What HVAC repairs really cost, and when to call someone tonight
Know a fair price before you pick up the phone. We publish researched 2026 cost ranges for furnace and AC repairs, plus plain-English fixes for the most common problems. Free to use, we connect you with independent licensed HVAC contractors, and contractors pay us, not you.
- Cited price ranges
- Cheapest-fix-first guides
- Free quotes from local pros
Get free quotes from local pros
Tell us about the job and we’ll connect you with independent, licensed HVAC contractors. Free to you.
How this works, and how we get paid
HeatAndAirCost connects homeowners with independent, licensed HVAC contractors. The service is free to you: contractors pay us, and that never changes what you pay. We are not a contractor, we do not perform repairs, and the prices on this site are researched ranges, not quotes.
- Free to homeowners
- Independent licensed contractors
- Contractors pay us, not you
- Researched price ranges, not quotes
Start with the symptom
What's it doing?
Most heating and cooling problems have a short list of likely causes, and some cost nothing to rule out. Start here, then price the fix.
Furnace not turning on
Thermostat, power, and safety-switch checks before you call a pro.
Diagnose it →Furnace blowing cold air
Why it happens and the fixes that cost nothing to try first.
Diagnose it →AC not cooling
From a dirty filter to a low charge, ranked cheapest fix first.
Diagnose it →Furnace short cycling
Turning on and off too fast usually points to a few common causes.
Diagnose it →Thermostat is blank
A dead screen is often batteries or a tripped safety switch.
Diagnose it →Breaker keeps tripping
What a repeatedly tripping HVAC breaker is trying to tell you.
Diagnose it →Pilot light won't stay lit
Thermocouple and gas-supply basics for older gas furnaces.
Diagnose it →Strange furnace noises
Banging, squealing, or rattling, and what each sound tends to mean.
Diagnose it →How to use this site
Price it, then decide
Diagnose the symptom
Use the problem guides to rule out the free fixes, and to know whether it is urgent or can wait.
Check the fair price
Every cost page shows a researched 2026 range with the drivers that move it up or down, all cited.
Get quotes from local pros
When you are ready, we connect you with independent, licensed HVAC contractors. Free to you.
Repair or replace? Run the numbers with the $5,000 rule before you spend anything.
2026 cost ranges
What people actually pay
Researched national ranges, not quotes. Your price depends on the part, your system, and where you live. Every number is cited on its cost page.
Why trust these numbers
No fake reviews, no invented experts
We do not post testimonials, star ratings, or stock “expert” headshots. The proof is that you can click through to the cost data yourself. Read the methodology and sources.
People also ask
Common questions
What is the $5,000 rule for HVAC?
Multiply the age of your system in years by the cost of the repair quote. If the answer is more than $5,000, most guides say replace it; if it is under $5,000, repair it. A $400 repair on a 10-year-old furnace scores 4,000, so you repair. The same $400 repair on a 15-year-old furnace scores 6,000, so replacement starts to make more sense. We walk through the full math on our $5,000 rule page.
How does HeatAndAirCost make money if the site is free?
HeatAndAirCost connects homeowners with independent, licensed HVAC contractors. The service is free to you: contractors pay us, and that never changes what you pay. We are not a contractor and we do not perform repairs.
Are the prices on this site quotes?
No. Every figure on this site is a researched 2026 range compiled from published cost data (HomeGuide, Fixr, This Old House and similar), cited on each page and listed on our methodology page. They tell you whether a real quote is fair, but only a licensed contractor who inspects your system can give you an actual price.
Is it cheaper to replace the furnace and AC together?
Often, yes. Sharing one installation visit, one set of permits, and matched equipment usually costs less than two separate replacements a few years apart, and matched components run more efficiently. Whether it pays off depends on the age of each unit, which our HVAC replacement cost page breaks down.
When should I call a professional instead of trying a fix myself?
Try the safe, no-tool checks first: thermostat settings and batteries, the furnace power switch, the breaker, and a clean air filter. Call a licensed pro for anything involving gas, refrigerant, electrical repairs, a cracked heat exchanger, or a carbon-monoxide alarm. Those are safety issues, not DIY jobs.
Ready when you are
Know the price. Then call a pro.
Check the fair 2026 range on the cost pages, rule out the free fixes on the problem pages, and get free quotes from independent, licensed HVAC contractors when you are ready.
HeatAndAirCost is an independent cost-research site. We are not a contractor and prices shown are researched ranges, not quotes.
Where to start
No heat right now? Start with furnace not turning on.
Got a quote? Check it against furnace repair cost.
Old system? Run the $5,000 rule before you spend.