24 Hour Emergency AC Repair
Air conditioning repair in the Tri-Cities
Any brand, any year. The technician finds the fault, explains it and gives you a flat rate price before the work starts.
Chapter 01
Seven faults account for most air conditioning calls
When an air conditioner stops cooling, the cause is usually one of a short list. Chinook keeps that list on its repair page: refrigerant leaks, dirty coils, a failing compressor, capacitor failure, a blocked drain line, blower motor problems and leaking ducts. The crew has been running these calls since 2000, and the same seven keep turning up.
Capacitor replacement is arguably the most common fix. The compressor and the fan motor both rely on the capacitor to start and run, so it is one of the first things a technician checks. A clicking noise can be the early warning, and Chinook says to leave the swap to a professional because oil from a leaky capacitor is dangerous to touch.
Refrigerant leaks are the other one they name as common. Copper piping links the indoor and outdoor units and carries the refrigerant, and that piping can be damaged. Chinook points out that fixing the leak is a safer and cheaper answer than topping the system off again and again.
A Chinook technician standing beside an American Standard outdoor air conditioning unit
How a repair call runs, from the fault to the price
The technician finds the fault first and tells you what it is. Then comes the number: Chinook gives flat rate pricing on all service before the job is started, so nothing on the invoice is a surprise. That is how the company says it has operated since 2000.
Any brand, any year and any model is fair game. Chinook installs American Standard and services and repairs all brands, whether it is an air conditioner or a heat pump that has quit.
Summer failures do not keep office hours, and Chinook does not either. Air conditioning repair and service is available 24 hours a day, including weekends, for emergencies. Chinook calls it 24 Hour Emergency AC Repair Service, and it is the same phone number as every other call.
Chapter 03
What keeps the same fault from coming back
Dirty coils are the fault you can see coming. Every cooling system has two, an evaporator coil in the furnace or air handler and a condensing coil in the outdoor unit. Chinook says that if they go unserviced, dust and debris can cut the system's efficiency by as much as 30%, and that regular professional cleaning is the fix. That figure is their claim, and it is the reason coil cleaning sits on the tune-up checklist.
Two more jobs belong in a yearly visit. The condensate drain line, which carries away the moisture your system pulls out of the air, should be cleared as part of regular maintenance, because a plugged line can cause water damage in the house. And a home can easily carry more than 100 feet of ductwork, so an annual look for small leaks is one of the easiest ways to protect efficiency.
Chinook Heating & Air. Washington contractor LIC# CHINOHA998MS. Call (509) 736-1121.
What the crew finds
Seven common air conditioner problems
This is Chinook’s own list, and it reads like a service call in order. Three come up more than the rest. Most of them are also lines on the tune-up checklist, which is why the 90 minute visit exists. If the unit is old enough that repairs keep piling up, the replacement page covers what that looks like.
Capacitor failure
Arguably the most common fix. The compressor and fan motor depend on it, and it may click before it fails. Oil from a leaky capacitor is dangerous to touch.
Refrigerant leaks
One of the more common problems Chinook sees. The copper piping between the indoor and outdoor units can be damaged. Repairing the leak beats repeated top offs.
Dirty coils
The evaporator and condensing coils collect dust and debris. Chinook says left unserviced they can cut efficiency by as much as 30%.
Failing compressor
Parts inside the outdoor unit's compressor can burn out. Loud or abnormal noise from the compressor motor is the cue to call.
Blocked drain line
Your system dehumidifies as it cools, and that moisture leaves through a drain line. If it plugs, it can cause water damage in the home.
Blower motor problems
A motor out of balance for a long time can ruin its drive belt. Fifteen years is a long run for a motor, and sometimes all it needs is a new one.
Leaking air ducts
A typical home can have more than 100 feet of ductwork, so small holes are likely. Inspecting and patching them yearly protects efficiency.