An HVAC tune-up in 2026 typically costs $75 to $200 per visit for a standard AC, heat pump or furnace check, with maintenance plans bundling two visits a year for roughly $150–$350; the price should buy a 45–90 minute visit with actual measurements (refrigerant charge, temperature split, static pressure, electrical values, and on furnaces combustion and safety checks) and basic cleaning, not a 15-minute look and a sales pitch. Very cheap “specials” are lead-generation; they can be fine, but the checklist and the readings are what you’re paying for.
What a fair price includes
The full tune-up checklist: filter check, outdoor coil cleaning, condensate drain flush, refrigerant charge by superheat/subcooling, temperature split, static pressure and amp draws, capacitor and contactor testing with recorded values, electrical connections tightened, thermostat check, and for heating season defrost/aux checks (heat pumps) or burner, flame sensor, heat exchanger, gas pressure and CO checks (furnaces). Written readings left with you.
Typical prices
| Service | Typical cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| AC or heat pump cooling tune-up | $75 – $200 |
| Furnace or heat pump heating tune-up | $80 – $200 |
| Two-visit maintenance plan (per system, per year) | $150 – $350 |
| Add-on: indoor coil chemical clean | $150 – $400 |
| Add-on: blower cleaning | $100 – $250 |
| Promotional “special” | $29 – $69 (see below) |
Cheap specials
A $29–$69 tune-up is priced below cost; the company expects to sell repairs or replacements on the visit. That’s not necessarily bad — weak capacitors and clogged drains are real — but it’s why some visits end with “you need a new system” on a 10-year-old unit. If you take a special, ask for the checklist and readings; if you get a replacement pitch instead, get a second opinion before you act.
Plans vs one-offs
Two standalone visits usually cost about what a plan does; the plan adds priority scheduling, repair discounts and reduced emergency fees. Are maintenance plans worth it covers the decision. Every contractor on the North Carolina registry shows the license status we found; buy tune-ups from one whose repairs you’d also trust.