Cooling · Chicago, IL
AC Repair in Chicago, IL
Running but not cooling, frozen lines, tripping breakers, or a unit that won't start at all — we diagnose it properly and quote before we fix.
What AC repair actually involves
An AC that runs without cooling is almost always one of four things: a refrigerant leak, an airflow restriction that's frozen the evaporator coil, a failed capacitor or contactor, or a compressor that's given up. Those range from a same-visit part swap to a replacement conversation, and telling them apart takes gauges and a meter, not a look at the outdoor unit. We check the charge against the outdoor temperature, measure the temperature split across the coil, and check static pressure before recommending anything.
Chicago's bungalow belt is its own HVAC discipline. A classic 1920s brick bungalow has a finished or semi-finished attic, a low-headroom basement, gravity-converted ductwork with oversized trunks and undersized branches, and almost no wall insulation. The attic bedroom is always the hottest room in the house in July and the coldest in January, and no amount of new equipment fixes it without addressing the duct and the envelope.
What that means for AC repair here: Bungalow-belt gravity conversions, attic bedrooms, and homes with radiator heat and no ducts at all.
If the indoor coil or line set is iced over, switch the system to FAN ONLY and let it thaw before we arrive. Running it frozen risks the compressor.
Signs you need AC repair
- The system runs continuously but the house won't reach the set temperature
- Ice on the refrigerant line or the indoor coil
- Warm air from the vents while the outdoor unit is running
- The outdoor fan spins but the compressor doesn't start, or hums and trips
- Water pooling near the indoor unit
- A sharp rise in the electric bill during cooling season
Repair or replace?
We price both and show you where the break-even falls. The general test we apply: if the repair costs more than about a third of a replacement and the equipment is past its expected midlife, the replacement is usually the better spend. Under that, fix it and keep the money. Safety faults — a cracked heat exchanger, a compromised flue — override the arithmetic entirely.
You’ll get the numbers for both paths in writing so it’s a decision rather than a recommendation you have to take on faith.
How the visit goes
Book
Describe the symptoms and give us the Chicago address. We’ll confirm a window.
Diagnose
We test, find the cause, and explain the options with prices attached.
Get comfortable
You approve the work. We do it, then show you what changed.
Questions
AC Repair FAQs
Most often low refrigerant from a leak, or a frozen evaporator coil caused by restricted airflow. Both present the same way at the vent. A dirty filter is the cheapest thing to rule out first, and worth checking before you call anyone.
Refrigerant isn't consumed — a system low on charge has a leak. Adding refrigerant without finding the leak means paying for it again next season, and R-410A isn't cheap. We locate the leak first.
It depends entirely on the fault, which is why we diagnose before quoting. A capacitor is a modest repair; a compressor replacement on an older system usually pushes the conversation toward replacement. You'll see the number before we start.
Airflow or charge. A clogged filter, blocked return, failing blower, or low refrigerant all drop coil temperature below freezing. Fixing the ice without fixing the cause just delays it.
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