It runs but the house stays warm
Air is moving and the temperature is not dropping. The cause can sit in the refrigerant circuit, in the electrical components, or in the coils, and the three need different repairs.
AC Repair in Poway, CA
Tell us what the system is doing and we will find the actual fault. You see a photo of what failed and the price in writing before we touch anything.
Signs Your AC Needs Repair
Six things homeowners call us about. None of them is a diagnosis on its own, because the same symptom comes from several different faults.
It turns on and off every few minutes
Short cycling puts more wear on a system than anything else on this list. It needs looking at before the compressor takes the damage.
There is ice on the refrigerant lines
Ice on a cooling system means it is struggling. Turn it off and call, because running it in that state is how compressors fail.
It is making a noise it did not make before
Grinding, clicking, and screeching come from different places in the system. A recording on your phone tells us more than a description does.
There is a smell
A burning smell means shut the system off at the breaker and call today. A musty smell points at moisture somewhere in the system and needs a look.
There is water under the indoor unit, or the bill climbed with no change in habits
Both mean the system is behaving differently than it did, and both cost less to check than to leave.
Problems We Diagnose and Repair
Six groups of faults, what we check in each, and where a diagnosis can land.
Electrical components
Capacitors, contactors, disconnects, and connections. We check the starting components, the contacts, and the wiring for burning and corrosion. These are the most common failures we see, and usually the quickest to resolve.
Controls and thermostats
Thermostats, control boards, sensors, and the wiring between them. We confirm what the system is being told to do before we look at whether it can do it.
Motors and airflow
Blower motors, condenser fans, and the restrictions that make a system work harder than it has to. We measure whether the system is moving the air it is supposed to move, because restricted airflow imitates several other faults.
Refrigerant circuit
Charge level, leaks, and the compressor. We find the leak and repair it. A recharge on its own means the same service call again once the refrigerant leaks back out.
Heat transfer surfaces
Evaporator and condenser coils. We check whether they are clean, intact, and able to shed heat, which is a frequent cause of a system that runs constantly without cooling the house.
Drainage
Condensate lines, pans, and pumps. We check for blockages and cracks, which is usually what water under the indoor unit turns out to be.
We are a C-20 contractor, so HVAC is the only thing we do. There is no plumbing division to hand you off to.
Where the diagnosis lands depends on what it finds: a repair we can price on the spot, a part we need to source first, or a conversation about whether this system is worth another repair.
Repair or Replace Your AC?
We are on your side on this one. Most of what we get called out for is worth repairing, and when it is, we repair it and say so.
There are a few situations where another repair is money into a system that will ask for more. A failed compressor. R-22 in the lines, where the refrigerant itself gets more expensive every year. A third service call in two summers on the same equipment.
When we are in one of those situations, we tell you what the repair costs, what a replacement costs, and what each one buys you. You decide. If replacement is the direction, that conversation continues on our AC Replacement page.
How a Repair Visit Goes
- 1
You tell us what it is doing
Two minutes on the phone so we bring the right parts.
- 2
We diagnose before we quote
Always in that order. A price named against a symptom is a guess, and you are the one who pays for the guess.
- 3
You see what failed
We photograph the failed component and show it to you, then we talk about price.
- 4
You get the number in writing
Before any work starts. If the repair turns up a second problem, we come back to you before we go further.
- 5
We repair it and test it
We confirm the system is performing, clean up, and tell you what to watch for.
What Does AC Repair Cost?
We price the repair after we know what failed, so the number you get is the number for your fault.
What affects the price
- The component. A capacitor and a compressor are different orders of magnitude.
- Parts availability. Current equipment is stocked. Discontinued and older systems take longer and cost more to source.
- Refrigerant type. R-22 systems cost more to service because the refrigerant is being phased out.
- Access. Attic air handlers, roof top package units, and tight equipment closets take longer to work on.
- Whether the fault has a cause behind it. A blown capacitor on a corroded contactor is two repairs, and we show you both before you approve either.
You get the repair price at the end of the diagnostic visit, in writing
- What failed
- The condition of the components around it
- The repair we recommend
- Anything optional listed separately
Repair price
Nothing gets done until you approve it.
