Why does an HVAC leak test cost $1,000?
HVAC companies frequently quote around $1,000 for coolant leak tests and duct sealing, which homeowners find unreasonably expensive. These exorbitant charges leave people questioning whether the prices are normal and whether the proposed fixes will actually resolve their system issues.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Chasing the company for reports and answers
- 2Considering hiring a local HVAC company for an independent look
- 3Questioning the accuracy of the test and the installation
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“He then said to do a leak test it would cost $1,000. I think that's fucking ridiculous for a leak test. Am I wrong for thinking that or is that normal for a leak test?”source ↗
“I recently had a new hvac system installed through my home warranty program and just got the HERS test back saying the total air leakage is nearly 95%.”source ↗
“They are trying to charge me nearly $1000 to come out and seal the duct boots and plenums- would that even fix the issue?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 3Can you service an HVAC system with leak seal in it?
- 19Why are HVAC replacement quotes so expensive?
- 10AC unit leaking water from top rubber seal
- 3Is it normal to pay hundreds of dollars for mini split cleaning?
- 2Why is water pooling inside my furnace?
- 19What to do when an HVAC installation fails inspection