True Cost Guide Heating & Cooling Replace an AC Evaporator Coil

How Much Does Evaporator Coil Replacement Cost?

Q: How long do evaporator coils last?

An evaporator coil can last as long as your AC unit, 10 to 20 years , with good maintenance. Here are a few ways you can maintain it to extend its lifespan: Clean your evaporator coils at least once a year. Cleaning AC coils costs $100 to $400 . Change your unit’s air filter frequently. Schedule an annual maintenance check. The average cost to service and maintain an AC is about $75 to $200 for a basic tuneup. While most homeowners clean their coils once a year, you can potentially need more or less frequent cleaning, depending on how often you use it.

Q: Can you repair an evaporator coil?

Repairing an evaporator coil leak can cost $250 to $1,600 . It’s not an elegant solution and costs almost as much as an evaporator coil replacement. In almost every case, it makes more sense just to have an HVAC prof replace the evaporator coil.

Typical Range:

$600 - $2,000

Cost data is based on research by HomeAdvisor.

Updated July 20, 2022

Written by HomeAdvisor.

An AC coil replacement cost ranges between $600 and $2,000, with national average evaporator coil prices around $1,350, fully installed. Air conditioning coil costs may be lower if your unit is still under warranty; our cost guide assumes out-of-warranty replacement costs. Warranties range from five to 12 years and cover the price of materials.

AC coil prices fluctuate based on brand, AC unit size, and your location. Labor costs can account for up to 40% of the total installation cost; hourly HVAC repair costs range from $50 to $100.

Evaporator Coil Replacement Cost Factors

Several factors can impact your overall evaporator coil replacement cost, including the local cost of labor, your unit’s size (and its location), and additional repairs.

Labor

On average, installing a replacement AC coil takes 2 to 4 hours. At $50 to $100 per hour for labor, a typical AC coil replacement costs $100 to $400 in labor. However, more challenging replacements, like when the AC is in a difficult-to-access location, might take up to 8 hours, which can make labor costs as high as $800.

Get quotes from multiple HVAC companies near you before moving forward with one contractor.

Unit Size and Configuration

Your evaporator coil replacement must fit your AC unit’s size or tonnage. Tonnage describes how much heat a unit can remove from your home within an hour, measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units).

The more tonnage (1.5 to 6 tons) required, the more the replacement will cost. If your new coil isn’t an exact match to your existing one, your pro will need to make modifications to ensure it fits properly.

SEER

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is the ratio of your AC’s cooling output divided by the energy it uses. The higher your unit’s SEER rating, the more it’ll cost to replace any of its parts, including the evaporator coil.

Unit Location

If your unit isn't easy for your technician to access, you can potentially pay more in labor costs for the extra time it takes to replace the coil. A hard-to-reach unit may take two to four times as long for the replacement work, upping labor costs to as much as $600 to $800.

Repairs

The HVAC technician may alert you to different AC system components that need repairing or replacing. Any additional work will cost more in labor and material fees. In general, AC repair costs range from $175 to $600.

Repairing a coil leak costs $250 to $1,600 on average, almost as much as just replacing the coil. Discuss your AC coil replacement cost options with your HVAC pro if you find a leak.

Warranty

If your coil is still under warranty, you’ll only have to pay for labor fees associated with the repair (typically $100 to $400). Otherwise, you’ll be responsible for the entire cost, including the cost of parts.

Style

Coil style (A-coils, N- or Z-coils, and slab units) can affect the average evaporator coil replacement cost, from $1,200 for slab units to $1,550 for N- or Z-coils.

Type of Refrigerant

Refrigerant costs can range from $4 to $10 per pound, depending on the type required. Typically, replacing the refrigerant (also called freon) will make up $100 to $300 of your total AC coil replacement cost, with an average AC freon refill cost of $150. Older models running on outdated refrigerants may be more expensive.

Evaporator Coil Replacement Cost by Tonnage or Size

The tonnage or size of your unit will impact the total cost of replacing your evaporator coil, with larger sizes costing more.

Size	Unit Price	Total*
1.5 – 2.0 ton	$200 – $900	$300 – $1,300
2.5 ton	$250 – $1,100	$350 – $1,500
3.0 ton	$300 – $1,350	$400 – $1,750
3.5 ton	$350 – $1,500	$450 – $1,900
4.0 ton	$400 – $1,600	$500 – $2,000
5.0 ton	$450 – $1,700	$550 – $2,100

*Includes $100 to $400 in labor costs.

