AC Repair in Austin (home)

[The Bloak]

Got home today and the house isn't cooling (central air). After hours of the AC running with no noticed benefit I turn the AC off and half the electricity in our house goes out. I turn the AC back on and the power is restored. This event is a first for me.

Anyone ever had a similar experience? The plan is to call an AC company tomorrow to come out and look at the unit. Part 2 will likely entail calling an electrician.

I welcome any suggestions of companies you guys have used in the past and would recommend. Thank you in advance.

 

[OldHippie]

I came home one day and the AC wouldn't cool the house. It was spring time so I didn't yet have to have it. I called the thermostat guy from the city who had just installed a thermostat to automatically go on and off to save Austin Utilities money. Well it turns out, somebody had stolen my AC unit. Cut it off the side of the house while I was out of town. The police said thieves do it all the time to sell the copper. It was really a bummer. AC unit was only a couple of years old and cost almost exactly what my home owner's insurance deductible was. The only break I got was on my income tax for theft loss.

 

[The Bloak]

Yeah, just found out how much it would be to replace my unit- more than a few pennies to say the least. The joys of owning a home!

 

[orangecat]

word of warning, don't assume your new unit will be more energy efficient. moved into a home in '04, nice reasonable utility bills, then a/c unit had problems last year. a/c man said the coil was rusted pretty bad. three options 1. clean coil, which might not work, 2. replace coil at around $1200-1400 or so, or 3. get a new inside unit at around $2000.
I chose to buy the new unit.

I assumed new unit would be more energy efficient than unit installed in '01,( or at least as efficient) boy was I wrong. some months usage is about the same, but most months the utility bill is 20% higher.

finally had ac man come out the other day, he says he can't find anything wrong, says he will call Lennox to see if there is something they can tell him.

 

[The Bloak]

Ended up just replacing the coil. Certainly an unexpected cost, but I guess it is all part of maintaining the house.

Glad we took care of the problem now vs July and having our AC start acting up.