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AC repair & diagnostics identifies the root cause of cooling problems and restores your system to proper operation.
We've been doing AC diagnostics since 2008. We don't throw parts at your system until something works—we test methodically, find the actual problem, and quote you a price before fixing it.
This is the most profitable scam in the AC repair industry. Here's how it works—and how we do it right.
Tech shows up, checks refrigerant levels, says "You're low, need a recharge."
Adds refrigerant for $300-500. AC works great again.
Next summer: same problem. Another $300-500 recharge.
Year after that: same thing. You're now into this for $1,000+.
Why it's a scam:
Refrigerant doesn't "get used up." It's a closed-loop system. If it's low, there's a leak. Recharging without finding the leak is like filling a flat tire without fixing the nail.
Check refrigerant levels. If low, we tell you there's a leak.
Use electronic leak detector to find the leak location.
Quote the repair cost: small leak $300-600, coil replacement $1,200-2,500.
Fix the leak, evacuate the system, recharge to spec. Problem solved permanently.
Leak detection pricing:
Real talk: Sometimes the leak is in your evaporator coil, which costs $1,200-2,000 to replace. That's expensive. Some customers say "just recharge it, I'll deal with it next year." We'll do that if you ask—but we're going to tell you it's throwing money away. We're hourly-paid techs, not commission salespeople. We make the same whether you choose repair or replacement.
Founded 2008. We've recharged thousands of systems. The ones we recharged without fixing leaks? All of them called back the next summer. The ones where we fixed the leak? Still running cool.
Not "throw parts at it until it works." We follow a systematic process that finds the actual problem.
60-70% of AC repairs are electrical. We test capacitors, contactors, and breakers before touching refrigerant.
Common fixes: Run capacitor $180-220, Contactor $200-280, Thermostat wiring repair $150-250
Dirty filters, clogged coils, and failing blower motors cause 30-40% of "not cooling" complaints.
Common fixes: Filter replacement (free if we're there), Blower motor $400-700, Coil cleaning $200-300
If it's low, we find the leak before recharging. Electronic leak detection, UV dye if needed.
Leak detection $150-200, Leak repair + recharge $300-600, Coil replacement $1,200-2,500
Compressor tests, amp draw, suction/discharge pressure. If it's failing, we'll tell you repair vs. replace math.
Compressor replacement $1,500-2,500. On systems 12+ years old, full replacement often makes more sense.
You see the price and decide. We don't "find things as we go" and surprise you with a $1,200 bill.
All pricing includes parts, labor, and warranty. No hidden fees, no "oh by the way" charges.
About 60-70% of AC repairs are electrical (capacitors/contactors)—cheap fixes ($180-350). But some companies skip this and go straight to "you need a new compressor" because the ticket is bigger. We test systematically because we're not paid on commission.
Google searches tell you 10 possible causes. Here's what we actually find in Chicago ACs.
Could be:
Could be:
Could be:
Could be:
Could be:
Could be:
We'll give you honest advice. Here's the math we use.
(Age of AC × Repair Cost) > $5,000 → Consider Replacement
Example 1: Definitely Repair
12-year-old AC needs $250 capacitor replacement
12 × $250 = $3,000 < $5,000
→ Repair it. Could get 3-5 more years.
Example 2: Close Call
8-year-old AC needs $800 compressor replacement
8 × $800 = $6,400 > $5,000
→ Consider replacement. We'd show you both options with 5-year cost comparison.
Example 3: Replace It
15-year-old AC needs $1,500 compressor + has other issues
15 × $1,500 = $22,500 >> $5,000
→ Replace. Putting $1,500 into a 15-year-old system rarely makes sense.
Almost always repair. Even a $1,000 compressor makes sense if you get 5+ more years.
Depends on repair cost. Small fixes: repair. Major components: we'll do the math with you.
Consider replacement, especially if efficiency is poor and multiple components are aging.
We'll tell you honestly which makes more financial sense. If repair is throwing good money after bad, we'll say so. If the salesperson from another company is pushing a $7,000 replacement when a $300 repair will get you 3 more years, we'll tell you that too. We're techs, not salespeople.
About 70% of AC repairs are completed same-visit because we stock common failure parts.
For specialty parts or major components (compressors, coils): We'll diagnose same-day, order the part overnight if available, and return next day to install. You stay on our priority list—we don't make you reschedule from scratch.
We've been fixing Chicago ACs since 2008. Here's what kills them in this city.
It's not the 90°F that kills your AC—it's the 80% humidity. Chicago summers are muggy. Your AC works twice as hard removing moisture as it does cooling air. That's why capacitors fail more here than in Phoenix.
Dehumidification puts extra load on compressors and blower motors. We see more run capacitor failures in July/August (humid) than June (dry heat).
North side near the lake gets cooler lake breezes. South and west side hit 95°F+ on the same day the lakefront is 78°F. That 15-degree difference means south/west side ACs run 50% more hours per summer.
We replace 30% more capacitors in Brighton Park, Back of the Yards, and Austin than we do in Lincoln Park or Edgewater. Geography matters.
Chicago bungalows were built for cross-ventilation, not central air. A lot of them have 2-ton units trying to cool 1,800-2,000 sq ft. Those units run continuously on hot days and fail younger than they should.
If your AC is running 18 hours/day and barely keeping up, it's probably undersized. That's a replacement conversation, not a repair. We'll give you proper load calculations.
A lot of Chicago greystones and 2-flats still run window units or have retrofitted central air with weird ductwork. Window units fail every 5-7 years. Central air retrofits often have undersized ducts in exterior walls.
If you've got a central air system that "never quite cools the third floor," it's probably a ductwork issue, not the AC itself. We'll tell you if it's fixable or if you need ductless mini-splits for those rooms.
Most AC repairs in Chicago cost $180-$600. Capacitor replacement runs $180-220, contactors $200-280, refrigerant recharge (with leak fixed) $300-600. Compressor replacement is $1,500-2,500. We quote the price before starting any work.
AC blowing warm air could be: low refrigerant from a leak, bad compressor, reversing valve stuck, or outdoor unit not running. About 60% of the time it's a refrigerant leak that needs to be found and fixed—not just recharged.
No. Refrigerant is a closed-loop system—it doesn't "get used up." If your AC is low on refrigerant, you have a leak. Any company that recharges refrigerant without finding and fixing the leak is running a scam. We use electronic leak detection to find the source.
Most AC repairs take 1-2 hours. Simple electrical repairs (capacitors, contactors) often take 30-60 minutes. We stock common parts on our trucks, so about 70% of repairs are completed same-visit.
We charge $89 for AC diagnostics. This fee is waived if you proceed with the repair. We give you a written quote before doing any work—no "find it as we go" billing.
No shotgun part replacement. No refrigerant recharge scams. Just systematic diagnosis, transparent pricing, and honest repair vs. replace advice. Been doing it since 2008.
Diagnostic fee waived if repair is completed. Most repairs done same-visit.