Get Your Raleigh Home Cool Again
When your air conditioner stops working in the middle of a hot North Carolina summer, you need fast, reliable repair service you can count on. Dawson's Electric & Air has been fixing air conditioners around Raleigh since 2005, and we understand how uncomfortable and frustrating it is when your AC breaks down. Whether your system won't turn on, isn't cooling properly, or is making strange noises, we diagnose the problem quickly and get your AC running again.
If your AC isn't working right, give us a call at 919-887-8284 or reach out online.
What Are The Most Common AC Problems We Repair?
Air conditioners can fail in many different ways, but some problems come up more often than others. Here's what we see most frequently:
- Refrigerant Leaks: When refrigerant leaks out of your system, your AC can't remove heat effectively, which means poor cooling performance and higher energy bills. Refrigerant leaks also damage the compressor over time, turning a moderately expensive repair into a very expensive one if not addressed promptly.
- Frozen Evaporator Coils: When the indoor coil freezes over with ice, your AC stops cooling and may leak water. This happens due to restricted airflow from dirty filters, blocked return vents, low refrigerant levels, or blower motor problems. If you see ice on your AC, turn it off immediately to prevent compressor damage.
- Capacitor Failures: Capacitors give your AC motors the electrical boost they need to start and keep running. When capacitors fail, your AC won't turn on, the outdoor fan won't spin, or the compressor won't start. Capacitor failure is extremely common, especially in hot weather when systems work hardest.
- Compressor Problems: The compressor is the heart of your AC system, and when it fails, your AC won't cool at all. Compressor issues are often caused by electrical problems, refrigerant issues, or a lack of maintenance. Unfortunately, compressor replacement is one of the most expensive AC repairs.
- Thermostat Malfunctions: Sometimes the AC itself is fine, but the thermostat isn't communicating properly with the system. Dead batteries, incorrect settings, poor calibration, or wiring problems can all cause thermostat issues that prevent your AC from cooling properly.
Why Is My AC Running But Not Cooling My House?
This is one of the most frustrating AC problems because everything seems to be working, but you're still hot and uncomfortable. Here's what causes this issue:
- Dirty Air Filters Restrict Airflow: When filters get clogged with dust and debris, your system can't pull enough air across the evaporator coil to cool your home effectively. The AC runs constantly, trying to reach your desired temperature, but never quite gets there. Checking and changing your filter is the first thing to try.
- Low Refrigerant Means Poor Cooling: If your system is low on refrigerant due to a leak, it simply can't absorb and remove enough heat from your home. The AC will run and blow air, but that air won't be cold enough. Refrigerant doesn't just "run out" like gas in a car, so low levels always indicate a leak that needs repair.
- Dirty Coils Can't Transfer Heat: Both the indoor evaporator coil and outdoor condenser coil need to be clean to transfer heat effectively. When these coils get covered in dirt and grime, they can't do their job, which reduces cooling capacity and makes your AC work much harder than it should.
- Wrong System Size For Your Home: If your AC is undersized for your home's cooling needs, it'll run constantly during hot weather but never quite cool the house adequately. Oversized systems have different problems, short-cycling on and off without properly dehumidifying. Proper sizing is critical for good performance.
- Ductwork Problems Lose Cool Air: Leaky, disconnected, or poorly insulated ducts can lose a significant amount of cool air before it reaches your living spaces. If your ducts run through a hot attic or crawlspace, this problem gets even worse. Duct sealing and insulation can dramatically improve cooling performance.
Is your AC working hard but hardly working? We can help! Give us a call at 919-887-8284 today!
AC Repair FAQs
Refrigerant leaks are usually caused by normal wear and tear, aging components, or damaged parts in your AC system. Unfortunately, there’s no reliable way for a homeowner to detect a leak on their own.
Our fully qualified technicians can perform a professional leak search to locate the source and fix it safely, ensuring your system runs efficiently and reliably.
