Short answer: AC repair in Las Vegas typically costs $89 for a diagnostic visit, $150–$300 for a capacitor replacement, $300–$800 for contactor or fan motor repairs, and $1,800–$3,500 for a compressor replacement. After-hours and weekend calls add $50–$100 to the base fee.
Every summer, our phones ring off the hook with the same question: "How much is this going to cost me?" It's a fair question — and one that most HVAC companies dodge with vague answers like "it depends." So let's actually answer it.
We've been doing AC repair in Las Vegas long enough to know what typical repairs cost in the Valley. Las Vegas is not like Phoenix, not like Tucson, not like anywhere else. When your system is running 2,500 to 3,000 hours a year in 115°F heat, cycling through monsoon dust in August, and fighting the hardest municipal water in the country, components wear out faster and fail harder than in most U.S. cities. That context matters for every number we're about to share.
What You Pay Just to Have a Tech Come Out
Before any part gets replaced, there's a diagnostic fee. In Las Vegas, that typically runs $75 to $150 depending on the company and the time of day.
At The Cooling Company, our standard diagnostic fee is $89. We come out, find the problem, and give you a firm quote before touching anything. If you approve the repair, we get to work. That's the deal.
A few things to know about diagnostic fees across the industry:
- After-hours and weekend calls often add a surcharge — sometimes $50 to $100 on top of the base fee. If your AC dies at 10 PM on a Friday in July, expect to pay more. That's not gouging; that's the reality of emergency HVAC service.
- Waived diagnostic fees sound great until you read the fine print. Some companies waive the diagnostic but mark up parts to compensate. Compare total job cost, not just the service call fee.
- Flat-rate vs. time-and-materials pricing changes what you pay for labor. We use flat-rate pricing on repairs so you know the number before we start — not after three hours of labor.
The Most Common AC Repairs and What They Cost in Las Vegas
Here's where most homeowners want to go straight. These are the repairs we see most often, with realistic price ranges for the Las Vegas market.
Capacitor Replacement: $150 – $300
The capacitor is the single most common AC repair we do. It's a small cylindrical component that stores electrical charge and helps start the compressor and fan motors. In Las Vegas heat, capacitors fail constantly — the combination of extreme temperatures and the constant start-stop cycling of your system degrades them fast.
Signs of a bad capacitor: the system hums but won't start, the fan spins weakly or not at all, or the unit shuts off shortly after starting.
The part itself is cheap ($20–$50 for the capacitor). You're paying for the diagnostic, the labor, and the markup that keeps the lights on at your HVAC company. A fair total bill is $150 to $300. If someone quotes you $400+ for a capacitor swap, ask questions.
Contactor Replacement: $150 – $350
The contactor is an electrical relay that controls power to the compressor and condenser fan. It takes a beating in Las Vegas because it's cycling on and off hundreds of times a day during summer. Pitted or burned contacts cause intermittent failures, humming, or a unit that won't turn on at all.
Replacement cost: $150 to $350 for the full job. The part runs $30 to $70; labor is straightforward.
Refrigerant Recharge: $200 – $600+
Refrigerant is what actually moves heat out of your home. When you're low on refrigerant, your system can't cool properly — you'll notice warm air from the vents, ice on the refrigerant lines, or the unit running constantly without reaching the set temperature.
Here's what most companies won't tell you upfront: low refrigerant means you have a leak. Refrigerant doesn't evaporate — if you're low, it escaped somewhere. Adding refrigerant without finding and fixing the leak is like refilling a punctured tire without patching it.
What you'll actually pay:
- Leak search (leak detection): $75–$150 (often part of the diagnostic)
- Minor leak repair (Schrader valve, fitting): $150–$300
- Major leak repair (line set or coil): $500–$2,500+ depending on where it is
- Refrigerant recharge (R-410A): $75–$150 per pound; most residential systems take 2–5 lbs for a full recharge
If someone offers to "just top you off" without looking for the leak, decline. You'll be calling them back in six months.
