When to repair
The system is under about 10 years old, the fault is a single part — a capacitor, contactor, fan motor, or drain — and the fix comes in under a third of the price of a new system. Most summer calls land here.
Air conditioning repair · Nationwide routing
AC repair, routed to a licensed local contractor
AC repair help is one call away, 24/7. The call routes to a licensed local contractor in your area. Most repairs run $150–$650, with a $75–$200 diagnostic fee that is usually credited toward the work.
CENTRAL + PACKAGED
Routed contractors service central split systems and packaged units end to end.
EPA-CERTIFIED
Refrigerant work is done by EPA-608 licensed technicians — leaks sealed, not just topped off.
QUOTE BEFORE WORK
You approve the price before any part is replaced — no surprises on the bill.
- STEP 01
Call, no cost
One call routes to a licensed local contractor. Tell them the AC isn't cooling and where you are.
- STEP 02
On-site diagnosis
The tech checks the capacitor, contactor, refrigerant pressures, coil temperatures, and airflow.
- STEP 03
Upfront quote
You approve the price before any part is replaced — the diagnostic fee is usually credited into the repair.
- STEP 04
Repaired & tested
The failed part is replaced, the system is tested cold, and you settle with the contractor.
Coverage check
No cooling? Start with your ZIP
Enter your ZIP and we'll route your call to a licensed local contractor offering the soonest available slot. Calling is free, 24/7.
Licensed contractors serve . One call routes you to one for .
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01 · What it runs
AC repair pricing, at a glance
Most AC repairs land between $150 and $650, averaging about $350, before any after-hours premium. The diagnostic fee is usually credited toward the repair if you go ahead.
$150–$650Typical repair
~$350Average repair
$75–$200Diagnostic fee
1.5–2×After-hours rate
02 · What we route
The AC problems we route every week
A handful of failures cause most no-cool calls — a failed capacitor leads every summer, followed by refrigerant leaks, frozen coils, and clogged drains. Each card links to the free troubleshooting article for that symptom.
$170–$400
Failed run capacitor
The summer number-one: the AC hums but the fan or compressor won't spin up. A cheap part that strands the whole system in a heat wave.
$200–$1,600
Low refrigerant or a leak
Warm air and long run times. Refrigerant doesn't get used up — if it's low there's a leak, and topping off without sealing it is a yearly bill.
$150–$1,600
Frozen evaporator coil
Ice on the indoor coil or line, then no cold air at all. Caused by low airflow or low refrigerant — the unit has to thaw before a tech can read it.
$100–$450
Clogged condensate drain
Water pooling by the indoor unit, or a safety float that shuts the system off. One of the most common summer no-cool calls.
$300–$700
Condenser fan motor
The outdoor fan stops, the compressor overheats, and the system trips off on high pressure. Often a loud hum with a still fan blade.
$1,200–$2,800
Compressor
The heart of the system. When it fails, the repair cost forces the replace question — especially on an older R-22 unit.
$150–$400
Burnt contactor
The relay that switches the outdoor unit on. Pitted or welded contacts mean the AC won't start, or won't stop. A quick fix.
$150–$500
Thermostat
A miscalibrated or dead thermostat mimics a broken AC — no call for cooling ever reaches the system. Ruled out first.
03 · Fix it free first
Four checks before you call
Before booking a visit, rule out the four faults you can fix yourself: a thermostat set wrong or out of batteries, tripped power, a dirty filter that froze the coil, or a full condensate drain that tripped the safety float.
CHECK 01
Thermostat
Set to COOL and 3° below room temp. Replace the batteries — a dead thermostat never calls for cooling.
CHECK 02
Power
Reset the breaker, and check the outdoor disconnect box by the condenser is pushed fully in.
CHECK 03
Filter
A dirty filter starves the coil and freezes it. If it's gray, replace it and let any ice fully thaw.
CHECK 04
Drain float
A full condensate drain trips the safety float and stops the system. Clear the drain and empty the pan.
When to stop and call
Still dead after the ice thaws? It's a capacitor, refrigerant, or the compressor — licensed-technician work, and refrigerant is EPA-608 regulated. That's when to call. The full symptom walk-through is on AC troubleshooting.
04 · What it costs
What an AC repair really costs
Typical repairs land between $150 and $650, averaging about $350, with after-hours calls at 1.5–2× the standard rate. The part that failed is what moves the bill — from a cheap capacitor to a compressor that forces the replace question.
