Seasonal tune-up and full diagnostic on your Carrier, Trane, or Goodman system - readings shown to you before any repair is proposed
Diagnosis first, numbers second - you approve the repair price before a single part goes in.
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AfterHow Much Does HVAC Cost in Houston?
Most HVAC work in Houston falls between $80 and $7,500, depending on the job. A routine tune-up runs $80 – $200, a repair usually lands between $150 and $700, and a full system replacement sits at $3,500 – $7,500 installed. The number that fits your house comes down to what’s actually broken, how old the equipment is, and how long the Houston heat ran it before you called.
We’re Dalton Heating & Air, a Garrison Partners company. We’ve been pricing HVAC work the same way since 2003: the price goes in writing before the first tool leaves the truck. That means when we quote an AC repair in Houston at $150 – $650, that’s the number on the invoice. No door-step revisions, no mystery line items.
Key Takeaways
- AC repair in Houston: $150 – $650, most jobs done same day.
- Furnace repair: $150 – $700, with tune-ups at $80 – $200.
- New AC installation: $3,500 – $7,500, including labor and equipment.
- Every Dalton job includes a written price before work starts and a full-year written guarantee on the repair.
- Live person answers the phone 24/7 at (361) 306-9515.
HVAC Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s what Houston homeowners actually pay for the most common jobs this year. These are the ranges we quote from every day in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties.
| Service | Typical Cost in Houston | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AC tune-up | $80 – $200 | Coil cleaning, refrigerant check, capacitor test, filter |
| AC repair | $150 – $650 | Capacitor, contactor, blower motor, refrigerant recharge |
| Furnace repair | $150 – $700 | Ignitor, inducer motor, flame sensor, gas valve |
| Full AC installation | $3,500 – $7,500 | Straight cool or heat pump, includes labor and permit |
| Heat pump install | $4,000 – $7,500 | Popular in newer Katy and Cypress builds |
| Ductwork repair (per section) | $250 – $900 | Attic duct in Houston takes a beating from heat |
| Thermostat swap (smart) | $180 – $450 | Includes wiring check and app setup |
What pushes a job toward the top of the range? Age of the equipment, refrigerant type (R-22 systems cost more to service than R-410A and R-32), and attic access. A compressor replacement alone can eat most of an AC repair budget, while a $30 capacitor swap sits at the bottom. Furnace repairs skew higher in the $500 – $700 window when a gas valve or control board is involved. If you want a real number for your house, start with our home page or just call and describe what you’re hearing.
What Affects HVAC Pricing in Houston
- Houston’s heat load. We run cooling systems nine months a year here. That runtime wears capacitors, contactors, and blower motors faster than in Dallas or Austin, so repairs show up sooner and parts fail more often in the summer than they do up north.
- Attic temperatures. In neighborhoods like Spring Branch and Garden Oaks, most air handlers live in a 140-degree attic by August. That heat shortens motor life and makes every repair a two-hour job instead of a one-hour job.
- System age and refrigerant. R-22 refrigerant was phased out years ago and now costs several times what R-410A does. If your system was installed before 2010, a recharge alone can push an AC repair toward $650.
- Equipment brand. We’re factory-trained on Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem, York, Daikin, Bryant, and American Standard. Parts pricing and availability vary by brand, and some parts take an extra day to source.
- SEER2 efficiency tier. The federal minimum for new installs is now SEER2-rated equipment. Higher-efficiency systems cost more up front but cut summer electric bills, which matters in a city with 100-degree July afternoons.
- Permits and code. Houston and Harris County require a permit for system replacement, and the price is baked into our installation quotes. We pull it for you.
How to Save on HVAC in Houston
The cheapest repair is the one you never need. A $80 – $200 tune-up in April catches a failing capacitor before it dies on the hottest Saturday in August, when every company in Houston is booked and you’re paying emergency rates.
- Change filters every 60 days. Houston pollen and dust clog filters faster than most homeowners expect. A restricted filter strains the blower motor and shortens its life.
