A humming outdoor unit with a fan that will not turn is the call we get most in July in St. Augustine, FL, and the cause is usually a failed run capacitor. That inexpensive component starts the compressor and fan, fades for years without complaint, and then quits under peak load. It is far from the only suspect, though. Contactors pit and stop passing clean power, condenser fan bearings dry out, small refrigerant leaks drain away cooling capacity, and evaporator coils ice over when a clogged filter strangles airflow.
Heating trouble instead? See Furnace Repair.
Warning Signs for AC Repair
Spotting the early warning signs lets you act before the problem gets expensive. These are the signals our technicians see most often:
- Cooling bills climbing while the house stays sticky and warm
- An iced-over evaporator coil or frozen refrigerant lines
- Puddles near the air handler or water stains on the ceiling beneath it
- The outdoor unit humming or clicking but the fan not spinning
- A hiss or gurgle from the lines, a common sign of leaking refrigerant
- A hot electrical smell or a tripped breaker whenever the air conditioner kicks on
- Room-temperature air from the registers even though the AC is running
- An AC that turns on and off every few minutes but never cools down the house
Don't Wait for a Total Failure
Most HVAC failures start small, a weak capacitor, a squealing blower, a system that runs a little longer each week. Call (904) 243-4271 at the first sign of trouble.
