HVAC Repair in Tuscaloosa, 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 Tuscaloosa County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Ten months of work, most of it in the heat
Your system runs from November through March to keep the house warm, then May through September to keep it cool. That is ten months a year with barely a break between seasons. Summer afternoons average 90°F here, and that is when the compressor works hardest, running long stretches to keep up. Winter is shorter and milder, with nights averaging 36°F, but the system still cycles on and off through those five months.
Alabama sees its share of hard weather. Tuscaloosa County has logged 66 damaging wind events over the past ten years, and statewide, 18% of households lost power for at least 24 hours in 2024. Most homes here heat with electricity, so when the power goes out, the heat goes with it. When it comes back on, the system needs to start up again on its own, and a unit already worn from a long summer is the one most likely to have trouble doing that.
- 5 months
- November through March, your system heats
- 5 months
- May through September, it cools
- 36°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 license comes from the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors, and it's issued to the contractor, not to each job. That covers the company doing the work, not the repair itself.
For a job like this, that contractor's license is what stands behind the work. If a gas line is part of the repair, a bad connection there is the part that can actually hurt someone, so that's worth getting right the first time.
Source: Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors
- Why is my heat not working?
- Start with the thermostat and the breaker before you assume the worst. Check that the thermostat is set to heat and a few degrees above room temperature, and check the breaker panel for a tripped switch. If you have a gas furnace, look for a pilot light or an igniter that is not glowing. Winter nights here average 36°F, so a furnace that will not start is not something to leave for later. If power was out recently, some furnaces need the thermostat reset before they will fire again.
- Why is my system running but not cooling the house?
- The system running without cooling usually means the air is not getting cold or it is not getting where it needs to go. Check the filter first. A filter clogged with dust blocks airflow across the coil, and a coil that cannot pull air through it can freeze over, which stops cold air even though the blower keeps running. Check outside too. The outdoor unit needs air moving through it, so grass, leaves or anything piled against it will cut into how well it cools. If the filter is clean and the outdoor unit is clear and the house still is not cooling, the system likely needs a contractor to check refrigerant level or the compressor itself.
- What can I check before calling for HVAC repair?
- Check the thermostat batteries and settings, the breaker panel, and the air filter. A dead thermostat battery or a tripped breaker looks like a bigger problem than it is, and both take a minute to check. Pull the filter and hold it up to a light. If you cannot see light through it, replace it. Look at the outdoor unit and clear away any leaves, grass or debris sitting against it. If the system still is not heating or cooling after that, a licensed contractor will need to look at it. Alabama requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license through the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors, so ask for that license before any work starts.