- Tune up in spring, before the rush. Book your AC service in March or April. Same job in July costs more because demand spikes.
- Get it in writing. Any company that won’t put the price on paper before starting is a company that can change the price mid-job. We’ve built our whole process around this. It’s the core of our AC repair service and every other job we run.
- Consider repair vs. replace honestly. If your system is over 12 years old and the repair is more than 30% of a new install, replacement usually wins over five years. We’ll show you both numbers.
- Ask about the guarantee. A repair with a written full-year guarantee is worth more than the same repair at a 30-day warranty, even if the sticker price is $50 higher.
- Bundle tune-up with repairs. When we’re already on-site for a repair, adding a tune-up costs a fraction of the standalone visit.
Free estimates on installs and written prices on every repair. Call (361) 306-9515 and we’ll get you a real number.
FAQs – HVAC Cost in Houston
How much does an AC repair cost in Houston?
AC repair in Houston runs $150 – $650 for most jobs, with the average landing around $300. Capacitors, contactors, and blower motors sit at the low end; compressor work and R-22 recharges push toward the top. Call (361) 306-9515 for an exact quote and we’ll have it to you in writing before we start.
How much does a new AC system cost installed in Houston?
A new AC system installed in Houston costs $3,500 – $7,500, depending on tonnage, efficiency tier, and whether you need ductwork changes. Heat pump installs run slightly higher, $4,000 – $7,500. The quote includes labor, equipment, and the permit.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace my Houston HVAC system?
Repair wins when the system is under 12 years old and the fix is under $650. Replace when the system is over 12, uses R-22 refrigerant, or needs a compressor. As a rough rule, if a repair costs more than 30% of a new install, replacement is the better long-term call. We’ll price both options in writing so you can decide.
How often should I get an HVAC tune-up in Houston?
Once a year for the AC, once a year for the furnace, and the AC tune-up matters more here. Houston’s climate runs cooling systems far more hours than the national average, so annual spring service is the minimum, not a luxury. Tune-ups cost $80 – $200.
Do you charge extra for after-hours HVAC calls in Houston?
Our pricing reflects the job, not the clock. A repair quoted at $150 – $650 is priced the same whether it’s a Tuesday afternoon or a Saturday night. Live phone support is staffed 24/7, so you’ll always reach a real person, not a voicemail queue.
Can you come today if my AC fails in Houston?
In most cases yes, especially on repairs. We keep same-day slots for AC failures because a Houston house without cooling becomes unsafe fast. Call (361) 306-9515 and we’ll give you a real arrival window and a written price before we roll a truck.
Why Homeowners Call Dalton Heating & Air
We’re a Garrison Partners company, and every Dalton location operates under The Garrison Code: arrive inside the stated window, price in writing before starting, do the job by the book, leave the site clean, and stand behind the work for a full year. Our owner, Marco Benitez, has held every location to that standard. It’s why we can promise a 365-Day Done Right Promise and a free return visit if a repair fails inside the guarantee period. Background-checked, uniformed technicians show up on every call, and we’re factory-trained on nine major brands: Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem, York, Daikin, Bryant, and American Standard.
Houston homeowners have plenty of HVAC companies to choose from. The difference we offer is simple: a written number, a real person on the phone, and a year-long guarantee on the work. If that sounds like what you’ve been looking for, call us for a free estimate at (361) 306-9515. We answer live, 24 hours a day.
Pricing reflects the Houston market as of 2026. Dalton Heating & Air offers free estimates – call (361) 306-9515.
Written by Marco Benitez, Owner at Dalton Heating & Air, serving Houston since 2003.
What Our Customers Say
"Installed a heat pump to replace an old oil furnace. Three clear quotes and the install crew was tidy."
- Cheryl B."Tech arrived in uniform right on time. AC wasn't cooling, found a failed capacitor, and replaced it in twenty minutes. The owner is a veteran and the company runs like it."
- Frank O."Blower motor died on the coldest night. They had the part on the truck and had us warm again the same day."
- Sandy G.