What to Do When YourAC Stops Working

When your cooling system stops working during a hot afternoon, the house gets hot. Las Vegas summers demand constant cooling, and air conditioners run for months at a time. The local climate places an immense load on residential cooling equipment, making breakdowns a serious concern for any homeowner.

According to the National Weather Service, the Las Vegas valley experiences extreme heat. The average high in July is 104.5 degrees. Throughout the year, about 78 days reach 100 degrees, and about nine days reach 110 degrees. The all-time record high of 120 degrees was set on July 7, 2024. With outdoor units sitting in direct sun and monsoon dust, the machinery is constantly tested. About 47 nights a year stay at 80 degrees or warmer, meaning the equipment rarely gets a break.

The First Things to Check

Before you call a technician, there are a few simple items you can verify. ENERGY STAR advises homeowners to check the filter every month and change it at least every three months. A clogged air filter restricts airflow to the indoor unit, which can cause the system to freeze up or shut down completely.

You should also check the thermostat. Ensure that it is set to the cooling cycle and that the temperature is set lower than the current room temperature. Sometimes, a thermostat can revert to a different setting or lose power. While we do not recommend attempting any electrical repairs yourself, verifying these basic settings can save you time.

Understanding Common Failures

When a system stops, the issue often stems from components that work the hardest. The capacitor and contactor handle high electrical loads every time the system starts. These parts can fail after years of heavy use. The condensate drain line can also become clogged, causing water to back up. Water leaking from an indoor unit is one of the problems our technicians go out for on evenings, nights, weekends and holidays, so call us.

Indoor units in many valley homes sit in the attic, a garage or a hall closet. If the refrigerant pressures and temperatures are incorrect, the system will fail to remove heat. Anyone who maintains, services or repairs equipment containing refrigerant is required to hold EPA Section 608 certification.

The Value of Regular Maintenance

A spring tune-up checks the parts that work hardest before the hottest weeks. ENERGY STAR recommends that cooling equipment be checked in the spring. During a spring cooling tune-up, a technician will perform several tasks:

• Check refrigerant pressures and temperatures.
• Rinse the outdoor coil and clear the condensate drain line.
• Check and tighten electrical connections.
• Test the capacitor, contactor, blower and airflow.

The technician will also test the thermostat cooling cycle and provide a written report of anything worth watching. The written report notes anything worth watching. We check the filter during this visit and replace it if the homeowner has one on hand.

What Happens During a Service Call

If your system fails completely, our emergency service is available for situations involving no cooling in the summer, no heat in the winter, and water leaking from an indoor unit. A real person answers the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and technicians go out evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. Scheduled visits come in an arrival window, Monday to Saturday, with a call 30 minutes before the technician arrives.

When a technician arrives, they wear shoe covers and use drop cloths to protect your home. They focus on finding the cause first. They will show you what failed and give a written price with repair and replacement options before any work begins. Flat-rate pricing means the price is agreed upon before work starts and does not change once approved. We never bill by the hour, and the work area is cleaned before the technician leaves.

Carrier and ENERGY STAR note that central air conditioners commonly last about 15 to 20 years. ENERGY STAR suggests considering replacement of an air conditioner older than 10 years, but we never recommend replacement on age alone. When both repair and replacement are reasonable, you see both. For homeowners seeking ongoing maintenance, the Kestrel Comfort Club provides two tune-ups a year and priority scheduling for AC repair visits. We provide a one-year workmanship guarantee on repairs and a satisfaction guarantee on every job.