AC Repair
What HVAC repairs actually cost in Charlotte
6 minute readWritten by the Kessler technicians
Short answer
Most AC repairs in Charlotte cost $180 to $650. Common jobs: capacitor $180 to $320, contactor $210 to $380, blower motor $480 to $1,100, refrigerant leak repair $560 to $1,600. Full system replacement runs $4,800 to $11,500 installed.
Why nobody publishes these numbers
Surprise pricing is the single most common specific complaint homeowners have about this trade, and yet almost no HVAC company puts a number on a page. The usual reason given is that every job is different, which is true and also true of every other trade that manages to publish rates.
The real reason is that a published number is a commitment. We think that is the point.
Cooling repairs
| Capacitor replacement | $180 to $320 |
| Contactor replacement | $210 to $380 |
| Condensate drain clear and float switch | $150 to $290 |
| Fan motor replacement | $420 to $880 |
| Blower motor replacement | $480 to $1,100 |
| Refrigerant leak repair and recharge | $560 to $1,600 |
| Evaporator coil replacement | $1,200 to $2,800 |
| Compressor replacement | $1,800 to $3,400 |
Heating repairs
| Flame sensor clean or replace | $150 to $280 |
| Igniter replacement | $190 to $360 |
| Gas valve replacement | $420 to $890 |
| Control board replacement | $450 to $980 |
| Heat exchanger replacement | $1,400 to $3,200 |
What moves your number inside those ranges
- Access. An attic air handler in August costs more in labour than a garage unit, because the work is slower and harder in 140-degree heat.
- Part availability. A standard part carried on the van costs less than one ordered for a discontinued system.
- Refrigerant type. R-22 systems cost considerably more to service, because the refrigerant is no longer produced.
- Whether the underlying cause gets fixed. Replacing a compressor without repairing the leak that killed it just buys a repeat visit.
Fees you should never be charged
- Overtime, night, weekend or holiday surcharges. Charging more when someone is desperate is a choice, not a cost.
- Trip or fuel charges on top of a diagnostic fee.
- A second diagnostic fee for the same problem on a return visit.
- Anything you did not see and approve before the work started.
Our diagnostic: $89, credited in full against the repair if you book it. So the diagnosis effectively costs nothing when you go ahead.