(one-time 1 hr. maintenance visit)
(an annual maintenance contract)
Cost to hire an annual air conditioner maintenance service varies greatly by region (and even by zip code).
Get free estimates from air-conditioning and heating contractors in your city.
Maintaining your air conditioner (HVAC) unit will ensure that it’s ready to properly cool your home all throughout the summer. Keeping your unit in good condition is also important for your wallet: lack of maintenance shortens a unit’s lifespan by 10-15 years, meaning you’ll need to buy a new one sooner. Lack of maintenance also results in a 5% efficiency loss, which results in higher energy bills.
For this discussion, we will consider the costs of maintaining an air conditioning unit annually. A flat fee for a one-time maintenance visit costs $70 - $100 and an annual maintenance contract will cost $150.
You should have your air conditioning maintenance done at least once a year, in the spring. Doing it in the spring will allow your technician to repair any damage the unit might have acquired during the winter, and make it ready just in time for the arrival of warmer temperatures. However, it’s best to do maintenance twice a year: in the spring and fall. Sticking to this bi-annual schedule will keep your unit running optimally.
Many HVAC maintenance companies offer annual servicing contracts for preventative maintenance. Such contracts cost anywhere from $100-$150 per year, and cover annual visits in which standard maintenance tasks are performed. Some companies will allow you to make monthly payments for your maintenance contract, and will provide you with discounts around 15% if you hire them when you need your unit repaired.
Getting a contract will usually give you more warranty coverage than if you just paid for a single maintenance visit: if anything is wrong with your unit between maintenance visits, your HVAC technician will come and address the issue.
Air conditioning units work by using evaporator and condenser coils to remove heat from the air in your home. Warm household air blows through the evaporator coils, which transfer the heat into refrigerant vapor, which is then moved to the condenser in the outdoor part of the unit. The condenser coils turn the now-warm refrigerant vapor into liquid, allowing the heat to be dispersed outside and away from your home.
Both evaporator and condenser coils are integral to the function of your air conditioner, and must be properly maintained in order for the unit to work.
Your HVAC technician should always check the following during maintenance service:
HVAC technicians generally charge $50-$70 per hour. A single maintenance visit takes 1-2 hours ($50-$140). Flat fees for maintenance service visits range around $70-$100.
In the fall you should prepare your HVAC unit for winter. Turn off your air conditioner’s circuit, then hose it off to remove debris. It must dry completely. Do this when it’s warm enough that there’s no risk of the water freezing. Cover the exposed pipes with foam pipe insulation ($1-$3), and protect your entire unit with a weatherproof cover ($20-$50).
You can keep your HVAC unit running well in between maintenance visits by doing your own upkeep. Simple upkeep tasks include keeping the filters and coils clear of debris, keeping surrounding greenery trimmed, and checking the seals and ducts. Performing regular checks can alert you to problems before the annual maintenance visit.
If your AC unit is working fine, but a technician is suggesting expensive repairs, get a second opinion. We recommend getting the advice of more than one technician before committing to a costly repair.
Annual maintenance contracts usually provide more extensive guarantees and warranties than you’d get if you paid for a one-time maintenance service visit. Many companies have separate warranties for equipment and labor: parts are usually covered for 1 year, while the labor to replace parts/make repairs can often be covered for 5 to 10 years.
Professional HVAC technicians should be licensed. Check whether your service provider has a legal HVAC technician license and EPA 608 certification. Excellence and NATE certifications aren’t required, but do verify a technician’s expertise.
Cost to hire an annual air conditioner maintenance service varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.