AC Repair
AC repair, diagnosed properly the first time
Most no-cool calls come down to six or seven things. We test instead of guessing, then tell you the price before we do the work.
What usually fails
Air conditioners are simple machines with a handful of common failure points. In our shop's service records, these account for the large majority of no-cool calls:
- Run capacitor. The most common single failure. The compressor hums or buzzes and won't start. Tested with a meter in about two minutes.
- Contactor. Pitted or welded contacts, which either kill the outdoor unit or keep it running when the thermostat is satisfied.
- Condenser fan motor. Unit runs, pressure climbs, breaker trips or the compressor overheats and shuts down on internal overload.
- Low refrigerant from a leak. Ice on the suction line, weak airflow, long run times. Refrigerant doesn't get used up — if it's low, there's a leak, and we find it before topping off.
- Clogged condensate drain. Water on the floor or a float switch that has shut the system down on purpose.
- Dirty filter or blocked coil. Cheap to fix, and the cause of a surprising number of "the AC is broken" calls.
What it costs
The diagnostic is $95. Once we know the fault, you get a flat price for the repair before we start. Typical repairs run from about $180 for a capacitor to $1,100 for a condenser fan motor and controls on a larger unit. Compressor and coil replacements are where we stop and have an honest conversation about repair versus replacement, because on a 14-year-old system with R-22, putting $2,800 into it rarely makes sense.
Before you call
Two things worth checking yourself, and it's fine if you'd rather not:
- Make sure the thermostat is set to cool and the fan is on auto, and check the batteries.
- Look at the filter. If it's gray and you can't see light through it, replace it and give the system 30 minutes.
- Check the breaker for the air handler and the outdoor disconnect. If a breaker keeps tripping, stop resetting it and call — that's an electrical fault, not a nuisance.
When we'll tell you to replace instead
We'll say it plainly: if the compressor is dead, the system uses R-22, and it's past 12 years, repair money is wasted money. We'll price both paths, show you the numbers, and let you decide. A repair quote from us never expires into a pressure pitch.
Need it fixed today, or just want a number you can trust?
Call and talk to someone in Whitehall who can tell you what a visit costs and when we can be there. Or send the estimate form and we'll follow up within one business hour.