Complete Breakdown of AC Maintenance Cost For Your Home

Imagine summer rolls around, and your AC decides to give out on you. Can you imagine anything worse? This worst-case scenario can be a direct result of slacking on your AC maintenance. Worst of all, the longer you leave regular maintenance, the more you’re going to end up paying for the AC maintenance cost when things break down.

But what is the AC maintenance cost anyway? What will you be expected to pay for maintenance and repairs or replacements? We’re going to break it all down and guide you through AC maintenance so there are no surprises down the line.

AC Maintenance Cost Breakdown

There are numerous types of AC maintenance to consider. There’s one-time AC maintenance for things such as the initial installation and major repairs or cleaning. There are service calls, inspections, annual service or maintenance, and tune-ups. 

Note: these cost breakdowns are based on a range of providers at the time of writing. They are intended as a loose guide. For more accurate detail, request a quote from an individual provider.

 
Air conditioner on an orange wall with a white couch
 

AC Inspection

$100 - $150 per inspection

It’s recommended that you have your AC unit inspected at least once a year. This is an AC maintenance cost with a rather nominal fee but a lot of benefits. Inspections are perfect for addressing concerns like insufficient output, unexplained energy bill spikes, and when you’re looking to purchase or sell a home. 

Technicians will examine the system and its components to ensure they’re in good working order. This also includes potential hazards and connected components that work with the unit in the distribution of the cooler air, like the vents, ducts, and flues. From their inspection, they’ll make professional recommendations. 

AC Service Call

Prices Vary

$50 per visit

Routine Maintenance: $75 - $300 

Hourly Rate (in the event of needed repairs): $60 - $75

Extended Service Contract: $175 - $450 per annum

Service calls can result in fees even if the HVAC pro comes to your home and just checks your AC without doing anything else. It’s probably best to consider getting a tune-up while you have an HVAC pro present to make the most of the visit. Spotting and addressing minor problems before they become major problems can save you a lot of money down the road. 

AC Maintenance Cost In Relation To Frequency

$75 - $250 

Regular maintenance extends the overall lifespan of your AC unit. Having someone regularly checking your AC unit means they catch problems long before they even become a problem. 

 
Table with Unit Type vs. AC Maintenance Cost
 

Want to learn why you need to schedule your next AC maintenance? We’ve got a blog post about the 5 reasons you should schedule AC maintenance. 

All prices are inclusive of the cost of labor and were pulled from Fixr.

Tuneup

$75 - $200

From getting a service call or inspection, you might need to have a tune-up done on your AC unit. This AC maintenance cost is usually a flat fee between $75 - $200. The national average is $100. Beyond the high-end price of $200, you’ll be paying for potential add-ons like replacing parts, major repairs, or recharging freons. 

 
Flat-lay of tools used for AC maintenance
 

Included in an AC tune-up:

  • Air filter clean or replacement (if necessary, and if the unit has one)

  • Evaporator coil airflow check. If needed, special techniques are used to clean coils. 

  • Drain lines flushed to fight against potential mold and mildew.

  • Electrical wiring connections inspection and testing in order to ensure safety and appropriate ratings are being upheld. 

  • Capacitors, valves, and fan blades checked.

  • Blower motors are checked to ascertain if amps and voltage are in working order.

  • Ductwork checked, cleaned, and if necessary, repaired.

  • Refrigerant check. 

  • Thermostat tested and recalibrated.

  • Moving parts lubricated and checked for wear and tear.

  • Window unit caulk inspected and repaired if necessary.

  • Electrical parts inspected and repaired.

  • Motor belts and pulleys checked for wear and tear and replaced if needed. 

  • Removal of debris in and around the compressor, condenser, or fan. 

  • Bent coil fins realigned. 

  • Blades and blower wheel air flow checked and repaired if necessary. 

AC Maintenance Cost In Relation To Task

$45 - $14,500 

Some tasks can be once-off such as the initial installation of your AC unit or various repairs. Some are more regular, like annual replacements, recharges, cleanings, or repairs.

 
Table with task vs. AC maintenance cost
 

We’ve got a guide to help you understand air duct cleaning on our website, check it out!

All prices are inclusive of the cost of labor and were pulled from Fixr.

 
Flat-lay of paper clips, paper, pen and calculator
 

AC Maintenance Cost In Relation To Unit Type

$50 - $400 
Regular maintenance extends the overall lifespan of your AC unit. Having someone regularly checking your AC unit means they catch problems long before they even become a problem. 

 
Table with the unit type vs. maintenance cost for an AC
 

All prices are inclusive of the cost of labor and were pulled from Fixr.

Personal AC Maintenance

There are things you can do to regularly maintain your AC to ensure that the AC maintenance cost you might be in for is kept down overall. Here are some of the DIY maintenance things you can do to ensure your unit remains in good working order.

  1. Regularly changing air filters

  2. Cleaning air ducts (can be done professionally or DIY)

Conclusion

We offer a wide variety of services to help you and your AC unit from falling into disrepair. Some of our services include air duct cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, duct defense, central vac cleaning, filter replacement, and more!

Whether you need residential, commercial, or industrial servicing, Crystal Clean Vents is ready to maintain, repair, or revive your AC unit! Get in touch today, and let’s talk about our reasonable AC maintenance cost and how we can help you.