Don’t wait until your AC system has totally stopped working to call our experienced AC repair technicians. If you notice that some of the rooms in your home are slower to cool than others or your home is not cooling at all, then your air conditioner needs repair. Other signs include watermarks on the ceiling and a spike in your monthly energy bill.

When you schedule a Houston AC repair appointment with House Pro, our technicians will inspect your system to determine the issue and provide you with a quote for the necessary repairs. If your system needs to be replaced, our technicians will offer additional recommendations to prevent future breakdowns and improve the overall efficiency of your AC system.

What to Expect From Your AC Repair Service

• Friendly 24 hour live dispatchers to schedule your AC Repair
• Courtesy call from your technician 30 minutes before he arrives at your home
• Professional and respectful technicians
• Presentation and pre-authorization for any needed ac repairs or service before the work is performed
• A clean work area after any work is performed
• A 30-day labor warranty on all repairs

Fast AC Repair and Service in Houston, Katy and Sugarland

In Houston, you need your air conditioning system to work. HousePro offers fast, expert level air conditioning repairs to get your home cool again when the heat is on. We offer same day ac repair service and emergency service after hours. We proudly serve the greater Houston area including Bellaire, the Heights, West University, Richmond, Pearland, Katy & Sugar Land.

HousePro has provided over 30,000 homeowners with air conditioning and furnace tune-ups, maintenance, repairs, and replacements. We pride ourselves on customer satisfaction and reliable heating repairs. Our technicians offer a free heating diagnosis on all repairs and will present you with a written repair quote before any work is done.

Our technicians can work on all brands of central air conditioners including Trane, American Standard, Ruud, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem, and more.  All technicians receive ongoing training to stay up to date on the latest home AC repair and maintenance techniques.  Also, HousePro technicians are carefully screened to protect your home and family.

How Does Your AC System Work?

Understanding how your air conditioning unit works on a basic level is important to understand what can go wrong with your system and how our experienced technicians will repair it. In your home, you either have an electric or gas AC system. Gas systems use a furnace to circulate air through your home while electric systems use an air handler.

How Does the Cooling Cycle Work?

The condenser unit, which is located outside your home, contains a compressor, condenser coil and large fan. The compressor’s job is to pump cool refrigerant to the evaporator coil. This cools the evaporator coil, so as warm air pushes past it, the air is cooled and distributed throughout your home. During this process, the evaporator coil absorbs heat which warms the refrigerant as it’s moving through the coils. The warm refrigerant is then pumped back out to the condenser coil and cooled by a fan. The warm air is released from the system. This cycle is repeated until your home reaches the desired temperature.

What Are the Top 10 Most Common AC Repairs?

There are several common issues that can cause your AC system not to function properly. Here are a few common AC failures that you could experience and ways to recognize them in your home.

Refrigerant Leak

Requires HVAC Technician: Yes

Many homeowners think adding refrigerant to their system every year or two is normal, but it is a sign your system has a leak.  Leaks (even small ones) reduce the efficiency and lifespan of your unit and raise your energy costs. Refrigerant leaks typically occur at the evaporator coil or condenser coil, but they can happen anywhere along the copper line set.  Diagnosing refrigerant leaks often requires special tools such as an electronic leak detector or UV dye kit.

Reasons for failure: Age, damage, metal fatigue, improper installation.

Solution: There are two major places where leaks can occur: the condenser coil and the evaporator coil. In either of these instances, the best solution is usually to replace the unit. In most cases, the leaks are caused by metal deterioration. It’s often difficult to repair these components, and more leaks can occur shortly after, making repair an unreliable option. If your ac system is still under warranty, we can replace your system for only the cost of labor.

Dirty Air Filter

Requires HVAC Technician: Typically not needed

Dirty air filters reduce the airflow going through your system.  This affects comfort and energy efficiency levels.  Sometimes your evaporator may freeze up and cause the system to stop running because there is not enough air moving across it (this also occurs when there is refrigerant issues).

Reason for failure: Dirt buildup, pet hair, failure to replace on time

Solution: Standard filters at the grill should be replaced on a monthly basis.  Higher filtration filters (MERV 11+) that are location at the furnace should be replaced every 3 – 6 months based on how often you run the system. Advanced air cleaning or filtration devices such as the Lennox Pure Air or American Standard Accuclean do require special cleanings from an HVAC Technician.

Clogged or Damaged Drain Lines

Requires HVAC Technician: Yes

When air passes through the evaporator coil it pulls water from the air to lower humidity. The water drops into a drain pan and is then sent outside of the home through the drain lines. If the drain lines are clogged or damaged there will be a water leak or overflow, possibly causing ceiling damage. Depending on how bad the leak is, you could see wet spots on the ceiling or even holes caused by the water collapsing the sheetrock. Some systems have a safety device called a float switch that shuts the system down when the drain lines are clogged to prevent water damage. In this scenario, the system will turn on and turn off or not turn on at all.

Reason for failure: Mold and mildew buildup, Dirt buildup, Cracked pipe or misalignment, No back-up drain

Solution: Drain lines should be cleaned at least once per year.  Preventative cleanings can be done by a homeowner by pouring bleach and water down the drain lines.  However, once the drain lines have clogged or started leaking it is best to call an HVAC technician. Clogged drain lines typically require compressed air to be used to remove the restriction or build up.  Damaged drain lines can be repaired or replaced by the technician.

