This stupid thing won’t work…Man it is hotter than hell in here… Help…..
First understand that ALL service calls begin with our 1-hour rate of $85. This will bring us out so we can evaluate and diagnose the problems you are currently facing. Additional charges will apply if necessary to solve the problem. All prices will be quoted before any additional work is done and we can diagnose any problem in the 1st hour.
That being said let’s see if we can help you without it costing you any money.
Understand that units act up all the time. Don’t panic. A lot of time it is something simple and we can help you correct it without needing to come out. Follow these steps and we’ll see if we can help:
Set your thermostat to cool and 60 degrees, with the fan switch in the “auto” position.
Let’s answer a few questions about the unit. Click on the phrase that applies and it will guide you to your answer
Does your inside unit blow air?
I've checked and the inside unit is not blowing. I do not hear any noise coming from the inside unit either. Nor is the outdoor unit fan turning. Nothing is working
- You more than likely have no power going to the indoor unit.
- The indoor unit is like the main control center, if it isn’t working, nothing will come on.
- Are all the circuit breakers set to the “on” position?
- Does the thermostat have a display that appears to be working?
- There is a small “toggle light switch” near the indoor unit, is it “On”?
If you have checked all these variables and all seems to be well, you need to call so we can come take a look. 504-831-2000 or fill out this simple contact form.
OK so our inside unit blows air
What does the air coming out of the supply air grills fell like?
When I put my hand up to the vent I would say...
Ok you inside unit is blowing air but it is not cold, feels like just a fan.
Now let's go check the outside unit
The outside unit fan is turning, Put your hand over the air coming out, is it warm?
When I put my hand above the outside unit I would say...
Ok the outdoor unit fan is turning and the air is a little warm.
That’s good. Sounds like you are a little low on Freon and maybe your outdoor coil is dirty
Call us at 504.831.2000 or use this simple contact form - we will come and clean your outdoor coil and add some Freon.
The air coming off the outside fan is not any warmer than the rest of the air outside. I don’t feel a difference!
Ok, could be the compressor inside the outdoor unit is not running
This could be due to a burned wire inside or a bad capacitor. You need to call me
Or the compressor is running but the Freon level is low. You still need to call. You may just need a shot of Freon or you may have a Freon leak in which case we can locate it and fix it.
We have the best Freon leak detection equipment money can buy, we always find the leak.
Call us at 504.831.2000 or use this simple contact form to schedule a service call.
The outdoor unit fan is not turning at all.
Do you hear any sounds coming from the unit?
Yes I hear a strong humming!
Sounds like your fan motor is bad or it has a bad capacitor. Go turn it off.
Call me at 504.831.2000 or contact us using this simple contact form.
No sound at all:
You may have a blown fuse in the small box above the unit Or a tripped breaker in the main panel
You can pull out the fuse holder and bring the fuses to Home Depot where they can test them
Even if you find out the fuses were blown and you replace them, you may want to have us come and check the unit. Most of the time there is a reason why they blew and it will happen again.
“I see ice on the pipe outside near the unit”
Ok your unit is low on Freon or it has a dirty filter. Check the filter, if it is clean call us. If it is dirty then change it.
Turn your unit off either way an let it thaw out for several hours. Just because you don’t see ice outside does not mean that the inside unit is not frozen.
If the filter caused it, after the thaw it will work again.
If it is low on Freon it will freeze again, call us at 504.831.2000 or contact us using this simple contact form
Remember that you must let it thaw before we come as we cannot fix it if it is frozen
The indoor fan is blowing and the air is a little cool but not as cold as usual
You are more than likely low on Freon
Also your outdoor coil may be dirty
Either way it is a simple fix so give us a call at 504.831.2000 or use this simple contact form to get in touch with us.
Congratulations, your unit is working and not broken. Glad we could help; Call us any way to have it serviced (a great opportunity is our current Spring Tune Up Special for only $65)- Maintenance is always cheaper than repairs. You might also want to consider a new digital thermostat - switching to digital can save you money on your electric bill.
Now let's go check the outside unit
The outside unit fan is turning, Put your hand over the air coming out, is it warm?
When I put my hand above the outside unit I would say...
Ok the outdoor unit fan is turning and the air is a little warm.
That’s good. Sounds like you are a little low on Freon and maybe your outdoor coil is dirty
Call us at 504.831.2000 or use this simple contact form - we will come and clean your outdoor coil and add some Freon.
