Air Conditioning Repair in Chicago
Cooling a Chicago home is often harder than heating it. Bungalows with finished attics, two-flats with condensers squeezed into a gangway, and raised ranches with original duct runs all have their own weak spots on a hot July afternoon. Our trucks come into the city from our shop at 2093 Rand Road in Des Plaines — we don't keep a Chicago office — and the northwest side is a short run down the Kennedy.
In plain language: we find out why the house isn't cooling — whether it's the outdoor unit, the indoor coil, the ducts or the thermostat — and fix that.
Right Away Plumbing and HVAC is based at 2093 Rand Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60016.
Upstairs rooms that won't cool
The most common Chicago cooling complaint isn't a dead system; it's a finished attic or second floor that stays hot while the basement is cold. Ducts run to a dormer or attic room were usually added later and are often small, long and poorly insulated. Sometimes the answer is airflow work; sometimes it's a ductless unit for the upstairs. We measure before recommending either.
Outdoor units in gangways and tight yards
Condensers in narrow gangways or tucked behind a garage often can't move enough air, and they collect cottonwood, leaves and debris. A dirty coil, a failed capacitor or a worn contactor are frequent causes of a unit that hums but won't start. Refrigerant leaks show up as a system that runs constantly and never catches up, sometimes with ice on the lines.
In plain language: if the outdoor unit isn't running, or it runs but the air inside isn't cold, those are different problems and we test for each.
Indoor coils, drains and filters
The indoor coil sits on top of the furnace in most Chicago basements. A clogged filter or a dirty coil can freeze it solid. The condensate drain from that coil can clog too, and in a finished basement a backed-up drain pan can soak a ceiling or carpet. We clear the drain and check the safety switch when we're there.
Before you call
Check the thermostat is set to cool and below room temperature, replace a dirty filter, and make sure both breakers — indoor and outdoor — are on. If you see ice on the lines, turn the system off and run the fan to let it thaw. Then call 773-250-6060 — same-day visits when the schedule allows.
What we check
- Thermostat and power to both units
- Capacitor, contactor and fan motor
- Outdoor coil condition and clearance
- Refrigerant pressures and signs of a leak
- Indoor coil, filter and blower airflow
- Condensate drain and safety switch
See our full AC repair page, or go back to plumbing and HVAC in Chicago.
Chicago ac repair questions
Why is my upstairs so hot while the basement is cold?
Upstairs ducts in many Chicago homes were added later and are undersized or poorly insulated. We measure airflow to see whether duct work or a ductless unit is the better fix.
My outdoor unit hums but the fan doesn't spin. What is it?
Often a failed capacitor or a stuck motor. Turn the system off to protect the compressor and call us.
Why is there ice on my AC lines?
Usually low airflow — a dirty filter or coil — or low refrigerant. Turn the system off, run the fan to thaw it, and have it checked.
What number do I call for AC repair in Chicago?
Call 773-250-6060. Same-day visits are available when the schedule allows.
Request ac repair in Chicago
Call 773-250-6060 or request service online. Same-day visits when the schedule allows. We are licensed, bonded and insured.