Central AC Repair in Portland & Vancouver

Quick answer

AC repair means finding why your central air conditioner isn't cooling and fixing the cause. Common problems are a dirty filter, a tripped breaker, a failed capacitor or contactor, a frozen coil, a clogged condensate drain, or a refrigerant leak. A technician finds the cause, and you get the price before work starts.

Key facts

Equipment	Central (ducted) air conditioners
Common fixes	Capacitors, contactors, fan motors, drain clogs, leaks
Refrigerant work	Certified technicians only (EPA Section 608)
Repair price	You get it before any work starts
Service area	Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA

What are the signs your AC needs repair?

Your AC needs a look when it runs but the house stays warm, or when it acts differently than it did last summer. Catching a small change early can keep one worn part from taking others with it.

Note what you see before you call. “The outdoor unit hums but the fan doesn't spin” points a technician in a very different direction than “there's water under the furnace.”

Air from the vents feels warm or barely cool
The outdoor unit hums, but its fan doesn't spin
The outdoor unit doesn't run at all
Ice on the copper lines or the indoor coil
Water on the floor near the indoor unit
The system turns on and off every few minutes
New clicking, buzzing, or rattling sounds

What should you check first when your AC stops cooling?

Start with six safe checks. Several common no-cooling calls turn out to be a setting, a breaker, or a filter.

1Set the thermostat to Cool and a few degrees below room temperature. Set the fan to Auto. Replace the batteries if the screen is blank or dim.
2Check the air filter and replace it if it's dirty.
3Check the breakers for the indoor and outdoor units. Reset a tripped breaker once. If it trips again, stop and call.
4Find the shut-off switch in the box near the outdoor unit and make sure it's on.
5Clear leaves, grass, and anything stacked around the outdoor unit so air can move.
6If there's water near the indoor unit, look at the drain line and float switch. Many systems shut off when the drain backs up. If it's clogged, turn the system off and call.

Not sure what's wrong yet?

Start with the safe checks. Many problems are a setting, a breaker, or a filter.

Find your symptom Compare repair vs. replace

Repair first: we fix what can be fixed
You approve the price before work starts
Sources listed for outside facts

What a visit includes

A technician's diagnosis of the indoor and outdoor units
A plain explanation of what's wrong and what it takes to fix it
A straight answer if replacing makes more sense, and why
The price before any work starts
Your decision: no work starts until you say yes
Testing the AC after the repair, and cleanup

What you won't get

Work you haven't approved
Pressure to replace an AC that can be repaired
Adding refrigerant without looking for the leak
A push to switch to a heat pump

What usually causes an AC to stop cooling?

Many AC failures come down to one part. The outdoor unit's capacitor helps the fan and compressor start. The contactor is a switch that turns the outdoor unit on. When either fails, the unit may hum without running, or not run at all.

If the outdoor unit hums but the fan won't spin, turn the system off at the thermostat and call. Capacitors can hold a charge even with the power off, so leave them for a technician.

What you notice	Common causes	Can you check it?
Outdoor unit hums, fan still	Failed capacitor or fan motor	No. Turn it off and call.
Outdoor unit silent	Tripped breaker, shut-off switch off, or failed contactor	Yes. Breaker once and switch.
Runs but air isn't cool	Dirty filter or coil, or low refrigerant from a leak	Check the filter only
Ice on lines or coil	Low airflow or low refrigerant	Check the filter and vents
Water near indoor unit	Clogged condensate drain or tripped float switch	Look, but don't take it apart

Why is my AC coil frozen?

A frozen AC coil usually means too little airflow across it, or too little refrigerant in the system. A clogged filter, closed vents, or a blower problem can cause the first. A leak causes the second.

Running the AC with ice on it can stress the compressor. Turn cooling off at the thermostat and set the fan to On to help the ice melt. Put towels down for the melt water. Check the filter, then call. Don't chip at the ice.

If a new filter fixes it, great. If the ice comes back, the cause is likely something a technician needs to find, like a blower problem or a leak. Refrigerant work is only for certified technicians under EPA Section 608.

What should you know about AC repair during a heat wave?

Heat waves are when weak parts tend to give out, because the AC runs longer and harder than usual. A capacitor that was fine in June can fail on the first very hot day.

ENERGY STAR notes that contractors get busy once summer comes, and suggests checking your cooling system in spring. If the AC is already struggling, keep blinds closed on the sunny side of the house. Setting the thermostat far below normal won't cool the house faster.

Summer can also bring wildfire smoke. Keep an eye on your filter during smoke season, and see our smoke guide for more.

Should you repair your AC or replace it with a heat pump?

Repair first if the problem is one part and the system is otherwise sound. Capacitors, contactors, fan motors, and drain clogs are usually worth fixing.

If your AC has a major failure, it helps to know your options. ENERGY STAR describes a ducted heat pump as a central air conditioner that also works in reverse to heat your home. It says one can be installed as a drop-in replacement in most climate zones when a central AC or furnace needs replacing. If your furnace is fairly new, a heat pump can pair with it as a dual-fuel system.

There's no pressure here. If your AC can be fixed, we fix it. If replacing makes more sense, we say so and show you why, and you decide.

How much does AC repair cost?

AC repair cost depends on what failed, so an honest price comes after the cause is found, not before. Replacing a capacitor and tracking down a refrigerant leak are very different jobs.

Ask us about the diagnostic fee when you call. Once a technician finds the cause, you get the repair price before any work starts. If it doesn't work for you, you can say no. If the repair price is high enough that replacing might make more sense, we'll tell you that too, and show you why.

Which part failed, and whether it has to be ordered
How long the repair takes
Whether a leak has to be found and fixed
Whether one failure damaged another part

What happens when you book an AC repair?

An AC repair visit follows six steps.

1Tell us what's going on. Describe what the AC is doing and when it started.
2A technician finds the cause. They check the indoor and outdoor units and look for the root problem, not just the symptom.
3You see your options. We explain what's wrong and what it takes to fix it. If replacing makes more sense, we say so and show why.
4You decide. No work starts until you say yes.
5We fix it. If it can be fixed, we fix it.
6We test and clean up. We run the AC, check that it cools, and leave the space clean.

Common questions

Why is my AC running but not cooling the house?

Common causes are a dirty filter, an outdoor unit that isn't running, a frozen coil, or low refrigerant from a leak. Check the filter, thermostat, and breakers first. If those look fine, turn it off and call.

Is it OK to run my AC with ice on the lines?

No. Running it frozen can stress the compressor. Turn cooling off, set the fan to On to melt the ice, check the filter, and call.

Can a bad capacitor be replaced without replacing the AC?

Yes, usually. A capacitor is a single part, and replacing it is a common AC repair. A technician will also check why it failed and whether the fan motor or compressor was affected.

Is water around my indoor unit an AC problem?

Often, yes. An AC pulls water out of the air, and a clogged condensate drain can back it up onto the floor. Many systems have a float switch that shuts the AC off when that happens. Turn the system off and call.

Does setting the thermostat lower cool the house faster?

No. An AC doesn't cool faster when you set it lower. It just runs longer trying to reach the lower number.

Can my air conditioner be converted into a heat pump?

Not by changing a part. A heat pump can take the place of your AC, though, and ENERGY STAR says a ducted heat pump can use your existing ductwork. If your AC can be repaired, that's where we start.