6 Common AC Problems and Costs

In the hot months you love your air conditioner, and if it breaks things can get a little unbearable. It is also expensive to repair your ac, so here is a list of common problems to help you out a bit.

This is a short list of six common AC repair problems. I will state the issue, then suggest the different possibilities for fixing it, and approximately how much it should cost.

1. The first problem is when the outside AC unit doesn't turn on. If there is no power to the unit then maybe there is a defective breaker or wires got burned/broken/etc. These problems should cost about $75-150 to fix. Perhaps the issue may also be a defective thermostat ($150) or transformer ($100).

2. Problem number two is when the circuit breaker trips when turned on. There are four possibilities here. First there might be a weak breaker ($100) or the condenser fan shorted to ground ($200-$300). A grounded compressor will put you back close to $1000 so that is the worst possible outcome.

3. The unit hums but the fan doesn't work. This could be due to a defective fan motor ($250) or defective capacitor ($140). Burned wires could also lead to this problem and will cost around $75 to fix.

4. The fan works but the compressor does not. This could be because of burned wires again ($75) or capacitor ($140). You may also need to add more refrigerant (freon, etc) which can cost $25-$50 per pound of refrigerant. Worst case scenario is when you need to replace the whole compressor which is around $1000.

5. The outdoor unit runs but the fan won't work. A defective blower motor will cost around $300 to fix, a defective evaporator coil will cost around $100 to fix, and broken wires or filters cost $50-$90 to fix. A defective capacitor will put you back about $100 and a new fan center will be around $200.

6. The AC is leaking water inside of your house. This can be because the drain stopped, which will cost around $100 to fix. Or it could be because the unit froze up which is an easy fix. Hopefully the problem is not because the evaporator coil pan rusted out because that will be around $1000 to fix.

I know this is not a super-detailed guide on how to fix your AC. But you can use it as a sort of troubleshooting guide to test out different problems when your AC starts acting up.