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Evaporator Costs by Style

You can choose from a few coil styles for your AC unit, which can have an impact on the average cost of replacement. The table below explores the evaporator coil prices, including labor for the installation of each:

Style of Coil	Average Cost to Replace*
A-coils	$1,300
N- or Z-coils	$1,550
Slab units	$1,200

*Includes labor

Here’s a breakdown of these common coil styles:

A-coils are the most common style and resemble the shape of a tent or triangle (or an A). These cost $1,300.
N- or Z-coils look like the letter N or Z and cost $1,550 on average.
Slab units are flat and used in horizontal units that don’t take up much space; you can expect to pay $1,200 for this evaporator coil style.

Your HVAC pro can recommend the best coil for your unit, but your final choice will ultimately depend on your air conditioning unit’s configuration.

In addition, you can choose between cased and uncased evaporator coils.

Case coils cost $1,000 on average, and are easier to install. Fit doesn’t need to be exact.
Uncased coils cost $800 on average but are more difficult to install. Fit needs to be perfect.

Evaporator Coil Prices by Brand

The brand of AC coil is a major price factor when calculating evaporator coil replacement costs. However, each brand typically sells budget coils (for as little as $200) and premium coils (for as much as $2,000).

In most cases, you will need to purchase a replacement coil from the same brand that manufactured your AC unit. Using a brand-name coil ensures proper fit and operation; generic coils are more affordable but offer less efficiency and durability.

The table below explores common brands, the cost of air conditioning coils alone, and total installation costs, assuming 2 to 4 hours of labor.

Brand	Material Cost	Total Cost
Carrier	$400 – $1,300	$500 – $1,700
Trane or American Standard	$200 – $1,100	$300 – $1,500
Goodman or Amana	$250 – $900	$350 – $1,300
Lennox	$200 – $2,000	$300 – $2,400
ADP	$200 – $1,000	$300 – $1,400
Rheem or Ruud	$300 – $1,300	$400 – $1,700
Bryant	$250 – $1,000	$350 – $1,400
TempStar	$200 – $1,100	$300 – $1,500
Aspen	$250 – $700	$350 – $1,100
York	$250 – $1,200	$350 – $1,600
Payne	$250 – $1,000	$350 – $1,400

Although many of these companies share ownership, such as Rheem and Ruud, make sure to match your brand and model when buying a new part. Mismatched brands can lead to lower cooling efficiency and, sometimes, early failure.

DIY vs. Hiring an HVAC Professional

You can greatly decrease your evaporator coil replacement cost when you DIY this project; labor fees can make up to 40% of total costs, especially for more challenging projects. However, if you are not an experienced HVAC tech, you should almost always contract this work out to a professional.

In fact, you need a license to handle refrigerants, and most HVAC warranties require a licensed pro for evaporator replacements. In short, you should hire an air conditioning professional for your evaporator coil replacement.

If you install the wrong type of coil or install it in the incorrect configuration, at the very least, you’re looking at an inefficient system. At worst, you might end up with a $1,000 paperweight.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an evaporator coil?

An evaporator coil sits in the air exchanger inside your home in an HVAC system. It collects heat from your home through the evaporation of the refrigerant in the pipes.

Why does an evaporator coil need to be replaced?

The evaporator coil absorbs the heat and moisture inside your home. If your evaporator coil isn’t working, it can decrease your indoor air quality and comfort. A bad evaporator coil can also lead to it eroding, weakening, and refrigerant leaks.

What are signs that you need to replace your evaporator coil?

Your evaporator coil plays a significant role in how you feel inside your home, so it must continuously operate at maximum efficiency. Some signs that your evaporator coil needs a replacement include:

Warm air blowing through your vents.
AC constantly cycles on and off without cooling your home.
AC not turning on at all.
Refrigerant leaking.
Strange noises (like banging).

If you’re experiencing any of these signs, contact a local HVAC tech to get a personalized evaporator coil replacement cost.

How long do evaporator coils last?

An evaporator coil can last as long as your AC unit, 10 to 20 years, with good maintenance. Here are a few ways you can maintain it to extend its lifespan:

Clean your evaporator coils at least once a year. Cleaning AC coils costs $100 to $400.
Change your unit’s air filter frequently.
Schedule an annual maintenance check. The average cost to service and maintain an AC is about $75 to $200 for a basic tuneup.

While most homeowners clean their coils once a year, you can potentially need more or less frequent cleaning, depending on how often you use it.

What is an evaporative cooler?

An evaporative cooler, also known as a swamp cooler, has nothing to do with an air conditioner or an evaporator coil. An evaporative cooler uses a fan to push air into a home through filters soaked with cold water. They are significantly cheaper than air conditioning but need specific climates to work properly. New swamp cooler installations cost $1,000 to $3,500.

Can you repair an evaporator coil?

Repairing an evaporator coil leak can cost $250 to $1,600. It’s not an elegant solution and costs almost as much as an evaporator coil replacement. In almost every case, it makes more sense just to have an HVAC prof replace the evaporator coil.