What to Do When Your AC Stops Working in Summer
When your AC quits during a North Carolina heat wave, every hour matters. Here is exactly what to do and what to expect from the repair process.
Immediate Steps When Your AC Fails
Before calling for service, check these three things: the thermostat settings (make sure it is in COOL mode and set below room temperature), the air filter (a completely clogged filter can cause a system shutdown), and the circuit breaker (both the indoor and outdoor units have their own breakers).
If the outdoor unit is running but the indoor unit is not blowing air, the blower motor or its capacitor may have failed. If neither unit is running, it could be a tripped breaker, a blown fuse in the disconnect box near the outdoor unit, or a failed thermostat.
Do not repeatedly flip breakers or restart the system. If a breaker trips again after you reset it, leave it off and call a professional. Repeated cycling can cause additional damage to the compressor or electrical components.
How to Keep Your Home Cool While Waiting for Repair
Close all blinds and curtains, especially on south- and west-facing windows. In a typical Piedmont home, solar heat gain through windows can add thousands of BTUs per hour to your cooling load.
Set ceiling fans to counterclockwise (looking up at them) and run them in occupied rooms only. Fans do not cool the air, but they create a wind-chill effect that makes it feel 4 to 6 degrees cooler on your skin.
Avoid using the oven, dryer, or dishwasher until the AC is repaired. These appliances generate significant heat and humidity. Use the microwave or grill outside for meals. Take shorter, cooler showers to reduce humidity.
If temperatures in your home exceed 85 degrees and you have elderly family members, young children, or pets, consider relocating to an air-conditioned location until repairs are complete. Heat-related illness is a real concern during Piedmont summers.
What to Expect from Same-Day AC Repair
During peak summer, HVAC companies across the Piedmont experience a surge in emergency calls. Call early in the day for the best chance at same-day service. When you call, have your system's make, model, and the symptoms ready. This helps dispatch prioritize and ensure the technician arrives with the right tools and common parts.
Common same-day repairs include capacitor replacement, contactor replacement, blown fuses, and refrigerant recharging. These parts are typically stocked on service trucks. Compressor replacement, coil replacement, or motherboard issues may require ordering parts.
Davidson Heating and Air prioritizes emergency calls and offers same-day service whenever schedules allow. Maintenance plan members receive priority scheduling, which can make the difference between a same-day visit and a next-day appointment during the busiest weeks.
Preventing Emergency Breakdowns
Most mid-summer AC failures are not sudden. They are the result of gradual wear on components that were already stressed. A professional tune-up in spring catches weak capacitors, low refrigerant, dirty coils, and electrical issues before they cause a complete failure during the worst possible week.
The components that fail most often during heat waves are capacitors (which degrade faster in high temperatures), contactors (which wear from constant cycling), and fan motors (which overheat when coils are dirty). All of these are checked during a standard tune-up.
Related Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get same-day AC repair during a heat wave?
Davidson Heating and Air offers same-day service whenever possible, even during peak demand. Call early in the day for the best availability. Maintenance plan members receive priority scheduling.
How much does emergency AC repair cost?
Emergency repair costs depend on the failed component. Common repairs like capacitor or contactor replacement typically cost less than major repairs like compressor or coil replacement. A diagnostic visit identifies the issue and provides an exact cost before any work begins.
Talk to a Technician
Call Davidson Heating & Air at 336-357-5583. Serving homes and businesses since 1984.