Air conditioners are an excellent addition to our homes, and we can't overlook their significance. They assure us of cool summers and warm winters, not to mention keeping our home and office spaces more inhabitable with proper air circulation and aeration.
However, the air conditioning benefits we enjoy come at a cost - the air conditioner maintenance cost. We have to ensure our ACs operate efficiently and can last us a long time with regular use.
We have found out that it will cost you between $70 and $200 on average to have your AC serviced regularly.
The cost is dependent on several factors and may rise depending on factors such as the need for repairs, unit accessibility, unit size, unit type, and time of the year when you ask for service.
Let's dive deeper and see how this maintenance cost comes about.
How Often is AC Maintenance Recommended and is it Necessary?
HVAC experts recommend doing routine maintenance service on your AC at least once per year. It’s advisable to call for AC service in early spring before the hot, bullish days of summer set in and maintenance costs shoot through the roof because technicians are in high demand.
You can ask for routine maintenance in the winter because, at this time, most private or manufacturer's HVAC contractors are looking for work, and costs are lower. In fact, most of them offer discounts on AC maintenance during this time.
Annual AC maintenance is necessary if you are to ensure that your unit operates efficiently and optimally so you can cut on monthly energy bills and even avoid expensive repairs or complete replacements shortly.
Annual maintenance also raises the chances of the AC lasting for longer.
Some light AC maintenance tasks like cleaning or changing the filter should be done every 30 days, and you can do them yourself. However, a professional has to come in for more demanding tasks such as refilling the refrigerant if it leaks.
What Types of Maintenance Do Air Conditioners Need?
During a maintenance visit by a trained HVAC contractor, the following tasks may be performed.
Thermostat Replacement
A thermostat replacement will cost you $25-$65 for a programmable electronic thermostat, $140-$300 for a smart thermostat, $60-$100 for a touchscreen thermostat, and $220-$260 for a voice-control thermostat.
Air Filter Replacement on Home AC
It's crucial to regularly replace your home AC air filter to control the number of allergens, particles, and dust that get trapped. Allergen filters, which cost $15-$20, are helpful when you need to catch more allergy-causing dust, smoke, debris, and bacteria.
A fiberglass filter will cost you $1-$5, but they are not suitable for people with allergies. A pleated filter costs $5-$25 per piece.
Although most ACs do not cater to the airflow required for a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter, you can have your air conditioning system specifically designed to use this type.
Ensure that you check for a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rate of between 11 and 16 for high efficiency at managing allergens, particles, and dust.
Refrigerant Recharge
Although the refrigerant in ACs can last throughout its lifetime, you might have to recharge it if there are leaks. The recharge should be done by a licensed HVAC technician who should follow the stipulated laws on environmental protection.
If your AC was produced before 2010 and uses freon as the coolant (which is now being phased out and replaced with Puron - also being phased out), you will need a licensed contractor to obtain freon for you legally.
AC Coil Cleaning
Home air conditioners have two types of coils. Cleaning the condenser coil on the outdoor unit will cost you $50-$100, while the evaporator coil in the indoor unit costs $100-$350. Note that most HVAC maintenance agreements include cleaning coils.
AC Duct Cleaning
It's recommended that you should clean the AC ducts in your home every three to five years to get rid of the accumulated debris, dust, and allergens. It also helps your AC run more efficiently to reduce your electricity bills and AC repair costs.
