What qualifies as an HVAC emergency?
No cooling in a heat wave (or no heat in a cold snap), especially with infants, elderly residents, or medical needs at home; a unit that repeatedly trips the breaker; burning or electrical smells; water leaking near electrical or into the building; a gas smell or a sounding carbon monoxide alarm; or a business that can’t operate. A gas or CO situation is a 911-first emergency. We answer the rest fast.
How much does an emergency HVAC service call cost?
You pay a flat $89 diagnostic, waived when you book the repair, with no overtime surcharge on evening or weekend appointments. Most repairs then land between $150 and $600 on a written quote you approve before any billable work. The price you’re quoted is the price, whatever time it is.
Who do I call if my AC isn’t working?
Call a licensed HVAC contractor, we answer fast at 916-320-4386 and prioritize no-cooling emergencies. First, quickly check that the thermostat is on COOL and set below room temperature, the breaker is on, and the filter isn’t clogged, since those solve many calls. If it still won’t cool, turn it off and call.
How much do HVAC technicians charge per hour for emergency calls?
Hourly rates in the industry commonly run about $75 to $150, and many companies add an overtime surcharge after hours. We don’t work that way, you get a flat $89 diagnostic that’s waived when you book the repair and a written flat-rate quote, at the same price any time.
Is HVAC failure covered by insurance?
Homeowners insurance usually covers HVAC damage from a covered peril such as fire or lightning, but not normal wear, age, or mechanical breakdown. A separate home warranty or equipment-breakdown policy is what typically covers a failed compressor or similar. Check your policy for specifics, and we’ll provide the documentation you need for a claim.
Do you offer Fast emergency response?
Yes. A real person answers fast, including weekends by appointment, and no-cooling and no-heat calls go to the front of the line. There are no overtime charges for after-hours work, so you’re never penalized for an emergency that happens at a bad time.
What is considered an emergency AC fix?
It’s restoring cooling when a home or business has none in the heat, replacing a failed capacitor or contactor, clearing a frozen coil, correcting a refrigerant or electrical fault, or making a safe temporary fix to get you cool while a part is sourced. The goal is to get comfort back fast and safely, then discuss any bigger decisions without pressure.
What is the first thing to check when AC stops working?
Start with the thermostat, set to COOL, below room temperature, with fresh batteries, then confirm the breaker and the furnace or air-handler switch are on, and check the air filter. A surprising number of no-cool calls come down to one of these. If none of them fixes it, turn the system off and call.
What is the 3 minute rule for air conditioners?
After the AC shuts off, wait about three to five minutes before restarting it. Restarting the compressor before internal pressures equalize can damage it, which is why many thermostats build in this short delay. If your system just cycled off, give it those few minutes before expecting cold air again.
How do I force my AC to turn on?
Set the thermostat to COOL a few degrees below the room temperature with the fan on AUTO, confirm the breaker and the outdoor disconnect are on, and wait the few-minute compressor delay. Don’t bypass any safety to force it, if it still won’t start after that, it needs a technician rather than another attempt.
Where is the AC reset button?
Many outdoor condensers have a red reset button near the access panel, and some systems reset at the breaker or the thermostat. Press it once. If it trips or won’t stay reset, stop, that points to an electrical fault, and repeatedly forcing it risks damage. Leave it and call us to diagnose safely.
How to tell if an AC fuse is blown?
At the outdoor disconnect there are usually cartridge fuses; a blown one cuts power to the outdoor unit, so the condenser fan and compressor are dead while the indoor fan still runs. Confirming it takes a multimeter and should be done carefully around live power. We check and replace these as part of a standard diagnosis.
Why is my AC running but not blowing cold?
The common causes are a low refrigerant charge from a leak, a frozen evaporator coil from restricted airflow or low charge, a failed capacitor or contactor stopping the outdoor unit, or a dirty condenser coil or filter. Turn the system off to prevent a freeze-up and protect the compressor, then call for a charge and leak check.
Why is my AC suddenly not working?
A sudden failure is often a tripped breaker, a failed capacitor or contactor, a blown fuse, a bad thermostat, or a safety shutdown from a clogged filter or frozen coil. Check the thermostat, breaker, and filter first. If those don’t restore it, turn it off and call, running it while faulted can worsen the damage.
How cool should my house be if it’s 100 or 110 outside?
A properly sized AC generally holds about 20 to 25 degrees below the outdoor temperature, so on a 105-degree day expect roughly 78 to 82 degrees indoors at the thermostat, not 68. That’s normal, not a fault. If it can’t hold even that gap, the unit may be low on refrigerant, dirty, or undersized, worth a service call.
How long should it take to cool a house from 80 or 90 to 72?
Usually a few hours. Dropping about one to three degrees per hour is normal in extreme heat, so pulling a house from 90 down to 72 can take much of an afternoon. If the temperature barely moves, the air isn’t cold, or the coil freezes up, turn it off and call.
What is the most common AC repair issue?
Failed capacitors and contactors are the single most common summer breakdown, followed by low refrigerant from leaks, frozen coils, and dirty condensers. Most of these are affordable, and we stock the frequent-failure parts on the truck so the majority of calls are fixed in a single visit.
What is the most expensive repair on an AC unit?
The compressor is the priciest AC repair, followed by the evaporator or condenser coil. On an older unit, a compressor or coil failure often costs enough that replacement makes more sense, which is where the repair-versus-replace math comes in. We show you both options and never pressure a replacement during an emergency.
Review on Google · March 2026