Blower Motor Replacement: $400 – $800
The blower motor is the fan inside your air handler that pushes conditioned air through your ductwork. When it fails — or starts running at reduced capacity — rooms feel warm even when the outdoor unit is working fine.
Las Vegas homes accumulate dust fast, especially through the monsoon season in July and August. That dust builds up on blower wheels and motor windings, causing overheating and premature failure. Regular filter changes help more than most homeowners realize.
Blower motor replacement runs $400 to $800 for parts and labor. Variable-speed ECM motors cost more than single-speed motors — if your system has a variable-speed motor, budget toward the higher end.
Evaporator Coil Replacement: $1,200 – $2,500
The evaporator coil sits inside your air handler and is where refrigerant absorbs heat from your home's air. Coils fail for two main reasons: refrigerant leaks (often from corrosion or vibration damage) and physical damage.
In Las Vegas, coil leaks are common because of the hard water and high mineral content in our air — it accelerates the slow chemical reactions that pit copper tubing over time.
Evaporator coil replacement is a significant job. You're looking at $1,200 to $2,500, depending on the coil configuration, system size, and whether refrigerant needs to be recovered and recharged. At this price point, it's worth discussing your system's age — if the unit is 12+ years old, a coil replacement might not make financial sense versus new AC installation.
Condenser Fan Motor Replacement: $300 – $600
The condenser fan motor sits in the outdoor unit and exhausts heat away from the condenser coil. In Las Vegas summers, this motor runs almost continuously, and the ambient heat alone shortens its lifespan significantly.
A failed condenser fan motor lets the outdoor unit overheat, which causes the compressor to trip on its thermal overload — your system shuts down, often on the hottest day of the year.
Replacement: $300 to $600 for parts and labor.
Compressor Replacement: $1,500 – $3,500
The compressor is the heart of your AC system — it pressurizes the refrigerant and drives the entire refrigeration cycle. It's also the most expensive component to replace.
Compressor failure in Las Vegas often comes from two causes: low refrigerant (starves the compressor of the cooling and lubrication it needs) and age-related wear on a system that's been running thousands of hours a year. We've seen 8-year-old compressors fail here that would have lasted 15+ years in a milder climate.
A compressor replacement runs $1,500 to $3,500 for parts and labor. For a system older than 10–12 years, a failed compressor is often the tipping point where replacement beats repair on a cost-benefit basis. We'll always give you an honest recommendation — not every service company will.
How Las Vegas Climate Affects What You Pay
We've mentioned the heat and the dust, but it's worth being specific about why Las Vegas is harder on HVAC equipment than almost anywhere else in the country.
Runtime hours. A Las Vegas home AC runs roughly 2,500 to 3,000 hours annually. A home in Chicago might see 800 to 1,200 hours. More hours means faster wear on every moving and electrical component — capacitors, contactors, motors, compressors.
Ambient temperature at the outdoor unit. When it's 115°F outside and your condenser is sitting on a west-facing roof, the equipment is operating near its design limits. High head pressure stresses the compressor. Fan motors work harder. Coils run hotter.
Dust and debris. Our monsoon season in July and August kicks up enormous amounts of particulate. That dust loads up condenser coils, clogs blower wheels, and contaminates electrical connections. A dirty condenser coil alone can reduce system efficiency by 30% and put serious stress on the compressor.
Hard water. Las Vegas municipal water is among the hardest in the country. If your system uses a whole-house humidifier or if condensate interacts with certain components, mineral buildup accelerates corrosion.
All of this means you'll likely spend more on AC repairs and maintenance in Las Vegas than the national averages suggest. That's not a scare tactic — it's just what the environment demands.
When Repair Stops Making Sense
We'll always give you a straight answer on this. The general rule we use: if the repair cost exceeds 50% of the installed cost of a new system, and the system is more than 10 years old, replacement is usually the better financial decision.
