$50 - Service Reservation
The $50 deposit reserves the repair visit and is applied toward the $298 mobilization charge.
Residential AC Repair | Greater Boston
AC Repair in Greater Boston
Warm air from the vents in a Boston July has a cause. We find it and fix it.
617 HVAC handles air conditioning repair for central air systems across 30 Greater Boston communities and responds to service requests within 24 hours through cooling season. A system that runs without cooling, trips the breaker or leaks water around the air handler is telling you where to begin looking. Our diagnosis uses instruments: the technician tests the equipment in front of you, photographs the fault and prices the fix in writing before repair work begins. We repair every major brand, from older condensers to current variable-speed systems.
Need Air Conditioning Repair Today?
Need air conditioning repair today?
When your AC fails during a Boston heat wave, waiting days for a callback is not an option. We respond to every service request within 24 hours and online scheduling is the fastest way to request an appointment.
You'll know the mobilization cost, the diagnostic rate and what happens at the visit before we ever ring your doorbell, so an urgent repair does not have to mean an unknown bill.
Visit & Pricing
Know The Cost Before The Visit.
Before we arrive, you know how the visit is billed. Once the diagnosis is complete, we provide the repair price in writing before any repair work begins.
$298 - Mobilization
The $298 mobilization charge covers dispatching our service team and diagnostic equipment to your home. If you approve and complete the recommended repair with 617 HVAC, the full $298 is credited toward the work.
$198/Hour - Diagnosis
Diagnostic time begins when your technician starts testing and measuring, not when we arrive. There is no minimum and time is billed in 15-minute increments. A 15-minute diagnosis is billed as 15 minutes.
01
Diagnose The System
We inspect the equipment, test system operation and take the measurements needed to determine why your AC is not working properly.
02
Show You What We Found
We document our findings with photos, video and system readings, then walk you through the diagnosis and explain what we found in plain English.
03
Put The Repair Price In Writing
Once we understand the problem and the repair required, we provide the repair price in writing before the work begins.
You understand the problem, the recommended repair and the price before you decide how you want to move forward. Our technicians are paid for doing the job right - not on commission. No one in your basement earns money by finding you a bigger problem.
Systems We Repair
Central Air Conditioning Repair For Every Major Brand.
617 HVAC covers repair for central air conditioning and ducted cooling systems. We diagnose and repair residential AC equipment from all major manufacturers, including Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Bryant, Goodman, American Standard, Rheem and York, as well as older air conditioning systems that other companies decline to service.
We repair the system you have. We don't require it to be a brand we sell and we don't recommend replacement because of a logo on the cabinet. When other companies offer replacement we fix them. We are at 80% fix vs replacement.
AC System Problems
Different AC Problems Can Create Similar Symptoms.
An air conditioner that blows warm air, struggles with airflow, develops ice, leaks water or stops cooling altogether may be experiencing very different system problems. The symptoms help us understand where to begin, but they do not tell us exactly what has failed. Testing and measuring the system allows us to identify the actual cause before recommending an air conditioning repair.
01
Electrical & Control Problems
A failed capacitor, damaged wiring, a faulty contactor or a thermostat and control problem can prevent an otherwise functional AC system from starting or operating correctly.
02
Refrigerant Problems
A refrigerant leak can reduce the system's ability to absorb heat from inside your home and move it outdoors. The equipment may continue to run while cooling performance continues to decline.
03
Airflow & Heat-Transfer Problems
Restricted filters, dirty coils, blower problems and other airflow issues can limit the amount of cooling the system is able to deliver throughout the home.
04
Mechanical & Drainage Problems
Worn motors, failing fans, compressor-related problems and blocked condensate drains can interrupt normal system operation or create water problems around the indoor equipment.
The symptom tells us where to start. The diagnosis tells us what to repair.
How We Actually Work
We Diagnose Before We Recommend.
We test the system, document the fault and explain the repair options before any work begins.
