What is wrong with the AC?
Midpoint: $250. Emergency and peak-summer jobs in Houston typically add $50 to $150.
Estimate only, not a quote. Final price depends on brand, system size, refrigerant type, warranty, and attic access. A real tech should diagnose what failed and why before you approve a repair, and give you an exact price before work starts.
Published Houston ranges this tool uses
| Repair | Houston range |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic / service call | $75 - $150 |
| Capacitor | $150 - $350 |
| Contactor | $150 - $450 |
| Drain line clearing | $100 - $400 |
| Thermostat, installed | $150 - $600 |
| Refrigerant recharge (R-410A) | $300 - $600 |
| Leak find + repair + recharge | $250 - $1,500 |
| Condenser fan motor | $350 - $900 |
| Blower motor | $400 - $1,200 |
| Evaporator coil | $1,100 - $2,800 |
| Compressor | $1,200 - $3,500 |
Most common Houston repairs land between $150 and $900, with an average full repair around $345 in one 2026 Houston guide. Compressor and coil jobs are the outliers that trigger a replacement conversation.
Full replacement, for comparison
| Home size | AC replacement range |
|---|---|
| About 1,500 sq ft | $5,000 - $6,400 |
| About 1,900 sq ft (Houston median) | $5,300 - $6,400 |
| About 2,500 sq ft | $7,700 - $8,300 |
| About 3,000 sq ft | $8,300 - $13,000 |
Angi puts Houston AC replacement at $6,375 on average. Modernize puts it at $5,900 installed, typically $3,900 to $9,100. A complete HVAC system with new ductwork is a different, larger job, often $10,000 to $22,000.
The $5,000 rule, built into the calculator
Multiply system age by repair cost. If the result is over $5,000, replacement becomes the financially sound conversation. Example: an 8-year-old system with an $800 repair is 8 x $800 = $6,400, so replace is worth discussing. A 6-year-old system with a $700 repair is $4,200, so repair is usually fine.
How this tool earns, without selling you anything
Same model as the garage door tool, but with a bigger ticket behind it. People search in a panic in July, they use a free calculator, and that traffic can earn from ads or affiliate links. AC leads are also worth more than garage door leads to a contractor, which is why this niche pays more per visitor, but only if you later add a quote form and a real partner. This demo does neither. No ads, no affiliate links, no fake HVAC company, no data collection.