Emergency & After-Hours AC Repair
What to check first and what nights cost.
After-hours guideFree quote service · San Antonio & nearby suburbs
AC Repair in San Antonio: Free Quotes from Local HVAC Contractors
Free quotes from independent local HVAC contractors. We connect San Antonio-area homeowners with independent, TDLR-licensed local HVAC contractors for free, no-obligation quotes. The contractor you choose diagnoses, quotes, pulls the permit and does the work directly with you.
- Free for homeowners, no obligation
- Repair, replacement, heating and ducts
- We usually reply the same day
Get your free HVAC quote
- Free quote service, not a contractor
- Independent local HVAC companies
- Written, itemized quotes
- We usually reply the same day
How the free quote service works
One short form instead of a dozen calls.
Tell us what's wrong
No cooling, a noise, water at the air handler, or an old system to replace. Add your ZIP.
Local contractors reach out
We pass your request to independent HVAC companies that cover your area, and they contact you.
Compare and choose
The contractor diagnoses the system and quotes in writing. You decide; the service is free.
HVAC services you can get quoted in San Antonio
AC repair is covered below; these guides cover the other jobs.
AC Replacement & Installation
Sizing, SEER2 minimums, the refrigerant change and permits.
Replacement guide
AC Maintenance & Tune-Ups
Filters, condensate drains and the CPS Energy no-cost tune-up.
Maintenance guide
Furnace & Heating Repair
Furnaces, electric heat and CO safety.
Heating guideHeat Pump Repair & Installation
Defrost cycles, emergency heat and hard freezes.
Heat pump guide
Mini Split Installation
Single-zone and multi-zone ductless systems for additions and hot rooms.
Mini split guide
Duct Cleaning & Ductwork Repair
Cleaning, sealing and replacing attic ducts.
Duct guide
How to Compare HVAC Companies
License lookups, quotes and red flags.
Companies guideCommon AC repairs in San Antonio homes
When a central AC quits in a 100-degree week, the cause is usually one of a handful of parts. Prices below are typical ranges from published cost guides (2024–2026) — estimates, not quotes.
Capacitor or contactor
These small parts start the outdoor fan and compressor. When one fails, the outdoor unit may hum or sit silent while the indoor fan runs. Guides put a capacitor or contactor replacement at $100–$450.
Refrigerant leak
An AC is a sealed system, so it should only need refrigerant after a leak is found and fixed. A recharge alone runs $150–$900; leak repair plus recharge runs $200–$1,500. Ask what refrigerant the system uses, and never let anyone top off an R-410A system with a different refrigerant.
Frozen coil or weak airflow
A clogged filter can starve the indoor coil of air until it ices over. ENERGY STAR recommends checking filters monthly. If it freezes, turn cooling off and run the fan to thaw it.
Clogged condensate drain
Your AC pulls water out of humid summer air. If the drain plugs, it backs up, and with attic air handlers common in San Antonio-area homes, an overflow can stain a ceiling. ENERGY STAR lists the drain as a routine check.
Compressor failure
The most expensive repair, at $600–$4,000, and often the point to ask for a replacement quote too.
The diagnostic fee
Most HVAC companies charge a diagnostic fee to find the problem. Published cost guides put it at $75–$200, and San Antonio guides at about $75–$150. Before you book, ask whether the fee is credited toward the repair if you go ahead, and what the after-hours rate is. Some San Antonio HVAC companies offer after-hours service, usually at a higher rate. See the full San Antonio HVAC cost guide for every range.
Repair or replace?
ENERGY STAR suggests considering replacement for an AC or heat pump over 10 years old, or a furnace over 15. Also weigh:
- Refrigerant. Since January 1, 2025, new residential split AC and heat-pump systems must use refrigerant with a global warming potential under 700, such as R-454B or R-32 (R-410A is 2,088), though EPA's May 21, 2026 rule lets pre-2025 equipment be installed until stock runs out. Existing R-410A systems can still be repaired, but never topped off with a different refrigerant.
- Efficiency. Texas is in DOE's Southeast region, so a new split AC under about 4 tons must be at least 14.3 SEER2 (13.8 for larger), and a split heat pump at least 14.3 SEER2 / 7.5 HSPF2.
- Cost. A $600–$4,000 compressor versus $5,000–$12,000 for a new 3-ton central AC installed.
See repair or replace your AC in San Antonio and the AC replacement guide.
Why San Antonio is hard on air conditioners
NOAA's 1991–2020 normals for San Antonio International Airport show a July average high of 94.9 °F (August is hotter at 96.0 °F), about 122 days a year at 90 °F or more and about 18 at 100 °F or more. Cooling degree days outnumber heating degree days about 2.2 to 1. The National Weather Service office for Austin/San Antonio says 2023 set the record with 75 days at 100 °F or more, beating 59 in 2009, including a record 23 straight 100-degree days and the hottest summer on record.
