Frequently Asked Questions
We hear the same questions from Los Angeles homeowners every week, so we’ve answered them in one place. Below you’ll find straight answers on pricing, scheduling, licensing, guarantees, and the specific systems we service. If you don’t see your question, call us and a live person will pick up.
Pricing & Estimates
How much does HVAC service cost?
Most HVAC service calls in Los Angeles run $95-$180 for the diagnostic visit, and common repairs land between $180 and $650 depending on the part and the system. A capacitor replacement typically runs $180-$320 parts and labor, a blower motor $450-$850, and a refrigerant recharge $200-$450 depending on how much cooling fluid your AC needs. You’ll get a written price before any work begins, and that number doesn’t change once the technician is at your door. Call (817) 402-2972 for an exact quote on your system.
Do you offer free estimates?
Yes, we provide free estimates on replacements and installations, and the diagnostic visit fee is disclosed up front before we dispatch anyone. For repairs, the written price you receive before work starts is the price you pay. There’s no charge for a second opinion on a replacement quote you’ve already received from another company. Call (817) 402-2972 and we’ll walk you through what to expect.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace my AC?
The rule we use is simple: if the repair costs more than 40% of a new system and your unit is over 12 years old, replacement usually makes more financial sense. In the San Fernando Valley, we see a lot of 15- to 20-year-old units that have already had two or three major repairs, and at that point the next repair is just delaying the inevitable. If your system is under 10 years old and the repair is straightforward, repair is almost always the better call. Call (817) 402-2972 and we’ll give you both numbers in writing so you can decide.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, checks, and cash. For larger jobs like full system replacements, we can walk you through financing options when the technician is on site. You’ll know the total before we start, so there are no surprises when the invoice arrives.
Service & Scheduling
Do you offer emergency HVAC service?
Yes, we handle emergency HVAC calls around the clock, every day of the year. A live person answers the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you’re never routed through a voicemail tree or told to call back in the morning. Los Angeles summers regularly push past 100°F in the Valley, and a dead AC in that heat is a genuine health concern, not just an inconvenience. Call (817) 402-2972 any time and we’ll get a technician dispatched.
How fast can you respond?
For standard service calls, we typically schedule within 24 to 48 hours, and emergency calls are usually handled the same day. We give you a firm arrival window when you book, and we show up in that window. If a technician is running late for any reason, you’ll get a call before the window closes.
Do you offer same-day service?
Yes, same-day service is available for emergencies and often for standard calls booked early in the day. If your AC quits on a Saturday afternoon in July, call us and we’ll tell you honestly whether we can get someone out that day. We’d rather give you a straight answer than a vague promise.
What areas do you serve?
We serve Los Angeles and the surrounding communities, including the San Fernando Valley, Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Sherman Oaks, Encino, North Hollywood, and Studio City. If you’re not sure whether you’re in our service area, call (817) 402-2972 and we’ll confirm in about 30 seconds.
Licensing & Trust
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes, we’re a state-licensed and fully insured HVAC contractor, and every technician who comes to your home is background-checked and arrives in uniform. You’ll know exactly who is walking through your door before they knock. Our technicians are also trained to work on nine major residential brands: Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem, York, Daikin, Bryant, and American Standard.
Do you guarantee your work?
Yes, every repair is backed by our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if the repair fails within a full year, we come back and fix it at no charge. The guarantee is written down and handed to you before the technician leaves, not delivered verbally. There’s no argument, no fine print, and no charge for the return visit. That written guarantee is one of the five values we call The Kingswell Way, and it applies to every job.
Why is Coldharbour called “the Kingswell Guarantee” company?
We’re part of the Kingswell network of independently owned and operated HVAC businesses founded in 2003, all held to the same five written standards. Those standards are: say the price before the work, show up in the window given, leave the place cleaner than we found it, put the guarantee in writing, and come back if it fails. The name Coldharbour comes from an old word for a roadside shelter where travelers waited out bad weather, which is roughly what a good HVAC company does. Victor Mancini leads our team and holds every job to those five values.
