If you’ve noticed issues with your air conditioning system, you’re probably wondering how much a repair is going to cost. On average, Connecticut homeowners spend anywhere from $250-$3,500 on an AC repair.
We know that doesn’t provide you with much clarity on how much you’ll be spending, since the price range is fairly large.
The cost of an AC repair varies widely because so many factors impact how much you pay, such as:
- The age of your AC
- Part or parts that need to be repaired or replaced
- Type and length of warranties you have
- Company or contractor you hire
To help you better prepare for your AC repair, we’ll look at each of these factors in more detail.
If you’d like to jump straight to speaking with an AC repair professional, reach out to the Aiello team. You can also check out our AC repair page for more details on what we offer. We have over 1,000 verified 5-star reviews from Connecticut homeowners, so no matter what kind of repair your AC needs, you can trust us to do it correctly and provide you with excellent customer service while we’re doing it.
Cost Factor #1: The age of your AC
We’ll start off by saying that if your AC is 10+ years old, your most cost-effective option is probably going to be to replace your system rather than repairing it.
Why? Well, AC systems are only designed to last about 10-12 years, and if you’re close to (or have passed) that time frame, repairing your AC system means you’re likely throwing money into a dying, inefficient system.
Rather than invest money in a dying system and then replacing the whole AC a few months or years later, our advice would be to proactively replace your system now and save on the repair cost.
If you aren’t sure whether to repair or replace your AC system, reach out to a trustworthy HVAC company. A quality tech will be able to assess your current system and let you know whether repairing or replacing your AC is the better option.
Cost Factor #2: Part(s) that need to be repaired or replaced
Perhaps the most influential factor of your AC repair cost is the price of the part/parts that need to be repaired or completely replaced. Another aspect to consider is the labor time required to install/repair that part.
For example, replacing a condensate pump is a relatively low-cost repair because the piece itself is inexpensive and the part doesn’t take long to install. However, replacing a compressor is a much more expensive repair because the part itself is very expensive (if it’s not under warranty when it fails) and it can take a professional up to 8 hours to replace/install the part.
The only way to accurately determine which part needs repairing will be to have a tech come to your home and diagnose your system.
Cost Factor #3: Type and length of warranties you have
If you have a valid parts and/or labor warranty, it could significantly reduce the cost of your AC repair.
- Labor warranties are usually good for 1-2 years (depending on the contractor) and covers the cost of labor to repair or replace a part that has broken or malfunctioned due to a faulty installation. A labor warranty is offered through the company or contractor who installed your AC system. To check the validity of your labor warranty, you’ll need to contact the company that installed your AC.
- Parts warranties last about 5-10 years (extended warranties usually last 10-15) and will cover the cost of essential parts that need to be repaired or replaced. Your AC parts warranty is offered through the AC manufacturer. To check the validity of your parts warranty, you should contact the local brand of that manufacturer (and have your AC model # ready).
Cost Factor #4: Company or contractor you hire
More experienced contractors typically cost more than less experienced contractors.
However, hiring a more experienced contractor typically saves you money and frustration in the long run.
How? Well, if a tech doesn’t take the time to accurately diagnose your repair or provides repair work quickly and incorrectly, you’ll likely have to pay to have the repair done again, taking up even more of your time. Or worse, the sloppy repair or misdiagnosed issue could cause damage to other parts of your AC system, resulting in an even more expensive AC repair.
Our advice would be to pay a little more upfront for an experienced company or contractor, so you know that your repair will be done correctly the first time around.
To find a high-quality AC repair company, look for:
