If your AC breaks down in DFW, the first thing you want to know is what it's going to cost. Here's a straight answer — every common AC repair, what it actually costs, and what Frosty Club members pay.
We're a flat-rate company. That means you get the price before we start the work, not after. No hourly billing, no mystery charges, no "well, it took longer than we thought."
AC Repair Pricing Breakdown (2026)
Diagnostic / Service Call
| | Regular | Member | |---|---|---| | Diagnostic fee | $85 | $72.25 |
Waived if you approve the repair. The diagnostic covers our truck roll, a full system evaluation, and a written diagnosis. If you say yes to the repair, you only pay the repair price — the $85 goes away.
Common Repairs
| Repair | Regular Price | Member Price | |---|---|---| | Capacitor replacement | $500 | $425 | | Contactor replacement | $600 | $510 | | Condenser fan motor (rescue/universal) | $650 | $552.50 | | Condenser fan motor (ECM) | Up to $2,800 | Up to $2,380 | | Drain line clearing | $350 | $297.50 | | Refrigerant leak repair + recharge | $350-$1,000 | $297.50-$850 |
Mid-Range Repairs
| Repair | Regular Price | Member Price | |---|---|---| | Blower motor (standard PSC) | $750-$1,000 | $637.50-$850 | | Blower motor (ECM / variable speed) | $1,000-$1,500 | $850-$1,275 | | TXV (thermostatic expansion valve) | $1,500-$3,000 | $1,275-$2,550 |
Major Repairs
| Repair | Regular Price | Member Price | |---|---|---| | Compressor replacement | $3,500-$5,000 | $2,975-$4,250 | | Evaporator coil replacement | $3,500-$5,000 | $2,975-$4,250 |
After-Hours / Emergency
| Service | Regular Price | Member Price | |---|---|---| | After-hours surcharge | $250 | $212.50 |
What Each Repair Actually Is
Knowing the price is half the picture. Here's what each repair involves so you can understand why your tech is recommending it.
Capacitor — $500 (Member: $425)
The capacitor is a small cylinder that stores electrical energy to start and run the compressor and fan motors. It's the most common AC failure in DFW — extreme heat accelerates capacitor degradation, and most last 5-10 years.
Signs it's failing: AC blows warm air, outdoor unit hums but won't start, fan spins slowly or not at all.
The repair: 15-30 minutes. Your tech tests the capacitor with a multimeter, confirms it's out of spec, and replaces it. Quick, straightforward, and the system runs immediately after.
Contactor — $600 (Member: $510)
The contactor is an electrical switch that sends power from your thermostat signal to the compressor and condenser fan. Over time, the contact points pit and burn from arcing.
Signs it's failing: Outdoor unit won't turn on, buzzing noise from the outdoor unit, system runs intermittently.
The repair: 20-30 minutes. The tech replaces the contactor and verifies amp draws are normal. A bad contactor can damage your compressor if left too long, so don't ignore buzzing from the outdoor unit.
Condenser Fan Motor — $650-$2,800 (Member: $552.50-$2,380)
The big price range depends on motor type. A standard rescue/universal motor is $650 (Member: $552.50). An ECM (electronically commutated motor) on a high-efficiency system can run up to $2,800 (Member: $2,380) because it's a precision component.
Signs it's failing: Outdoor fan won't spin, fan spins slowly, grinding or squealing noise, outdoor unit overheating.
The repair: 30-60 minutes. The tech replaces the motor, the capacitor if needed (often replaced together), and verifies proper rotation and amp draw.
Blower Motor — $750-$1,500 (Member: $637.50-$1,275)
The blower motor is inside your air handler or furnace — it pushes conditioned air through your ductwork. Standard PSC motors are less expensive. ECM and variable-speed motors cost more because they're more efficient and complex.
Signs it's failing: Weak airflow from vents, unusual noises from the indoor unit, system runs but house doesn't cool, higher electric bills.
The repair: 1-2 hours. The tech removes the blower assembly, replaces the motor, reinstalls, and verifies airflow and amp draw.
Compressor — $3,500-$5,000 (Member: $2,975-$4,250)
The compressor is the heart of your AC system. It compresses refrigerant from a low-pressure gas to a high-pressure liquid, which is what actually makes your home cool. It's the most expensive single component.
Signs it's failing: System runs but blows warm air, loud clunking or grinding from outdoor unit, tripped breaker that keeps tripping, visible oil leak around the outdoor unit.
