AC Repair in Middle Tennessee
- Licensed and insured plumbing, HVAC and electrical techs
An air conditioner that runs but won't cool, blows warm air, or won't start at all is more than an inconvenience here. Middle Tennessee summers are hot and humid, and a closed-up house heats up fast.
We'll find out what failed, tell you whether it's a small fix or a bigger one, and give you a firm price before any work starts. HVAC repairs are done by licensed and insured techs. One call still covers the whole house.
Signs you need ac repair help
- The system runs, but the air from the vents is warm or barely cool
- The indoor fan runs while the outdoor unit sits silent, or the other way around
- Ice on the copper lines outside or on the indoor coil
- Water around the indoor unit, or a stain spreading on a ceiling below the attic unit
- The system turns on and off every few minutes (short cycling)
- The house feels damp or sticky even when the thermostat says it is cool
- Buzzing, grinding, squealing or rattling from the outdoor unit
- The breaker for the AC trips, or the system will not start at all
What we do
Diagnosis
A diagnosis starts with the simple things (the thermostat, the breaker and the filter), then moves to the electrical parts, refrigerant pressures, coils and airflow. The goal is to find the part that failed before anything is replaced.
Electrical parts and motors
Capacitors, contactors, fan motors, blower motors and control boards. These are common failures after a long run of hot days, and most are repairs, not replacements.
Refrigerant leaks
An air conditioner is a sealed system, so low refrigerant means a leak. The right repair finds and fixes the leak, then charges the system to the manufacturer's specification. Topping it off without fixing the leak only buys time.
Frozen coils and airflow problems
Clogged filters, blocked returns, a failing blower or a dirty coil can freeze a system solid. The repair fixes the cause, not just the ice.
Condensate drains
Clearing clogged drain lines, and checking the drain pan and the float switch that shuts the system off before water overflows into a ceiling or closet.
Every common system type
Central split systems, heat pumps in cooling mode, ductless mini-splits and package units, in homes and in light commercial buildings.
Repair or replace?
Most AC failures come down to one part: a capacitor, a contactor, a fan motor or a clogged drain. Those are worth fixing, and we'll tell you so.
Replacement starts to make sense when the compressor fails on an older system, when a refrigerant leak keeps coming back, or when repair bills add up summer after summer. Systems that use R-22 refrigerant, which is no longer produced in the United States, cost more to recharge each year. If you're planning a renovation or an addition, that's also a good time to size a new system to the new layout. We'll show you what we found and price both options, so you can decide on real numbers.
What it costs, and how we price it
What drives the price
- Which part failed, and whether it is on the indoor or the outdoor unit
- Whether there is a refrigerant leak to find and repair, and which refrigerant the system uses
- The age of the system and whether parts are still made for it
- How easy the equipment is to reach: an attic, a crawl space or a roof takes longer than a closet or a slab
- Whether the drain line, ductwork or electrical supply also needs work
- The diagnostic visit
- Free. We come look, find the cause and explain it.
- Your price
- Firm price given before any work starts.
- How we price
- Priced per job. Each job is priced on its own.
- Why prices stay down
- Low overhead, and the work done right the first time with current methods, equipment and quality materials, so you are not paying for callbacks.
How a visit works
Call or text
Call or text (615) 426-9344 and tell us what's going on. A photo helps. We work Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A free diagnostic visit
We come look, find the cause and explain it in plain words. The visit is free.
A firm price before any work starts
You get the price for the job before we begin, so you can decide with real numbers.
The work, done right the first time
Current methods, good equipment and quality materials. We keep overhead low and skip the callbacks, which keeps prices down.
Follow-up
If anything we worked on gives you trouble, call or text the same number.
Urgent
AC out in the heat?
- Keep people and pets cool. Check on older adults and infants first. Move to the coolest room or a cooled public place, and drink water.
- If someone in the heat becomes confused or faints, call 911.
- Check that the thermostat is set to cool and set below the room temperature.
- Check the breaker for the AC and the indoor unit. Reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off.
- Replace the air filter if it is clogged.
- Then call us at (615) 426-9344.
We work Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Outside those hours, shut off what you can, stay safe, and call or text first thing.
Why is my AC running but not cooling?
The usual causes are a clogged filter, a frozen coil, a failed capacitor or fan motor outside, or low refrigerant from a leak. Check the filter and the thermostat setting first. Then look at the outdoor unit while the system runs: if the fan is still or the unit is silent, the problem is likely an electrical part out there.
If the filter is clean, the thermostat is right and the outdoor unit is running, the cause is usually refrigerant or airflow. That needs a diagnosis, not more hours of running.
What should I do if my AC is frozen?
Turn the cooling off at the thermostat and set the fan to on, so the ice melts faster. Running a frozen system can damage the compressor, which is the most costly part to replace.
While it thaws, check the filter and make sure the return vents aren't blocked. If the system freezes again once the ice is gone and the filter is clean, the cause is usually low refrigerant or a blower problem, and it needs a repair. Put a towel under the indoor unit, since melting ice can overflow the drain pan.
Why does my house feel humid with the AC on?
An air conditioner removes moisture as well as heat, and in a Middle Tennessee summer that second job matters just as much. A system that's too large for the house cools quickly and shuts off before it dries the air. A dirty coil, low refrigerant or a fan left set to on can also leave moisture behind.
That's why a house can read 74 degrees and still feel clammy. We'll look at the system before suggesting anything, because sometimes the fix is a setting, not new equipment.
Common questions
Is the diagnostic visit really free?
Yes. We'll come look at your air conditioner for free, tell you what's wrong and give you a firm price before any work starts. You decide from there.
Who does the AC repair work?
AC repairs are done by licensed and insured techs. Root House gives you the price, and you still make one call for plumbing, HVAC and electrical.
My AC stopped working. What should I check first?
Check that the thermostat is set to cool and below the room temperature, that the breaker is on, and that the filter is not clogged. If it still will not cool, turn it off and call or text us at (615) 426-9344. We work Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Can you just add refrigerant?
Adding refrigerant without finding the leak is a short-term fix. An air conditioner doesn't use up refrigerant, so if it's low, some is escaping. We'll tell you where the leak is likely to be and what the repair costs before any work starts.
Do you repair heat pumps, mini-splits and package units?
Yes. They cool the same way a central air conditioner does and share many of the same parts. We repair all of them.
Is it worth repairing an older air conditioner?
Often it is, when the failed part is a capacitor, a contactor or a fan motor. When the compressor fails on an older system, or a leak keeps coming back, replacement usually makes more sense. We'll price both so you can compare.
How can I keep my AC from breaking down?
Change the filter regularly, keep leaves and shrubs clear of the outdoor unit, and have the system checked each spring before the hot weather starts. A spring tune-up catches weak parts and clogged drains early.
Related
- Heating and Furnace Repair
- HVAC Tune-Ups and Maintenance
- AC Installation and Replacement
- Heat Pump Repair and Installation
- Ductwork Repair, Sealing and Installation
- Smart Thermostats
HVAC
Why is my AC running but not cooling?
The usual causes are a clogged air filter, a thermostat set wrong, an outdoor unit that has stopped, a frozen indoor coil or low refrigerant. Check the thermostat, the filter and whether the outdoor unit is running, including its breaker. If they all look right and the house still won't cool, call an HVAC technician.
Work that holds.
Call or text for ac repair anywhere we serve in Middle Tennessee.