AC Repair in McKinney, TX

McKinney is two cities in one for HVAC: a historic downtown with older homes, and a much larger ring of neighborhoods built since 2000. An AC problem in a 2005 two-story is different from one in a 1920s bungalow. Here’s how to narrow it down before you call.

AC not cooling in McKinney? Check these before you call

• 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.
• Ice on the lines. Turn the system off and let it thaw. Running it frozen can damage the compressor.
• Condensate drain. A float switch can shut the AC off when the drain backs up. Water near the indoor unit is a clue.
• Power. Depending on your address, McKinney gets its electricity from Oncor or CoServ; your bill tells you which. If the whole house is dark, report it to Oncor at 888-313-4747 or CoServ at 800-274-4014 before you call an HVAC company. Some systems wait before restarting after power returns, so give it a little time.
• Thermostat. Set to Cool and below the room temperature. Replace the batteries if the screen is blank.
• Air filter. A clogged filter cuts airflow and can freeze the indoor coil.

Still warm inside? Call 972-423-0012, any hour.

The AC repairs we see most

• Frozen evaporator coil. Usually low airflow or low refrigerant.
• Blower or fan motor. Weak airflow at the vents, or an outdoor fan that won’t spin.
• Clogged drain line. Water at the air handler or a tripped float switch.
• Duct problems. A disconnected or crushed attic duct can leave one room hot.
• Capacitor or contactor. The outdoor unit hums but the fan or compressor won’t start.
• Refrigerant leak. Adding refrigerant without finding the leak only buys time.

More causes: why your AC isn’t blowing cold air and signs your AC needs repairs.

McKinney homes and what their age means for your system

McKinney’s growth came late and fast. The Census puts the median McKinney home at 2007, and about 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses. At the same time, McKinney has a historic downtown with homes far older than the rest of the city.

The Census counts about 77,617 homes in McKinney. Here’s how they break down by decade built:

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.

McKinney’s inspection checklist for new homes shows what the City looks for in an HVAC installation: all equipment installed, including primary and secondary condensate drains, and an access walkway, working platform and lighting at the unit. A clogged primary drain on an attic unit is a common repair call; the secondary drain is there to catch the overflow, and water from it is a warning sign.

McKinney permits for HVAC work

• McKinney’s inspection checklist covers the installed equipment, primary and secondary drains, and the access walkway, working platform and lighting at the unit.
• The City of McKinney lists mechanical work (heating, cooling and ventilation) among home repairs that require a permit. It’s applied for through the City’s CSS portal as a Residential Stand-Alone Mechanical permit.
• The City lists minor repairs, including routine filter replacement, as work that doesn’t need a permit.

Dallas Heating and Air Conditioning is registered with the City of McKinney as a mechanical contractor. For a replacement, we pull the permit and schedule the inspection.

In McKinney’s newer homes, the equipment is often in the attic, with a secondary drain or drain pan below it. If water drips from a pipe over a window or the AC shuts off with a full pan, the primary drain is likely clogged. Turn the system off and call; we clear the drain and check why it clogged.

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 McKinney repair visit works

1. You call. We answer 24/7 and set a time that works for you.
2. Diagnosis. A NATE-certified technician checks the thermostat, electrical, airflow, refrigerant and drain, and finds the cause.
3. Written price. You get upfront written pricing before any work starts. If replacement makes more sense, we show you both options.
4. Permit if needed. If the repair is one McKinney requires a permit for, we pull it.
5. Repair and test. We fix it, then check the temperature drop across the coil and the drain.

Call right away if

• Water coming through a ceiling below an attic unit
• An AC that’s off in high heat with an infant, an older adult or someone with a medical condition in the house
• A breaker that trips again right after you reset it
• A burning or electrical smell from the indoor or outdoor unit

Why homeowners call us

• Upfront written pricing before any work starts
• Financing available
• Registered with the City of McKinney as a mechanical contractor
• All major brands, including Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Rheem, American Standard, York, Daikin, Mitsubishi, Fujitsu, Amana, Bryant and Goodman
• NATE-certified technicians
• 24/7 service

More for McKinney: HVAC service in McKinney, heating repair in McKinney, AC installation in McKinney. See also AC repair and HVAC maintenance and tune-ups.

Call 972-423-0012, open 24 hours.