AC Repair · Reno, NV
AC Repair in Reno, NV
On a 95-degree July afternoon in the Truckee Meadows, a quiet AC is hard to miss. A few safe checks can narrow down the problem while you wait for a technician.
Request an HVAC technicianThermostat
Confirm it's set to Cool, a few degrees below the room, with the fan on Auto. Dim or blank screens often need new batteries. After any change, give the system five minutes to respond.
Breakers and the disconnect
Check the main panel for a tripped breaker and look at the disconnect box on the wall by the outdoor unit. Reset a tripped breaker once. If it trips again, leave it off.
Dusty filters
Reno's dry, windy weather sends a lot of dust through return grilles. A filter caked with dust starves the coil of air and can freeze it.
Dirty outdoor coil
Wind blows dust, cottonwood fluff and weeds into the condenser fins. A clogged coil can't shed heat, so the system runs hot and cools poorly. A technician can clean it properly.
Ice on the lines
Frost on the copper line or indoor coil usually means poor airflow or low refrigerant. Turn cooling off and run the fan to thaw it, then replace the filter.
Condensate
Even in a dry climate the indoor coil makes some water, especially on stormy summer days. A clogged drain can trip a float switch that shuts the AC off.
Capacitors and contactors
A humming unit that won't start, or a fan that doesn't spin, often points to a failed capacitor or contactor. These parts work hardest on the hottest afternoons.
Evening catch-up
On the hottest days an older system may lag behind in late afternoon and catch up after sunset, when Reno's evening cool-down arrives. If it never catches up, something needs fixing.
Get it fixed
Tell the technician the system's age, what it's doing and what you've checked. Send a request and an HVAC contractor will get in touch.
Outdoor clearance
Keep two feet clear around the outdoor unit and nothing stored on top.
Frequently asked questions
- Why does my AC struggle only in the late afternoon?
- That's when outdoor temperatures peak and sun hits west walls. An older or undersized system, a dirty coil or low refrigerant can all show up then.
- Is it safe to clean the outdoor unit myself?
- With the power off at the disconnect, you can gently rinse dust off the outside of the coil with a garden hose. Leave deep cleaning and anything inside the panels to a technician.
Other air conditioning and heating services
Request an HVAC technician
Repairs, replacements and new projects. Tell us what you need and we'll pass it straight to an HVAC contractor, who will call you to go over the job and give you a quote.
- AC, furnace and heat pump repairs, replacements and new systems
- Reno, Sparks and the valleys around the Truckee Meadows
- Get a quote before any work starts
Need ac repair in Reno?
Send a request and an HVAC technician will get in touch. Requests answered 7 days a week.
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