Before you call
Thermostat, breakers, filter — in that order.
Each takes under a minute. Make sure the thermostat is set to the right mode and a sensible temperature, that the breakers for both the outdoor unit and the indoor unit have not tripped, and that the filter is not visibly clogged. If all three are fine, call. If a breaker trips again after one reset, stop resetting it — that is the system telling you something is wrong.
Repairs
Sometimes — but it is not the first thing to assume.
A dusty outdoor coil, a failed fan motor, a weak capacitor, a clogged filter or an iced indoor coil all look identical from inside the house. And refrigerant does not get used up: if it is low, there is a leak somewhere, and topping it up without finding the leak just books the next call for you.
Replacing a system
We give you both numbers and say which we would choose.
It depends on what failed, the condition of everything else in the system, and what the repair costs against what the system has left in it. If the repair is the sensible choice — and it often is — that is what we recommend, in writing.
Hard freezes
It keeps working, but harder — and leans on backup heat.
It will go into defrost more often, which can look like steam rising off the outdoor unit; that is normal. In the coldest hours it relies more on its backup heat. If the outdoor unit is encased in ice, or the house is steadily losing temperature, call.
Hail, wind & dust
That is a question for your insurer. We document the damage.
We inspect the unit, photograph it, describe the damage in writing and tell you what it needs to work properly again. What your policy covers is between you and your insurance company, and we do not give advice about claims.
Commercial buildings
Yes — shops, offices, restaurants, churches and small industrial.
Rooftop units, split systems and planned maintenance, scheduled around your opening hours. A commercial customer gets the same thing a homeowner does: answers first, then a written price.
Prices & paperwork
Always, in writing, before anything billable.
The diagnostic comes first, then a written price, then your decision. We do not publish prices on this website because they depend on the equipment and the job — a number printed here would be wrong for most people reading it.
What we won't do
Yes, and we would rather say so up front.
We will not advise on insurance claims, recommend replacing a system that has good years left, or quote a job over the phone without seeing it. We do not do roofing, electrical service upgrades or plumbing — though we will tell you when you need one of those trades.