| Project | Time | Typical cost | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic service call (no parts) | 45–90 min | $72 | $59 – $86 |
| Annual AC or furnace tune-up | 60–90 min | $132 | $108 – $159 |
| AC repair (capacitor / contactor / minor part) | 1–3 hours | $321 | $263 – $385 |
| Refrigerant recharge (R-410A, residential) | 1–2 hours | $384 | $315 – $460 |
| Smart thermostat install | 1 hour | $285 | $234 – $342 |
| Gas furnace replacement (80% AFUE, 80k BTU) | 1 day | $2,940 | $2,411 – $3,528 |
| Heat pump replacement (3-ton, 16 SEER) | 1–2 days | $6,723 | $5,513 – $8,067 |
| Mini-split install (single zone, 12k BTU) | 1 day | $2,447 | $2,007 – $2,936 |
| Whole-home duct cleaning | 3–5 hours | $346 | $284 – $415 |
A residential HVAC technician services, repairs, and installs forced-air furnaces, central AC, heat pumps, mini-splits, and ductwork. A diagnostic visit typically includes static-pressure measurement, refrigerant pressure (for cooling systems), temperature differential between supply and return, electrical-component testing (capacitor microfarad, contactor pull-in, transformer voltage), and ignition or burner inspection on heating equipment. Installations require Manual J / Manual D / Manual S calculations to size the equipment correctly — beware any installer who skips these and recommends "the same size you have now."
"Same-size replacement" without a load calc, refrigerant-only quotes that don't address the leak, and any installer who pushes the largest unit without explaining why.