Start The Year Off Strong With An HVAC Repair

January is the quietest month of the year for HVAC companies in San Antonio, and that makes it the best month to be a customer. Parts are in stock, schedules are open, and the repair you have been putting off since August can be handled without the summer premium. Here is why starting the year with an HVAC repair makes sense, and what to prioritize.

The repairs people put off

We see the same list every winter: a capacitor that tested weak in the spring tune-up, a condenser fan motor that squeals at startup, a slow refrigerant leak that got topped off in July instead of fixed, a drain line that has been clearing itself just often enough, and a thermostat that lost its schedule in a power blink and never got reprogrammed. Each one is a small job in January and a system failure waiting for the first 95 degree day.

Refrigerant leaks in particular

Topping off refrigerant is a summer stopgap. The leak is still there, and the price of both R-410A and older R-22 keeps climbing as production winds down. A January leak search with nitrogen and a proper repair or coil replacement costs less than another season of charging, and it stops the compressor from running low all summer, which is what actually kills compressors.

Heating problems you noticed in December

If the furnace took two or three tries to light on the first cold morning, that is a flame sensor or ignitor that will fail completely in the next cold snap. If the heat pump ran the auxiliary heat strips more than usual, the defrost board or reversing valve may be the reason and the electric bill will show it. These are one-visit repairs in January and emergency calls in February.

Using the slow season for bigger work

Duct sealing, adding a return, replacing a rusted-out drain pan, or swapping a failing air handler are all easier when the attic is 60 degrees instead of 140. If you are planning a full system replacement this year, January and February pricing and scheduling are the best you will see, and you get to plan the installation instead of reacting to a failure.

A quick January checklist

Replace the filter. Check that the thermostat schedule survived the holidays. Run the air conditioner for ten minutes on a mild afternoon to confirm it still cools; you do not want to discover a problem in May. Clear the outdoor unit of leaves and cedar debris. And book the repair you have been meaning to book.

Where to start

If you already know what is wrong, our AC repair and heater repair teams can handle it this week. If you are not sure, our diagnostics service will give you a written list of what needs attention, in priority order, so you can decide what to fix now. Call 210.549.4839.