Questions
Questions and answers
Answers about cooling a house on the Gulf Coast, and about how this site works.
Does it cost anything to call?
No. Calling this line is free for homeowners. The contractor you are connected with charges for any work it does, and some charge a fee for the visit; ask about that on the call.
Who will I be talking to?
An independent local heating and cooling contractor, or a scheduler for one. It is a separate business from this website. It inspects the system, gives you its own price and does the work if you hire it.
What if I'm renting?
This line is for homeowners. If you rent, contact your landlord or property manager first; in most leases they are responsible for arranging heating and cooling repairs.
Is my street covered?
Lake Charles and nearby communities including Sulphur and Westlake. If no contractor is available for your address, you will be told on the call.
How do I know the contractor is licensed?
Louisiana's State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) licenses contractors, including mechanical (HVAC) work above the board's dollar thresholds. Look the company up by name or licence number at lslbc.louisiana.gov. Anyone working on the refrigerant circuit must hold EPA Section 608 certification.
Why is my AC running but the house won't cool down?
Common causes are a dirty filter, a frozen coil, a failed outdoor fan, a weak capacitor or low refrigerant. On very hot, humid afternoons a system can also be undersized for the house. A technician needs to measure it to know which.
Should I keep resetting the breaker?
No. Reset it once. A breaker that trips again is protecting against a fault such as a shorted motor or a failing compressor, and repeated resets can make things worse.
Is it safe to wait a few days?
That depends on who is in the house. Heat and humidity are hard on babies, older adults and people with health conditions. Move anyone at risk somewhere cool, drink water and call 911 for signs of heat illness.
How long does a central AC usually last here?
Many systems in hot, humid climates are replaced somewhere between 10 and 15 years, depending on maintenance, installation quality and exposure. Outdoor units near salt air or standing water can corrode sooner.
Is swapping only the outdoor unit an option?
Sometimes, but mismatched indoor and outdoor parts can lose efficiency and warranty coverage, and a refrigerant change normally needs a matched system. Ask the installer to explain the trade-off in writing.
Is a heat pump a sensible choice in Lake Charles?
Heat pumps are common across the Gulf South because winters are mild. On the few cold nights, backup electric heat strips take over. The installer can compare a heat pump with an AC and gas furnace for your house.
Why does my heat pump blow lukewarm air in winter?
Heat pump air often feels cooler than furnace air even when it is working. If the house won't reach the set temperature or the backup heat runs constantly, have it checked.
What does Emergency Heat do?
It turns off the outdoor unit and heats with the electric strips only. It's useful if the outdoor unit has failed, but it costs more to run, so use it only until the repair.
Does a heat pump work in a hard freeze?
Air-source heat pumps lose capacity as temperatures drop, and backup heat makes up the difference. Southwest Louisiana gets few hard freezes, which is one reason heat pumps are common here.
What humidity level is comfortable indoors?
Many guides suggest keeping indoor relative humidity below about 60%, and somewhere between 40% and 55% is comfortable for most people in summer. A simple hygrometer shows where you are.
Will a bigger AC fix a damp house?
Usually the opposite. A larger system cools faster, runs in shorter cycles and removes less moisture. Ask for a load calculation before upsizing.
Should I set the fan to On instead of Auto?
In humid climates, leaving the fan on continuously can blow moisture from a wet coil back into the house. Auto is often the better setting; the contractor can advise for your system.
Do I need my ducts cleaned?
Duct cleaning and duct repair are different jobs. In a damp climate, repairing leaks and insulation usually matters more for comfort than cleaning. Ask the contractor what they see before agreeing to either.
Why is one room always hotter?
Common causes are a long or kinked duct run, a disconnected duct, a room with more sun and windows, or not enough return air. Airflow measurements show which.
Can sweating ducts damage the ceiling?
Yes. Condensation on poorly insulated ducts can drip onto drywall over time. Have the insulation and air leaks checked.
Can I run my AC on a portable generator?
A central air conditioner needs a large generator and a safe connection. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. A transfer switch or interlock installed by a licensed electrician is the safe way to power household circuits.
My AC came back on after the outage but blows warm air. Why?
Outages and surges can damage capacitors, contactors and control boards. Switch it off and have it checked rather than letting it run without cooling.
Will insurance pay for storm damage to my AC?
That depends on your policy and the cause. Talk to your insurer. A contractor's written findings and your photos help either way.
How often should an AC be serviced here?
Many homeowners have the cooling system checked every spring, before the long cooling season. Heat pumps, which also run in winter, are sometimes checked in fall too.
Why does my AC keep shutting off with water in the pan?
A blocked condensate line has likely tripped the float switch. Clearing the line and finding why it clogs, such as a missing trap or poor slope, usually fixes it.
Can I clean the outdoor coil myself?
Gently rinsing loose debris with a garden hose, power off, is common. Bent fins, chemical cleaners and anything inside the cabinet are better left to the contractor.
Phone line
Get the system looked at
Lake Charles, Sulphur and Westlake homeowners can use this number to reach an independent heating and cooling company. Mention the age of the system and anything you noticed before it stopped; it helps the technician.