When your air conditioner fails on one of San Francisco's rare scorching days, request an appointment for diagnosis and repair. We serve neighborhoods across the city and explain the next available scheduling options.
San Francisco may be known for its cool, foggy climate, but the city experiences sudden summer heat waves — especially in neighborhoods east of Twin Peaks like the Mission, Potrero Hill, Bernal Heights, and the Excelsior — where temperatures can spike into the 90s without warning. When your air conditioner stops working during one of these heat events, SF HVAC Repair provides responsive local service for homeowners and property managers.
We assess central air conditioning and ductless mini split systems in San Francisco, including systems that are not cooling, cycling, making noise, or leaking refrigerant. The diagnosis identifies the likely component, repair scope, and whether parts or additional scheduling are needed.
We understand the unique challenges of San Francisco's housing stock. Victorian and Edwardian flats in Noe Valley, the Castro, Pacific Heights, and the Richmond District often have unconventional duct routing, limited attic access, and older electrical panels that require special attention. Mission-style homes and SoMa lofts frequently run ductless systems that demand different diagnostic protocols than central air. Our team brings hands-on experience with every type of SF residential HVAC configuration.
Every AC repair begins with a $79 diagnostic — a thorough inspection of your system's electrical components, refrigerant pressures, airflow, thermostat communication, and mechanical operation. If you proceed with the repair, the diagnostic fee is waived. You receive a written estimate after diagnosis.
San Francisco's marine climate creates conditions that accelerate wear on AC components in ways that differ from hotter inland climates. The persistent coastal fog introduces high humidity that promotes corrosion on evaporator coils, condenser fins, and electrical contacts. Salt-laden air from the Bay and Ocean — especially in the Sunset, Richmond, and Outer Mission — accelerates metal degradation and causes coil fouling at a rate 2–3× faster than inland locations. Systems that sit dormant for most of the year (because SF rarely needs AC in May or October) develop seized motors, dried-out capacitors, and clogged condensate drains faster than systems that run regularly. A once-yearly preventive tune-up is particularly important in San Francisco's unique environment.
If your AC is showing any of these symptoms, request an appointment for a diagnostic.
The most common call we receive. Causes include low refrigerant from a leak, a failed run capacitor, a dirty condenser coil, or a stuck reversing valve. We locate the root cause and fix it — not just the symptom.
Could be a tripped breaker, a failed capacitor, a faulty contactor, a defective control board, or a blown thermostat fuse. We test the full electrical chain from the panel to the thermostat to the unit itself.
Short cycling reduces efficiency and burns out compressors prematurely. In SF homes, this is frequently caused by an oversized system, a refrigerant overcharge, a clogged air filter, or a failing thermostat.
Refrigerant leaks cause warm air, iced coils, and eventually compressor damage. We use electronic leak detectors and UV dye to precisely locate leaks, repair them, and recharge the system to factory spec with EPA 608-certified handling.
Banging = loose or broken parts. Screeching = worn motor bearings. Hissing = refrigerant leak. Clicking = electrical issue. Each sound points to a different component — our technicians diagnose by ear as well as by instrument.
A frozen evaporator coil is common in SF after long dormant periods when a system is turned on suddenly. Causes include low refrigerant, a failed blower motor, or a severely clogged filter. We thaw, diagnose, and repair.
We service all 28 neighborhoods in San Francisco.