5050 Quorum Dr Suite 700, Dallas, TX 75254 
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With a median build year of 1978, Garland has some of the oldest housing among Dallas County’s big suburbs, and the City treats AC work more strictly than most. Garland says even repairs to AC units, including a coil replacement, need a permit. Here’s what to check first, and what that rule means for your repair.
AC not cooling in Garland? Check these before you call
- Power. Garland Power & Light, the City’s own utility, delivers electricity in most of Garland. If the power is out, report it to GP&L at 972-205-3000 or 833-403-2106, or text OUT to 972-205-4000. Some systems wait before restarting after power returns, so give it a little time.
- Condensate drain. A float switch can shut the AC off when the drain backs up. Water near the indoor unit is a clue.
- Ice on the lines. Turn the system off and let it thaw. Running it frozen can damage the compressor.
- Breakers. Check the panel and the disconnect by the outdoor unit. If a breaker trips again right after a reset, leave it off and call.
- Air filter. A clogged filter cuts airflow and can freeze the indoor coil.
- Thermostat. Set to Cool and below the room temperature. Replace the batteries if the screen is blank.
Still warm inside? Call 972-423-0012, any hour.
The AC repairs we see most
- Duct problems. A disconnected or crushed attic duct can leave one room hot.
- Clogged drain line. Water at the air handler or a tripped float switch.
- Blower or fan motor. Weak airflow at the vents, or an outdoor fan that won’t spin.
- Frozen evaporator coil. Usually low airflow or low refrigerant.
- Refrigerant leak. Adding refrigerant without finding the leak only buys time.
- Capacitor or contactor. The outdoor unit hums but the fan or compressor won’t start.
More causes: why your AC isn’t blowing cold air and signs your AC needs repairs.
Garland homes and what their age means for your system
Garland is one of the older big suburbs in Dallas County. Census data puts the median Garland home at 1978, and more than half were built before 1980, so original or early-retrofit ductwork is common.
The Census counts about 86,216 homes in Garland. Here’s how they break down by decade built:
| Built | Share of homes | What we often find |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1960 | About 11% | More than 65 years old. Central air was added later, and the duct layout often shows it. |
| 1960s | About 16% | About 60 years old. Many have original duct runs or ducts from an early retrofit. |
| 1970s | About 28% | Garland’s biggest decade. These homes are about 50 years old; many are on their third or fourth outdoor unit. |
| 1980 and later | About 45% | Everything newer, including many homes whose equipment has been replaced at least once. |
The house’s age doesn’t tell you the system’s age. The data plate on the outdoor unit does, and it’s the first thing we read.
Garland’s Census data also shows that about 42% of homes heat with utility gas, so a lot of Garland heating calls are gas furnaces. The City’s rules spell out how a gas furnace has to be connected: an approved flex connector with a listed gas stop. In the attic, the unit needs a solid-floored catwalk, a switched light at the passageway opening and a receptacle near the unit.
Garland permits for HVAC work
- Every unit needs an electrical disconnect. Questions go to Garland Building Inspection, 800 Main Street, 972-205-2300.
- Refrigerant lines must be insulated with 1/2-inch wall insulation, and condensate must drain to an approved location, not a street or alley.
- Homeowners may install a system in a house they own, live in and have homesteaded. If refrigerant is being recovered, a licensed HVAC contractor must do the job. On rental property, a licensed contractor must do all the work.
- Garland is stricter than many cities: the City says repairs to air conditioning units require a permit, including coil replacement. Replacing the condensing unit or the heating unit also requires a permit.
Dallas Heating and Air Conditioning is registered with the City of Garland as a mechanical contractor. For a replacement, we pull the permit and schedule the inspection.
Because Garland requires a permit even for some AC repairs, such as replacing a coil, ask any contractor whether your repair needs one. We tell you in the written price if it does, pull the permit ourselves, and schedule the inspection. A small repair like a capacitor isn’t a coil replacement, and we’ll be clear about which is which.
Refrigerant and efficiency rules that affect your decision
R-22. The EPA ended the manufacture of new R-22 equipment in 2010 and the production and import of R-22 itself on January 1, 2020. An R-22 system can keep running, but it can only be recharged with recovered or reclaimed R-22. A large leak on an R-22 unit is often the point where replacement makes more sense than repair.
SEER2. Since January 1, 2023, Department of Energy rules require new split-system central air conditioners installed in the Southeast region, which includes Texas, to meet at least 14.3 SEER2 under 45,000 Btu/h and 13.8 SEER2 at 45,000 Btu/h and up. New split heat pumps nationwide must meet 14.3 SEER2. See SEER vs. SEER2.
New refrigerants. Under the EPA’s AIM Act rules, new home air conditioners and heat pumps are moving to refrigerants with lower global warming potential, such as R-454B and R-32. Read what the R-410A phase-out means.
How a Garland repair visit works
- You call. We answer 24/7 and set a time that works for you.
- Diagnosis. A NATE-certified technician checks the thermostat, electrical, airflow, refrigerant and drain, and finds the cause.
- Written price. You get upfront written pricing before any work starts. If replacement makes more sense, we show you both options.
- Permit if needed. If the repair is one Garland requires a permit for, we pull it.
- Repair and test. We fix it, then check the temperature drop across the coil and the drain.
Call right away if
- An AC that’s off in high heat with an infant, an older adult or someone with a medical condition in the house
- Water coming through a ceiling below an attic unit
- A burning or electrical smell from the indoor or outdoor unit
- A breaker that trips again right after you reset it
Why homeowners call us
- All major brands, including Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Rheem, American Standard, York, Daikin, Mitsubishi, Fujitsu, Amana, Bryant and Goodman
- Registered with the City of Garland as a mechanical contractor
- Financing available
- Upfront written pricing before any work starts
- 24/7 service
- NATE-certified technicians
More for Garland: HVAC service in Garland, heating repair in Garland, AC installation in Garland. See also AC repair and HVAC maintenance and tune-ups.
Call 972-423-0012, open 24 hours.
