Whether you live in Raleigh or in nearby Cary, Apex, or Wake Forest, this part of NC gets really, really hot in summer. Comfort Monster knows that keeping you cool depends on your air conditioning system working at peak performance. When problems strike, we provide quick, expert AC repair service.
Our technicians can get you cool again fast with 24/7 emergency service. We diagnose and fix every brand of central air conditioning system or heat pump.
When you choose us to repair your home’s air conditioning system, we know it’s important to understand what your options are and exactly what it will cost to fix. We invest in honest, friendly people and the best technology to deliver the best service possible.
Troubleshooting and repairing air conditioning systems is often challenging. The obvious issue is often not the only issue, and without proper AC service experience from your service company you may find yourself calling for service over and over again. We take pride in the relationships we build with our customers and getting the right repair done right the first time.
Your thermostat will protect your HVAC system by using a delay between heat and cooling mode. You expect to be able to just decrease your temperature a few degrees and the AC will come on, but you may not realize the “lockout” from your thermostat will prevent that from happening. It’s usually only a 5 minute delay, but make sure your settings are set for cooling and you have the set temperature above the indoor temperature a couple degrees and then wait a little while. If “cooling” is blinking it normally means it is in the delay period. When it goes solid and you still don’t have any cooling, give us a call.
If you have a NEST thermostat, make sure it isn’t setup in an energy saving mode. These thermostats will actually shut off your AC during the hottest parts of the day to save energy. Duke/Progress energy saving devices do the same thing.
If your circuit breaker has tripped, there’s probably nothing you can do, but sometimes it’s worth a try. Locate your breaker panel and look for the breaker labeled “A/C”. It’s often one of the larger breakers — 20 to 40 amps. If the breaker is tripped, try turning it off and back on again. You will probably still need to call us, but you might get some temporary cooling in the mean time.
Air flow is very important to any central HVAC system. Bad things happen when airflow is reduced below the design specifications. On an air conditioning system, two things in particular can happen when your filters get so clogged they choke your system’s air flow: (1) Reduced refrigerant pressure– The low side pressure can be reduced which then can cause your system to freeze up. (2) Shortened blower life– The blower moves the cool air through your home. Reduced airflow creates additional blower load that will increase your power usage and reduce the life of your blower.
What does it do?
Breakers and fuses are used to prevent the unit from pulling too much power or starting a fire when there is a short or a mechanical failure. Breakers are usually resettable, but fuses are not.
Why did it fail?
Breakers will permanently fail and need replacing with frequent resetting and extreme power surges, while fuses must be replaced every time they fail.
Will it fail again?
Breakers and fuses normally last the life of the unit if no issues occur. They often will repeatedly need resetting or replacing as a unit’s life is ending.
What does it do?
Capacitors work as batteries that store up power to give a motor a boost of power when starting up. They are also used in the same way for compressors.
Why did it fail?
Just like batteries, capacitors wear down and become weak over time. They can also explode when there is a power surge.
Will it fail again?
Capacitors are designed to last about 10 years but are very fragile and can fail in a few years with high unit usage or poor maintenance.
What does it do?
The compressor is the heart of the A/C and heat pump system. It pumps Freon throughout the system, removing heat from the house in A/C mode and putting heat into the house in heat pump mode.
Why did it fail?
Compressors most commonly fail due to improper Freon charge or poor maintenance, which causes excessive pressure in the system. Compressors can also fail over time.
Will it fail again?
Compressors are designed to survive the life of the unit with proper charge and maintenance, however they are commonly known to last between 15 to 20 years.
What does it do?
Contactors are used to turn the main power on and off at the unit. The thermostat sends a low voltage current to the contactor to turn the unit on and off.
Why did it fail?
The unit is turned on by internal connectors, and during this process a small spark occurs. Over time, these sparks wear out the contactor and cause it to fail.
Will it fail again?
Contactors commonly last 5 years with normal usage and proper maintenance.
What does it do?
Evaporator coils are used to remove heat when set in A/C mode and to add heat when set in heat pump mode.
Why did it fail?
Evaporator coils most commonly fail due to Freon leaks caused by age and poor maintenance. They can also become internally clogged, which is caused by a dirty Freon system.
Will it fail again?
Evaporator normally coils last 10 to 15 years with proper maintenance and usage. Compressor failures can also shorten the life of a coil.
What does it do?
The thermostat is the main control for the unit. It senses the air in the building and turns the heat or the A/C on to keep the air at a comfortable temperature inside the building.
Why did it fail?
Thermostats commonly fail with age or from power surges. Older thermostats will need their batteries replaced regularly to keep working.
Will it fail again?
Thermostats are designed to last about 10 years before the circuitry begins to go bad.
Contact us online, text us, or call us at 919-MONSTER to request an appointment when we can come to your home and diagnose your issue. You will speak with a friendly Customer Care Rep (CCR) to find a time that works within your busy schedule.
Your professionally-trained technician will call you when they are on their way to your home, so you know exactly when they will be arriving. In addition, you will get a text message and/or email (depending on your preferences) with a recent photo of your technician, so you can see who to expect, and a link to our tracker where you can view their route as they drive to your home.
Once your technician arrives, they will examine your system, talk to you about your comfort needs and create estimates for any work that might be needed to get your system going or recommended to keep it humming reliably. We provide lots of information, and we love to answer questions!
At Comfort Monster, your tech’s performance is based on how well they take care of you — and NEVER on selling you things you don’t need.
When your system can be fixed right on the spot, we can go ahead and do that as soon as you’ve made a decision about what you want to do.
But your system is made up of many parts that are unique to that specific make and model, so we may need to order the correct part and schedule a time to come back and fix it as soon as we can get our hands on the part. In some cases we can put a temporary fix in place to keep you comfortable while waiting, and in other cases we might offer to lend you space heaters or window air conditioners (based on availability, MonsterCare members get priority for those).
Finally, we’ll ask for your feedback on how we did so we can make sure you were 100% satisfied. And if you’re not? Let us know, we’ll make things right!
Read everything you need to know about buying a new HVAC system.
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