Concept site Evenkeel Air & Plumbing is a fictional heating, air and plumbing contractor, designed and built by Patrick Bushe to show what I make for heating, air and plumbing contractors. Fictional, by Patrick Bushe

What’s wrong, and what it costs.

Pick the system and what it’s doing. You’ll see what to check yourself first, what it usually turns out to be, and the flat price for each fix.

1Which system?
2What’s it doing?

Sample tool A sketch to help you decide how soon to call, not a diagnosis.

Same day

Blowing warm air

Try this first

Set it to Cool, a few degrees below the room. Check that the outdoor unit is running and the filter isn’t gray.

What it usually is

A failed capacitor or contactor at the outdoor unit, or low refrigerant from a leak.

The fixes, at flat prices

  • Capacitor replaced$189–$289
  • Contactor replaced$199–$299
  • Refrigerant leak found and recharged$450–$1,200

Sample prices Your tech quotes one flat price from the range before starting.

The price book

Every common job, priced before we come. Parts and labor are in the number.

Sample prices Visit and diagnosis $89, waived when you go ahead with the repair. Nights (8 p.m. to 8 a.m.) and Sundays add $95.

An outdoor AC unit against teal window shutters

Air conditioning

  • AC tune-upCoils rinsed, refrigerant checked, drain flushed, parts tested$129
  • Capacitor replacedThe part that starts the outdoor fan and compressor$189–$289
  • Contactor replacedThe switch that turns the outdoor unit on and off$199–$299
  • Condensate drain clearedLine cleared and flushed, float switch tested$149–$229
  • Coil cleanedIndoor or outdoor coil, for full airflow again$249–$399
  • Refrigerant leak found and rechargedLeak found and sealed where it can be, then recharged$450–$1,200
  • Thermostat replacedWired, set up and tested; yours or ours$225–$395
A heat pump outdoor unit on a dark brick wall

Heating

  • Furnace tune-upBurners, flame sensor, safety switches and a carbon monoxide check$129
  • Flame sensor cleaned or replacedThe part that tells the furnace the burner lit$149–$199
  • Igniter replacedThe part that lights the burners$249–$399
  • Limit switch replacedThe safety switch that shuts an overheating furnace off$189–$289
  • Blower motor replacedThe fan that pushes air through the vents$650–$1,100
A tank water heater and an outdoor unit on the side of a house

Water heaters

  • Tank flushedSediment drained, anode rod checked$149–$199
  • Thermocouple or pilot assemblyFor a gas tank whose pilot won’t stay lit$189–$289
  • Relief or drain valve replacedStops a tank that leaks from a valve$189–$329
  • Heating element replacedElectric tanks$229–$329
  • Tankless descaledFlushed with descaler, inlet screen cleaned$199–$299
  • 50-gallon gas tank replacedOld tank hauled away, new valves and lines, permit included$2,100–$2,900
A plumber in work gloves fixing a pipe in a bathroom wall

Drains and leaks

  • One drain clearedSink, tub or shower$149–$249
  • Main line clearedFrom the cleanout, with a camera check after$299–$499
  • Camera inspectionVideo of the line, yours to keep$199
  • Toilet flapper or fill valveStops a toilet that keeps running$129–$219
  • Supply line replacedToilet, sink or washer hose$129–$189
  • Pipe leak repairedCopper or PEX; wall patching not included$299–$699
  • Leak detectionFinding hidden and under-slab leaks$299
  • Pressure regulator replacedFor low or banging water pressure$450–$750

How the pricing works

Why a range and not one price?

The range covers the part sizes and brands we carry. Your tech quotes one flat number from the range before starting, and that’s what you pay.

Do you charge by the hour?

No. The price is per job, so a stubborn repair doesn’t cost you more.

What if you can’t fix it?

You pay the $89 visit and keep the written diagnosis and the photos, to use with anyone you like.

Do you pull permits?

Yes, for water heater, AC and furnace replacements, and the permit fee is in the price.

A smiling plumber in a red shirt working on the pipes under a sink

Rather we just come look?

Pick a two-hour window. Your tech brings the common parts, so most of these are fixed on the first visit.