AC Repair in Longview, WA
If your air conditioner quits, tell us what it's doing and a licensed contractor who covers Cowlitz County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Longview air conditioners sit idle most of the year
Summer afternoons here average 74°F, mild enough that cooling barely runs. A capacitor or fan motor that sat unused all year can seize or fail the first time it's asked to work, and a refrigerant leak can go unnoticed until you finally turn the system on and nothing cold comes out.
Cowlitz County has also logged hail and damaging wind over the past ten years. A hailstone big enough to dent the cabinet or bend the fins on the outdoor unit can restrict airflow across the coil, and a bad storm can knock debris into the unit or knock out power to it. If your AC is blowing warm or won't start, it's worth a look before the next hot stretch.
- 74°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
- 1 hail events
- in ten years, and hail bends the fins on outdoor coils
- 5 wind events
- in ten years, and wind drives debris into outdoor units
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A new air conditioner would save little on running costs in Cowlitz County, so the repair decision comes down to the unit's condition.
Estimates for a typical Cowlitz County home, compared with an older unit built to the previous federal minimum, from EIA household energy data, Washington fuel prices and NOAA climate normals. Your home will differ.
Repair makes sense when a part like a capacitor or contactor has failed.
Replacement makes sense when the compressor has failed or the system uses R-22 refrigerant, which is no longer made.
Washington requires contractors to register with the state.
That registration puts the business on file with the state and gives it a bond, but nobody tested the contractor on how to fix an air conditioner. There's no trade exam behind the number, so the registration tells you the business is real and on record, not that the work will be done right.
For a repair like this, what actually matters is refrigerant. Any technician who opens the refrigerant side of your air conditioner has to hold EPA Section 608 certification, and that rule applies in every state, not just Washington. That certification, not the state registration, is what says this person is trained to handle the refrigerant safely.
Source: Washington State Legislature
- Why is my AC not blowing cold air?
- The most common cause is low refrigerant from a leak somewhere in the line set or coil. It can also mean the compressor has failed, or the evaporator coil is frozen over and blocking airflow. A dirty filter can bring on that freeze-up, so check it first. Only a technician with EPA 608 certification can legally open the refrigerant side to find and fix a leak.
- Why is my AC leaking water?
- Water around your unit usually means the condensate drain line is clogged. Algae and dirt build up in that line over time and back the water up until it overflows the drain pan. It can also mean the drain pan itself has rusted through and needs replacing. A frozen evaporator coil that then thaws will do the same thing, so if the air was blowing warm before you noticed the water, that is likely the cause.
- Why won't my AC turn on?
- Start with the thermostat. Check that it has power, is set to cool, and the set point is below the room temperature. If the thermostat looks fine, check the breaker for the outdoor unit, since a tripped breaker will stop the whole system cold. If power is reaching the unit and it still will not start, the capacitor or the compressor itself may have failed, and that calls for a technician to test it.