Heating & Air
Air Conditioning Repair in Charleston, SC
In a Charleston summer, air conditioning is not a comfort system. It is a humidity system.
In a Charleston summer, air conditioning is not a comfort system. It is a humidity system.
Quick answer: Most Charleston AC calls are one of four problems: it runs but the air is not cold, it will not start, it runs without reaching the set temperature, or the house is cold but clammy. A shutdown with water near the indoor unit is usually a blocked condensate drain. Published Charleston examples: diagnostic visit $69–$110, capacitor $150–$300 (HVAC cost guide; not our quotes). Licensed mechanical subcontractors do the HVAC work and pull their own permits; we coordinate as the SC general contractor (CLG.127339). Call (843) 718-8177.
Related: Why Is There Water Around My Air Handler (or a Stain on the Ceiling Under the Attic)? · Why Is One Room Always Hotter Than the Rest of the House? · Why Do My Lights Flicker When the AC Comes On, and When Is It Dangerous?.
Plan the scope: Charleston HVAC cost guide · York County cost guide · What to check before hiring an HVAC company.
That last one is specific to climates like this one and is frequently misdiagnosed. An air conditioner removes humidity by running long enough for moisture to condense on the coil. An oversized system cools the air quickly, satisfies the thermostat and shuts off before it has dehumidified — so the house is cold and damp at once. The fix is rarely more capacity.
The most common single fault we expect to find is a blocked condensate drain. In this climate a system pulls a remarkable volume of water out of the air, and the line that carries it away grows biological sludge. When it blocks, the safety switch shuts the system down — which is the system protecting your ceiling, not a failure.
We take this work across greater Charleston, from Summerville and Goose Creek to Mount Pleasant, West Ashley and the sea islands, and on the York County side around Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Tega Cay and Lake Wylie. More on our heating and air services.
Usually an oversized system, or one cycling too short. Removing humidity requires sustained runtime for moisture to condense on the coil and drain away.
A system that satisfies the thermostat in a few minutes never reaches that point, so the air is chilled but not dried. Adding capacity generally makes it worse.
Most often a blocked condensate drain line. A system in this climate removes a great deal of water from the air, and the drain grows algae and sludge until it blocks.
A float switch then shuts the system down deliberately to stop the pan overflowing into the ceiling.
Once a year at minimum in this climate, and the condensate drain is the part that most repays attention.
Coils, drain, refrigerant charge and airflow are what determine whether the system dehumidifies properly through a Lowcountry August.
It depends on the failed part. Charleston providers publish $150–$300 for a capacitor, $400–$900 for a blower motor and $1,500–$3,500 for a compressor, with diagnostic visits advertised at $69 to $110. Those are third-party examples on our cost guide, not our quotes.
Yes. North Charleston, Summerville, Goose Creek, Mount Pleasant and the islands are in our Charleston-area HVAC service area, and we cover York County as well. Licensed mechanical subcontractors do the repair.