Air Conditioning Repair, Replacement, and Installation in Austin, TX
The unit outside is humming, the house is 85 degrees, and nothing is cooling.
Every summer we hear the same sentence: "It was working this morning." Whether you need a quick fix, a replacement for a tired system, or a first-time installation, Martinez Brothers has been getting Austin homes comfortable since 1997. Call (512) 412-8376 and tell us what's going on.
Start Here: Two Minutes Before You Call
Check these first, because they fix more calls than you'd think.
- Is the thermostat set to Cool, with working batteries?
- Has a breaker tripped?
- Is the filter caked with dust?
- Is the outdoor unit buried in leaves or mulch?
If everything looks fine and the air still isn't cold, you likely have a real problem:
| What you notice | What's often behind it |
|---|---|
| Warm air from the vents | A failed capacitor, low refrigerant, or compressor trouble |
| Ice on the pipes or coil | Restricted airflow or a refrigerant issue |
| Water around the indoor unit | A clogged condensate drain |
| Clicking, then silence | A worn contactor or relay |
| Runs all day, never catches up | A dirty coil, leaky ducts, or an aging system |
Repair: What a Visit Looks Like
You'll get a call when we're on the way. Our technician will ask what you've noticed, check the system from the thermostat to the outdoor unit, and, when it helps, show you the failed part instead of just describing it. Then you'll hear the price and your options before we pick up a wrench. Most repairs are finished that same visit, and if a part has to be ordered, we tell you plainly how long it will take.
Repair or Replace? A Quick Gut Check
Give your system a point for each: it's older than about 12 years, you've paid for two or more repairs recently, your electric bill is climbing, some rooms are never comfortable, or it still runs on R-22 refrigerant. Three or more points means a replacement is worth discussing. Fewer than three, and fixing what you have is probably smarter.
As a rule of thumb, if a repair costs more than a third of a new system and the unit is past 12 years old, we'll show you the numbers both ways. The decision is always yours.
A New System, Done Right
Whether you're replacing a failing unit or cooling a home, addition, or garage for the first time, three things decide how well a system performs.
Sizing. Bigger is not better. An oversized unit cools fast, shuts off, and leaves the house clammy. An undersized one runs nonstop and still loses to a July afternoon. We calculate your home's real needs, including insulation, windows, and sun exposure, instead of guessing from square footage.
Ductwork. The best equipment can't overcome leaky or crushed ducts, so we inspect them before we quote.
Setup details. Correct refrigerant charge, proper drainage, and tight electrical connections matter for years to come. We check airflow at every vent before we call a job finished.
Choosing a System
Central air suits most homes with existing ducts. A heat pump cools now and heats efficiently in winter. Ductless mini-splits shine in additions and older homes without ductwork. Newer systems use noticeably less electricity than models from 15 years ago, run quieter, and handle humidity better, and variable-speed models keep temperatures steadier. We'll show you a few options at different prices with realistic running costs, and we won't push the biggest unit on the truck.
Installation Day
Replacement or new installation, most jobs take a single day. We protect your floors, remove any old equipment, set and connect the new system, then test it and set up your thermostat. We leave the space cleaner than we found it.
Keep Your Cool
Ask about rebates and financing options, and about a seasonal tune-up to catch small issues before the next heat wave.