AC Repair in Burlington, IA
Air conditioners here run from June through September. If yours quits, tell us what it's doing and a licensed contractor who covers Des Moines County will get in touch.
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Four months of hard running, then storms
Your air conditioner in Burlington works a short, hard season. June through September, with afternoons averaging 84°F, it runs long stretches to keep up. The compressor and the run capacitor that supports it take the brunt of that, and a weak capacitor is often what leaves the unit humming but not cooling.
Des Moines County has also seen 88 damaging wind events and 34 hail events over the past ten years, with hail up to 2.75 inches. Wind can bend the thin aluminum fins on the outdoor coil, and hail can dent the cabinet or damage the fan blade. Either one cuts down the airflow the system needs, and you notice it as warm air at the vents or a unit that runs longer than it used to.
- 4 months
- June through September, your air conditioner is on duty
- 84°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
- 34 hail events
- in ten years, and hail bends the fins on outdoor coils
- 88 wind events
- in ten years, and wind drives debris into outdoor units
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A new air conditioner would save little on running costs in Des Moines County, so the repair decision comes down to the unit's condition.
Estimates for a typical Des Moines County home, compared with an older unit built to the previous federal minimum, from EIA household energy data, Iowa fuel prices and NOAA climate normals. Your home will differ.
Repair makes sense when a part like a capacitor or contactor has failed.
Replacement makes sense when the compressor has failed or the system uses R-22 refrigerant, which is no longer made.
Iowa requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
The license comes from the Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board. It covers the contractor, not the job, so it means the board has tested and keeps a record of the business or person taking on your repair, not that your particular repair was checked.
For an air conditioner, that license is what stands behind the work. If the repair means opening the refrigerant side of the system, the technician also has to hold EPA Section 608 certification, which comes from the federal government and applies everywhere in the country, not just Iowa.
Sources: Iowa Legislature · Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing
- Why is my AC not blowing cold air?
- The most common cause is a dirty air filter choking off airflow, which can make the coil freeze up and send warm air through the vents. Low refrigerant from a leak is another common reason, and that takes a licensed technician to fix since it means opening the refrigerant side of the system. If the air is only lukewarm rather than warm, check the thermostat setting first. A fan set to "on" instead of "auto" will blow air even when the compressor isn't cooling it.
- Why is my AC leaking water?
- Water around your AC usually means the condensate drain line is clogged. Algae and dirt build up in that line over the years and block the water from draining outside, so it backs up and spills out near the indoor unit instead. A frozen evaporator coil can also cause this, since it drips a lot of water as it thaws, often after airflow was restricted for a while.
- Why won't my AC turn on?
- Start with the thermostat. Check that it's set to cool and the temperature is below the room temperature, and replace the batteries if the screen is blank. If that's not it, check your electrical panel for a tripped breaker, since AC units draw enough power that a breaker can trip on its own. If the breaker holds and the thermostat looks right, the problem is likely inside the unit itself, and a licensed contractor will need to diagnose it.