Have a heat pump on the fritz? If so, the first question on your mind is probably: “How much is this going to cost to fix?”
Well, the cost to repair a heat pump in San Marcos ranges from $197 to $1,251, with the average cost being around $432.
We know—that’s a big range.
The reason price can vary within that range is because a heat pump repair depends on the following factors:
- What’s wrong with the heat pump
- Whether or not your heat pump is still under warranty
- The contractor you choose
Let’s go into more detail about each of these factors to help give you a better estimate of what you’ll pay for a heat pump repair.
Want to know EXACTLY how much your heat pump repair will be? Let a San Marcos pro diagnose the problem.
Factor #1: What’s wrong with the heat pump
The biggest factor that affects cost is the type of heat pump repair you need.
You see, not all parts cost the same to replace—some parts are more expensive than others. And some parts require more effort to replace, which increases the cost of labor.
But to give you an idea of what you could pay for a heat pump repair, we’ll share some common heat pump repairs and their prices:
- Fixing a refrigerant leak = $100 to $1,500
- Replacing a bad capacitor = $200 to $450
- Repairing a faulty defrost control board = $500 to $600
- Fixing a broken reversing valve: $300 to $700
- Replacing a broken thermostat = $150 to $500
- Repairing a busted compressor = $1,500 to $2,400
Factor #2: Whether or not your heat pump is still under warranty
Your heat pump repair may be covered if your parts and/or labor warranties are valid.
We’ll explain the difference between the 2 types of heat pump warranties and how you can know if they’re valid.
Parts warranty
A parts warranty is issued by the heat pump manufacturer to cover important parts that fail because of a manufacturer defect. A parts warranty typically lasts anywhere from 1 to 10 years, depending on the manufacturer.
However, manufacturers require that homeowners meet a few requirements in order for the parts warranty to be considered valid. These requirements include:
- Having your heat pump properly installed by a certified professional
- Registering the heat pump within 90 days of installation
- Regularly maintaining the heat pump by a certified professional
- Only using manufacturer-approved replacement parts
How to find your parts warranty
Follow these steps:
- Go to your outdoor unit and look at the brand (York, Lennox, Trane, etc.)
- While outside, write down the model and serial number of your heat pump (this info is found on the manufacturer label on the outside unit)
- Visit the manufacturer's website and search for your heat pump model number to find the warranty for your unit
Note: If you’re having trouble finding your heat pump warranty online, try calling the company who installed your heat pump or your the manufacturer's local distributor.
Labor warranty
A heat pump labor warranty is offered by the contractor who installed your heat pump or performed repairs on it.
The purpose of the warranty is to cover the cost of labor to replace/repair a part. Labor warranties typically lasts 1 to 5 years, depending on the contractor.
For example, if a contractor replaces a bad capacitor, they may offer a labor warranty for one year that will cover that specific repair. So if the capacitor fails within one year, the contractor will repair/replace the capacitor and they won’t charge you for labor.
How to find your labor warranty
Contact the HVAC company who installed or last repaired your heat pump for the warranty details.
Factor #3: The San Marcos contractor you choose
Here’s the thing: Every contractor in San Marcos charges differently for their heat pump repair services.
As a general rule, the more experienced the contractor and the more certifications they have, the more they will charge.
And that’s not a bad thing.
You see, some contractors offer lower prices to repair heat pumps, but you get what you pay for. If that contractor cuts corners, you’ll pay for it down the road in additional repairs and lost efficiency from your heat pump.
Hiring a qualified professional saves you money and hassle in the long run because they will fix your heat pump correctly the first time.
So, how do you know if a contractor does high-quality work?
Ask yourself the following questions before you hire a contractor:
- Do they have significant experience installing and repairing heat pumps?
- Are they licensed and insured?
- Do they have good customer reviews?
- Do they offer guarantees or labor warranties on their repair work?
If you answered “yes” to those questions, you likely found a quality contractor. If you answered “no,” keep looking around until you find one you are comfortable with and who meets those requirements.
Need a heat pump repair?
We’ll send one of our trusted techs to diagnose your heat pump problem. Once our tech finds the issue, they’ll give you an honest, upfront quote on the cost to fix it.
Visit our heat pump repair page for more information about what to expect when you hire us to repair your heat pump.