A free referral service for Tucson homeowners
AC repair in Tucson from a licensed local technician
One request instead of a list of numbers to call. Tell us what your cooling system is doing and we pass it to one licensed local HVAC company that serves your ZIP. They call you back and give you the price before any work starts. You can say no.
- We only refer contractors with an Arizona ROC license
- Repairs, replacements, heat pumps, swamp coolers
- Free to you, no obligation
AC out right now?
Call or text us, then check these three things while you wait.
- Breakers. The air handler and the outdoor unit usually have separate breakers. Reset a tripped one once. If it trips again, leave it off.
- Thermostat. Set to cool and below room temperature. Replace the batteries if the screen is blank.
- Filter. Replace it if it is clogged. If you see ice on the copper lines, set the system to off with the fan on so it thaws.
If anyone at home is elderly or unwell, get them somewhere cool first. What to do in the first hour.
78.9
days a year at 100°F or hotter, 2016-2025 average. The 1991-2020 average was 67.9.
22.5
nights a year when the low stayed at 80°F or above, 2016-2025. It was 10.8 in 1991-2020.
53 days
in a row at 100°F or hotter, ending August 7, 2023. The longest run in the airport record since 1948.
39%
of homes in the 36 metro ZIP codes we cover were built before 1980 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
NOAA NCEI daily summaries for Tucson International Airport (USW00023160), through October 24, 2026. Method and full data.
What we can get fixed
Home systems only. For a car's air conditioning, you need an auto shop.
How it works
- Tell us what the system is doing. Use the form or call us. A photo of the unit helps.
- A licensed local HVAC company calls you back. They ask a few questions and set a time to come out.
- You see the price before work starts. The technician diagnoses the problem and quotes the repair. You decide.
What it usually costs
These are published national price ranges, not quotes and not a Tucson average. The technician prices your repair before any work starts.
You see the price before work starts, and you can say no. Have a quote already? Check it against the published prices.
| Job | Published range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Most AC repairs | $250 to $700, $375 average | Fixr, Jan 29, 2026 |
| Capacitor | $100 to $400 | Fixr, Jan 29, 2026 |
| Compressor | $600 to $3,000 | Fixr, Jan 29, 2026 |
| AC tune-up | $65 to $200 | This Old House, Mar 27, 2026 |
| New central AC, installed | $5,800 to $14,400 | Fixr, Aug 29, 2025 |
| Heat pump, installed | $5,000 to $15,000 | Fixr, Jan 22, 2026 |
TEP rebates through participating contractors
- High-efficiency ACup to $600
- High-efficiency heat pumpup to $720
- AC tune-upup to $160
- Duct sealingup to $300
Tucson Electric Power Efficient Home Program, accessed October 27, 2026. Confirm amounts and contractor participation on tep.com before work starts.
Why a Tucson air conditioner works harder than it used to
The airport averaged 67.9 days at 100°F or hotter a year from 1991-2020. Over 2016-2025 it averaged 78.9. Through October 24, 2026, 2026 had 77.
The bigger change is at night. A system recovers overnight, when the outdoor unit can finally shed heat into cooler air. In July the average low at the airport is now 77.6°F, and the number of nights that never dropped below 80°F has roughly doubled, from 10.8 a year to 22.5. On those nights the compressor keeps running.
Long run hours are hard on capacitors, contactors and fan motors, and a dusty outdoor coil makes the whole system work harder. Common Tucson AC failures.
Average daily high and low by month, Tucson International Airport
Older houses, older systems
About 39% of the 479,340 homes in the 36 ZIP codes we cover were built before 1980, and another 33% between 1980 and 1999 (Census ACS 2020-2024). In an older house it is worth asking whether the ducts were ever resized for the current system. The most housing is in 85705 (Flowing Wells / Amphi), 85710 (Eastside (central)), 85719 (University area), 85711 (Midtown (east)).
Newer areas like Vail and Sahuarita are the other way around: most homes there were built after 2000, so the original systems are now reaching the age where replacement comes up. Repair or replace.
Read before you call
Plain answers with sources.
- What AC repair costs in TucsonPublished price ranges for common repairs and new systems.
- Repair or replace your ACHow old the system is and how big the repair is.
- The $5,000 rule, explainedA quick test for whether a repair is worth it, and where it falls short.
- AC quit in 110 degree heatWhat to check first, and how to keep people safe.
- Swamp cooler or refrigerated airWhat the monsoon does to an evaporative cooler, and what conversion involves.
- Sizing AC for a 2,000 sq ft homeWhy the right size comes from a load calculation, not a rule of thumb.
- The R-410A refrigerant changeWhat the 2025 switch to new refrigerants means for repairs and replacements.
- Is this AC quote fair?Published part prices, red flags, and questions to ask before you sign.
- Lower your TEP cooling billThermostat settings, filters, time-of-use hours and TEP help programs.
- Renting with a broken ACWhat Arizona law requires of landlords, and the 82 degree figure.
Areas we cover
All of Tucson, plus:
Questions Tucson homeowners ask
How much does AC repair cost in Tucson?
Published 2026 national figures put most AC repairs at $250 to $700, with a $375 average (Fixr), or $150 to $650 for common fixes (This Old House). A capacitor is at the low end; a compressor runs $600 to $3,000 or more. Tucson prices vary by company, so get the price before work starts.
Is it worth repairing an AC that is more than 15 years old?
Often not, if the repair is a big one. A compressor or coil on an old system is a lot of money for a unit near the end of its life. A capacitor or contactor on the same unit is cheap and usually worth doing. This Old House puts the typical life of a home cooling system at 12 to 15 years.
My AC is running but the house won't go below 85. Is it broken?
Maybe not. On a 110 degree afternoon the house can drift up even while the system runs nonstop. If it can't recover overnight, when the airport's July low now averages about 77.6°F, or the air at the vents isn't cold, something is wrong. Common causes include a dirty filter and a weak capacitor. Low refrigerant is another.
Should I replace my swamp cooler with refrigerated air?
If you want to stay cool through the monsoon, usually yes. Evaporative coolers work well in dry June heat and lose much of their effect when humidity rises in July and August. Conversion means a refrigerated system and often new ductwork, so get a quote that includes the ducts.
Who will come to my house?
An independent HVAC company that serves your ZIP and holds an Arizona Registrar of Contractors license. Tucson Cooling Pros is a referral service; we pass along your request so you don't have to call around. You can check any contractor's license on the AZ ROC website.
Get the house cool again
One request, one licensed local company, a price before any work.