Central air repair
In a typical split system, the indoor coil sits on top of the furnace and shares its ductwork, and the outdoor unit sits on a pad beside the house. When it fails, it usually fails at one of a short list of parts.
- Outdoor unit silent or humming: run capacitor, contactor, disconnect fuse or breaker.
- Runs but blows warm: refrigerant leak, failing compressor or a dirty outdoor coil.
- Ice on the lines: low airflow from a filter or blower problem, or low refrigerant.
- Water on the floor: clogged condensate line, cracked drain pan or a dead condensate pump.
AC down right now?
Call (838) 314-8024Ductless mini-splits
Ductless systems suit houses without ducts, finished attics, additions and upstairs bedrooms a central system never reaches. Each indoor head connects to an outdoor unit through a small hole in the wall.
Common repairs: blinking error codes, a head that drips water from a clogged drain, a dirty blower wheel that cuts airflow, and control board or sensor faults.
Spring checkups
Cooling problems hide all winter. A spring check of the capacitor, contactor, coils and drain line catches most failures before the first hot week.
New installs and replacement
Central air, heat pumps and ductless systems sized to the house. Homes heated by a boiler with no ducts can add cooling with ductless or small-duct high-velocity systems without opening walls. A cold-climate heat pump can also take on part of the heating load. See heat pump repair.
AC repair questions
Why is my AC blowing warm air?
Confirm the thermostat is on Cool and below room temperature. If the indoor fan runs but the outdoor unit is silent or only hums, the usual causes are a failed run capacitor, a burned contactor or a tripped outdoor breaker. If both units run and the air is still warm, the system is often low on refrigerant from a leak.
Why is my AC freezing up?
Ice on the copper line or indoor coil means the coil is running too cold. The two main causes are low airflow (dirty filter, closed vents, weak blower) and low refrigerant. Switch the system to Off with the fan On to thaw it, then call. Running a frozen system can damage the compressor.
Why is my AC leaking water inside?
An air conditioner pulls water out of the air and drains it through a condensate line. When that line clogs with algae or the drain pan cracks, water backs up onto the floor or ceiling. A failed condensate pump does the same thing in basement installs.
Why is my upstairs so much hotter than downstairs?
Heat rises, and many ducted systems were sized and balanced for the first floor. Undersized return ducts, leaky ductwork in the attic and a single thermostat downstairs all make it worse. Dampers, duct sealing or a ductless head on the top floor are common fixes.
Why does my AC run all day and never reach the set temperature?
On the hottest days a properly sized system may run long cycles. If it never catches up on a normal summer day, look at a dirty outdoor coil, a low refrigerant charge, a failing compressor or a system that was undersized for the house from the start.
Can central air go in a house that has no ductwork?
Yes. The usual choices are ductless mini-splits, which need only a small hole through the wall for each indoor head, or a small-duct high-velocity system run through closets and attic space.