When to Call an HVAC Contractor (and What to Check First)

Check These Three Things First

A meaningful share of service calls come down to one of these.

• Thermostat: correct mode, correct setpoint, and fresh batteries
• Filter: a clogged filter reduces airflow enough to cause freeze-ups and shutdowns
• Breaker: confirm the circuit for the air handler and the outdoor unit has not tripped

Symptoms That Need a Technician

Ice on the refrigerant lines, water pooling around the air handler, a system that starts and stops every few minutes, burning smells, or a unit running continuously without reaching setpoint all warrant a service call rather than further troubleshooting.

One Room Never Comfortable? That's Airflow

If a single room lags behind the rest of the house, the cause is usually a missing or undersized return, a leaking or crushed duct run, or a space that was added without extending the system. Replacing the equipment will not fix any of those.

This is common on third floors of city homes served by long basement duct runs.

Repair or Replace?

The decision comes down to the equipment's age, the cost of the current repair relative to a new system, and whether it has needed repeated repairs. A newer unit with a failed capacitor is a simple repair. An older system needing a major component is usually better replaced — and doing so is a good moment to correct duct problems while access is open.