Cost guide
What heating and cooling work costs on Long Island
What public data can and cannot tell you
No government agency publishes a price list for heating and cooling work on Long Island, and vendor price ranges are not facts. What public data does show is what the labor costs, what the towns charge for permits, and what grants exist. The price for your job comes from licensed pros' written estimates after they see it.
What the trade earns on Long Island
| Occupation | Entry level | Median | Experienced | Jobs on Long Island |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $56,620 | $77,707 | $94,796 | 3,850 |
Annual pay from the New York State Department of Labor, updated to the first quarter of 2026. Entry level is the average of the lowest third of wages; experienced is the average of the top two thirds.
What the towns charge
- Town of Hempstead: The Town's posted fee sheet, a Town Code printout dated July 31, 2018, lists the permit to install or alter major heating systems at $60 for work estimated up to $1,000, plus $12 for each added $1,000 or part of it.
- City of Glen Cove: The City's fee schedule lists $250.00 for an HVAC unit and ductwork permit. A gas water boiler, an electric heater and an oil burner are listed at $100.00 each.
- Town of Huntington: Filing for a generator permit costs a $50 non-refundable fee per application, separate from the permit fee itself.
- Town of Smithtown: The Town's October 2020 geothermal form lists a residential fee of $100 plus $100 for the certificate of compliance, $200 in all, and points to the current fee schedule.
- Town of Southampton: Southampton's residential fee schedule charges $300 per item for heating systems, and it names pool or spa heaters, generators and fuel conversions as examples.
- Town of Southampton: Southampton's electrical fee schedule charges $200 for a generator.
- Town of Southold: Southold charges $325.00 to permit a generator: $125 for the permit, $100 for electrical and $100 for the certificate of occupancy.
What moves the price
Heating and cooling prices turn on the size of the house, whether ducts exist, the fuel you are leaving and the one you are moving to, what happens to an old oil tank, and the electrical or gas work the new system needs.
How to compare estimates
- Give every company the same scope, in writing, so the prices compare.
- Check what each estimate includes: permits, disposal, patching, cleanup and warranties.
- Ask how changes are priced once work starts.
- Never pay most of the price up front.
Related
Questions homeowners ask
How much does an HVAC contractor cost on Long Island?
No public agency publishes job prices. The price comes from written estimates after a licensed pro sees the job. For context, Long Island heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn a median $77,707 a year, according to the New York State Department of Labor.
Why do estimates for the same job differ so much?
Usually because they price different scopes: different materials, permits, disposal or warranties. Give each company the same written scope and the prices compare.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these official pages. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the office before you file anything.
- New York State Department of Labor, Occupational Wages (Long Island region, wages updated to the first quarter of 2026) (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Hempstead, Fees Building Department (PDF) (read 2026-11-03; page dated July 31, 2018)
- City of Glen Cove, Building Department, and the documents it links: Building Permit Application, Building Permit Application Checklist (rev 11/2020) and Fee Schedule (As Amended 12/23/2024; linked as Effective 03/18/25) (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Huntington, Generator Permit (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Smithtown, Geothermal Application (PDF) (read 2026-11-03; page dated revised 10-19-2020)
- Town of Southampton, Building and Zoning Fee Schedule (Residential) (read 2026-11-03; page dated effective 05/26/2026)
- Town of Southampton, Electrical Fee Schedule (read 2026-11-03; page dated effective 01/02/2026)
- Town of Southold, Fee Schedule (read 2026-11-03)
Checked 2026-11-03. Facts come only from the official pages listed, read on that date.
Talk the job through before you call anyone
Tell us about the house and the job in about four minutes. Revival calls you, free, to go over the scope, the budget, the timing and your town's permit office. Contractor matches open as our first licensed partners sign.