AC Help

Answers before a sales pitch.

Practical guidance for New Orleans homeowners and small landlords. Start with what you can safely check, understand what the house changes, and know when to call a professional.

Fix a problem

Start with what the system or house is doing.

Why is my AC running but not cooling the house?
Separate a whole-house cooling failure from an airflow problem, one hot area, or a peak-afternoon load before anyone guesses at the repair.
Why is there water around my indoor AC unit?
Stop the water damage, learn where AC condensate should go, and document the leak without opening equipment or guessing at the drain repair.
Why will my AC not turn on?
Check the thermostat, display, airflow, visible water or ice, and breaker position without opening equipment or repeating an electrical reset.
What should I do if my AC is frozen?
Turn cooling off, protect the area from meltwater, document the ice, and check only the accessible filter and grilles before arranging diagnosis.

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Is my AC broken if it cannot hold the setting on the hottest afternoon?
Compare the house with its own history, watch recovery after peak heat, and skip the universal 20-degree rule before deciding the system failed.
My tenant says the AC is not working. What should I ask before dispatching someone?
Record the City bedroom measurement, gather useful symptoms, and send a complete access and authorization packet without making the tenant diagnose.
Is it bad if my AC runs all day?
Long runtime can be normal during severe New Orleans heat. Check temperature control, humidity, airflow, and whether the pattern changed before assuming the AC is broken.
Why does my AC breaker keep tripping?
A repeated breaker trip is an electrical stop condition, not a reset routine. Leave the circuit off, record the pattern, and arrange qualified diagnosis.
Why does my AC keep turning on and off?
Record how often the AC starts and stops, check the filter and thermostat pattern, and learn what repeated short cycling can mean.
Why is airflow from my vents weak?
Compare rooms, check the filter and visible obstructions, and learn which measurements separate a restriction from a duct or equipment problem.
What does this AC noise mean?
Record where and when an AC noise occurs, recognize stop-now sounds, and avoid naming a part from sound alone.
Why does my AC smell strange?
Separate electrical, gas, sewage, musty, and brief dusty odors, then act on the likely source instead of masking it.
Why will my house not cool below 78 degrees?
Use temperature trend, runtime, airflow, humidity, and outdoor conditions to separate a peak-load pattern from a system that needs service.

Understand your house

Humidity, airflow, old ductwork, and the way New Orleans homes behave.

Why does my New Orleans house feel clammy even when the thermostat says 72?
A cool thermostat reading can hide a moisture problem. Use humidity, runtime, and moisture patterns to narrow down the cause.
Why is the upstairs or back of my house always hotter?
Use the shape and timing of the hot area to separate room load, airflow, duct, return-path, and control questions before choosing a fix.
What should I set my AC to when I leave New Orleans for a week?
Keep moisture control running, test the setting before departure, and use indoor humidity instead of trusting one universal vacation temperature.

Plan a big decision

Repair, replace, compare, and know what belongs in the scope.

Should I repair or replace my old AC?
Start with a confirmed fault, then compare repair durability, remaining system risk, ducts, refrigerant facts, and a properly designed replacement.
What should a good AC replacement quote include?
Compare exact equipment, house-specific design, full work scope, start-up proof, local approvals, warranties, exclusions, and change-order rules.
Can an AC system be too big for a house?
Yes, especially with fixed-capacity equipment, but short cycles and high humidity are clues. Proving oversizing takes a load calculation and system measurements.