To prevent future water damage, we recommend installing both an inline and auxiliary float switch.  Float switches shut the system off when the drain lines are clogged preventing any more water from being produced.

Capacitator

Requires HVAC Technician: Yes

Capacitors are batteries that send energy to start or continue running components of your AC.  Just like any other battery they will fail and need replacement at some point.  Their lifespan depends on heat exposure and how often the AC starts. If the capacitor is completely out, the system will not start at all. If it is damaged or starting to fail the system may struggle to start, similar to a when a car with a bad battery struggles to start.

Reason for failure: Age, Leaking, Plate/ insulator deterioration, Power Surge

Solution: We suggest replacing any capacitors that are running below manufacturer specifications.  This prevents you from being stuck with an AC that won’t start in the middle of Summer.  Anytime the capacitor is replaced other components of the system should be checked for damage.

To catch capacitator failure before it happens, we recommend scheduling annual preventative maintenance. Replacing a capacitator that is near failure can prevent damage to the rest of your system.

Compressor

Requires HVAC Technician: Yes

The compressor is the main component of your outdoor unit (condenser) which moves refrigerant throughout the system.  Bad AC compressors can cause high energy bills, inability to start system, frequent starting and stopping of the system, loud noises, and comfort issues.

Reason for failure: Refrigerant low or incorrectly charged, Worn valves, Voltage drop, Short cycling

Solution: Compressors are not repaired and will have to be replaced.  First, your technician will have to identify the reason for the failure. If the cause of failure is within the condenser then the entire condenser should be replaced.  Systems less than 10 years old usually have a manufacturers parts warranty and the compressor or the entire condenser can be replaced for only the cost of labor.  Systems over 10 years or over 5 with no manufacturer’s parts warranty should be replaced with a new condenser.  Replacing compressors in older systems is a bad investment because it’s likely the system will have other expensive repairs in the near future.

Contactor

Requires HVAC Technician: Yes

Contactors are an electrical relay that control the flow of electricity to the components of your system.  Failed contactors can prevent your system from running and damaged contactors can cause other components such as the compressor and fan motor to fail.

Reason for failure: Age, Short cycling (system turning on and off frequently), Loose connections, Point corrosion, Open or shorted winding

Solution: Replacing a damaged contactor is far cheaper than replacing a damaged compressor or fan motor in the future.  If the contactor has already failed the AC technician will check the other components for damage.

Dirty Evaporator Coil

Requires HVAC Technician: Yes

Evaporator coils are the indoor component of your system that gets cold and absorbs heat from the air.  Dirty evaporator coils can’t absorb as much heat as clean coils and drastically increase the cost and run time of your system while making your home less comfortable.  Dirty coils also reduce the air quality in your home.  Air is circulated through the coils many times per day and any dirt or biological growth on the coil enters the air stream.

Reason for failure: Mold/algae buildup, Dirt/pet hair buildup, Oily smoke residue

Solution: Have an HVAC technician clean the evaporator coil when they perform annual maintenance on your system. Evaporator coils are cleaned with an evaporator coil cleaning spray, compressed air, and sometimes a gentle brush. Some coils need to be disassembled or have an access door installed in order to be cleaned.

Dirty Condenser Coil

Requires HVAC Technician: Sometimes

Your condenser coil releases the heat removed from your home into the outdoor air. When a coil is dirty and can’t release heat as efficiently and causes high energy bills, equipment damage, and comfort issues.  When the coil is dirty it can cause heat to build up inside the condenser damaging components such as capacitors, contactors, and subsequently the compressor.

Reason for failure: Dirt buildup, Plant debris, Bent fins

Solution: Condenser coils need to be cleaned on the inside and outside so removing the fan and top of the unit is required.  The unit should always be turned off at the disconnect box before performing any cleanings. An HVAC technician will use a special spray or foam to clean the unit and should also straighten any bent coil fins with a fin repair tool. Any debris should be removed from the inside and outside of the coil.  In a pinch, you can partially clean the condenser coil yourself with a water hose, however, we suggest having an HVAC technician perform a thorough cleaning once per year.

Thermostat

Requires HVAC Technician: Sometimes

Thermostats send the signal for the AC system to start and stop. If your thermostat won’t power on, it’s impossible to keep your home comfortable.

Reason for failure: Batteries dead, not programmed correctly, age, misalignment

Solution: If your thermostat uses batteries and does not power on then the system will not start.  You can easily replace thermostat batteries. If your thermostat does not have batteries and does not power on, you will need to call an AC technician to come and check the wiring.

Condenser Fan Motor

Requires HVAC Technician: Yes

The condenser fan helps disperse the heat from the condenser coil of the outdoor unit.  A fan motor that is not working properly or completely failed can cause a system to overheat, run less efficiently, not run at all, raise electricity costs, and reduce comfort.

Reason for failure: Age, Out of balance vibration, Worn bearings, Lack of lubrication

Solution: If the condenser fan motor has failed, an AC technician will need to replace this it. If your systems under 10 years old, it may have a parts warranty. With this warranty, the fan motor could be replaced for only labor costs.  If your systems over 10 years old, you should consider replacing the entire unit to avoid spending money on other costly repairs in the future.

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