A DOE case study puts the average temperature of vented attics in San Antonio at about 130 °F, and ENERGY STAR says 20–30% of the air moving through ducts can be lost. ENERGY STAR recommends R-6 or higher insulation on attic ducts (see our attic ducts guide).
San Antonio homes by age
According to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 2024 5-year), San Antonio has 1,479,835 residents and 612,901 housing units. The median home was built in 1985 and 42.5% were built before 1980. Inner ZIP codes are older: 78212 has a median build year of 1949, 78201 1952 and 78209 1968. Older homes may have older ductwork worth inspecting when you get a repair or replacement quote.
Permits and CPS Energy
San Antonio's Development Services Department says "Trade contractors that are licensed by the City or State and registered with the City may obtain trade permits," and mechanical permits are not on the homeowner list, so the contractor pulls the permit for a replacement. Texas exempts AC work by an owner in a home owned solely by them, but not anyone helping them. This is general information, not legal advice. Details are in our San Antonio HVAC permit guide.
CPS Energy rebates for central AC, heat pumps and ductless mini splits run $90–$310 per cooling ton by SEER2 tier for February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027; the permit number is required inside city limits. Check CPS Energy for current availability (see our CPS Energy rebate guide). CPS also offers a no-cost High-Performance A/C Tune-up to eligible customers.
Before you hire an HVAC contractor
These checks take minutes. Our license lookup walkthrough shows each step.
- Get the TDLR license number. It looks like TACLA… or TACLB…, ending in E or C for home AC. Look it up at tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch. Texas rules require that number on the company's ads, on both sides of its vehicles in 2-inch letters, and on proposals and invoices (16 TAC §75.71).
- Check who handles refrigerant. The technician should be TDLR-registered or certified, and EPA Section 608 certified to handle refrigerant.
- Confirm the permit. A replacement needs a city mechanical permit in San Antonio; in the suburbs, check with the city. The contractor pulls it, and in San Antonio CPS Energy rebates require the permit number.
- Ask for a load calculation. Request a Manual J load calculation before replacing equipment, so the new system is sized to the house rather than to the old unit.
- Get it in writing. Ask for a written, itemized quote with model and serial numbers. Ask whether the diagnostic fee is credited to the repair and what the after-hours rate is.
- Compare 2–3 quotes before you sign, especially for a replacement.
- CO alarm sounding? Leave the house and call 911 before calling anyone about the furnace.
If you smell electrical burning, shut the system off at the thermostat and the breaker. Don't open refrigerant lines yourself; federal EPA Section 608 rules cover refrigerant handling.
AC repair quotes across the San Antonio area
Local permit and housing notes for each nearby city.
AC repair questions from San Antonio homeowners
Is San Antonio Residential HVAC an HVAC company?
No. San Antonio Residential HVAC is a free quote service. We connect San Antonio-area homeowners with independent, TDLR-licensed local HVAC contractors for free, no-obligation quotes. The contractor you choose diagnoses, quotes, pulls the permit and does the work directly with you. We do not perform HVAC work and hold no TDLR contractor license.
How much does an AC service call cost in San Antonio?
Published cost guides put a service call or diagnostic visit at $75–$200 nationally, and San Antonio guides at about $75–$150. A typical AC repair runs $250–$700, with an average of about $375. Before the visit, ask whether the diagnostic fee is credited toward the repair and what the company charges after hours. These are estimates, not quotes.
Should I repair or replace my air conditioner?
ENERGY STAR suggests considering replacement when an air conditioner or heat pump is more than 10 years old. A compressor replacement can cost $600–$4,000, while a new 3-ton central AC typically runs $5,000–$12,000 installed. If an older R-410A system needs a major repair, ask contractors to quote both options in writing so you can compare them side by side.
Do I need a permit to replace an AC in San Antonio?
Yes. San Antonio's Development Services Department says trade contractors licensed by the City or State and registered with the City may obtain trade permits, and mechanical permits are not on the homeowner list. Your contractor pulls the permit, and CPS Energy rebates inside city limits require the permit number. Suburbs set their own rules. This is general information, not legal advice.
Does CPS Energy offer AC rebates?
CPS Energy's program year runs February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027 and lists rebates of $90–$310 per cooling ton for central AC, heat pumps and ductless mini splits, by SEER2 tier. A Texas-licensed contractor must install the system, and you apply within 30 days. Funding can run out, so check CPS Energy for current availability before counting on it.
More answers on the FAQ page, or see how the process works.
About this site. San Antonio Residential HVAC is an independent quote service and is not affiliated with any HVAC company of a similar name.
San Antonio Residential HVAC is not an air conditioning contractor, does not perform HVAC work, and holds no TDLR contractor license. Each contractor is responsible for its own licensing, permits, insurance, pricing and work.
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