AC Repair in Pullman, WA
Air conditioners here run from July through August. If yours quits, tell us what it's doing and a licensed contractor who covers Whitman County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Two months of heat, then long stretches of nothing
Pullman only asks the air conditioner to work in July and August. Summer afternoons average 82°F, which is not extreme, but the unit sits idle most of the year and then has to start up reliably when the heat comes.
That kind of on and off use is hard on capacitors and contactors, the parts that get the compressor going. A unit that sat all through fall, winter and spring can have a weak capacitor that will not turn the compressor over on the first hot day. Whitman County has also seen 27 damaging wind events and a few hail events over the past ten years, including a hailstone as large as 1.5 inches. Wind can knock debris into the outdoor unit's fins and fan, and hail can dent the coil, so it is worth a look at the outdoor unit after a rough storm even if the air inside still feels cool.
- 2 months
- July through August, your air conditioner is on duty
- 82°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
- 5 hail events
- in ten years, and hail bends the fins on outdoor coils
- 27 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 Whitman County, so the repair decision comes down to the unit's condition.
Estimates for a typical Whitman 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.
Washington puts the business on file with the Department of Labor and Industries. That is a record, not a test. Nobody sat for a trade exam to get it, so the registration tells you the business exists on paper. It does not tell you the technician knows how to fix your air conditioner.
For this repair, the credential that actually matters is federal. Anyone opening the refrigerant side of your air conditioner has to hold EPA Section 608 certification, and that rule is the same in every state. In Washington, that certification is what says a technician is qualified to handle the refrigerant in your system, not the state registration.
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. A dirty filter can also block airflow enough that the air coming out feels weak or warm, so check that first since it is the easiest thing to rule out. If the filter looks fine, the problem is likely inside the system, either the refrigerant charge or the compressor, and that calls for a licensed contractor. Anyone who opens the refrigerant side to check the charge has to hold EPA 608 certification, so this is not a repair to attempt without one.
- Why is my AC leaking water?
- Water around your AC usually means the condensate drain line is clogged. As the system runs, it pulls moisture out of the air and that water is supposed to drain away through this line. When it clogs with algae or debris, the water backs up and drips out near the indoor unit instead. A frozen evaporator coil that then thaws can cause the same kind of puddle, so a contractor will check both the drain line and the coil to find the actual source.
- Why won't my AC turn on?
- Start with the thermostat and the breaker before assuming the worst. Check that the thermostat is set to cool and below the current room temperature, and check your electrical panel for a tripped breaker. If those are fine, the issue is likely inside the unit itself, such as a failed capacitor or a wiring problem, and that needs a contractor to diagnose.