What We Fix on Central Air
Most AC calls in Troy come down to a handful of parts. The outdoor unit sits through freezing winters and humid summers, and the electrical parts inside it take the worst of it.
- Capacitors. The part that gives the compressor and fan motor their start. It is the most common failure on a hot afternoon.
- Contactors. The switch that turns the outdoor unit on. Pitted or stuck contacts keep it from starting or stopping.
- Fan motors. Both the outdoor condenser fan and the indoor blower wear out over time.
- Refrigerant leaks. Refrigerant does not get used up. If it is low, it is leaking somewhere, usually at a coil or a fitting.
- Drain lines and pans. A clogged drain line backs water up into the pan and onto the floor or ceiling.
- Thermostats and wiring. A dead thermostat or a broken low-voltage wire looks like a dead air conditioner.
- Compressors. The heart of the system. When it fails on an older unit, we talk through repair against replacement.
AC in Older Troy Houses
Most of Troy's housing is more than 80 years old. When central air was added to these houses later, the air handler usually went wherever it fit: an attic, a closet, a basement corner or the top of a stairwell. That affects repairs. An attic unit with a clogged drain can put water through a plaster ceiling. Long duct runs to a third floor make the top of the house the first place to get warm on a humid afternoon.
We also repair ductless mini-splits: indoor heads that drip or blow warm, outdoor units that will not start, and remote and sensor faults.
Before You Call
A few checks can save you a visit, and they tell us a lot when you do call.
- Set the thermostat to Cool, a few degrees below room temperature. Swap its batteries if the screen is blank.
- Look at the breaker for the air handler or furnace and the one for the outdoor unit.
- Check the service switch next to the indoor unit and the disconnect box on the wall by the outdoor unit.
- Pull the filter. If you cannot see light through it, replace it.
- If you see ice, switch the thermostat to Off and let the fan run so it can thaw.
AC down in Troy? Call us.
Call (838) 884-0024Troy Summers and Your AC
Troy does not get many brutal summer days, but it gets enough to find a weak part. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for the Albany airport show July averaging a high near 84 degrees, with about 10 days a year at 90 or above. The National Weather Service office in Albany counted 18 days at 90 or hotter in 2025, close to double the normal.
Those runs of humid, 90-degree days are when capacitors, contactors and tired fan motors give out, because the system runs for hours without a break. It is also when an AC that was never sized right for the house shows it. If yours is falling behind, call before it quits completely.
AC Repair Questions
Why is my AC blowing warm air?
Start with the thermostat. Make sure it is set to Cool and the fan is on Auto, not On. Then check that the outdoor unit is running. If the fan outside is still or the unit hums without starting, the problem is often a failed capacitor or contactor. A dirty filter, a frozen coil or a refrigerant leak can also cause warm air. If the basics check out, shut the system off and call us.
Why is my AC not cooling but the fan is running?
When the indoor fan runs but the air is not cold, the outdoor unit is usually not doing its part. That points to the capacitor, the contactor, the outdoor fan motor or the compressor. Low refrigerant from a leak is another cause. Running it this way for days can damage the compressor, so turn cooling off and call.
Why is my AC freezing up?
Ice on the copper line or the indoor coil means the coil is running too cold. The usual causes are poor airflow from a clogged filter or closed vents, a weak blower, or low refrigerant from a leak. Switch the thermostat from Cool to Off and let the fan run to thaw it. Then call us to find the cause, because it will freeze again if nothing changes.
Can I turn my AC back on after it thaws?
You can, but if the cause has not been fixed it will likely ice up again. Change the filter and open the supply vents first. If it freezes a second time, leave it off and give us a call.
Why won't the outdoor AC unit turn on?
Check the breaker in the panel and the disconnect switch on the wall beside the outdoor unit. If both are on and the thermostat is calling for cooling, the problem is often the capacitor, the contactor, a wiring fault or a clogged drain safety switch that shut the system down.
Why is my AC leaking water inside?
Air conditioners pull water out of the air and send it down a drain line. When that line clogs with algae or the drain pan cracks, water backs up and spills. Attic and closet air handlers in older Troy houses can leak through ceilings, so shut the system off and call.
Why does my AC keep turning on and off?
Short cycling can come from a thermostat in a bad spot, a frozen coil, low refrigerant, an oversized unit or an overheating compressor. It wears parts out fast, so it is worth having checked.
Why is my AC not cooling upstairs?
Heat rises, and many older homes are two and three stories with long duct runs to the top floor. Weak airflow upstairs can come from undersized or leaky ducts, closed dampers or a dirty filter. Sometimes the fix is a duct repair, and sometimes a separate ductless unit for the top floor makes more sense.
Why is my AC tripping the breaker?
A breaker that trips again and again is protecting the wiring from a real fault, like a failing compressor, a shorted fan motor or a bad capacitor. Do not keep resetting it. Leave it off and call.