An HVAC inspection typically costs between $250 and $400, with the national average cost being $300. Where you live and the size of your home can affect what you pay for an HVAC inspection.
Your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is primarily responsible for the comfort of your home—but it serves a number of other functions, including ensuring good air quality in your house. That’s why it’s important to maintain it well.
Whether you’re buying, selling, or simply maintaining your home, an HVAC inspection should not be overlooked. But if you’re worried about the cost, Jerry
can help. A licensed broker
and app, Jerry does more than just help you find affordable home insurance
. In this guide, we’ll be covering the basic costs associated with an HVAC inspection, including tips to keep your system humming for years to come.
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How much does an HVAC inspection cost?
HVAC systems are one of the most important in your home—and they’re also highly complex. That’s why it’s recommended you have one performed at least once a year, or before you list your house on the market. But how much does an HVAC inspection cost?
Well, that will depend on a few factors, including:
Location. Where you live can determine the average cost of a home inspection
Home size. Larger homes require more extensive systems and, consequently, take more time and effort to inspect
Contractor. Some contractors may charge more for an HVAC inspection than others. If you have the time to shop, it’s worthwhile to get a couple of quotes from different contractors before making your final decision
The national average cost of an HVAC inspection is $300, but the average range is anywhere from $250 to $400, and if you own a larger estate, you might pay as much as $500. Any repairs or other services performed during your inspection may incur additional costs.
What does that money pay for? A technician will check the cleanliness of all HVAC parts in your home, any built-in safety components, as well as your vents, ducts, and chimneys. The table below takes a closer look at what HVAC inspections typically include:
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| A technician looks over the components of your home’s furnace, including your thermostat, furnace cabinet, blower, ignitor, heat exchanger, vent, and electrical components to ensure each is clean and working properly. They will also check for any gas or CO2 leaks. |
| A technician looks into the cleanliness and health of your ducts as well as critical components of your A/C system, including the evaporator coil, condensation line, drain pan, refrigerant levels, and any electrical components. |
| A technician confirms there are no leaks in your ducts and that there’s proper airflow. |
After performing an HVAC inspection, you’ll likely receive feedback on the overall well-being of your home’s heating, cooling, and venting operations, including any recommendations—like cleaning a dirty part or replacing an old one—that can help improve the functionality and longevity of your system.
If you’re getting ready to sell your home, your home inspector can likely tell you on a general level how healthy your HVAC system is. But there are limits to what an appraiser can and can’t do—an average home inspection won’t include a detailed look into the performance of your HVAC system, meaning that specific problems can get easily overlooked.
MORE: How long do HVAC systems last?
Do I need an HVAC inspection?
While they’re not generally required, an HVAC inspection is usually a good idea before any real estate transaction—and in many cases, may even be a contingency of the sale.
A broad look at your HVAC system is generally part of home inspections, and, depending on the apparent state of the one in your home, your inspector may recommend a more thorough examination take place.
But even if your inspector deems your HVAC system a-okay, it’s worthwhile to have a professional inspection performed. Problems or malfunctions in your HVAC system are not always discernible just from running it.
What might seem to be a perfectly working HVAC system on the outside may in fact harbor issues below the surface. If left unattended, those problems can create serious damage to your HVAC’s health.
Ultimately, the goal of an HVAC inspection is to ensure safety and efficiency in your home. If your home isn’t meeting the level of comfort you want or you’re preparing to sell, it’s beneficial to have a more in-depth inspection done.
MORE: All you need to know about central heating and cooling
Common HVAC problems
Whether you have your HVAC inspected annually or haven’t done it in years, problems can occur in your system that aren’t always noticeable without a professional’s expertise. Here are some of the most commonly found HVAC problems:
Dirty or clogged filters. Filters are an oft-overlooked component of your HVAC system, but they play a big role in airflow efficiency. A dirty or clogged filter can drastically restrict air flow, which can strain your furnace and also impact your home’s comfort levels. Replacing them regularly is the best way to avoid complications and extend the life of your furnace.
Clogged condensation/evaporator coils. Like filters, your A/C’s condensation line and your furnace’s evaporator coils can collect dirt and debris that can reduce the efficiency of your cooling system. Cleaning them regularly can help them last longer, and reduce wear and tear on your system.
Bad or faulty wiring. During times of heavy heating (like the chilly winter months), it’s not hard to blow a fuse or trip a breaker.
Leaky ducts. Over time, your ductwork can develop cracks that leak air, reducing your home’s energy efficiency and possibly your comfort levels, too. Leaks in your ducts can even lead to moisture problems in basements, closets, and crawlspaces.
Cracked heat exchanger. Your furnace’s heat exchanger is a collection of metal tubes and shells responsible for transferring heat in your home from one place to another. Cracks in the heat exchanger can reduce energy efficiency and leak dangerous gas into your home.
Gas line leak. If your heat exchanger is cracked, you’re likely to have a gas leak. Even if it’s not, gas line leaks can still occur. Even if an inspection comes back clean, it’s important to keep CO2 alarm detectors near the furnace in your home.
Vent problems. Improper ventilation is relatively common, and can lead to a slew of other problems like mold and moisture build-up that can cause damage to the structural elements of your home.
HVAC repair costs
If your HVAC inspection turns up unexpected problems, you’ll want to be prepared to pay for repairs. Most HVAC inspections cost between $100 and $600 depending on the price of replacement parts and the time it takes to repair the system.
A blown blower fan, for example, can cost around $200 to repair, while replacing your evaporator and condensation coils can easily cost $600 or more.
What you’ll pay will come down to a matter of parts and labor, but performing regular maintenance on your HVAC system can help you avoid costly charges come inspection time.
HVAC maintenance
Regular HVAC maintenance can reduce your chances of expensive emergency repairs—but if you’re new to HVACs, you may not know where to start. Here are some helpful tips to keep your HVAC healthy year-round:
Change the filters. A simple filter swap-out every now and then can improve airflow and energy efficiency in your home. It’s recommended you change your filters once every three months or so, although cleaning your filters regularly may help them last longer.
Clean the condensation and evaporator coils. Keep these coils clean to improve the performance of your HVAC system and avoid costly repairs.
Clean the outdoor HVAC unit. While you’re cleaning your condensation coils, it’s worthwhile to clean up the entire outdoor unit every now and then to prevent any build-up of dirt and debris.
Reduce clutter around the indoor unit. There are tons of benefits to keeping the area around your indoor HVAC unit clean and clutter-free, including improved efficiency and safety, as well as less chance of dust making its way into your system.
Keep carbon monoxide detectors. CO2 is an odorless, colorless gas, meaning you’re unlikely to notice it’s there on your own. Not only do CO2 detectors protect you and your family in the event of a gas leak by alerting you, but they also enable you to perform emergency repairs more quickly, improving safety and efficiency.
Watch your energy bill. Keeping an eye on your energy bill is important for more than just your monthly budget. Increases or sudden spikes in energy consumption can indicate issues with your HVAC system.
MORE: Two-story house air conditioning tips
How to save on home insurance
HVAC inspections can take a chunk out of your budget, especially when repairs are involved—but it’s worth it to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing your home is safe. Another easy way to unlock peace of mind is by saving on homeowner’s insurance with Jerry
. Jerry is a super app and insurance expert designed to make shopping for homeowner’s insurance
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