HVAC emergency in Chicago? Call Bernie's Heating & A/C Service now! Same-day service available for all heating and cooling emergencies.
24-hour AC repair service gets your cooling system back on fast when it breaks down during peak summer heat. No after-hours fee—same pricing day or night.
Before you call us—or anyone—take these steps to stay safe and possibly fix the problem yourself.
Set it to COOL mode, set temp to 68°F (well below room temperature). If nothing happens after 5 minutes, move to step 2. (10-15% of "emergency" calls are thermostats set to OFF or HEAT mode.)
If you have a programmable thermostat, make sure batteries aren't dead.
Your AC has TWO breakers: one for the indoor unit (furnace/air handler) and one for the outdoor unit (compressor). Check both in your electrical panel. Look for tripped breakers (switch in middle position). Flip fully OFF, then back ON.
If it trips again immediately, STOP. You have an electrical problem—call us.
Look for a gray box mounted on the wall near your outdoor AC unit. Inside is a pull-out disconnect or a switch. Make sure it's ON. (Landscapers accidentally turn these off monthly in Chicago. It happens.)
A clogged filter causes 30-40% of AC freeze-ups and "not cooling" complaints. Pull it out. If it's black/dirty or you can't see light through it, that's your problem. Replace it and give the AC 4 hours to thaw (fan on, AC off).
Frozen coil? Turn AC off, set fan to ON. It takes 3-6 hours to fully thaw.
If steps 1-4 didn't work, we'll walk you through a couple more checks on the phone. If it's truly broken, we'll dispatch a tech as fast as we can.
In the meantime: Close blinds, use fans, drink water, check on elderly neighbors, consider going to a cooling center if temps hit 95°F+ and you have vulnerable occupants.
Chicago heat waves don't care about business hours. When temps hit 95°F+ and humidity is 80%, AC failure is a health emergency.
15-25
Days 90°F+ Per Summer
5-10
Days 95°F+ Per Summer
300+
Emergency Calls (2023 Heat Wave)
24/7
Our Availability
During the 2023 Chicago heat wave, we received 300+ emergency AC calls over 5 consecutive days when temps hit 95°F+. Elderly residents were hospitalized. Top-floor apartments reached 110°F+. We dispatched 8 trucks and still had 6-hour wait times. That experience taught us why true 24/7 emergency AC service matters in Chicago—because AC failure during extreme heat is a genuine health emergency, not just an inconvenience.
We're honest about response times. Here's what to expect based on when you call.
Goal: 2-4 hours for true emergencies (90°F+ outside, vulnerable occupants)
Reality: We prioritize based on outside temp and occupant risk (elderly, infants, top-floor apartments)
During heat waves: We dispatch 6-8 trucks and still get backed up. Expect 4-8 hours when it's 95°F+ and 200+ calls are coming in.
On-call techs: Usually 2-4 hours from dispatch to arrival
Same pricing: No after-hours fee. Same $89 diagnostic as daytime.
Honest triage: If your situation isn't dangerous, we'll tell you it's safe to wait until morning for faster/scheduled service.
Why we're honest about wait times: Other companies promise "1-hour service!" then make you wait 6 hours anyway. We'd rather set realistic expectations. If we say 3 hours and arrive in 2, you're happy. If we say 1 hour and show up in 3, you're angry (rightfully).
About 70-80% of AC emergencies are fixed same-visit because we stock the most common failure parts.
What if you need a part we don't stock? For rare parts, specialized boards, or major components (compressors, coils), we'll make the diagnosis same-day, give you an honest price quote, and return next day to install it. You'll stay on our priority list—we don't make you reschedule from scratch.
We don't hide the ball. Here's exactly what emergency service costs compared to scheduled.
| Service | Scheduled | Emergency |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Fee | $89 | $89 (same) |
| Capacitor Replacement | $180-220 | $180-220 (same) |
| Contactor Replacement | $200-280 | $200-280 (same) |
| Condensate Pump | $200-300 | $200-300 (same) |
| Refrigerant Leak Detection | $150-200 | $150-200 (same) |
We pay our on-call techs a premium for nights/weekends. But we don't pass that directly to you as a "$200 emergency fee." Instead, we build sustainable emergency coverage into our business model—because Chicago summers require it.
Other companies charge $89 diagnostic + $150-$200 "after-hours trip charge" = $239-$289 before they even touch your AC. We think that's predatory during heat waves when vulnerable people are suffering.
Not every AC problem needs a midnight service call. Here's how we help you decide—and we're always honest about it on the phone.
Heat index above 95°F makes AC failure a health emergency.
Elderly, infants, or people with heart/respiratory conditions.
Third-floor units can hit 110°F+ during heat waves.
Turn off AC immediately, call us. This is an electrical issue.
Open windows, use fans overnight. You'll be uncomfortable but safe.
If no one is heat-sensitive, waiting until morning is usually fine.
Partial cooling isn't an emergency. Schedule morning service.
Turn AC off, fan ON. Takes 4-6 hours to thaw. Call in morning.
Honest triage over the phone: When you call, we'll ask about outdoor temperature, whether you have vulnerable occupants, and whether you have cooling alternatives (basement, fans, nearby family). We'll tell you truthfully if your situation is safe to wait until morning—because you'll get faster service during business hours anyway.
No. We do not charge after-hours fees. Our diagnostic fee is $89 whether you call at 2pm or 2am. We believe AC emergencies during Chicago heat waves shouldn't come with financial punishment.
For true emergencies (AC failure during 90°F+ heat with vulnerable occupants), we prioritize response. During business hours, we typically arrive within 2-4 hours. After hours, we dispatch on-call techs as quickly as possible, usually 2-4 hours. During heat waves, expect 4-8 hours when we're backed up with 200+ calls.
We stock common emergency parts (capacitors, contactors, condensate pumps, fuses) on our trucks. About 70-80% of AC emergencies are fixed same-visit. For specialty parts, we'll diagnose same-day, order the part, and return next day to install. You stay on our priority list—we don't make you reschedule from scratch.
Yes—Carrier, Lennox, Trane, Rheem, Goodman, Bryant, Amana, American Standard, York, Payne, and more. We've been in business since 2008 and have seen pretty much everything Chicago throws at us.
If your AC is blowing warm air or frozen up, turn it OFF and set the fan to ON to help thaw the coil. If you hear grinding noises or smell burning, turn it off immediately and call us. If it's just not cooling well, you can leave it running until we arrive.
Yes. Our after-hours line routes to an on-call tech who will answer (or call you back within 15 minutes). During heat wave events, we add extra phone coverage because call volume spikes dramatically.
Call us 24/7. We'll assess your situation honestly, prioritize true emergencies, and get you comfortable as fast as possible. No after-hours fees—just fast, fair service when you need it most.
No after-hours fee • Same $89 diagnostic day or night • 70-80% fixed same-visit