AC Repair in Richardson, TX

Richardson’s homes split between postwar and 1970s neighborhoods and a newer wave of homes and townhomes built since 2010. An AC problem in a 1965 ranch is different from one in a 2015 townhome. Here’s how to narrow it down before you call.

Before you call about your AC in Richardson

• Filter. Check every return; some homes have more than one.
• Breaker and disconnect. Reset once only.
• Power. If the whole house is dark, report the outage to your electric delivery company (it’s on your bill) before you call an HVAC company. Some systems wait before restarting after power returns, so give it a little time.
• Upstairs vs. downstairs. In a two-story or townhome, note which floor is warm and which thermostat controls it.
• Frozen lines. Ice on the copper lines outside means turn it off and let it thaw.

Still warm? Call 972-423-0012 day or night.

AC repairs common in Richardson homes

• Capacitor and contactor failures.
• Condensate pumps and drains in tight equipment spaces.
• Refrigerant leaks on older coils.
• Undersized or leaky ducts in older homes where AC was added later.
• Frozen coils from low airflow or low refrigerant.

See why your AC isn’t blowing cold air and signs your AC needs repairs.

Richardson homes and what their age means for your system

Richardson has two housing booms: about 44% of its homes were built before 1980, and about 21% since 2010. The Census puts the median at 1986, and about 45% of homes heat with utility gas, the highest share of the four cities in this group.

The Census counts about 47,960 homes in Richardson. 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.

In Richardson’s 1960s and 1970s homes, the furnace is often in a hall closet or the attic, and the AC was added or upgraded later. In the newer homes and townhomes, the equipment is often compact and tucked into tight spaces. We plan for both. If you’re planning a bigger project around a new system, Richardson’s Home Improvement Incentive Program offers an economic incentive to homeowners who substantially reinvest in their home. Ask the City whether your project qualifies.

Richardson permits for HVAC work

• Richardson has adopted the 2021 International Codes. Building Inspection: 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Suite 550, 972-744-4180.
• The City of Richardson lets registered contractors buy permits online for mechanical repairs or replacements. Most of these permits require a licensed contractor to obtain the permit and do the work.
• A contractor’s registration with the City must be current to buy permits online. The City lets you verify online that your contractor is registered.

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

Richardson has adopted the 2021 International Codes. A repair doesn’t bring an old system up to current code, but a replacement has to meet it, so we note anything on a repair visit that will matter later.

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 Richardson 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 Richardson 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

Upfront written pricing before any work starts

Before any repair, you see the price in writing. Here’s what it includes:

• If replacement makes more sense than repair, you get both options side by side.
• Financing available on larger repairs.
• What the written price covers: the diagnosis, the part or repair, and any permit the City requires.
• If we find more than one problem, each is listed separately so you can decide.

Why homeowners call us

• Upfront written pricing before any work starts
• Financing available
• Registered with the City of Richardson 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 Richardson: HVAC service in Richardson, heating repair in Richardson, AC installation in Richardson. See also AC repair and HVAC maintenance and tune-ups.

Call 972-423-0012, open 24 hours.