.
After HVAC technicians perform a leak repair, it’s necessary to perform a refrigerant recharge to fill the air conditioner back up with the proper amount of coolant. An AC recharge restores the energy efficiency of your AC unit, so your energy bills do not skyrocket as the system generates cool air.
The recharge cost depends on the type of refrigerant recharge needed – air conditioners using Puron are much cheaper to recharge than older AC units using Freon, which is in limited supply due to a phaseout of harmful hydrochlorofluorocarbons. Recharging refrigerant must be performed by an HVAC technician who holds the proper certification from the Environmental Protection Agency, and the repair cost runs between $100 to $800 on average.
The indoor air conditioning unit, whether it be a furnace paired with your air conditioner or an air handler paired with a heat pump, uses a circuit board to control the blower fan motor that circulates cool air during an air conditioning cycle. The circuit board can wear out with age or be damaged by electrical surges, making this issue unfit for simple AC repair. The entire circuit board requires replacement so your central AC unit properly circulates cool air, with a replacement cost averaging between $120 to $600.
When an air conditioner continues to trip its circuit breaker as an air conditioning cycle starts, the circuit breaker will wear out faster than it should. While replacement of circuit breakers isn’t exactly a unit repair, it is necessary for the continued operation and performance of your AC unit. The replacement cost to have new circuit breakers for your air conditioning unit installed will cost you between $25 to $300.
Home AC units, as well as other HVAC system equipment, is controlled by the AC thermostat, which tells the AC unit or heating system when to start and stop operating cycles based on current temperatures. Thermostats typically last around 10 years before replacement is necessary.
The replacement cost to have a new thermostat installed for the air conditioner will depend on the thermostat model you choose. Manual thermostats are the most affordable option with basic operation; programmable thermostat costs are slightly higher, but they offer more features for better energy efficiency from your air conditioner; and Wi-Fi or smart thermostats are the most expensive option but the best choice for lowering your energy bills. Replacement cost for a new HVAC system thermostat runs between $100 to $1000.
The condensate drain line allows condensation from the air conditioning process to exit air conditioners. The drain line can become clogged by debris as well as mold or algae growing in the drip pan, requiring the drain line to be flushed out. The cost to repair this issue typically runs between $75 to $250. If the condensate drain line is damaged, the repair cost can be as low as $20, as a new PVC pipe will just need to be installed.
The condensate pump helps move moisture out of air conditioners through the drain line. Repair isn’t always possible if the condensate pump malfunctions, making full replacement of the component a better choice. The cost to fix this AC repair issue runs between $250 to $450.
The AC capacitor of an air conditioner energizes the fan motor as an air conditioning cycle is initiated. When the AC capacitor fails, the air conditioner won’t be able to effectively complete the air conditioning process. An AC capacitor is constructed in such a way that makes full replacement preferred over performing an AC repair. A new AC capacitor for your HVAC unit will cost between $50 to $200 to have installed.
Inside the condensing unit, there is a fan and fan motor that run during an air conditioning cycle to help the AC unit efficiently release heat and warm air. Bearings inside the fan motor can wear down, often producing strange noises similar to screeching, which tells you there is a need for AC repair. In many air conditioners, the fan motor is a sealed unit, and it is not possible to perform an AC repair that fixes a bad bearing – it will be necessary to replace the entire fan motor. This costs between $400 to $600 on average.
The AC compressor sits in the outdoor condensing unit of the air conditioning system and is responsible for pressurizing refrigerant so the coolant can release heat into the surrounding air. Bearings, pistons, and other parts within the AC compressor can wear out or malfunction, affecting the component’s performance. The AC repair cost to fix a compressor is usually higher than to replace it, so installing a new one within your AC unit is typically preferred. The repair cost of compressor replacement will run you about $1,800 on average.
The outdoor coil in the air conditioner condensing unit allows refrigerant to release heat from the system. A leak in the coil allows refrigerant to escape, reducing the efficiency of your HVAC system and AC unit. Replacing the condensing unit coil costs between $400 to $1,200 on average, depending on the air conditioning capacity of the unit.
When your Louisville AC unit isn’t running correctly, learn the costs of repairing your air conditioner issue when you schedule repair service from Jarboe’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. Our licensed technicians assess and diagnose your AC unit, providing an estimate of the HVAC repair costs and obtaining your approval before completing the work needed to restore performance of your AC unit.