HVAC Repair in Talladega, AL
Homes here need heat from November through March and cooling from May through September. If your system quits, tell us what it's doing and a licensed contractor who covers Talladega County will get in touch.
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Ten months of work, most of it in the heat
Talladega County only gets a break from heating or cooling about two months a year. Summer afternoons sit around 90°F for five months straight, May through September, and that means the compressor is running hard for most of the year. That kind of runtime wears on the capacitor and the contactor, the parts that get the compressor started and keep it cycling, and when one of them goes the outdoor unit hums but won't kick on, or it shuts off on its own before the house cools down.
Winter is shorter here, November through March, and nights average 35°F, so the furnace or heat pump isn't working against real cold most of the time. But most homes here heat with electricity, and Alabama saw wind events strong enough to cut power in a lot of homes last year. When the power drops, electric heat stops with it, and it doesn't restart on its own the way some gas systems do. If the house is cold and the thermostat is dark, that's the first thing to check.
- 5 months
- November through March, your system heats
- 5 months
- May through September, it cools
- 35°F
- the average winter night it heats against
- 90°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
Alabama requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
The Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors tests and licenses HVAC contractors in this state. That license belongs to the contractor, not to any single job, so the same license that covers a new install is what covers a repair call like this one.
For a repair on a heating and cooling system, that license is what stands behind the work. It means the state tested the contractor and keeps a record of them, not just someone who put a company name on a truck.
Source: Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors
- Why is my heat not working?
- Most often it's the thermostat, the power to the furnace, or the igniter. Check that the thermostat is set to heat and a few degrees above room temperature, and that its batteries aren't dead. Next check your breaker panel, since a tripped breaker will shut the whole system down. If the furnace runs but no heat comes out, or it tries to start and shuts off again, the igniter or a safety switch is likely the problem, and that calls for a contractor licensed by the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors.
- Why is my system running but not cooling the house?
- The most common cause is a dirty filter blocking airflow, so check that first and replace it if it's gray or clogged. If the filter is clean, look at the outdoor unit, since leaves or grass clippings packed around the coil will keep it from shedding heat. A system that runs constantly on a 90-degree afternoon and still can't keep up may be low on refrigerant, which isn't something to add yourself. That's a job for a licensed HVAC contractor, since handling refrigerant requires certification.
- What can I check before calling for HVAC repair?
- Start with the thermostat. Make sure it's set correctly, the batteries are good, and it's actually calling for heat or cooling. Check your breaker panel for a tripped breaker, and check the filter, since a clogged one will choke airflow to the point the system seems broken. Look at the outdoor unit too, and clear away any leaves, mulch, or debris packed against it. If the system still isn't working after that, a licensed contractor will need to look at it, since anything beyond these basics involves opening the equipment itself.