It is very important to find an emergency AC repair service (and HVAC [heating, ventilation and air conditioning] in general) specialist fast when your AC breaks down. Not only should you seek out a specialist ASAP, but you must also make sure that it’s actually necessary to hire an appliance repair person at all — such as, whether you can even afford to pay someone at all.

Your first step should be to simply turn off the AC, and find out how long it will take for the temperature in your home to rise above 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius). If it’s less than 30 minutes, then you are probably safe on your own. However, if it’s going to take longer than this, then you should definitely call someone.

It is important to note that, without an AC unit running, you are risking the development of mold in your home, so it is generally not recommended. However, if you have no choice but to use fans or open windows instead, then do so at your own risk.

Another option is to put your AC unit into “bypass” mode, in which the AC won’t actually cool anything, but will instead circulate the cold air in order to keep humidity at bay. This could be a suitable temporary fix if you only expect the problem with your AC to last for an hour or two. If you are unable to use either of these two options, then you should definitely call someone.

It may also be important to consider whether your AC unit is actually broken, which it sometimes isn’t. This is why it’s so recommended that people set up an annual service agreement with their air conditioning service provider. Simply having a service professional come out annually can help them to identify problems before they become an emergency. This service is the most common type of preventative maintenance that people can have performed on their AC units.

Some other common reasons that AC units break down are dirty coils, leaky refrigerant lines, clogged air filters, and ductwork issues. Some of these problems are difficult to diagnose without expert assistance, which makes it all the more important for you to choose an emergency AC repair specialist.

A good way that you can find a reliable HVAC contractor is by asking your friends and family members for referrals. You should also ask your friends, family, and co-workers if they received quality service from the technician(s) they hired in the past. This can be a good place to start, but you shouldn’t stop there; instead, you should always check at least one online review site. You can also look for technicians whose ads or promotional materials feature awards and honors.

When you find an AC repair specialist, ask them if they offer any guarantees and warranties to their customers. If the technician doesn’t offer any guarantees, then there’s no reason for you to hire them.