Average HVAC Maintenance Costs in 2025

HVAC maintenance costs are one of the less fun parts of homeownership, but the extra attention pays off. Your HVAC system keeps your home comfortable all year long, making it one of the most used and essential items in your life. Since you already spend a lot on energy costs to run your system, it’s doubly important to maintain it if you want to avoid unexpected repairs down the line. 

Let’s unpack the typical HVAC maintenance costs and the factors that affect them, so you can budget accordingly. 

 

How Much Does HVAC Maintenance Cost?

Taking care of your AC system is a fact of life, but it’s often nebulous. HVAC maintenance costs range from $150 to $350, averaging around $250 annually. Your costs will vary depending on your type of system, number of systems, age, whether or not you have ductwork, and a few other factors, such as your choice to hire a professional or do it yourself. Your location also matters a lot. You’ll pay more in a major city where businesses have to keep up with a higher cost of living, whereas rural areas tend to be more affordable in comparison. 

HVAC Maintenance Costs by System Type

Here’s a basic breakdown of HVAC maintenance cost ranges for the common types of systems. Heat pumps, stand-alone air conditioning systems, and furnaces are on the lower end of the average, while mini-splits, split systems, and package systems are on the higher end. 

 

 

HVAC Maintenance Cost by Project

Maintenance is a catch-all term that doesn’t accurately describe the costs of the specific demands of your system, so we’ve gone ahead and broken the costs for common HVAC problems. 

 

 

How Often Should You Schedule HVAC Maintenance?

You should schedule HVAC maintenance every six months and at least once a year. However, it will look different for every household. Your HVAC maintenance may take a DIY approach if you visually inspect the unit to ensure it’s clean and operating smoothly, but some homeowners prefer to leave it to the professionals for additional peace of mind. 

Pro Tip: Read your manual for manufacturer instructions for maintenance, then follow those dutifully to keep your HVAC system operating smoothly.

Which is Better: Professional or DIY HVAC Maintenance?

DIY HVAC maintenance can be a valuable skill if you’re fully committed to doing it right. To ensure you’re doing everything a professional might do, consider watching YouTube videos, keeping a checklist of tasks you commit to each month, or hiring a professional for a tune-up you observe. The average HVAC tune-up costs around $150, but you may get a better price if you have an existing relationship with a contractor or reach out through a promotion, you may get a better deal.

Professional HVAC maintenance may be more expensive upfront, but you’re not without options. With a Liberty Home Guard systems home warranty, you can request service for regular repairs caused by wear and tear. It’s not the same as maintenance, but it can help you address issues quickly with minimal budgetary stress. 

Local HVAC contractors may also offer maintenance service plans or a-la-carte pre-season tune-ups to inspect your unit, tighten connections, and replace components a few times a year. These plans are a small investment that proactively address issues before they can become major problems later.

Key Factors that Affect HVAC Maintenance Costs

HVAC maintenance costs are not fixed, as demonstrated by the wide range in the table above. This disparity makes it important to understand how HVAC companies determine their costs. 

Unit Capacity

Larger units are more demanding to maintain. They have more parts and more extensive systems, so it can be more complex to access, diagnose, and address issues compared to a small home with window units. 

Number of Units

Like larger capacity units, multiple units require more work. If you have a split system or other HVAC systems with multiple units, you’ll want to factor this into your maintenance costs. 

Labor Costs

Many HVAC contractors charge by the hour, so if it takes them a while to access or diagnose the problem, you’re going to have to pay for higher labor costs. Similarly, if a repair requires multiple hours of work to complete, you’ll need to make sure you’ve budgeted for that expense.

Ductwork Condition

Failing, damaged, or clogged ductwork will stress your system and impede performance. If your HVAC technician determines you need ductwork repairs, these costs could climb to include additional labor, costs of accessing and repairing ducts through walls, and any additional parts necessary to ensure smooth operation.

Age

As systems age, you can expect repairs to become more frequent and more extensive due to prolonged wear and tear. At a certain point, it’s important to weigh the cost-benefit analysis of continuing to pay for repairs and energy costs compared to the savings on both after buying a new unit. 

Climate

Homes in extreme climates on either end of the spectrum will have higher HVAC maintenance costs than mild areas. Intense weather conditions put additional stress on the system, requiring increased usage, which leads to further wear and tear.  

Pets, Children, and Other Allergens

Pet dander, human hair, and the presence of other allergens in your home, especially if you are sensitive to respiratory irritants, may require you to replace air filters more often than others.

Signs You May Need Additional HVAC Repairs

If you’ve kept up on your HVAC maintenance and you’re still noticing performance issues, like the following, you may need to hire a professional:

• Broken or miscalibrated thermostat
• Frequent short-cycling
• Humidity control issues
• Uncharacteristically high energy bills
• Unusual noises
• Leaks near the system
• Temperature fluctuations
• No heating or cooling at all

Any of these issues warrant professional attention because they most likely indicate motor, blower, ductwork, or coil issues, which are much more extensive than filter replacements. 

Count on a Liberty Home Guard Home Warranty for Your HVAC

Now that you’re committed to HVAC maintenance, a Liberty Home Guard home warranty can be a great value for the times when maintenance isn't enough to keep your system running. You can do everything right and you’ll still encounter an unexpected repair at some point; that’s where Liberty Home Guard comes in. 

A Liberty Home Guard home warranty can reduce the financial burden of repairing or replacing system components when the source is normal wear and tear. Interested in learning more? Call a representative at (833) 566-9189 or request a free quote online.