Specific Services
Do you handle AC repair and installation?
Yes, AC repair and installation are two of our core services. We repair all major brands and install new systems sized correctly for your home, which matters in Los Angeles because an oversized unit cools too fast and leaves humidity behind. If your system is more than 12 years old and repairs are stacking up, we’ll show you both the repair cost and the replacement cost in writing. You can read more about our AC Repair in Los Angeles page for specifics on what we fix and how pricing works.
Do you handle heating and furnace work?
Yes, we repair and service gas furnaces, and we take gas work seriously. If you smell gas or your furnace is producing carbon monoxide, leave the house and call us from outside – that’s not a job for a homeowner with a wrench. Common furnace repairs we handle include igniter replacement ($150-$280 parts and labor), inducer motor replacement ($400-$750), and flame sensor cleaning. Call (817) 402-2972 and we’ll get a trained technician out to diagnose it safely.
Do you handle heat pumps and mini-splits?
Yes, we service and install both heat pumps and ductless mini-split systems. Heat pumps are increasingly common in Southern California because they heat and cool from one unit, which works well in our mild winters. Mini-splits are a good fit for additions, garages, and older homes without existing ductwork. We’re trained on Daikin, Mitsubishi-style systems, and the major brands’ heat pump lines.
Do you handle air quality and ventilation?
Yes, we install and service whole-home air filtration, media filters, and ventilation equipment. Los Angeles air quality varies by neighborhood – the Valley traps dust and pollen in ways the coastal areas don’t – so we size filtration to your home and your concerns. We also inspect ductwork for leaks, since a leaky duct system can pull attic air into your living space.
Do you service all HVAC brands?
We’re trained to service nine major residential HVAC brands, and those cover the vast majority of systems in Los Angeles homes. The list includes Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem, York, Daikin, Bryant, and American Standard. If your brand isn’t on that list, call us anyway – there’s a good chance we can still help.
What happens during a standard service visit?
Here’s the sequence we follow on every call, in order:
- You call and a live person books your appointment with a firm arrival window.
- The technician arrives on time, in uniform, and confirms the issue with you before starting.
- We diagnose the problem and hand you a written price before any work begins.
- You approve the price, and only then do we start the repair.
- We clean up the work area, leaving it cleaner than we found it.
- We hand you a written 365-day guarantee on the repair before we leave.
What should I check before calling for AC service?
Before you call, check three things: the thermostat batteries and settings, the air filter (a clogged filter is the most common cause of weak cooling), and the circuit breaker for the outdoor unit. If those check out and the system still isn’t cooling, it’s time to call a technician. Do not open the outdoor unit yourself – the capacitor and wiring inside hold a charge that can injure you even with the power off. Call (817) 402-2972 and we’ll take it from there.
Key Takeaways
- Diagnostic visits run $95-$180; most repairs land between $180 and $650.
- Written price before work starts, on every job, no exceptions.
- 365-Day Done Right Promise on every repair – if it fails, we return free.
- Live person answers the phone 24/7, including holidays.
- Firm arrival window, background-checked uniformed technicians.
- Trained on nine major brands including Carrier, Trane, Lennox, and American Standard.
We started in 2003 as an independently owned and operated member of the Kingswell network, and we’ve built our business on doing what we said we’d do. Whether you need a repair today or a quote for a new system, we’ll give you a straight answer and a written price. Visit our home page to learn more about how we work, or call us directly to get on the schedule.
Have a question we didn’t cover? Call Coldharbour Heating & Air at (817) 402-2972 and a live person will pick up, any hour of the day. Estimates are free, the price you’re quoted is the price you pay, and every repair comes with a written guarantee. If you’ve been burned by an HVAC company before – a no-show, a price that jumped at the door, a repair that quit in a month – we’re the company that puts it in writing instead of asking you to take our word for it.
Written by Victor Mancini, Owner at Coldharbour Heating & Air, serving Los Angeles since 2003.