A capacitor, contactor, or drain clog sits at the low end; a refrigerant leak, a coil, or a compressor sits at the top. The service-call fee — $75–$200 — is usually credited into the repair if you approve the work, so you're not paying twice. The full 12-part table, symptom pricing, and bill anatomy are on the AC repair cost page.
| Repair | Lower end | Higher end |
|---|---|---|
| Capacitor or contactor | $150 | $400 |
| Condensate drain or pump | $100 | $450 |
| Condenser fan motor | $300 | $700 |
| Refrigerant leak & recharge | $200 | $1,600 |
| Evaporator or condenser coil | $600 | $2,000 |
| Compressor | $1,200 | $2,800 |
The full part-by-part table is on AC repair cost, and the diagnostic fee itself is explained on service-call cost.
05 · Repair or replace ✓ ✕
When a repair stops making sense
Age and the one-third rule decide it: under about 10 years, repair; from 10 to 15, weigh the fix against a third of a new system; past 15 — or a compressor on an R-22 unit — replacement is usually the better math.
When to replace
The AC is 15-plus years old, the repair tops a third of a new system, or the compressor has failed on an R-22 unit where refrigerant is dead stock. At that point a repair rarely pays off.
The same call gets you a replacement quote when the numbers say so.
The R-22 tiebreaker
R-22 refrigerant is phased out and expensive, so a major repair on that generation of unit rarely makes sense — the money is better spent on a new system that runs on current refrigerant. The full framework is on repair or replace.
No cooling in a heat wave?
A dead AC during a heat advisory is a health risk for older adults, infants, and pets — not just discomfort. We route emergency cooling calls to local contractors offering the soonest same-day and after-hours slots. Demand peaks with the temperature, so call early.
06 · Who fixes it
What a licensed AC technician does
The difference between a fair repair and an expensive one hides in this checklist. A licensed technician does all six of the following; a parts-swapper skips the measuring and the leak-sealing.
- EPA-608 certified for refrigerant handling
- Measures the capacitor and compressor before condemning either
- Finds and seals refrigerant leaks — not just a top-off
- Quotes the repair before replacing any part
- Credits the diagnostic fee toward the repair
- Gives an honest repair-vs-replace number on old systems
Weighing a fix against a new system? Run the numbers on repair or replace, or price a new unit on AC installation.
07 · Coverage
Where we route calls
Calls route to licensed local contractors across the United States. Enter a ZIP in the coverage check above and we'll confirm the nearest routed pro; if your exact area isn't matched, the call still connects nationwide.
Need it cooling again?
One call routes you to a licensed local contractor offering the soonest available slot.
(888) 810-2291 ☏ Call nowSame-day and 24/7 emergency services are subject to provider participation, location, technician availability, and demand. Availability is not guaranteed and may vary by market and appointment capacity.
08 · Questions
Questions homeowners ask first
How much does AC repair cost?
Most AC repairs run $150–$650, with a typical bill around $350, before any after-hours premium. The service-call (diagnostic) fee is usually $75–$200 and is often credited toward the repair if you go ahead. The full part-by-part table is on our AC repair cost page.
Is it a capacitor or the compressor — and how different is the price?
A capacitor is the cheap, common summer fix, roughly $170–$400 installed. A compressor is the expensive one, $1,200–$2,800, and on an older unit it usually tips into replace-the-system territory. A technician measures both before condemning either — the symptoms overlap.
Is it worth repairing an old AC?
Under about 10 years, repair. From 10–15, run the one-third rule: if the fix is under a third of a new system, repair it. Past 15 — or if the compressor has failed on an R-22 unit — replacement is usually the better math.
Can you really get someone out same-day?
In summer, same-day AC calls are common but not guaranteed — demand peaks exactly when systems fail. Our line routes your call to a local contractor offering the soonest available slot, and after-hours calls run 1.5–2× the standard rate.
Can I recharge the refrigerant myself?
No. Handling refrigerant requires EPA-608 certification, and a recharge without finding the leak just pays for the same repair every year. Low refrigerant always means a leak — that's the actual fix.
Do you fix central, packaged, and mini-split systems?
Yes. Routed contractors service central split systems and packaged units. Window and portable units are retail products that are usually replaced rather than repaired. Ductless mini-splits have their own repair page.