Uneven heating or cooling can happen for a few reasons, including:
- Poor duct design
- Leaking or disconnected ductwork
- Dampers are not operating properly
Our fully qualified technicians can inspect your HVAC system and ductwork to identify the cause and make sure your home stays comfortable in every room.
Freezing in your AC unit or coils is usually caused by low refrigerant levels or improper airflow. Our fully qualified technicians can inspect your system, identify the cause, and make the necessary repairs to get your air conditioner running efficiently again, preventing further damage and keeping your home comfortable.
How Do I Know If My AC Needs Repair Or Replacement?
Deciding between repair and replacement can be difficult, but a few key factors make the decision clearer. Here's what to consider:
- Age Of Your System Matters Most: If your AC is less than 10 years old, repair usually makes sense unless you're facing a major component failure like the compressor. Systems over 15 years old that need significant repairs are typically better candidates for replacement since they're near the end of their expected lifespan anyway.
- Cost Of Repair Versus Replacement: A useful rule of thumb is to multiply the repair cost by your system's age in years. If that number exceeds the cost of a new system, replacement is probably the smarter investment. For example, a $500 repair on a 15-year-old system equals $7,500, which exceeds replacement cost.
- Frequency Of Repairs Adds Up: If you're calling for repairs multiple times per cooling season, those costs add up quickly and indicate your system is declining. At some point, you're just throwing good money after bad, trying to keep an old system limping along.
- Energy Bills Keep Rising: Older, failing AC systems lose efficiency and use more electricity to provide the same cooling. If your summer energy bills have been climbing even though your usage hasn't changed, your AC is working harder and costing you more to operate every month.
- R-22 Refrigerant Is Obsolete: If your older AC uses R-22 refrigerant (Freon), which was phased out in 2020, recharging it can be extremely expensive due to limited supply. Systems that need significant refrigerant added are usually better replaced with modern systems using newer, more environmentally friendly refrigerants.
We can help you decide if it makes more sense to repair or replace your unit. Give us a call at 919-887-8284 !
What Should I Do If My AC Stops Working Completely?
When your AC won't turn on at all, don't panic—there are a few things you can check yourself before calling for service. Here's what to do:
- Check Your Thermostat First: Make sure your thermostat is set to "cool" mode and the temperature is set lower than the current room temperature. Replace batteries if it's battery-powered, and make sure the display is working. Sometimes the simplest solution is the right one.
- Look At Your Circuit Breakers: AC systems have two breakers, one for the indoor unit and one for the outdoor unit. Check your electrical panel to see if either breaker has tripped. If a breaker has tripped, you can try resetting it once, but if it trips again immediately, don't keep resetting it—that indicates an electrical problem that needs professional repair.
- Make Sure The Outdoor Disconnect Is On: The outdoor AC unit has a disconnect box near it that lets you shut off power for service. Make sure this disconnect switch hasn't been accidentally turned off or pulled out. This happens more often than you'd think, especially after lawn service or other outdoor work.
- Check For Visible Problems Outside: Take a look at your outdoor unit. Is the fan spinning? Do you hear the compressor running (a humming or buzzing sound)? Is there ice on the refrigerant lines? These observations help technicians diagnose problems faster when they arrive.
- Don't Wait Too Long To Call: If simple checks don't solve the problem, call for professional service rather than letting your home get unbearably hot. The longer you wait, the more uncomfortable you'll be, and some problems can actually get worse if the system keeps trying to run while something is wrong.
Get Your Misbehaving AC Back Online
When your air conditioner breaks down, Dawson's Electric & Air responds quickly to get your cooling back on track. We've earned our reputation around Raleigh for fast, honest AC repairs that solve the problem right the first time. Our technicians arrive with fully stocked trucks, diagnose issues efficiently, and explain your options clearly so you can make informed decisions about your comfort. Ready to get your AC fixed? Call us at 919-887-8284 or reach out online to schedule your repair.