AC Tune-up Checklist
The number and type of air conditioner maintenance costs covered in an AC tune-up may vary depending on the HVAC technician you choose and the type of AC you have. The following are some of the routine tune-up activities:
- Cleaning or replacing the air filter in units that have one
- Testing the valves, fan blade, and capacitors
- Checking the level of the refrigerant
- Flushing the drain lines
- Putting in drain tables to counter mildew and mold
- Checking condenser amp and voltage
- Checking bearings and other moving parts and lubricating them to reduce wear and tear
- Cleaning outdoor evaporator and coils
- Inspecting and repairing all electrical parts
- Removing any caked dust and trapped debris on the condenser, compressor, and fan
- Checking for bent coil fins and brushing them back into proper shape
- Ensuring that the heating and cooling systems do not run simultaneously
- Checking the airflow through the evaporator coil
- Adjusting and repairing loose or damaged pulleys or motor belts where applicable
- Checking the airflow of the blower wheel and blades
- Inspecting and testing electrical wiring for safety and proper rating
- Checking the amp and voltage on the blower motor
- Testing and calibrating the thermostat
Costs of Common Air Conditioner Maintenance
As mentioned earlier, an AC maintenance routine costs between $70 and $200, which may be inclusive of different charges such as transport for the technician, service visit, and time spent inspecting your AC for any maintenance activities that it might require.
However, air conditioner maintenance costs may rise depending on the add-ons the HVAC contractor recommends upon thorough inspections. Some of these common AC maintenance aspects and their costs are discussed below.
Refrigerant Recharge
Recharging your AC's refrigerant or coolant costs $100-$300, but only when your AC has a leak or a vital coolant part has been replaced. The price here can rise to $750 when you factor in labor costs.
Thermostat Replacement
Replacing a faulty AC thermostat costs $25-$300, depending on the type of thermostat your unit uses.
The price range varies across the different types, with programmable electronic thermostats costing the lowest and smart thermostats the highest. The cost here may go up even further up to $500 to cater for labor charges by the technician.
Air Filter Replacement
You can expect to spend $1-$25 for a new filter. The cost here depends on the type of air filter your unit uses, with fiberglass costing the lowest and carbon filters the highest.
If you want to use a HEPA filter, your AC must be designed for this type of filter, and it will cost you more.
AC Duct Cleaning
An AC duct cleanup involves getting rid of allergens, debris, and caked dust. It costs $230-$500.
AC Coil Cleaning
Cleaning the coil of the indoor AC unit costs $100-$350, while the condenser coil on the outdoor unit costs $50-$100 to clean.
To keep the cost of cleaning the condenser coil to a minimum, ensure the AC is easily accessible.
There should be no trees, shrubs, or other distractions around it that the technician would have to clear first to access the unit. If they have to, you will most likely incur a prep cost.
Other Factors Affecting AC Maintenance Cost
Other than AC type, several other factors come into play in determining the cost of air conditioner maintenance. Based on type, you can expect to spend $50-$800 on maintenance costs. Other factors to consider include the following:
Age of the Unit
Older AC will likely cost more to maintain because they often need more replacement parts and repeat repairs.
Technician's Rates
While $70-$200 is the average flat price range that most HVAC technicians charge for AC maintenance, some technicians may charge more.
Some may charge on an hourly basis at $60-$75 per work hour. However, if your unit is easy to access, the hourly and flat rates do not differ by a considerable margin.
AC Accessibility
If your AC is hard to access and the technician has to prepare the area to reach it, you can incur an extra prep cost at $60-$75 per work hour to compensate them for the extra time taken to gain access.
Type and Need for Repairs
A routine service call will cost you a given flat rate. However, if the technician has to do some repairs, the cost will go up based on the type of repair.
Common AC repair costs include compressor replacement at $1,350-$2,300, coil replacement at $600-$2,000, ductwork repairs at $500-$2,000, refrigerant leak repair at $225-$1,600, and installation of a new fan motor at $100-$700.
Location
Air conditioner maintenance costs vary from state to state, with places like New York City having high charges because space limitations make it challenging for technicians to access ACs since they are usually jammed in tight spots.
AC Maintenance Timing
If you want to enjoy low maintenance costs, you should have your AC serviced in the winter. At this time, you can pay $70-$90 because technicians and AC manufacturers are not as busy as they are in the summer.
Discounts and Long-term Contracts
Some manufacturers offer lower-price incentives such as discounts to homeowners who take up their long-term HVAC maintenance contracts.
You can also get huge discounts as a new customer or during the winter when technicians do not have much work compared to the summer.
