AC Repair in Brigham City, UT
Air conditioners here run from July through August. If yours quits, tell us what it's doing and a licensed contractor who covers Box Elder County will get in touch.
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Two months of heat, then storms the rest of the year
Your air conditioner in Brigham City really only has to work hard in July and August, when afternoons average 85°F. That short, hot stretch is when a weak capacitor or a low refrigerant charge finally shows itself, usually on the hottest afternoon when the system runs longest.
The other ten months bring their own wear. Box Elder County has logged 159 damaging wind events and 7 hail storms over the past ten years, with hail up to 1.5 inches. Wind drives debris into the outdoor unit's coil and fan, and hail that size can dent the cabinet or bend the fins around it. None of that shows up as a cooling problem until summer comes back and the unit has to run.
- 2 months
- July through August, your air conditioner is on duty
- 85°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
- 7 hail events
- in ten years, and hail bends the fins on outdoor coils
- 159 wind events
- in ten years, and wind drives debris into outdoor units
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A new air conditioner would save little on running costs in Box Elder County, so the repair decision comes down to the unit's condition.
Estimates for a typical Box Elder County home, compared with an older unit built to the previous federal minimum, from EIA household energy data, Utah fuel prices and NOAA climate normals. Your home will differ.
Repair makes sense when a part like a capacitor or contactor has failed.
Replacement makes sense when the compressor has failed or the system uses R-22 refrigerant, which is no longer made.
Utah requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
Utah licenses HVAC contractors through the Division of Professional Licensing, and that license covers the contractor rather than each job. The same license applies whether the work is a small repair or a full system change. Utah also sets a line at $7,000. Work under that amount does not need a licensed contractor.
Most air conditioner repairs fall under that $7,000 line, so the state license may not be the thing standing behind this particular job. What applies regardless is federal. Anyone who opens the refrigerant side of your air conditioner has to hold EPA Section 608 certification, whether that means adding refrigerant or working on the coil. That rule holds in every state, for every technician, no matter the size of the job.
Sources: Utah State Legislature · Utah Department of Commerce
- Why is my AC not blowing cold air?
- The most common reason is a dirty air filter choking off airflow, or the outdoor unit is dirty and can't release heat. Low refrigerant from a leak is another common cause, and that's not something to top off yourself since it means there's a leak somewhere in the system. If the filter looks clean and the outdoor unit is clear of debris, a contractor will need to check the refrigerant charge and the coils.
- Why is my AC leaking water?
- Usually the condensate drain line is clogged, and water is backing up instead of draining outside. It can also mean the evaporator coil has frozen over and is now melting and overflowing the drain pan. A dirty air filter is often behind a frozen coil, since it blocks the airflow the coil needs to stay above freezing.
- Why won't my AC turn on?
- Start with the thermostat. Check that it's set to cool and the temperature is below the room temperature, and change the batteries if it uses them. If the thermostat looks fine, check the breaker for the AC, since a tripped breaker will shut the whole system down. If the breaker keeps tripping after you reset it, stop resetting it and have a contractor look at it.