Central Air Conditioning Repair & Installation
Warm air from the vents is a symptom with about six possible causes. Only one of them is a system you need to replace.
We work on central split systems and packaged units. Diagnosis always comes first, because the same complaint — it's running but not cooling — comes from a failed capacitor, a dirty condenser coil, a stuck contactor, a clogged filter choking airflow, a blocked condensate line, low refrigerant, or a compressor at the end of its life. Those range from a same-day inexpensive part to a full replacement.
On refrigerant we'll say what a lot of companies won't: a sealed system does not consume refrigerant. If yours is low, it leaked. Recharging without finding the leak means paying again next summer while venting refrigerant to atmosphere. We look for the leak first and tell you honestly whether repairing it is worth it on your particular system.
If you do need replacement, sizing matters more than brand. An oversized system cools the air fast, shuts off before it has removed any humidity, and leaves you with a house that's cold and clammy while the equipment short-cycles itself to an early death. Bigger is not better, and we size to the actual load rather than matching whatever was there.
When this is likely your problem
What's included — and what isn't
Included in the quote
- Full diagnostic — electrical components, airflow, coil condition, and refrigerant pressures
- Repair or replacement of capacitors, contactors, fan motors, and controls
- Condenser and evaporator coil cleaning
- Condensate drain clearing
- Refrigerant leak search where pressures indicate a loss
- Load-based sizing before any replacement quote
Quoted separately
- The equipment itself on a replacement
- Refrigerant recharge without a leak repair, which we won't do as a standalone service
- Electrical work beyond the unit — circuits, disconnects, panel capacity
- Ductwork replacement or major duct modification, quoted separately
- Permits and inspections where required
- Crane or rigging for rooftop equipment
What drives the price
We quote after diagnosis, not before. These are the factors that move the number most on this particular service:
- FAULTA capacitor is a small part. A compressor or coil is a different conversation entirely.
- LEAKWhether a refrigerant loss is accessible and repairable or inside an aging coil.
- DUCTSWhether existing ductwork can carry the airflow a new system needs.
- SIZINGLoad calculation, not matching the old unit's tonnage.
- ACCESSWhere the condenser and air handler sit and how equipment gets to them.
Chicago note
Chicago's cooling season is short and intense, which shapes the economics. A system that only runs hard for a few months a year can be worth repairing longer than it would be in a hot climate. It also means the first genuinely hot week produces a flood of no-cooling calls — a spring tune-up is worth more here for scheduling reasons alone.
Related services
What the visit involves
Full diagnostic first
Electrical, airflow, coil, and pressures — never a guess from the symptom alone.
Name the failed part
You're told what failed and what it costs before anything gets replaced.
Repair where sensible
Most no-cooling calls are a repair. We say clearly when it genuinely isn't.
Size properly if replacing
Load-based sizing, and an honest look at whether the ducts can support it.
Questions about central air conditioning repair & installation
My AC isn't cooling. Does it need refrigerant?
Usually not. Low refrigerant is one cause among several and far from the most common. A failed capacitor, a filthy filter choking airflow, a dirty condenser coil, or a blocked condensate line all produce exactly the same complaint. We diagnose before adding anything, because a recharge on a system that wasn't low is money for nothing.
Why won't you just top up the refrigerant and leave it?
Because a sealed system doesn't use refrigerant up. If it's low, there's a leak. Recharging without repairing it means you pay again next season while releasing refrigerant into the atmosphere. We'll look for the leak and tell you honestly whether repair makes sense on a system of your age.
Is a bigger unit better?
No, and oversizing is one of the most common installation mistakes. A system that's too large cools the air quickly, satisfies the thermostat, and shuts off before it has pulled humidity out — leaving a house that's cold and damp. It also short-cycles, which is hard on the compressor. Correct sizing comes from a load calculation.
Should I repair or replace an older system?
It depends on what failed, the unit's age, and what refrigerant it uses. A capacitor on a ten-year-old system is an easy repair. A compressor or leaking evaporator coil on an older unit using a phased-out refrigerant is a different calculation. We'll put both numbers in front of you rather than deciding for you.
How often should central AC be serviced?
A pre-season check once a year is reasonable — mainly cleaning coils, checking the filter and airflow, clearing the condensate line, and catching a weak capacitor before it fails. It isn't required by anyone; it's just cheaper than an emergency call during the first heat wave, when everyone else is calling too.
Ready to get this looked at?
Call and describe what's happening. You'll get an honest read on urgency and cost before anyone comes out.