AC Repair Questions, Answered
If your question is not here, call and ask. I would rather answer it on the phone than have you guess.
Common questions
Do you charge for the diagnosis?
There is a diagnostic fee for the visit, and I tell you the number before I drive out. If you go ahead with the repair, it comes off the bill. What I will not do is quote a repair over the phone without seeing the unit.
Can you come out today?
Usually, yes, if you call in the morning. Same-day is normal outside of a heat wave. During a July heat spike everyone in Santa Clara County is booked, so call early.
How do I know whether to repair or replace?
Two numbers decide it. If the repair is under thirty percent of a replacement, repair it. Over half, and the unit is past twelve years, replace it. Anything in between, I will walk you through the math on your specific unit.
My AC is blowing warm air. Is that expensive?
Usually not. Most warm-air calls turn out to be a clogged filter that froze the coil, or a failed capacitor. Both are at the cheap end. Low refrigerant means a leak, and that one gets more expensive.
Do you work on mini-splits?
Yes. Common on San Jose ADUs, garage conversions, and additions. Tell me the brand when you call. Off-brand units bought online can have parts availability problems and I will be straight with you about that upfront.
Is a permit required for AC work in San Jose?
Not for a repair. Replacing the equipment does require a permit from the City of San Jose, and we pull it. Anyone offering to skip the permit is creating a problem for you when you sell the house.
What areas do you cover?
San Jose is home base. We also cover Campbell, Santa Clara, Milpitas, and Cupertino.
What does it cost to get someone out?
Every price range on this site is on the pricing page, in full, with no asterisk. If your repair is not on that list, ask on the phone and I will give you the range before scheduling.
Still not sure?
Call and describe the symptom. No charge for the conversation.
Call (408) 555-0134