What does the diagnostic visit cost?
You get the diagnostic fee quoted on the phone before anyone is dispatched, and the full repair price after diagnosis, before any work starts. No open-ended hourly billing, and no surprise add-ons when the truck arrives.
How long does an AC repair usually take?
Most repairs take one to three hours once the problem is identified. Capacitors and contactors are often done within the hour; refrigerant leak repairs and motor replacements run longer. Repairs needing an ordered part get a firm return timeline.
Why does my AC freeze up every summer?
A coil that ices over has an airflow or refrigerant problem underneath - a clogged filter, a weak blower, or a slow leak. Letting it thaw and restarting treats the symptom, not the cause, and each freeze-up strains the compressor. Have the underlying fault found once and the annual ice show stops.
Why is there water around my indoor unit?
Your system pulls gallons of water out of Richmond’s humid air every day, and it all leaves through one small drain line. When that line clogs - algae loves Virginia summers - the pan overflows. It is one of the most common and most preventable service calls in the metro.
Why is my upstairs so much hotter than downstairs?
Partly physics - heat rises and the second floor gains heat through the roof - and partly the system: duct balance, a blower losing strength, or a unit losing capacity. A few degrees of difference is normal in a Richmond July. Ten degrees is a service call.
Do I need a permit for AC repair in Virginia?
Routine repairs - capacitors, motors, sensors, drain clearing - do not need a permit. Replacing equipment or major refrigerant-circuit work generally requires a mechanical permit from your locality and must be done by a licensed contractor. Refrigerant handling itself requires EPA certification regardless.
Can I just top off the refrigerant every year instead of fixing the leak?
You can, and it is a bad deal. Refrigerant does not get used up - if the system is low, it is leaking, and you are renting expensive refrigerant by the season while the leak grows. Finding and repairing the leak almost always wins within a year or two, and leaking refrigerant is bad practice besides.
Are ductless mini-splits worth repairing?
Usually, yes. Mini-splits are common in Richmond’s older homes - The Fan, Church Hill, Museum District - where ductwork never existed, and quality units run long lives. Sensor, board, and fan repairs are routine; a failed compressor on an older single-zone unit is where replacement math takes over.
What should I check before calling for service?
Three things, in order: the air filter (a clogged one causes half the drama in this trade), the breaker panel (reset a tripped breaker once - if it trips again, stop and call), and the thermostat batteries. Five minutes of checking occasionally saves you a service visit, and we would rather you check.
What thermostat setting makes sense in a Richmond summer?
Most homes balance comfort and cost around 75 to 78 degrees while occupied. The bigger Richmond-specific point is humidity: a correctly running system dehumidifies as it cools, which is why 76 degrees feels fine in a healthy house and clammy in one with a struggling system. If you keep lowering the setpoint chasing comfort, the system - not the thermostat - is the problem.