Your AC Stopped Working. Here's What Happens Next.

How Our Repair Pricing Works

There are two separate fees when you call 617 HVAC for a repair.

Mobilization Fee — $298

This is what it costs us to get to you. Insured trucks, licensed and EPA-certified technicians, fully stocked parts inventory, a professional operation running behind every service call. That $298 covers all of it. If you approve the repair, it's credited toward your final bill.

Diagnostic Fee — $198/hour, billed in 15-minute intervals

This is what it costs once we're on-site and working. We bill hourly for diagnosis because we can't predict how long it takes — some systems take 30 minutes to diagnose, others take four hours. Billing flat for diagnostic work penalizes simple jobs and undercharges complex ones. We don't do that.

80 percent of jobs are diagnosed and quoted within the first hour, bringing your total to $496 before repair. Once we know what's wrong, you get a written flat-rate quote. The number you approve is the number on your final bill — parts, labor, and testing included.

What's Really Happening

When your AC stops cooling, there are dozens of things that could be wrong. Low refrigerant. Failed compressor. Dirty coils. Frozen evaporator. Electrical failure.

Most repair companies don't bother diagnosing. They just assume it needs replacement and quote you $25,000+.

We actually look at what's broken. We show you on video proof. Then you decide — does this need repair, or is replacement the smarter move?

The difference isn't luck. It's whether someone actually solved your problem or just moved on to the next customer.

The Real Story

What happened

A Cambridge customer's AC was running but not cooling. A local company told her the system was old and "refrigerant leaks can't be detected in older units." Their advice: keep topping it off every year.

She believed them. For five years, she paid $1,750 annually for a Freon top-off. Same problem every summer. She assumed her system was dying.

The hidden cost

Five years x $1,750/year = $8,750 spent on a temporary fix. Every summer, the same problem came back. Every summer, another service call. Every summer, more money gone.

What we found

One hour of actual diagnosis. A failed connection on the outdoor unit — visible once you knew where to look. Refrigerant doesn't disappear. It leaks. Finding leaks takes skill. Selling top-offs takes a phone call.

The permanent fix

One $2,000 repair cost. Her system works. No more summer emergencies. No more annual top-off fees.

What changed

She saved $6,750 over the next five years. Our repair cost more upfront than one year of top-offs — but it actually solved the problem. Now she's on our Vital maintenance plan ($100/month, 4 visits/year) so her system stays healthy and she's never caught off guard again.

How We Actually Work

You call or text

Explain what's happening. We tell you upfront what a diagnosis costs and what happens next.

We respond within 24 hours

We've learned that properly maintained systems have far fewer emergency calls. That's why we operate 6 AM - 6 PM for full service, 6 PM - 10 PM for emergency response, and we're closed 10 PM - 6 AM. Systems that are maintained don't need 2 AM calls.

Our truck carries most common parts. Some repairs need special order parts or overnight delivery — we'll let you know upfront if that's the case.

We show you on video proof

We inspect refrigerant levels, electrical components, coils, airflow, outdoor unit — everything. We document what we find on video proof. You get a copy for your records. You can verify it yourself or get a second opinion from another company without them charging you a diagnostic fee — you have the proof of what's actually there. No mystery. No pressure to buy something you don't need.

We give you a written price

The number you approve is the final invoice number. No surprises. No hidden charges. Everything — parts, labor, testing — is included in that one price.

You decide

Repair or replacement. Now or later. It's your call, based on actual facts.

Prevent the Next Emergency

The Cambridge customer from earlier is now on our Vital maintenance plan. She gets four professional visits per year — before cooling season, before heating season. We check refrigerant levels, inspect electrical components, clean coils, catch problems before they become emergencies.

Research shows maintenance plans reduce emergency calls by up to 75%.

Maintenance isn't a product. It's the foundation we operate on.

Why This Actually Works

We find the real cause, not the most profitable assumption

Most repair companies recommend what makes them the most money. We recommend what fixes your system.

You see the diagnosis on video proof before paying

No mystery. No pressure. You know what's wrong.

We carry most common parts. Special order parts are upfront

No waiting. No second appointments. No surprises.

Honest repair vs. replace guidance

We won't push a repair that doesn't make sense — or a replacement when repair is the right call.

24-hour response guaranteed

Emergency or routine, you get a callback within 24 hours.

Related Services

• AC Installation - Looking to upgrade instead of repair?

• Maintenance Plans - Prevent the next emergency.

• Live Cooler - Cooling services for Boston-area homes.