01
Listen & Inspect
We begin with what you have noticed in the home. You live with the system every day, so changes in temperature, airflow, sound and system behavior are important parts of the diagnosis.
02
Test & Measure
We inspect and operate the system and take the readings needed to understand how the equipment is performing. Our recommendations are based on what the system is actually doing.
03
Document
We document the service call with photos, video, readings, equipment information and other useful system details.
04
Explain
Once we understand the problem, we walk you through the findings and explain the diagnosis in clear, straightforward language.
05
Price & Decide
If a repair is recommended, we provide the repair price in writing. You review the information and decide whether you want to move forward.
Complete Transparency
See What We See
Photo
Photos document the condition of the equipment and the components we inspected.
Video
When a problem can be shown on video, we document it so you can see what we are seeing during the service call.
Readings
System measurements and diagnostic readings help explain how the equipment is operating and support the recommendation we make.
Every service visit becomes part of your system's documented history. You have a clearer record of what was found, what was measured and what work was completed.
Common AC Repair Symptoms
What Are You Experiencing At Home?
You don't need to know what's broken before you call. Tell us what the system is doing, what's changed and what you're experiencing at home. Our job as your air conditioner repair team is to figure out why.
AC Not Turning On
The system doesn't respond to the thermostat or won't begin a cooling cycle.
AC Running But Not Cooling
The equipment keeps running, but the home never reaches the thermostat setting.
Warm Air From The Vents
Air moves through the vents, but the system isn't delivering the cooling you expect.
Frozen AC Or Ice On The System
Ice on the indoor coil, the refrigerant lines or other parts of the cooling system.
Water Around The AC System
Water around the indoor equipment, the condensate drain, the pump or the nearby floor.
AC Short Cycling
The system starts and stops repeatedly without completing a normal cooling cycle.
Weak Or Uneven Airflow
Some rooms get less air than others or airflow throughout the home feels weaker than it used to.
Unusual Noises
Buzzing, grinding, rattling or any new sound the system didn't make before.
Thermostat Or Control Problems
The AC doesn't respond correctly to the thermostat or runs differently from the temperature and mode you selected.
Don't see your exact symptom listed? Request an air conditioning repair estimate anyway - the same problem shows up differently from one home to the next.
Schedule an EstimateRepair-First
Repair First Does Not Mean Repair At Any Cost.
If a repair makes practical and financial sense, we show you the problem, explain the repair and provide the price in writing. If the system has experienced repeated failures, critical parts are no longer available or the overall condition of the equipment changes the long-term value of another repair, we explain that as well. When replacement becomes the smarter long-term decision, the process changes. We measure the home, calculate its heating and cooling needs, evaluate the existing system and compare installation options based on what the home actually requires. If replacement enters the conversation, we'll also walk you through the Mass Save rebates and financing programs that may apply to qualifying high-efficiency replacement systems - savings many Massachusetts homeowners never claim because no one mentions them. Our goal is not to force a repair or push a replacement. Our goal is to give you enough information to make the right decision for your home.
01
Problem Diagnosed
The diagnosis shows what is actually happening with the system.
02
Repair Makes Sense
You receive a written repair option before work begins.
03
Replacement Should Be Considered
Home measurement, system design and Mass Save rebate guidance become part of the next-step conversation.
From The Field
Cambridge: five years of refrigerant top-offs that led back to one leak.
The Situation
A Cambridge homeowner told us they had been paying about $1,750 every summer for five years to top off the AC system with refrigerant. This year, they were told it might be time to replace the entire system.
What We Found
Our diagnosis traced the recurring refrigerant loss to a single leak. The system did not need another temporary top-off and our findings did not support replacing the entire system. The leak needed to be located and repaired.
What We Recommended
We documented the leak on video, reviewed the finding with the homeowner and provided the repair price in writing. We also explained that continuing to add refrigerant without correcting the underlying leak would leave the same problem unresolved.
