Air Conditioning Service in Austin, TX

What an Austin air conditioner goes through

An Austin system does two different jobs, and most advice written for Texas only covers one of them. From late spring into October it cools against afternoons that regularly top 100 degrees, often from an air handler in an attic that is hotter still. Then for a few weeks each winter it has to heat through real freezes; the February 2021 winter storm and the February 2023 ice storm both showed how quickly a heating system that has sat unused all year gets tested. Good service keeps both sides ready.

Call any time and you will be put through to a licensed local HVAC company that serves the Austin area. They diagnose the system, quote the work before starting, and do the job; you deal with and pay them directly.

HVAC technician checking refrigerant pressures at an outdoor condenser — Most service calls start at the outdoor unit: capacitor, contactor, refrigerant pressures and the condenser coil.

What air conditioning service should cover

Job	What it involves
Diagnosis	Checking refrigerant pressures against the system's rated charge, the temperature split across the coil, the capacitor under load, and airflow at the vents.
Repair	Replacing the failed part, whether a capacitor, contactor, fan motor, drain line or control board, with a price agreed before work starts.
Maintenance	A spring check before the heat and a fall check before the first freeze. See HVAC maintenance.
Replacement	Sizing a new system to the house, not to the old unit. See AC installation.

If a quote does not say which of these you are paying for, ask. A clear quote names the part, the labor and anything else on the bill.

Before you call, check these

The thermostat is set to cool, below the room temperature, and has working batteries if it uses them.
Both breakers are on. The air handler and the outdoor condenser are usually on separate breakers, and either one can trip.
The air filter is not clogged. In cedar pollen season a filter can load up in weeks.
The condensate drain is not backed up. Many systems have a safety switch that shuts the AC off when the drain pan fills.

If there is ice on the copper lines or the outdoor fan is not spinning while the unit hums, turn the system off and call. Running it that way can damage the compressor.

Austin houses have their own quirks

Older central Austin homes

Hyde Park, Travis Heights, Clarksville, Bouldin Creek and the other older central neighborhoods are full of houses built before central air was common. Ducts were added later, into spaces never designed for them. Undersized returns, runs squeezed through closets and a back bedroom that has never been comfortable are common. A good technician checks airflow, not just the equipment.

Newer suburban homes

Much of the newer housing around the metro puts the air handler in the attic. That means the equipment and the ducts sit in extreme summer heat, a clogged drain can leak straight into a ceiling, and duct leaks pull hot attic air into the system.

Air handler and flexible ductwork in a hot attic — Attic equipment and ductwork work in the hottest part of the house. Leaks and poor insulation up here cost cooling you pay for.

Free guide: before you replace a system, read the free homeowner guide to the refrigerant change.

Austin Energy customers

If your electric bill comes from Austin Energy, replacing a system may qualify for a rebate, and there are rules about which systems qualify. Read Austin Energy HVAC rebates before you sign anything.

Services

AC repair Emergency repair Heating and furnace repair AC installation and replacement Maintenance Duct cleaning HVAC inspection Commercial HVAC South Austin Choosing a company Free refrigerant guide

Areas

South Austin Round Rock Cedar Park Pflugerville Georgetown Leander Kyle Hutto Buda Lakeway Manor Dripping Springs

Common questions

Who actually does the work?

A licensed, local HVAC company. Austin AC Service answers the phone and puts you through to that company, which diagnoses, quotes and performs the work. You deal with and pay them directly.

Does it cost anything to call?

No. There is no charge for the call or for being connected. Any service fee or repair price is set by the HVAC company, and you should hear it before work starts.

Is the line answered at night and on weekends?

Yes, around the clock. If the company you are put through to is on another job, your details are taken down and passed along for a call back.

Which areas are covered?

Austin and the surrounding area, including Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Leander, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Buda and Kyle.

Air conditioning service in Austin