Cooling has stopped
AC Repair in Ocala, FL
The house is warming up, the air from the vents isn't cold and the outdoor unit is silent or humming. Call and you are connected with an independent AC contractor that serves Ocala.
Speak with a local AC contractor
Call (352) 758-5011Connects you with an independent heating and cooling contractor. Calls may be recorded. How referrals work.
Why an Ocala AC quits in the middle of summer
Central Florida summers ask a lot of an air conditioner. Long stretches in the 90s, warm nights and heavy humidity mean the system may run for most of the day, and every weak part is under load at the same time.
A short list of faults covers many summer breakdowns: a failed run capacitor or contactor, an outdoor fan motor that has stopped, a frozen indoor coil, a clogged condensate drain that has tripped the safety switch, or low refrigerant from a leak. Summer storms add another: power surges and lightning nearby can damage control boards and electrical parts.
A careful technician tests before swapping parts, tells you what failed and why, and says whether the age of the system makes replacement worth pricing as well.
Before you call
Five minutes of checks
- Thermostat set to Cool and below the room temperature, with fresh batteries if it takes them.
- Breakers for the indoor air handler and the outdoor unit. Reset a tripped breaker once. If it trips again, leave it off and call.
- The outdoor disconnect switch beside the unit is on, and nothing (shrubs, a cover, storm debris) is blocking it.
- The air filter. A clogged filter can starve the coil of air and freeze it.
- Ice on the copper lines or indoor coil: switch cooling off and run the fan only so it can thaw before anyone looks at it.
- If the house is getting dangerously hot, move children, older relatives and pets somewhere cool now. Don't wait for the repair.
What a repair visit should cover
So you know what to expect from the contractor and what to ask.
Testing first
Power, controls, capacitors, motors and refrigerant pressures and temperatures, so the fault is found rather than guessed.
Electrical parts
Capacitors and contactors fail often in summer heat. They are quick to test and usually quick to replace.
Fan and blower motors
The outdoor fan moves heat out; the indoor blower moves cooled air through the house. Either one stopping ends the cooling.
Frozen coils
Ice points to poor airflow or low refrigerant. Thawing it doesn't fix anything until the cause is found.
Refrigerant
If it is low, there is a leak. Topping up without looking for the leak only buys time.
A clear answer
What failed, what it costs to fix, and whether a second opinion on replacement makes sense for an older system.
Planning figures
AC Repair: typical planning ranges
Read this first. These are typical planning ranges for common jobs, not quotes, local averages or price guarantees. The contractor prices your job after seeing the system: tonnage, efficiency, refrigerant type, access and what else turns up all move the figure.
| Job | Typical planning range | Moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Run capacitor | $150 to $400 | Part size, whether it is a dual capacitor |
| Contactor | $150 to $350 | Unit type, other wiring damage |
| Outdoor fan motor | $350 to $800 | Motor type, access |
| Indoor blower motor | $450 to $1,500 | Standard or variable-speed (ECM) motor |
| Leak search and repair | $300 to $1,600 | Where the leak is, refrigerant type and amount |
| Compressor replacement | $1,800 to $3,800 | Warranty coverage, system size, age of the rest of the system |
How it works
From your call to a contractor
AC Repair Ocala doesn't do heating and cooling work. When you call, you are connected with an independent local heating and cooling contractor that serves your address. That company looks at the system, gives you its price and does the work.
- 1
You call
Say what the system is doing and where the house is. A minute or two is enough.
- 2
You're connected
The call goes to an independent heating and cooling contractor that serves your address.
- 3
They diagnose and price
The contractor looks at the system, explains the problem and gives you a price. You decide whether to go ahead.
AC Repair: common questions
My AC runs all afternoon and the house is still warm. Is it broken?
Not necessarily. On very hot, humid afternoons many systems run nonstop and the house drifts a couple of degrees above the setting. If it keeps getting warmer into the evening, the air from the vents isn't cool, or it never shuts off at night, have it checked.
Why does my outdoor unit hum but the fan doesn't spin?
That often points to a failed capacitor or a stuck fan motor. Switch the system off at the thermostat so the compressor isn't straining, and have it tested.
Can a storm damage my air conditioner?
Yes. Power surges and nearby lightning can damage capacitors, contactors and control boards, and flooding or wind-blown debris can damage the outdoor unit. If the AC stopped right after a storm, say so when you call.
Does it cost anything to call?
No. The call and the connection are free to you. The contractor you are connected with may pay us for the referral. Whatever you agree with them for the work is between you and that company.
Related
Other help for your system
- AC Leaking WaterClogged condensate drains, full pans, tripped safety switches and water under the air handler.
- AC MaintenanceA seasonal check: coils, drain line, electrical parts, refrigerant and airflow.
- AC Installation & ReplacementReplacing a worn-out system or adding central air: sizing, equipment choice and installation.
AC not keeping up?
Talk to a local AC contractor
When you call, say what the system is doing and where the house is. You are connected with an independent heating and cooling contractor that works in your part of Marion County.