AC Repair FAQ — Portland, ME

The cost depends on what's wrong with the unit. Replacing a capacitor is a short job with a small part. Tracking down a refrigerant leak and repairing it takes more time and materials. A failed compressor on an older unit changes the math entirely. There's no honest flat number we can give you without seeing the equipment. Call (207) 544-5500 for a free estimate.

If the unit is under ten years old and the problem is a single failed part, repair usually makes sense. If it's a system from the early 2000s that has needed work two summers in a row, replacement is worth the conversation. A lot of homes in Deering and Stroudwater are still running equipment that's fifteen or twenty years old — at that age, a major repair can cost almost as much as new equipment. We'll tell you honestly which way it goes after we look at it.

The most common reasons are a dirty or frozen evaporator coil, low refrigerant from a slow leak, or a failing capacitor that's letting the compressor run at reduced power. Portland summers are humid enough that a coil can ice over faster than people expect, especially if the filter hasn't been changed in a while. Turn the unit off and let it thaw for a few hours, then call us — running a frozen coil harder just makes it worse.

Shut the unit off if it's making any grinding, hissing, or banging sounds. Open windows on the shaded side of the house and run fans to move air through. The Old Port and the peninsula hold heat at night, so upper floors can stay warm for hours. Call (207) 544-5500 and we'll get someone out to look at it.

Routine repairs — replacing a capacitor, cleaning coils, fixing a thermostat — generally don't require a permit in Portland. Work that involves refrigerant requires the technician to hold EPA Section 608 certification. If you're replacing a full system or making changes to ductwork, a mechanical permit from the city is typically required. We handle the paperwork when permits are needed.

Most single-part repairs take one to three hours once the technician is on site. A refrigerant leak repair takes longer because we have to find the leak, fix it, and recharge the system correctly. If a part needs to be ordered — which is more common on older Carrier and Trane units that aren't as widely stocked locally — expect a day or two before we can finish the job.