The repair: 4-8 hours. This is a major repair that involves recovering all the refrigerant, brazing in the new compressor, pressure testing, evacuating the system, and recharging. It requires EPA 608 certification.
Important consideration: If your system is over 12-15 years old and needs a compressor, run the numbers on replacement. A $4,000 compressor in a 15-year-old system often doesn't make financial sense when a new system starts at $8,000.
Evaporator Coil — $3,500-$5,000 (Member: $2,975-$4,250)
The evaporator coil sits inside your air handler and absorbs heat from your home's air. Coils fail from corrosion (formicary corrosion from household chemicals), refrigerant leaks, or physical damage.
Signs it's failing: Refrigerant leak (ice on the lines, system can't maintain temperature), water leaking around the indoor unit, musty smell from vents.
The repair: 4-6 hours. The tech recovers refrigerant, removes the old coil, installs the new one, pressure tests, evacuates, and recharges. The coil must match your system's tonnage and refrigerant type exactly.
Refrigerant Leak Repair + Recharge — $350-$1,000 (Member: $297.50-$850)
Your AC is a sealed (hermetic) system. If it's low on refrigerant, there's a leak. We never just "top it off" — that's throwing your money away because the refrigerant leaks right back out.
Our process: Find the leak (nitrogen pressure test, electronic leak detector, UV dye), repair it (brazing, replacing the leaking component), then recharge to manufacturer specs. That's the only way to do it right.
The price range depends on where the leak is. An accessible valve core leak is on the low end. A leak buried in the evaporator coil could mean the coil needs full replacement.
TXV (Thermostatic Expansion Valve) — $1,500-$3,000 (Member: $1,275-$2,550)
The TXV meters refrigerant flow into the evaporator coil. When it fails, the system either floods the coil (liquid slugging the compressor) or starves it (system can't cool). The price varies by system type and accessibility.
Signs it's failing: System freezes up (ice on lines or coil), inconsistent cooling, superheat readings out of range.
The repair: 2-4 hours. Requires refrigerant recovery, brazing, and recharge. If the TXV failed on a system over 15 years old, discuss replacement options — this is one of the more expensive repairs, and an aging system may have more failures coming.
Drain Line — $350 (Member: $297.50)
Your AC produces gallons of condensation daily — especially in DFW's humidity. That water drains through a PVC condensate line. When algae, dust, and mold clog it, water backs up into the drain pan and overflows.
Signs it's clogged: Water around the indoor unit, water stain on ceiling below the attic unit, system shuts off (float switch activated), musty smell.
The repair: 30-60 minutes. The tech clears the line with a wet/dry vac or nitrogen, flushes with condensate treatment, and verifies proper drainage.
How Frosty Club Saves You Money
Every price above has two columns for a reason. Frosty Club members pay less on every single repair.
Basic — $99/year: 10% off any repair. If you spend $500+ on HVAC in a year, the membership pays for itself.
Premium — $300/year: $500 off any repair, 15% off parts, 2 free tune-ups per year ($300 value), priority scheduling. One repair and the membership has already paid for itself.
Example: A compressor replacement at $4,000 costs a Premium member $3,400 — that's $600 in savings on one repair, double the membership cost.
Join Frosty Club and start saving immediately.
When Repair Stops Making Sense
Some repairs aren't worth doing. Here's when we'll tell you to consider replacement instead:
- Repair costs more than 50% of a new system. A $4,000 compressor on a system worth $8,000 is borderline.
- System is 15+ years old. Even after a major repair, other components are the same age and likely to fail soon.
- R-22 system needing refrigerant. R-22 production ended in 2020. Prices are extreme and climbing.
- R-410A system needing a major repair. R-410A is being phased down. Factor in rising refrigerant costs over the system's remaining life.
- Third major repair in 2 years. The system is telling you it's done.
New systems range from $8,000 to $20,000+. Try our AC Replacement Cost Calculator to see exact pricing for your home.
Get a Diagnosis Today
If your AC isn't working right, call us. The diagnostic is $85 ($72.25 for members), and it's waived if you approve the repair. You'll know exactly what's wrong, exactly what it costs, and you decide before we touch anything.
Call (469) 254-0548 or request service online.
We serve homeowners in Farmers Branch, Coppell, Irving, Flower Mound, Lewisville, and Grapevine.
Written by Omar Jacobo, EPA 608 Universal Certified Lead Technician at Frosty's HVAC LLC. Family-owned since 2018, 94 Google reviews at 4.9 stars, Texas License TACLA126718E. Serving DFW homeowners with flat-rate pricing and no surprises.