When your air conditioner breaks, chances are you want it repaired as soon as possible. After all, many times people do not realize their air conditioning has an issue until the inside of their home is already an uncomfortable temperature. Once you are able to get a technician out to your home, you might find yourself pacing around and wondering how long it will take to finish.
Depending on the issue at hand, the repair time for your air conditioning unit might vary. Some issues may have a quick fix that takes thirty minutes or less. Others can take a few hours to completely fix.
Here at Coastal Home Services, we have been servicing Eastern North Carolina for over thirteen years – you could say we are experts in repairing air conditioning units. Thanks to this, we are able to give a general consensus on how long certain repairs will take. Keep reading to find out how long the issue with your air conditioning will likely take.
Common Air Conditioning Problems
There are many common issues that can make your air conditioning stop working properly. Some of those issues include the following:
AC Running Constantly
When your air conditioner runs constantly, it can be expensive on your energy bills. Your overworked air conditioner may actually signal that there is a problem – not just that it is hot outside.
One of the more common issues causing a running air conditioner is a dirty air filter.
If your AC unit is outside, the condenser coils may be more likely to have dirt, grass clippings, and other elements clogging it. The evaporator coils are also at risk of this, but are harder to reach than condenser coils.
Sometimes the air conditioner isn’t even the problem – the thermostat is. It is important to make sure that your thermostat is working properly to ensure that your air conditioner also is.
AC Not Turning On
Sometimes, you may try to turn your air conditioning on, and find that absolutely nothing happens. This may be caused by a myriad of issues, such as a flipped emergency switch, a blown fuse, flipped circuit breaker, amongst other things. Luckily, in many cases, this is an easy fix. In fact, you are likely to be able to fix the issue yourself!
AC Blowing Hot Air
The last thing that you want when your house is already warmer than you would like is for your air conditioner to blow warm or hot air. The most common reason that your air conditioner will blow hot air is due to low freon levels. If your air conditioning has low freon levels, it will not be able to properly cool down the home. You may find that it actually warms the house even more.
It is possible to add more freon to the unit yourself, but if you feel uncomfortable, a certified technician can always help.
Frozen Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil is crucial to the function of your air conditioner’s functionality. Air passes over this coil, which contains the unit’s refrigerant. This is actually what allows the air to cool down. When the liquid refrigerant reacts with the warm air, it turns to a gas that turns the air from warm to cool.
Unfortunately, this coil may end up freezing. Factors such as a dirty air filter, clogged drainpipe, lack of airflow, or a frigid outdoor temperature can all cause the coil to freeze. If the coils do not thaw after 24 hours of the AC unit being off, you may want to call for someone to fix the issue.
Air Conditioner Repair Times
The amount of time that it takes to repair an air conditioner varies depending on the problem at hand. If the issue ends up being something as mild as a flipped emergency switch, this can take under an hour to diagnose and fix. Low refrigerant in the unit can be completed in just a couple hours.
However, other issues can take much longer. For example, a broken compressor can take most of the day for a technician to fix. If there is broken ductwork, the project can actually take a few days to tackle. This is why if your air conditioning unit starts making odd noises, you should get it checked out. Something that is originally a mild issue might end up turning into a much larger issue. Once this happens, it is much more costly and time consuming.
If your air conditioner needs to be replaced, this can take generally between four and eight hours. Keep in mind that it is recommended to replace an air conditioning unit every ten to fifteen years. If your air conditioner is on the older side and has started having issues, you may just want to replace it.
Availability of Technicians
One often overlooked factor that can influence how quickly your AC unit gets repaired is the availability of technicians. During peak summer months, when AC units are running around the clock, HVAC companies may be overwhelmed with service requests. In hotter climates, or during extreme heat waves, HVAC technicians are often in high demand, which can lead to delays in service appointments. If your AC breaks down during a busy period, it might take a few days before a technician can even assess the issue.
On the flip side, during cooler months, HVAC companies tend to be less busy. If your AC needs repair during this time, you may experience faster service. Scheduling regular maintenance during off-peak times is also a good way to avoid waiting for repairs during the busy season.
Parts Availability
In some cases, AC repairs may be delayed because of parts availability. While routine issues like refrigerant recharges or thermostat malfunctions are relatively easy to fix with parts readily on hand, more complex repairs—such as those involving the compressor or condenser—might require special-order parts.
If your AC unit is older or uses less common components, it could take longer to source the right parts. In such cases, repair times could stretch from a few hours to several days, depending on how quickly parts can be shipped or procured.
Complexity of the Diagnosis
Some AC problems are easy to diagnose and fix, while others are more complex and require in-depth troubleshooting. If your air conditioner isn’t cooling as it should, the issue could stem from various components, such as the blower motor, condenser, or refrigerant levels. In cases where the problem isn’t immediately apparent, the technician may need to spend additional time performing a full diagnostic test to isolate the issue.
Moreover, complex problems involving electrical systems or intricate mechanical failures might require more time to identify and resolve, adding to the total repair time.
Preventative Maintenance vs. Emergency Repairs
If your air conditioning unit has been well-maintained with regular check-ups, repair times are likely to be shorter. Preventative maintenance ensures that minor issues, such as worn-out parts or small refrigerant leaks, are caught early before they lead to major breakdowns.
Emergency repairs, on the other hand, tend to take longer because they often involve more significant issues that have gone unnoticed for some time. A lack of routine maintenance can lead to unexpected system failures, such as a burnt-out compressor or frozen evaporator coils, which may require extended repair times or even replacement of parts.
Impact of Weather Conditions
Weather can also play a surprising role in how long it takes to repair an AC unit. In extreme weather conditions, such as during a heatwave, technicians may have to work in less-than-ideal conditions, slowing down their ability to repair your unit efficiently. Additionally, if the outdoor unit is exposed to the elements—rain, high winds, or extreme heat—it could complicate the repair process.
In some cases, severe weather might even prevent technicians from reaching your home if road conditions are hazardous. Though this is rare, it’s worth considering the impact of local weather on repair times, especially during unpredictable or extreme weather patterns.
Contact Coastal Home Services Today!
Are you located near the Morehead City, North Carolina area? Do you have an issue with your air conditioning unit that you are looking to get solved as soon as possible? Don’t allow yourself and your family to struggle with an uncomfortably warm home any longer – contact us at Coastal Home Services today! We will send a certified technician to your home as soon as possible to get started on fixing the problem. Our technicians will let you know about how long they think the issue will take to repair in order to give you some peace of mind – after all, we don’t want you to be nervous!
Contact us by filling out the form below and someone will be in touch with you shortly. Alternatively, you are welcome to give us a call!
