How much does an HVAC tune-up cost in Virginia?

Virginia has no set price for an HVAC tune-up. Licensed heating and cooling businesses set their own, so the honest answer is a range of quotes that depends on what you have and what the visit includes. The way to pay a fair price is to know what a proper tune-up covers, ask every business to price the same list, and get it in writing.

What a tune-up should include

ENERGY STAR, the federal efficiency program, recommends having a contractor do annual pre-season check-ups, the cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall, because contractors get busy once summer and winter come.^[1]

Its checklist for a typical check-up covers checking thermostat settings, tightening electrical connections and measuring voltage and current on motors, lubricating moving parts, checking the condensate drain, and checking the system's controls and its starting cycle.^[1]

For cooling, it adds cleaning the evaporator and condenser coils, checking the refrigerant level and adjusting it if necessary, and cleaning and adjusting the blower.^[1] For a gas or oil furnace, the heating check means checking gas or oil connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and the heat exchanger.^[1]

A quote that just says "tune-up" could mean all of that or a quick look and a filter change. Use the list to ask what is actually done.

What drives the price

How many systems, and how many visits. A heat pump heats and cools, so it may be checked twice a year. Central air with a gas furnace is two pieces of equipment. A second zone or a second floor's system is another unit to check.

Fuel. A gas or oil furnace adds the gas and combustion checks above, which an all-electric system does not have.

Refrigerant. Checking the charge is part of the checklist; ask whether adding refrigerant is included in the price or billed separately. Federal rules say technicians who maintain, service or repair equipment that could release ozone-depleting refrigerants must be certified.^[10] If a technician says the system needs refrigerant, ask why it is low.

Cleaning that goes beyond routine. Very dirty coils or a clogged drain add time. For drain cleaning, Carrier says the cost depends on your location, how complicated the clog is, and whether more work, such as cleaning the drain pan, is needed.^[11]

Repairs found during the visit. A tune-up is an inspection and cleaning. Ask in advance whether repairs are quoted separately and whether the visit fee comes off a repair.

Skipping it. ENERGY STAR notes that airflow problems can reduce a system's efficiency by up to 15 percent,^[1] which shows up on your bill every month the problem lasts.

Who is allowed to do it

Virginia's Code defines a tradesman as anyone who does electrical, plumbing or heating, ventilation and air conditioning work for the general public for compensation,^[6] and says no individual may work as a tradesman without a licence unless working under the supervision of a tradesman licensed in that specialty.^[5] The Code also requires a master tradesman licence as a condition of licensing an HVAC contractor.^[7] You can check a business on DPOR's License Lookup.^[9]

One thing to know about paperwork: Virginia's Board for Contractors excludes those who do routine maintenance or service contracts from its rule that residential contractors use a legible written contract.^[8] A tune-up may arrive with nothing more than an invoice, so ask for the price and the list of checks in writing before the visit.

Comparing quotes

ENERGY STAR's hiring advice is to get written, itemized estimates and compare cost, energy efficiency and warranties.^[2] Before you call, it suggests you know the model of your current system and its maintenance history, and make a note of any uncomfortable rooms.^[2] The steps on this page put that into an order you can follow.

If you are weighing a yearly plan instead of paying per visit, read whether HVAC maintenance plans are worth it.

No-cost help for qualifying households

When we checked on 26 October 2026, Dominion Energy Virginia listed a Heat Pump Tune-up and an AC Tune-up among the measures its Income and Age Qualifying Energy Savings Program installs at no cost for qualifying customers.^[3] Dominion says assessments and installations are done by local weatherization service providers who also offer services through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.^[3] Restrictions apply; the number to call is 888-366-8280.^[3]

DHCD's own Weatherization Assistance Program works through local nonprofit providers, and its common measures include repairing and replacing inefficient or unsafe heating and cooling systems.^[4] Contact the provider for the area where the home is located.

Stop and call a pro if

Do not wait for a scheduled tune-up when:

• You smell gas near a furnace. Columbia Gas of Virginia tells customers who smell gas or have carbon monoxide symptoms to "go outside and call 911 and then call us at 1-800-544-5606 (24/7)."^[12] If another company supplies your gas, use its emergency number.
• Water is leaking from the indoor unit or the system shuts itself off. See how to clear a clogged condensate drain.
• The system runs without stopping or cannot reach the set temperature. Start with why an HVAC system runs all the time.

Getting quotes in Virginia

Loclis lists DPOR-licensed HVAC businesses with their licence number and class. Look up HVAC businesses in Blacksburg or another town, browse HVAC maintenance, or see all heating and cooling answers.

If the system already has a problem, describe it once and licensed local HVAC businesses quote it.