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Emergency · Reno, Sparks & Washoe County

Emergency HVAC in Reno: No AC or No Heat

What counts, what to do in the first ten minutes, and what the after-hours visit should cost.

Reviewed November 5, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the page.

Short answer

Treat it as an emergency when there is a gas smell or a carbon-monoxide alarm (leave the house first, then call NV Energy or 911), when there is no heat and the outdoor temperature is near or below freezing, or when there is no cooling and someone in the home is at risk in the heat. Everything else is a next-business-day repair at normal rates: typically $150 – $650 for AC and $125 – $480 for a furnace, as of 2026-11-05. After-hours calls carry a premium the contractor must quote before coming out.

Leave the house first if

Neither of those is a contractor call until the utility or fire department has cleared the house.

Ten-minute checks before you pay an after-hours premium

No heat

  1. Thermostat on "heat", setpoint above room temperature, fresh batteries.
  2. Furnace filter: if it is grey and dense, replace it; a clogged filter trips the limit switch.
  3. The furnace power switch (a light-switch style toggle at the unit) is on.
  4. Breaker for the furnace is not tripped.
  5. Gas is on at the furnace valve, if you know where it is.

No cooling

  1. Thermostat on "cool", setpoint below room temperature.
  2. Breaker for the condenser and the air handler, and the outdoor disconnect, are in.
  3. Filter is clear; ice on the indoor coil or the refrigerant line means turn it off and let it thaw.
  4. Outdoor unit is not buried in cottonwood fluff or debris; rinse the fins gently if it is.
  5. If it hums without the fan spinning, stop; that is a capacitor or motor, not a reset.

What to ask before saying yes to a night call

  1. The after-hours fee and whether it includes the diagnostic ($75 – $200 in normal hours).
  2. The NSCB license number, which Nevada requires in advertising (NRS 624.720). Check it while you wait.
  3. Whether the part is on the truck tonight or the visit is a diagnosis with a return trip.
  4. No deposit beyond $1,000 or 10%, and for a repair usually none.

It can wait until morning?

Then request a match now and have a licensed contractor follow up first thing. See AC repair or furnace repair for what the fix usually costs.

FAQ

Emergency questions

Is no heat an emergency in Reno?

On a night near or below freezing, yes, especially with children, older adults or anyone with a health condition in the home, and because pipes can freeze. The local code designs heating for a 17°F day, and Reno sees nights below that. During the day with space heaters available, it can usually wait for the next opening.

Is no AC an emergency?

For a healthy adult, usually not; a hot house is miserable but survivable overnight with fans and open windows after dark. It becomes an emergency when someone in the home is at risk in the heat. Ask the contractor the after-hours premium before agreeing to a same-night visit.

What does emergency HVAC repair cost?

The repair itself costs what it costs: $150 – $650 for a typical AC repair, $125 – $480 for a furnace, with the service call at $75 – $200. After-hours and weekend premiums vary by company and should be stated up front. Nevada's deposit cap of $1,000 or 10% (NRS 624.970) applies at 2 a.m. the same as at 2 p.m.

What should I do before the contractor arrives?

Furnace: check the thermostat is on heat and the batteries are fresh, check the filter, and check the furnace switch (it looks like a light switch, often on or near the unit) was not knocked off. AC: check the breaker, the thermostat, and that the outdoor unit's disconnect is in. If the system is icing, short-cycling or tripping breakers, turn it off and leave it off.

Does Reno Heat & Air send someone out?

No. Reno Heat & Air is an independent referral service. It connects you with an independent, NSCB-licensed contractor; the contractor sets its own hours and emergency rates and is responsible for the work.

Need a licensed Reno contractor as soon as one is available?

Describe the job once. An independent, NSCB-licensed Reno contractor follows up. No obligation.

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Quote requests open soon.

This page is publishing its cost, permit and license guides first. Matching with independent, NSCB-licensed contractors in Reno, NV opens in a later update. Until then, you can verify any contractor yourself at the Nevada State Contractors Board.

Open the NSCB license search

Sources

  1. RENO-HVAC-02 2024 Northern Nevada Code Amendments (Final 3-12-25), Appendix, Table R301.2, p. 75 · read as raw document on 2026-11-05
  2. NV-002 NRS 624.720 · read as statute text on 2026-07-24
  3. NV-003 NRS 624.970 · read as statute text on 2026-08-03
  4. NV-012 NAC 624.380 · read as statute text on 2026-11-05
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