AC Repair
When the AC quits during an inland heat wave, the question is not which brand we prefer — it is what failed and what it costs to fix. Every visit starts with a flat $85 diagnostic and a price you approve before any work begins.
What we get called for
- AC runs but the air is not cold
- Unit blows cold, then warm, then cold again
- Outdoor unit hums but the fan will not spin
- Ice on the refrigerant line or the indoor coil
- Breaker trips every time the system starts
- Water pooling around the indoor air handler
- Loud grinding, screeching, or buzzing on startup
- System runs constantly and never reaches the thermostat setting
What the diagnostic actually covers
The $85 is a real diagnostic, not a dispatch fee that buys you a guess. We check refrigerant charge against the manufacturer's target superheat and subcooling, test the capacitor and contactor under load, verify airflow across the coil, and read static pressure in the duct system.
That last one gets skipped constantly and it matters. Roughly half the "low refrigerant" calls we see are actually airflow problems — a clogged filter, a collapsed flex duct, or an undersized return starving the coil. Adding refrigerant to an airflow problem masks it for a few weeks and then it freezes again.
Repair or replace
We will tell you when a repair is not worth it. The honest cutoff is usually age plus refrigerant type: if the system is 15 or more years old and runs on R-22, the math has generally already moved to replacement. R-22 has not been produced or imported in the United States since 2020, so any charge now comes from reclaimed stock at a price that reflects that.
Under that threshold, most failures are a capacitor, contactor, fan motor, or control board — parts, not systems. Those repairs carry a 90-day warranty.
Want it looked at?
Flat $85 diagnostic across Contra Costa, Alameda, Solano & Napa Counties. Mon–Sat, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Mon–Sat, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Flat $85 diagnostic · CSLB #1107541
Common Questions
Why is my AC running but not cooling?
The three most common causes are a failed capacitor stopping the compressor, low refrigerant from a leak, or restricted airflow from a dirty filter or blocked return. Turn the system off if you see ice on the refrigerant line — running it frozen can destroy the compressor, which is the single most expensive part of the system.
How much does AC repair cost?
Diagnostic is a flat $85, quoted up front. Repair pricing depends on the part, and you approve the number before we start. Common electrical component failures like capacitors and contactors are at the low end; compressor and coil work is at the high end and is usually where a replacement conversation starts.
Do you charge extra for weekend calls?
Our posted hours are Mon–Sat, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Call (925) 433-6400 and we will tell you straight what we can do and what it costs — we do not surprise anyone with a fee at the door.
How long does an AC repair take?
Most common failures are diagnosed and repaired in a single visit, usually one to two hours. Repairs needing an ordered part or a refrigerant leak search take longer, and we tell you that before we leave the first visit.
Where we do this work
- AC Repair in Lafayette
- AC Repair in Walnut Creek
- AC Repair in Concord
- AC Repair in Pleasant Hill
- AC Repair in Danville
- AC Repair in Orinda
Other services
Request Service
Tell us what's going on and we'll get back to you. Diagnostic visits are a flat $85. Prefer to talk? Call (925) 433-6400.