| Project | Time | Typical cost | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic service call (no parts) | 45–90 min | $100 | $82 – $120 |
| Annual AC or furnace tune-up | 60–90 min | $184 | $151 – $221 |
| AC repair (capacitor / contactor / minor part) | 1–3 hours | $448 | $367 – $537 |
| Refrigerant recharge (R-410A, residential) | 1–2 hours | $535 | $439 – $642 |
| Smart thermostat install | 1 hour | $398 | $326 – $477 |
| Gas furnace replacement (80% AFUE, 80k BTU) | 1 day | $4,103 | $3,364 – $4,923 |
| Heat pump replacement (3-ton, 16 SEER) | 1–2 days | $9,382 | $7,693 – $11,258 |
| Mini-split install (single zone, 12k BTU) | 1 day | $3,415 | $2,800 – $4,098 |
| Whole-home duct cleaning | 3–5 hours | $483 | $396 – $579 |
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.