Is This AC Quote Fair? Red Flags and What Parts Cost

Is this AC quote fair?

Three steps get you most of the way. Find the repair in the published tables below, have the technician name the failed part and say why it failed, and get the number on paper before anyone starts. For scale, This Old House lists an installed capacitor at $80 to $400. A quote well past the published span should come with a reason you can check.

Updated October 29, 2026 · Every source linked at the bottom

Published prices, side by side

Where two cost guides disagree, both appear, so you can see the spread.

Repair	This Old House	Fixr
Capacitor, installed	$80 to $400, avg $175 (Apr 2026)	$100 to $400 (Jan 2026)
Contactor	$100 to $450, with relays (Mar 2026)	$150 to $400 (Jul 2026)
Outdoor fan motor	$300 to $800 (Mar 2026)	not listed
Recharge only	not listed	$250 to $900, avg $400 (Jan 2025)
Find and fix a leak, then recharge	not listed	$200 to $1,600, avg $800 (Jul 2026)
Compressor	$1,000 to $3,000 or more (Mar 2026)	$600 to $3,000 (Jan 2026)

National cost-guide figures. Not a Rockford average, and not a price from us.

Most of what you pay is labor and the trip. This Old House prices the capacitor part alone at $8 to $45. Fixr puts R-410A refrigerant at $12 to $25 a pound against $50 to $80 a pound for R-22, which explains why topping off an old R-22 system stings.

Warning signs

From the FTC's home improvement guide: a contractor who shows up unasked because they happen to be working nearby, pressure to decide on the spot, and a demand for full payment in advance or in cash. The Illinois Attorney General adds a refusal to show proof of insurance or give references. The FTC also advises holding the final payment until the job is finished and you are satisfied.

Two more from me. A price that climbs once the technician has been in the basement for ten minutes, without a clear explanation. And a whole new system pitched for a symptom the tables above put in the low hundreds.

Before you sign, ask

Which part failed? Can I see it, or a photo of it?
What does that repair cost by itself, in writing?
If I go ahead, does the diagnostic charge come off?
For a refrigerant problem: where is the leak, and are you fixing it or just adding refrigerant?
How long are parts and labor each warrantied?
Inside Rockford: what is your City mechanical license number? If refrigerant is involved, is the technician EPA Section 608 certified?
Does this need a permit, and who pulls it? Permits in Rockford.

A second opinion on a large repair or a replacement is normal, and no quote obligates you to anything.

Illinois protections

The Illinois Attorney General says that for work valued at $1,000 or more, the contractor should provide the "Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights" pamphlet, and both of you should review and sign it. The contract itself should carry the contractor's name and address, a description of the work, start and finish dates, the total price and the payment schedule.

Signed the contract at home? Per the Attorney General you can cancel within three business days, and starting the work or handing the contract to a lender doesn't cancel that right. The federal FTC Cooling-Off Rule gives a similar three days on certain in-home sales, though a repair visit you called for yourself falls outside it.

When a job goes badly

Put the complaint to the company in writing first, and keep the contract and your photos. If that stalls, the Illinois Attorney General accepts consumer complaints about home repair contractors.

Asked around Rockford

Is $700 for a capacitor normal?

It sits well above what's published: $80 to $400 installed from This Old House and $100 to $400 from Fixr. Ask what else the price covers, and get it itemized on paper.

Is $25,000 normal for a new HVAC system?

That is above Fixr's $5,800 to $14,400 published range for new central air. A number that high should spell out the extras, such as new ductwork or a second system. Get another quote.

Can I cancel an AC contract I signed at home in Illinois?

According to the Illinois Attorney General, you have three business days to cancel a contract signed at your home, and starting the work doesn't take that away. Check the cancellation notice in your contract. General information only, not legal advice.