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 Columbus?
Most HVAC work in Columbus runs between $150 and $650 for a repair, $80 to $200 for a seasonal tune-up, and $3,500 to $7,500 for a full system installation. A furnace repair can stretch to $700 depending on the part, and AC installs land at the higher end when you add ductwork or a larger tonnage unit. Those ranges hold whether you’re in Westerville, Grove City, or a 1920s duplex off High Street.
We’re Dalton Heating & Air, a Garrison Partners company operating under The Garrison Standard since 2003. Every job we run gets a written price before any work starts, a written guarantee on the repair, and a free return visit if the work doesn’t hold. That’s the whole bargain. No surprise line items at the door.
Key Takeaways
- AC repair: $150 – $650. Furnace repair: $150 – $700.
- New AC or furnace install: $3,500 – $7,500.
- Fall or spring tune-up: $80 – $200.
- Live person answers the phone 24/7 at (361) 306-9515.
- Written price before work starts, every job, no exceptions.
HVAC Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s what Columbus homeowners actually pay. These are the ranges we quote and stand behind.
| Service | Typical Cost Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AC repair | $150 – $650 | Capacitor, contactor, blower motor, refrigerant recharge |
| Furnace repair | $150 – $700 | Igniter, inducer motor, control board, flame sensor |
| AC installation | $3,500 – $7,500 | Condenser, coil, line set, labor; ductwork extra |
| Furnace installation | $3,500 – $7,500 | 80% vs. 96% AFUE, venting type, flue liner |
| Tune-up (AC or furnace) | $80 – $200 | Clean, inspect, test; single system |
What pushes you toward the top of a range? Refrigerant recharge is a big one – topping off the cooling fluid your system needs to reach set temperature. If there’s a leak, you’re paying for the recharge plus the leak repair, and that’s when a $180 diagnostic turns into a $600 day. On installs, the swing is mostly tonnage and efficiency. A 2-ton builder-grade unit in a Reynoldsburg ranch is not a 4-ton Carrier variable-speed in a New Albany two-story. Ductwork modifications, lineset replacement, and whether we’re pulling a new electrical circuit all move the number. We’ll tell you which of those apply to your house before we touch anything.
What Affects HVAC Pricing in Columbus
Columbus isn’t a flat market. Here’s what actually moves the quote.
- System age and brand. We’re factory-trained to service nine major residential HVAC brands: Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem, York, Daikin, Bryant, and American Standard. Parts availability swings pricing. A 15-year-old unit with an obsolete control board costs more to fix than a 2019 Rheem with common parts.
- Ohio’s humidity load. Columbus summers run muggy, and that constant moisture cycling puts stress on condensate lines and drain pans. We see more clogged drains and water damage in Clintonville and Bexley, where older homes have undersized return air.
- Freeze-thaw winters. Central Ohio swings from 45°F to 10°F inside a week. That’s hard on heat exchangers and ignition systems. Furnace failures spike in January, and emergency calls on a cold Sunday cost more than a Tuesday morning appointment.
- Home age and ductwork. A German Village brick home built in 1900 has different ducting than a Dublin build from 2015. Retrofitting ducts or adding a return can add $800 – $2,000 to an install.
- Refrigerant type. R-22 is phased out and expensive when you can find it. If your system still runs R-22, a recharge is often the tipping point toward replacement.
- Access and permits. Rooftop units, crawlspace installs, and finished-basement air handlers all take more labor. Some Columbus jurisdictions require a permit for HVAC replacement, and that fee gets passed through.
How to Save on HVAC
The cheapest repair is the one you avoid. A $80 – $200 tune-up in the spring catches a weak capacitor before it dies in July, when everyone’s AC is down and after-hours rates apply. Change your filter monthly during peak season. Keep two feet of clearance around the outdoor condenser. If your system is 12+ years old and you’re facing a $600 repair, ask us to run the numbers on repair versus replacement – sometimes the math says fix it, sometimes it doesn’t.
We also give free estimates. There’s no charge to have a technician look at your system and put a written price in front of you. Call (361) 306-9515 and a real person picks up, 24/7.
FAQs – HVAC Cost
How much does AC repair cost in Columbus?
AC repair in Columbus typically costs $150 – $650. A capacitor or contactor swap sits at the low end, around $150 – $250. A blower motor or refrigerant leak repair lands at $400 – $650. The price is in writing before we start, and the repair is guaranteed for a full year.
How much does furnace repair cost in Columbus?
Furnace repair runs $150 – $700. Igniters and flame sensors are usually $150 – $300. Inducer motors and control boards run $400 – $700. If your furnace is short-cycling or blowing cold air in January, call (361) 306-9515 – we answer live, day or night.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace my HVAC system?
The rule we use: if the repair is more than 30% of a new system’s cost and the unit is over 12 years old, replacement usually wins. A $2,500 repair on a 14-year-old unit doesn’t make sense when a new system is $3,500 – $7,500. We’ll show you both numbers in writing and let you decide. No pressure either way.
How much does a new HVAC system cost in Columbus?
A full AC or furnace installation in Columbus costs $3,500 – $7,500. That includes equipment, labor, and startup. Ductwork changes, new linesets, or electrical upgrades are extra. We quote the whole job up front, so the number you see is the number you pay.
Can you come out today?
In most cases, yes. We keep same-day slots open for repairs, and our phone line is staffed by a live person 24/7. Call (361) 306-9515 for a free estimate or to get on today’s schedule. If we can’t make it today, we’ll tell you the first available window and hold it.
How We Handle a Service Call (Step by Step)
- You call. A real person answers at (361) 306-9515, any hour. We ask what the system is doing and book a window.
- We arrive inside the window. Background-checked, uniformed technician. You know who’s coming before they knock.
- We diagnose. Full inspection, no guesswork. We tell you what’s wrong in plain terms.
- We put the price in writing. Before any work starts, you get the number on paper. You approve it or you don’t.
- We do the repair. By the book, with the right parts. We clean up before we leave.
- We back it for a year. The 365-Day Done Right Promise. If the repair fails inside that window, we return at no charge.
If you’re weighing a repair against a replacement, or you just want to know what a tune-up would catch before summer hits, start at our home page and give us a call. Written price. Written guarantee. A crew that shows up when it says it will.
Pricing reflects the Columbus market as of 2026. Dalton Heating & Air offers free estimates – call (361) 306-9515.
Written by Marco Benitez, Owner at Dalton Heating & Air, serving Columbus since 2003.
What Our Customers Say
"Honest, direct people. Told me what the furnace needed and nothing more, and the bill matched."
- Eliza S."Coil cleaning and a refrigerant check before summer. AC has never been this cold."
- Marty D."Good communication, tidy, and disciplined work. Taped off the floor and wiped the unit down."
- Karen J.