The Result
The homeowner approved the repair and kept the existing system in service. Instead of paying to address the same symptom again, we repaired the underlying leak once. By the time we arrived, this homeowner had spent approximately $8,750 over five years on refrigerant top-offs. One leak repair resolved the problem. Finding the cause changed the decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does AC repair cost in Boston?
AC repair pricing depends on what the diagnosis finds and the work required. After diagnosis, you receive the exact repair price in writing before any repair work begins.
How much does an AC diagnosis cost?
An air conditioning repair visit begins with a $50 service reservation deposit applied toward the $298 mobilization charge. Diagnostic time is billed at $198 per hour with no minimum, in 15-minute increments starting when testing begins. The full $298 mobilization is credited toward your repair if you approve and complete the recommended work with 617 HVAC. Once the problem is diagnosed, the repair is priced in writing before work begins.
What is a mobilization fee?
A mobilization fee covers dispatching a trained technician, stocked service vehicle and diagnostic equipment to your home. A $50 service reservation deposit is applied toward the $298 mobilization charge. The full $298 is credited toward the repair when you approve and complete the recommended work with us.
How long does an AC diagnosis take?
Diagnostic time is billed at $198 per hour with no minimum, in 15-minute increments starting when testing begins. If testing takes 15 minutes, you are billed for 15 minutes.
Do you offer same-day or emergency AC repair?
We try to respond to every service request within 24 hours and online scheduling is the fastest way to request an appointment.
What should I do before the technician arrives?
Note what the system is doing - warm air, ice, water, unusual sounds - and roughly when it started; those details speed up the diagnosis. If the system is heavily iced, turn cooling off so the coil can thaw before we arrive. Finally, clear access to the thermostat, the indoor equipment and the outdoor unit.
Why is my AC running but not cooling?
The most common causes are airflow restrictions, electrical and control problems, refrigerant leaks and mechanical failures, all of which can produce the same symptom. An air conditioner can keep running even when it isn't cooling the home properly, which is why testing the system is how we determine which problem is actually affecting your AC.
Why is my AC blowing warm air?
Warm air from the vents is usually caused by one of three things: a control problem, an airflow issue or a problem within the refrigeration system. We inspect the system and take diagnostic measurements to determine why the equipment isn't removing heat from the home as expected.
Why does my AC keep freezing?
Ice can form when an airflow or refrigerant problem causes the indoor coil to operate under conditions it wasn't designed to maintain. If your system is heavily iced, turn the cooling off and schedule an estimate or call us. Running a frozen system can make diagnosis more difficult and may damage the compressor.
Can an AC refrigerant leak be repaired?
Sometimes - it depends on the location of the leak, whether the damaged area can be accessed and repaired and the overall condition of the system. We locate and evaluate the leak before recommending whether repair or replacement makes sense. One Cambridge homeowner spent five summers paying for refrigerant top-offs before a single leak repair ended the cycle.
Is it better to repair or replace an older AC system?
The age of the equipment is only one part of the decision. We evaluate the actual failure, the overall condition of the system, its repair history and parts availability. If replacement should be considered, we explain why, show you what's changing the decision and walk you through any Mass Save rebates and financing that may apply to a qualifying replacement.
Do you repair older air conditioning systems?
Yes. We diagnose older air conditioning equipment across all major brands. Whether a repair makes sense depends on the actual problem, the condition of the equipment and whether the parts required are available. We don't recommend replacement based on age alone.
What happens after you diagnose my AC?
We document the findings, explain the diagnosis and provide the recommended repair price in writing. If you approve the repair, we move forward with the work. If replacement should also be considered, we explain why and discuss that process separately.
Service Area
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Your AC Has A Problem. Let's Diagnose It Before Deciding What Comes Next.
617 HVAC provides residential air conditioning repair for homeowners across Greater Boston. Based in Arlington, our repair-first approach starts with understanding the system before recommending the next step.
1167 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02476(617) 835-8058
Licensed & Insured · EPA Section 608-certified technicians handle refrigerant workServing 30 Greater Boston communities