AC Repair in Spokane, WA
Air conditioners here run from July through August. If yours quits, tell us what it's doing and a licensed contractor who covers Spokane County will get in touch.
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Two months of real heat, then storms the rest of the year
Spokane County only asks an air conditioner to work July and August, with afternoons averaging around 80°F. That short season means a unit can sit idle most of the year, and idle units are where problems hide. A capacitor or contactor that's been failing quietly over the winter often doesn't show it until the first hot day, when the compressor won't start or the unit hums but never kicks on.
The county has also logged 120 damaging wind events and 8 hail events over the past ten years, with hail up to 2.75 inches. Wind drives debris into the outdoor unit's fins, and hail that size can bend them or dent the cabinet. Bent fins choke airflow across the coil, so the unit runs longer to cool the same house and struggles more on the hottest afternoons.
- 2 months
- July through August, your air conditioner is on duty
- 80°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
- 8 hail events
- in ten years, and hail bends the fins on outdoor coils
- 120 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 Spokane County, so the repair decision comes down to the unit's condition.
Estimates for a typical Spokane 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's registration puts the business on file with the Department of Labor and Industries. It is not a trade exam, and no state agency has tested this contractor's work on an air conditioner.
What governs the actual repair is a federal rule. Anyone who opens the refrigerant side of your system, to check a charge or fix a leak, has to hold EPA Section 608 certification. That rule holds in every state, and for an air conditioner repair it is the credential that speaks to whether the person working on the sealed part of your system is qualified to do it.
Source: Washington State Legislature
- Why is my AC not blowing cold air?
- The most common cause is a dirty air filter choking off airflow across the coil. When air can't move past it, the coil can ice up and the air coming out feels warm or weak. Low refrigerant from a leak causes the same thing and won't fix itself, since a sealed system doesn't use up refrigerant over time. If the filter is clean and the vents are open, the problem is inside the system and needs a contractor to check refrigerant charge and the coil.
- Why is my AC leaking water?
- Water around your AC usually means the condensate drain line is clogged. Algae and dust build up inside that line over a cooling season and block the water from draining out, so it backs up and spills near the indoor unit instead. A frozen coil can cause the same puddle once it thaws, usually from restricted airflow or low refrigerant. Either way, the fix is clearing or repairing the drain, not just wiping up the water.
- Why won't my AC turn on?
- Start with the thermostat. Check that it's set to cool and the batteries aren't dead, since a blank or unresponsive display often means that's all it is. If the thermostat looks fine, check your breaker panel for a tripped breaker, since outdoor units can trip one after a storm or a power flicker. If the breaker is fine and the system still won't start, the capacitor or another electrical part inside the unit likely needs a contractor to test it.