Is HomeAdvisor worth it for HVAC contractors?

For most HVAC contractors, no — not as a primary channel. HomeAdvisor and Angi HVAC leads cost $15–$40 for a service call and $30–$80 for an install, are shared with three to eight contractors at once, close at 13–20%, and work out to roughly $542 per booked job — the most expensive of the measured channels in 2026. In January 2023 the FTC ordered HomeAdvisor to pay up to $7.2 million for misrepresenting the quality and source of the leads it sold.

Published 2026-08-17 · last verified 2026-08-18 · all external figures dated and sourced at the foot of this page.

What the FTC actually found

In January 2023 the US Federal Trade Commission issued an order requiring HomeAdvisor to pay up to $7.2 million over deceptive tactics in selling home-improvement leads to service providers, many of them one-person and small businesses.

The complaint stated that HomeAdvisor misrepresented the quality, characteristics and source of its leads, and the proportion of leads that would turn into jobs. Contractors paid to pursue people who were not looking to hire soon, did not want the service the business offered, or were not in the area the business had asked to target.

This is a primary source, not an opinion, and it is the single most useful thing to read before signing up. It is linked in full under Sources.

The arithmetic, if you want to run it yourself

Take a $35 service-call lead shared with four other contractors, closing at 15%. Seven leads at $35 is $245 for roughly one booked job. Independent 2026 measurement puts Angi at $542 per booked job across a larger sample, against $260 for Thumbtack and $190 for Google Local Services Ads.

The reason the marketplace number is worse than the back-of-envelope one is that the shared model also costs you the quote. When four contractors reach the same homeowner within an hour, the job goes to whoever discounts hardest.

When it is still worth using

Three honest cases. First, a brand-new company with no reviews, no Google Business Profile history and empty days — bad leads beat no leads while you build. Second, filling genuinely idle capacity in a slow shoulder season, where marginal revenue beats an idle van. Third, a market where you can answer within 60 seconds every time, because in a shared race speed is the entire edge.

Outside those, the money usually does better in owned channels or an exclusive arrangement. See how to get more HVAC calls for the channels that compound, and exclusive vs shared leads for the close-rate comparison.

Common questions

How much does HomeAdvisor charge HVAC contractors per lead?

In 2026, roughly $15–$40 for a service-call lead and $30–$80 for an install lead in a major metro, plus membership fees. Each lead is typically shared with three to eight contractors.

What close rate do HomeAdvisor and Angi HVAC leads get?

About 13–20%, against 40–60% for exclusive leads. Measured per booked job rather than per lead, Angi works out to roughly $542.

Did HomeAdvisor get fined over its leads?

Yes. In January 2023 the FTC ordered HomeAdvisor to pay up to $7.2 million, finding it had misrepresented the quality, characteristics and source of its leads and the share of leads that would become jobs.