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Sample Case

This week — tonight if anyone at home is elderly or has health risksDIY difficulty: Checks: 1 / 5 · Repair: not DIY

AC runs all day but the house won't cool

HVAC · Cooling

You reported: Thermostat set to 74°F, house stuck at 79°F by mid-afternoon. Air from the vents feels weak and only slightly cool. It's 101°F outside — peak Austin summer.

What it most likely is

Three causes cover most cases: (1) a clogged air filter starving airflow, (2) a dirty outdoor condenser coil, or (3) low refrigerant from a slow leak. The first two are free or cheap to check yourself. The third is licensed work — refrigerant handling is regulated, and it is never a DIY fill-up.

The decision

Run the two free checks first (20 minutes). If neither fixes it, call an HVAC tech — don't open the system yourself.

Preview build. Nothing is uploaded, and no diagnosis runs on the server.

Do it yourself

$0–$20 for a filter · 20 minutes of checks

  1. 1Check the filter first. Pull it out and hold it up to a light — if you can't see light through it, replace it. In Austin summers a filter can clog in a month.
  2. 2Confirm the thermostat is on Cool, fan on Auto, and set 3–4 degrees below room temperature. Replace its batteries if it has them.
  3. 3Outside, check the condenser (the big fan unit): clear leaves and grass at least 2 feet around it. With the breaker OFF, gently rinse the fins with a garden hose from the inside out — no pressure washer.
  4. 4Feel the vent air again after an hour. Cool and stronger? You found it. Still weak or warm? Stop here and call a pro.

Tools and parts

  • • Replacement air filter (check the size printed on the old one)
  • • Garden hose
  • • Flashlight

Safety lines

  • • Turn the condenser breaker OFF before rinsing or touching the outdoor unit.
  • • Never open the refrigerant lines or the electrical panel inside the unit — capacitor shock is a real risk even with power off. That side is licensed-tech only.

Call a pro

$89–$150 diagnostic visit in Austin; common minor repairs (capacitor, contactor) $200–$450 total (sample ranges)

Who to call: Licensed HVAC technician

Ask these before you book

  • ▸“Is the diagnostic fee waived if you do the repair?” — many Austin shops waive it; ask before booking.
  • ▸“Show me the failed part and the reading that proves it failed.” — a capacitor reading takes ten seconds to show you.
  • ▸“Is this a repair or is the unit at end of life?” — if the quote jumps past $1,500 on a unit over 12 years old, get a second quote before signing.

In a Texas heat wave, book the first available slot and ask to be put on the cancellation list — same-day slots open up by mid-morning.

Price ranges are Austin sample data for this preview.

Guidance only. When you are unsure, a licensed pro is a valid decision.