Schedule a Diagnostic Visit
Why Homeowners Choose GVK for AC Repair
Diagnosis before recommendation
We find the cause first. Nothing gets quoted against a symptom, and nothing gets recommended before we know what failed.
You see what we found
We photograph the failed component and show it to you, along with what happens to the rest of the system if it stays that way.
A written price before approved work
The scope and the number are in writing before anything starts. If the repair turns up a second problem, that comes back to you before we go any further.
Repair when repair is reasonable
Where the system can be kept running sensibly, we keep it running and we say so. Replacement comes up when the numbers stop working, and not before.
Tested before we leave
We confirm the system is performing after the repair, and we tell you what to watch for.
A C-20 contractor since 2003. License #911659, bonded and insured. A 4.9 rating across 300+ reviews on Yelp and Google, and 600+ permitted projects on public record in San Diego County.
What AC Repair Looks Like
AC Repair Reviews
Dave M.Yelp review
“My impression of George is that he's a very honest person who takes a lot of pride in providing a high quality service.”
Read on YelpScott KanuhaGoogle review
“It was very clear that it was important to him that his service is high quality.”
Read on GoogleTom S.Yelp review
“We live in South Orange County and GVK Heating and Air were recommended to us — specifically Denys at GVK.”
Read on YelpOliver ChiongGoogle review
“They performed the first AC installation on my 30-year-old home.”
Read on GoogleGabe MagassyGoogle review
“He wants to meet your needs at a good price and he is a pleasure to work with.”
Read on GoogleServing All of San Diego County
We are based in Poway and work across all of San Diego County: repairs, replacements, maintenance, and tune-ups.
- Poway
- Rancho Bernardo
- 4S Ranch
- Carmel Mountain
- Sabre Springs
- Rancho Penasquitos
- Scripps Ranch
- Mira Mesa
- Escondido
- Ramona
- San Marcos
- Rancho Santa Fe
- Carmel Valley
- Del Mar
- Solana Beach
- Encinitas
- Carlsbad
- Oceanside
- La Jolla
- Valley Center
- Santee
- Lakeside
- El Cajon
- La Mesa
- Chula Vista
AC Repair FAQ
What does the diagnostic visit cost, and when do I find out the repair price?
Ask us what the visit costs when you call and we will tell you before we come out. The repair price comes at the end of that visit, in writing, once we know what failed. Both numbers reach you before the work, not on the invoice afterwards.
Can you service my brand or model?
Tell us the brand and model when you get in touch and we will confirm before the visit. We work on central split systems, mini splits and ductless systems, and roof top package units.
Should I turn the system off before you arrive?
If there is a burning smell, ice on the lines, or water pooling, turn it off at the breaker and leave it off. Otherwise leave it as it is, because a fault we can watch happening is easier to find than one we have to reproduce.
What happens if you do not have the part?
We carry the components that fail most often. Anything discontinued or unusual gets sourced. You get the timing and the price before you approve it, so the job does not sit open with your house warm.
When does a repeat problem turn into a replacement conversation?
When the same system keeps costing you money: a failed compressor, R-22 in the lines, a third call in two summers. We bring the repair price and the replacement price to the same visit so you can see both.
Do I need a permit for an AC repair?
Repairs generally do not. Replacing the system does, and California requires HERS testing on most replacement work. If your repair turns out to be a replacement, we tell you what that changes about permits and scheduling before anything is decided.
What happens after I request a repair visit?
We confirm your address and what the system is doing, tell you the first day we can be there, and confirm the visit with you. Describing the symptoms in the form means we arrive with the right parts on the truck.
Related Home Comfort Services
AC Replacement
When the repair arithmetic stops working and a new system is the better answer.
Explore AC Replacement
AC Maintenance
Inspection and tune ups, which is how most of the failures on this page get caught early.
Explore AC Maintenance
Duct Repair
When the equipment is fine and airflow is the actual problem.
Explore Duct Repair
AC Installation
When cooling is going into a space that has never had it.
Explore AC InstallationGet Your AC Diagnosed
A diagnosis tells you what failed, what it costs to fix, and whether fixing it is worth it. In writing, with a photo of the part.
Call or text(619) 277-6279
Emailgvkhvac@yahoo.com
HoursMonday – Saturday, 9 AM – 5 PM
Office13459 Olive Tree Ln., Poway, CA 92064