Okay, so my AC started blowing warm air – not exactly ideal in the middle of summer. I figured it was time to call in the professionals, specifically someone specializing in air conditioning repair in Brea, since that’s where I live. Here’s how the whole thing went down.
First Signs of Trouble
It started subtly. The house just wasn’t cooling down like it used to. I’d crank the thermostat down, but it would still feel stuffy. At first, I thought maybe I was just imagining things, or maybe the filter needed changing. I swapped out the filter – nope, still warm air.
Finding a Repair Service
Did some searching, looked at some reviews, you know how it is and I found this one with some good reviews.
Calling for Help
I gave them a call, and thankfully, they had someone available to come out the next day. Huge relief! I explained the problem – warm air, unit running but not cooling. They asked a few questions, like how old the unit was (ancient, of course) and if I’d noticed any weird noises (just the usual whirring, nothing dramatic).
The Inspection
The technician, arrived on time, which I appreciated. He started by checking the outdoor unit, the condenser. I watched from a distance as he poked around, checking the refrigerant lines, cleaning the coils – that kind of stuff. He also hooked up some gauges and did some technical-looking things.
The Diagnosis
After about an hour, he came inside and explained the situation. Turns out, I had a refrigerant leak. Apparently, that’s pretty common in older units. He explained that the refrigerant is what actually cools the air, and without enough of it, the AC can’t do its job.
The Repair Options
He gave me a couple of options:
- Recharge the system: This would basically top off the refrigerant, but he warned me that it was a temporary fix. If there’s a leak, it’ll just leak out again.
- Find and fix the leak, then recharge: This was the more expensive option, but also the more permanent solution. He’d have to find the source of the leak, repair it, and then refill the system.
Making a Decision
I went with the second option. I figured it was better to fix the problem properly rather than just putting a band-aid on it. It was more money upfront, but hopefully, it’ll save me headaches (and sweat!) down the line.
The Fix
It took a few more hours, but the technician located the leak – it was in one of the coils. He repaired it, then recharged the system with refrigerant. He tested everything to make sure it was working properly, and finally, blessedly cool air started flowing from the vents.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it was a bit of a hassle, and definitely not how I wanted to spend my week, but it’s fixed now. It’s a big relief to have cool air again. This whole experience taught me to pay closer attention to my AC unit! I’ll be scheduling regular maintenance from now on, that’s for sure.
