Cooling · Air conditioners
AC repair and replacement, sized right for Ohio humidity
When the house hits 80°F and climbing, you want someone who shows up, finds the problem and fixes it. Most AC repairs are done on the first visit, from parts already on our truck.
Signs your air conditioner needs help
- Warm air from the vents, or the outdoor unit isn't running while the indoor fan is.
- The house is cool but clammy. That's a humidity problem, often from an oversized system or a dirty coil.
- Ice on the copper lines or the indoor coil. Usually low airflow (a clogged filter) or low refrigerant.
- Water around the furnace in summer. The condensate drain is clogged.
- It runs all day and never reaches the thermostat setting on a normal summer day.
- Buzzing, clicking or grinding from the outdoor unit.
- It's 12 to 15 years old, or it uses an old refrigerant that's been phased out and is now very expensive to recharge.
What we do on the visit
- Check the basics. Thermostat, filter, breakers, the outdoor disconnect and the condensate drain. More calls than you'd think end here.
- Test the system. Capacitors and contactor, motors, refrigerant pressures, temperature split across the coil, and airflow.
- Quote it. Written price before work begins; the $89 service call is applied to the repair. If the unit is older and the repair is big, you get both numbers side by side.
- Fix and confirm. We stay until the system is cooling and the numbers look right, then rinse off the outdoor coil if it needs it.
Options and posted prices
| Service | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic / service call | $89, applied to the repair | Every repair visit |
| AC tune-up | $129 | Coil cleaning, electrical checks, refrigerant check, drain flush, written report |
| Comfort Club | $199/year | AC and furnace tune-ups, 15% off repairs, no after-hours fees, priority |
| Central AC replacement | from $5,900 | Outdoor unit, matched indoor coil, line set check, pad, permit, haul-away |
| Heat pump instead of AC | from $8,500 | Cools like an AC and adds efficient heat. See heat pumps. |
Replacement prices vary with size, efficiency rating, single-stage or variable-speed, and any electrical or line set work. We install all major AC brands. New systems carry the K&D Promise: 10 years parts and 2 years labor. Financing is available, as low as $79/month with approved credit and 0% for 18 months on systems over $5,000. Ask about current utility rebates on high-efficiency systems.
Why bigger isn't better
We hear it every summer: "Just put in a bigger unit so it cools faster." In Ohio humidity, that backfires. A unit that's too big cools the air and shuts off before it removes the moisture, so the house feels damp, the unit cycles on and off constantly, and it wears out sooner. A properly sized system, especially a two-stage or variable-speed one, runs longer at lower speed, which is exactly what pulls the stickiness out of the air.
How long it takes
A tune-up takes about an hour. Most repairs are an hour or two. A straight AC replacement is usually done in one day; a new furnace and AC together takes one to two days. During heat waves, we prioritize homes with infants, older adults or anyone with a medical condition. Tell us when you call.
What you can do right now
AC not cooling? Check that the thermostat is on "Cool" and set below room temperature, and replace its batteries. Replace a dirty filter. Check the AC breaker in the panel and the disconnect switch in the box on the wall by the outdoor unit. If a breaker tripped, you can reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off and call us; something's wrong. If the lines or coil are iced: turn the system to "Off" and the fan to "On" for a couple of hours to melt the ice before we arrive. Don't chip at it. Water around the furnace? Turn the AC off at the thermostat and mop up; a clogged condensate drain is usually a quick fix.
Hot house, no AC? Call 614-555-0187, day or night.
Air conditioner questions
Do I need to replace my furnace when I replace my AC?
Not necessarily. If your furnace is under about 12 years old and in good shape, we'll match the new AC coil to it. If both are old, replacing them together saves labor and gives you a matched system.
How often should my AC be serviced?
Once a year, ideally in spring before the first heat wave. Comfort Club members get that visit included.
Can you just add refrigerant?
We can, but refrigerant doesn't get used up. If it's low, there's a leak. We'll find it and give you options for repairing it, so you're not paying for a recharge every summer.
What temperature should I set my thermostat?
Most families are comfortable around 74 to 76°F with good humidity control. Every degree warmer saves a little on your electric bill.