What does a Central AC Repair Cost in Phoenix, AZ?

Updated September 2022

The cost to repair a central air conditioner in Phoenix ranges from $133 to $4,000, with most homeowners paying around $900.

Of course, that’s only a range—it doesn’t tell you exactly what you’ll pay for your air conditioning repair.

So to help give you a better idea, we’ll look at the factors that determine AC repair cost:

1. What needs to be repaired
2. Your AC warranty
3. The contractor you choose to do the repair

Let’s go into more detail about each of these factors.

In a hurry? Schedule online now, and we’ll send over one of our techs to fix your AC right away.

Factor #1: What needs to be repaired

Of all the factors that determine AC repair price, this one affects cost the most. And it also varies the most.

You see, some AC repairs are simple to repair; others are complex and time consuming. AC repairs include…

• The cost of the part (if it needs to be replaced)
• The cost of the labor to replace/fix the part

Now, without a technician actually taking a look at your AC system to diagnose the problem, there’s really no way to know exactly how much you’ll pay.

But that’s not very helpful to you. So, to give you an estimate of what you could pay, we’ll share a list of common AC repairs with their typical price range:

• Repairing thermostat: $80 to $250
• Repairing fan motor: $200 to $900
• Fixing capacitor: $170 to $400
• Fixing circuit board: $120 to $600
• Detecting and repairing refrigerant leak: $225 to $1,600
• Repairing condenser coil: $400 to $1,200
• Repairing evaporator coil: $650 to $2,400 (price varies greatly because evaporator coils can be very expensive)
• Repairing AC compressor: $1,350 to $2,000

Note: These prices include the cost of the part and labor.

Factor #2: Your AC warranty

If you have a valid warranty, then the cost of the part and labor may be covered. You can have 2 types of warranties:

• Parts warranty
• Labor warranty

Let’s look at each of these warranties in more detail...

Parts warranty

When you buy a new AC, it usually comes with a limited parts warranty from the manufacturer. This warranty covers certain parts that fail because of a manufacturer defect. Parts generally covered by a limited parts warranty include:

• The compressor
• The evaporator coil
• The condenser coil

Most limited parts warranties will cover these parts for 5–10 years from the time your AC was first installed. If you opted for an extended warranty, that timeframe could increase by 5+ years.

Unfortunately, manufacturers make it easy for homeowners to void their parts warranty. The following are just a few situations that could leave you with a voided parts warranty:

• Failure to register your AC unit with the manufacturer when your AC was first installed
• Not having your AC regularly maintenance by a professional
• Improper AC installation or not having a licensed professional install it
• Using off-brand replacement parts

Labor warranty

Most manufacturer warranties don’t cover the cost of labor to repair an AC. However, the HVAC contractor who installed your AC may offer a labor warranty that covers the labor for any AC repairs within a certain time frame (usually 1–5 years after install).

Also, if you recently hired a contractor to repair a broken part on your AC and it failed again, most contractors offer at least a 1-year guarantee on their repair work, so they may discount or eliminate their labor fees to repair/replace the part again.

How to check your AC warranty

• Part warranty: Visit the manufacturer's website and search for your AC model number to find the limited parts warranty. If you can’t find it, or you want to know if you purchased an extended warranty, contact the manufacturer directly.
• Labor warranty: Contact the contractor who first installed your air conditioner.

Factor #3: The contractor you choose to do the repair

Speaking of labor costs, the contractor you choose will also affect how much you’ll pay in total for the repair.

Now, most homeowners know that they should always ask how contractors charge for their services. The problem, though, is that most homeowners aren’t familiar with some of the terms contractors use to describe how they charge.

To help, we’ve included a mini glossary that should come in handy when hiring an HVAC contractor...

Terms to know when hiring a contractor

• Service call fee: Also called “trip charge fee” or “diagnostic fee,” this is what a contractor charges to visit your home and diagnose the problem. It typically ranges from $75 to $150. Some contractors will waive this fee if you hire them to repair your AC in the same visit.
• Hourly rate: Some contractors charge by the hour for their services. Usually their hourly rate ranges from $75 to $150. The risk of hiring a contractor who charges by the hour is that the tech may intentionally work slower when repairing your AC to charge you more in the end.
• Fixed rate: Other contractors (like us) charge a flat rate cost based on the whole project—no matter how long it takes them to do the job. The advantage to this method is that you know exactly what you’ll pay from the beginning so there are no surprises when you get the bill.

Choose a quality contractor: You get what you pay for

In addition to how contractors charge for their services, you’ll also want to consider their quality.

Here’s why: A contractor may offer a super low labor price so that you hire them, but they may not do very good work. And if a tech cuts corners when they repair your AC, you could end up paying for the same repair again in the near future.

So, to choose a quality contractor, follow these guidelines:

• Make sure they’re licensed and insured (in case something goes wrong on the job)
• Look at online customer reviews (Better Business Bureau, Yelp, Google)
• Ask for a written estimate to you know how much the project costs ahead of time

Need an AC repair from an Arizona pro?

We can help. Just give us a call or schedule an appointment with us online and we’ll send one of our polite and skilled techs to visit your home.

In the meantime, visit our AC repair page to learn more about what to expect when you hire us.

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