When the air conditioner stops cooling, the cause is usually one of a handful of problems, and finding the right one comes first. Mr. Air covers diagnosis, repair and full replacement for home cooling systems.
Central air conditioners fail in recognizable ways. Some failures are airflow problems, some are electrical, and some involve the sealed refrigerant circuit. Telling them apart is the difference between a simple fix and an expensive guess.
Here are the situations homeowners most often describe when they ask for AC service.
Describe the problem as precisely as you can when you send a request. Mention whether the outdoor unit is running, whether the indoor blower is moving air, whether you have seen ice or water and when the trouble started. Those details help us understand what to prepare for.
A proper visit begins with questions: when the problem started, what changed and what the thermostat is doing. From there a technician checks the controls, airflow, electrical components and the condition of the indoor and outdoor units before drawing conclusions.
Refrigerant work is a regulated task. Adding refrigerant to a system that is low does not fix a leak, and in the United States, handling refrigerant requires technician certification under federal rules. A sound repair finds where the refrigerant is going, not just how much to add.
You should expect the findings, the repair options and the reasons behind them to be explained in plain terms before you approve any work.
This is the question behind many AC calls, and it has no universal answer. Age, the nature of the failure, how the system has performed and what refrigerant it uses all matter. A repair that restores a dependable system is usually sensible. Repeated failures on older equipment, a major component failure or a system that no longer keeps up are reasons to look at replacement.
Refrigerant type is part of that decision. Older systems that use R-22 are difficult to service because production of that refrigerant ended, and systems sold today are moving to newer refrigerants. Our guide to the refrigerant transition explains what that means for owners in general terms.
We do not publish prices for repair or replacement. Cost depends on the equipment, the scope and the home, so ask for the options to be laid out in writing before you decide.
Replacing an air conditioner is more than swapping one box for another. Capacity needs to suit the house, the indoor coil and outdoor unit should be matched, and the ductwork and airflow have to support the new equipment. A unit that is too large cycles on and off without drying the air well, and one that is too small runs constantly without reaching the temperature you set.
Efficiency labels also changed. Since 2023, new equipment is rated on SEER2, a different test from the older SEER number, and our guide to SEER2 and HSPF2 ratings explains how to read them. If you are weighing a system that both cools and heats, read about the heat pump option as well.
Replacement is also a good time to talk about the thermostat, filtration and any airflow problems in the home that the old system worked around.
Most cooling problems are easier to prevent than to repair. A clean filter, a clear condensate drain and outdoor unit with room to breathe account for a great deal of reliability. A yearly check before cooling season catches worn parts and dirty coils early, which is what the maintenance plans and tune-ups service is for.
If your system is still cooling but the signs are off, a request now is easier than a request during a heat wave.
Common causes include a dirty filter, a frozen coil, a dirty outdoor unit, a failed component or low refrigerant from a leak. Check the thermostat, filter and breaker first, then request service if the problem continues.
No. Refrigerant handling requires trained, certified technicians, and a system that is low on refrigerant has a leak that needs to be found and repaired.
Consider replacement when the unit is old, repair needs keep recurring, a major component has failed or the system uses a refrigerant that is hard to service. A technician can walk through the tradeoffs with you.
No. Cost depends on the problem and the equipment. Describe the situation on the request form and the options and their costs will be explained before any work begins.
Tell us what your system is doing and we will follow up with next steps.