Most AC breakdowns in Seattle start with a small part: the run capacitor. It helps start the compressor and condenser fan, loses strength slowly over the years, and tends to give out on the hottest afternoon, which is why so many service calls begin with an outdoor unit that hums while the fan sits motionless. Other frequent culprits include contactors with pitted, burned points, fan motors whose bearings have run dry, slow refrigerant leaks that steadily rob capacity, and evaporator coils that freeze solid once a dirty filter chokes the airflow.
Heating trouble instead? See Furnace Repair.
Warning Signs for AC Repair
The sooner you notice these red flags, the easier and cheaper the fix. Keep an eye out for the following clues:
- Cooling bills climbing while the house stays sticky and warm
- Water dripping from the indoor unit or showing up on the ceiling below
- Breaker trips or a burning odor at startup
- Room-temperature air from the registers even though the AC is running
- Clicking or humming outside with no fan movement
- A hiss or gurgle from the lines, a common sign of leaking refrigerant
- Ice on the refrigerant lines or a frozen indoor coil
- Rapid on-off cycling that never brings the temperature down
Act Before It Gets Worse
What seems like a minor issue today can take out a compressor or heat exchanger tomorrow. Call (425) 969-3321 at the first sign of trouble.
