Is $1,920 to clean and maintain the existing HVAC system a fair price?
Project Details
The AC stopped working today. I know nothing about HVAC work, and I wasn’t home during the inspection because I work nights (the tech showed up around 9 PM). Around 9:20 PM, my wife texted that the tech quoted roughly $3,500. I spit out my water, called her immediately, and asked if the compressor had failed. The tech insisted it was two capacitors and that the unit was "plugged" and needed cleaning. He quoted around $900 and $700 for the capacitors and $1,900 for the cleaning. I told my wife, "Bullshit"-- while I don’t know squat about HVAC, I do know capacitors cost maybe $50 total on the high end. Paying $1,500+ for labor to replace two of them seemed insane. After I hung up, refusing the repairs outright, the tech apparently tacked on more fixes, ballooning the quote to nearly $5,000 for a 19-year-old unit. They aren't even sure if said repairs will even fix the unit. I'm wondering if I correctly smelled a scam, or if this quote is justified. If it’s the former, I’d love advice on honest HVAC companies in Phoenix. Cash is tight, and while Arizona heat is no joke, I can’t justify dropping $5K we don’t have on a 20-year-old system.
Quote Details
This service includes: - Preparing home to be cleaned by setting up plastic and drop cloths. - Setting up Duct cleaning equipment. - Removing and cleaning blower assembly. - Cleaning the indoor coil. - Flushing the primary condensate drain line. - Cleaning the blower compartment. - Installing a cleaned blower assembly. - Cleaning duct runs.
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More Details
Category
HVAC
Price
$1,920
Quote Date
August 23, 2025
Location
Arizona
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