A 15-year-old system that needs a $2,000 compressor is a candidate for new AC installation. You're putting significant money into aging equipment that will likely need another major repair within a couple of years.
On the other hand, a 7-year-old system with a $300 capacitor and contactor job? Fix it, maintain it with a maintenance plan, and get another decade out of it.
How to Keep Repair Costs Down
The single most effective thing you can do is Schedule Now. A tuned-up system before the summer cooling season runs more efficiently, lasts longer, and gives a tech the chance to catch failing components before they leave you in a 110°F house.
Our maintenance plans include priority scheduling — if something does go wrong in peak summer, you move to the front of the line. That alone has real value when every HVAC company in the Valley is booked two weeks out.
Beyond maintenance:
- Change your air filter every 30–60 days (more often if you have pets or run construction). A clogged filter is one of the leading causes of blower motor failure and evaporator coil freeze-up.
- Keep your outdoor unit clear. Trim shrubs, rinse the condenser coil with a hose a few times a season, and make sure the unit has at least 18 inches of clearance on all sides.
- Don't ignore small symptoms. A slight warm spot in one room, a soft hum from the outdoor unit, a system that takes longer than usual to cool — these are the early warnings that precede expensive failures.
If a repair is going to be significant, ask about financing options. We offer flexible payment plans so a compressor replacement doesn't force a choice between a functional AC and paying rent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my AC repair quote so much higher than what I read online?
National averages are pulled from across the country — markets with lower labor costs, milder climates, and shorter cooling seasons. In Las Vegas, technicians are in high demand during summer, labor rates reflect that demand, and parts may carry higher markups due to supply chain realities in a fast-growing metro. A quote from a licensed Las Vegas HVAC contractor will realistically be at or above national averages. That said, if a quote feels high, get a second opinion. Competitive pricing exists here — you shouldn't have to overpay.
Should I repair or replace my AC if the compressor fails?
It depends primarily on the system's age. If your system is under 10 years old and otherwise in good condition, a compressor replacement at $1,500 to $3,500 can be worth it — you're getting a major component replaced in a system with years of useful life remaining. If the system is 12 or more years old, those repair dollars are often better applied toward a new system. We'll give you a straight cost-benefit comparison so you can make the right call for your situation.
How much does an emergency AC repair cost in Las Vegas after hours?
After-hours and weekend emergency service typically adds $50 to $150 to the base diagnostic fee. The repair itself is billed at the same rate, but some companies charge premium labor rates for nights and weekends — ask upfront. Our emergency HVAC service is available 24/7, and we're transparent about our after-hours pricing before we dispatch a tech.
Why does my AC keep needing refrigerant added every year?
Because you have a refrigerant leak that hasn't been fixed. Refrigerant is a closed system — it doesn't get used up or evaporate. If your system keeps running low, it's leaking somewhere: a pinhole in the evaporator coil, a failing Schrader valve, a damaged line set fitting. Adding refrigerant without finding and repairing the leak is a temporary fix that costs you money every season. The right answer is leak detection, followed by repair, followed by a full recharge.
Does The Cooling Company offer any warranty on AC repairs?
Yes. We warranty our parts and labor — specific terms vary by repair type and the manufacturer warranty on parts used. When we complete a repair, we'll tell you exactly what's covered and for how long. Most parts we install carry at least a one-year manufacturer warranty, and our labor is backed by our workmanship guarantee.
Get a Straight Answer on Your AC Repair Cost
You deserve to know what you're paying before anyone starts work. The Cooling Company has been serving the Las Vegas Valley with licensed, straightforward HVAC service — no bait-and-switch pricing, no unnecessary upsells, no vague estimates that balloon once we're in your house.
Call us at (702) 567-0707 or schedule online and we'll get a technician out to diagnose your system, give you a firm quote, and get your AC running again — whatever it takes to keep your home comfortable through another Las Vegas summer.