AC Maintenance vs AC Repair Costs
Since the idea of routine AC maintenance is to inspect the unit for any faults, there can be an overlap between AC maintenance and AC repair costs. AC maintenance practices such as cleaning and replacing filters will cost less than more demanding repair needs such as repairing a coolant leak.
Repair costs are significantly higher because they include replacement parts costs and the technician’s labor charges.
Typical repairs include replacing coils at $600-$2,000, replacing the compressor at $1,350-$2,300, installing a new fan motor at $100-$700, and repairing a refrigerant leak at $225-$1,600.
Typical AC maintenance costs include $25-$300 for thermostat replacement, $1-$25 for air filter replacement, $50-$350 for cleaning the coils, $100-$750 for refrigerant recharge, and $230-$500 for cleaning the duct.
Reasons AC Maintenance is Totally Worth it
You stand to benefit in several ways from successful AC maintenance. Some of the benefits that make air conditioner maintenance worth your money include the following.
Reduced Energy Bills
A successful routine AC maintenance activity like condenser coil cleaning and fan debris removal ensures your unit doesn't have to overwork. The improved efficiency leads to lower electricity costs and thus monies saved.
Increased AC Lifespan
While this is not an outright guarantee, AC maintenance will ensure your unit lasts longer since the technician can easily spot and replace faulty parts long before they become inoperable or damage the entire AC.
Reduced Emergency Repairs
It's without a doubt that AC maintenance will lower the occurrence of demanding emergency repairs as your unit is less likely to break down in crucial times like the hot unbearable summers.
Maintaining Warranties
As seen earlier, your AC manufacturer may demand that you do regular maintenance to ensure the warranty remains valid.
Conclusion
Air conditioners are an excellent solution for regulating air characteristics in your home, but there is a price to pay in the form of routine once- or twice-a-year AC maintenance costs.
The flat-rate cost is about $70-$200, though you may have to pay more if, after the inspection, your technician proposes some repairs. The cost of repair can range from just a few bucks to more than $2000.
It's important to ensure you carry out annual AC maintenance to improve the efficiency of your AC, reduce electricity costs, and maintain your eligibility warranty with some AC companies.
People Also Ask
Air conditioner maintenance is a hot topic in the HVAC industry. You may have some questions that you would love answered along the process of finding a good AC maintenance solution. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions on the subject.
Can I Service My Own Air Conditioner?
As a mechanically inclined person, you might prefer to service your air conditioner yourself to cut on costs or to enjoy the thrill of the engagement. Of course, you can service your air conditioner yourself, but that comes with some shortcomings you might want to avoid.
Firstly, depending on the manufacturer of your unit, you might void your unit's warranty if you service it yourself. Most manufacturers prefer to have their own HVAC technician or a certified one though not working for them to handle AC maintenance.
Secondly, what with all the dirt work? Do you want that on your hands? Can you handle it? Well, if it doesn't bother you, you can service your AC yourself.
If you do not have enough knowledge of HVAC systems, please do not service your own AC. While you can perform less demanding tasks like cleaning or changing filters, other tasks like refilling the refrigerant require a certified HVAC contractor.
What Happens if AC is Not Serviced?
Failure to service your AC regularly means that you miss out on all the AC maintenance benefits discussed earlier in the article.
The most significant disadvantage is spending more on repairs and replacement and energy expenses when your unit becomes inoperable or runs less efficiently.
The accumulation of dust and wear and tear of the unlubricated moving parts will lead to less efficiency, and if unattended for a long time, various components will start breaking down until the entire unit becomes inoperable.
Are AC Maintenance Plans Worth it?
HVAC maintenance plans, also known as preventative maintenance agreements, are worth every buck you chip into them. Firstly, some manufacturers require you to have a definite AC maintenance plan for the unit's warranty to be functional.
Secondly, AC maintenance plans save you money in the long run. Regular maintenance ensures timely troubleshooting, which means that your unit can be repaired in time before some vital parts or the whole of it becomes inoperable. As such, you don't have to buy a new AC soon.