The air coming off the outside fan is not any warmer than the rest of the air outside. I don’t feel a difference!
Ok, could be the compressor inside the outdoor unit is not running
This could be due to a burned wire inside or a bad capacitor. You need to call me
Or the compressor is running but the Freon level is low. You still need to call. You may just need a shot of Freon or you may have a Freon leak in which case we can locate it and fix it.
We have the best Freon leak detection equipment money can buy, we always find the leak.
Call us at 504.831.2000 or use this simple contact form to schedule a service call.
The outdoor unit fan is not turning at all.
Do you hear any sounds coming from the unit?
Yes I hear a strong humming!
Sounds like your fan motor is bad or it has a bad capacitor. Go turn it off.
Call me at 504.831.2000 or contact us using this simple contact form.
No sound at all:
You may have a blown fuse in the small box above the unit Or a tripped breaker in the main panel
You can pull out the fuse holder and bring the fuses to Home Depot where they can test them
Even if you find out the fuses were blown and you replace them, you may want to have us come and check the unit. Most of the time there is a reason why they blew and it will happen again.
“I see ice on the pipe outside near the unit”
Ok your unit is low on Freon or it has a dirty filter. Check the filter, if it is clean call us. If it is dirty then change it.
Turn your unit off either way an let it thaw out for several hours. Just because you don’t see ice outside does not mean that the inside unit is not frozen.
If the filter caused it, after the thaw it will work again.
If it is low on Freon it will freeze again, call us at 504.831.2000 or contact us using this simple contact form
Remember that you must let it thaw before we come as we cannot fix it if it is frozen
Other Commonly asked questions and issues we come across
We get these questions all the time...
We can get you any size filter you need. We like to supply you with a case of 12 if we can.
That way the cost is lower and you have plenty to last the year.
We would like you to change your filter once a month. You may need to change it more often. If your house is dirty because of some kind of construction, you need to check it more often. Its a good idea to take a Sharpie and write the date you put the filter in so you can remember the last time you changed the filter.
At least go and look at it every month, if it is dirty, replace it.
Basically there are 3 types
- Fiberglass
- Pleated
- Permanente, washable.
Here are our recommendations
- I like pleated throw away. They are efficient and keep you system clean.
- Fiberglass (blue or white see through, cheapest) is ok but they allow some dirt to come through.
- Permanent, washable are ok but they restrict the air too much. Also they tend to not get cleaned as often because they take a lot more effort, having to get a hose and stuff.
- Three month filters are a scam! Think about it, if a filter works better, you will have to change it more often, not less often. This could only work if the filter is thicker than your standard 1”. Don’t waste your money at the big box orange store. Call me at 504.831.2000 and I will get you a better price on the best filters.
Yes you could need some Freon.
- If your system is cooling but not as much as it usually does then you need Freon.
- Most systems loose a small amount of Freon each year due to small system leaks that go undetectable
- If your leak is large enough that it needs to be filled more than once every two years, you may want to let us spend some time finding it. We may be able to repair it or make another recommendation.
- Freon is getting very expensive, you will want to keep your system need free.
Your indoor system has gotten dirty likely due to your filter not working well or you may have some kind of a crack in your system allowing un-filtered air to infiltrate. Call us at 504.831.2000 or use this simple contact form and we can help diagnose the problem.
Water is dripping from the soffit of my house.
- Your main drain line is clogged. This is common. Dirt and algae build up in the line and cause it to get clogged.
- You may have a place in your line where you can pour some Liquid Draino. If you do, try it.
IT IS TOO LATE FOR BLEACH!
- Bleach only works to prevent algae. Once the line is clogged, the bleach cannot flow through the line to unclog it. Think about it…..
- We have special tools to cut the line and blow it out with high pressure. We can then treat it for future buildup!
By the way, if you pour anything in the line to keep it clear, make it “Vinegar”
Vinegar IS CHEAP, NON COROSIVE AND WORKS ON THE SAME PROPERTIES TO INHIBIT ALGAE AS Bleach
Yes it is a good idea to treat your AC drain with something each monthly to keep it clear.
- Algae and dirt tend to clog your drain line
- Use Vinegar to treat your line
- Vinegar is cheap and won’t hurt you pipes or your unit like bleach.
- If you don’t see a place to pour Vinegar, we can install one for you at a very reasonable price.
Call us at 504.831.2000 or use this simple contact form to schedule a time for us to come out.
