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Property Playbook

AC dead in the heat

What to ask before a dead AC becomes an automatic full HVAC replacement quote.

Best for: Owners under time pressure who need cooling restored without accepting an unsupported replacement scope.

Do not open electrical cabinets unless qualified. Capacitors can hold dangerous charge. Burning smell or repeated breaker trips need qualified service.

Build decision packet Use Start Here

Plain English

What do I do first?

This page puts the steps in order so you do not need to know the expert words before you start.

Start here: Write down exactly what happened: thermostat display, indoor blower, outdoor unit behavior, ice, water/float switch, breaker behavior, and recent thermostat or service changes.

Quote: The price and work list someone gave you.
Scope: What is included and what is not included.
Proof: Photos, receipts, readings, reports, and notes.
Deductible: The money you may pay before insurance helps.
Cleanup: Stop, dry, remove, clean, or make safe.
Rebuild: Put the home back together: walls, floors, cabinets, paint, and fixtures.

First move

Write down exactly what happened: thermostat display, indoor blower, outdoor unit behavior, ice, water/float switch, breaker behavior, and recent thermostat or service changes.

Mistake check

  • Do not let "dead AC" become the diagnosis.
  • Do not accept "bad board" without the failed input or output named.
  • Do not replace ducts, furnace, or blower without a written reason.

What people forget

  • Capacitor and contactor readings
  • Drain float switch
  • Dirty filter or iced coil
  • Thermostat setup
  • Duct and return-air condition

What makes it go bad

  • Emergency timing reduces quote leverage.
  • A cheap service repair is skipped because replacement is easier to sell.
  • A new system still underperforms because airflow was the real issue.

Step-by-step

  1. Step 1

    Start with the symptom matrix

    Use the HVAC Diagnosis Live Matrix to convert what you saw into questions the technician should answer.

  2. Step 2

    Ask for the ruled-out list

    For a dead or weak AC, ask what readings rule out thermostat signal, float switch, capacitor, contactor, fan motor, filter, ice, airflow, and compressor start problems.

  3. Step 3

    Price more than one path

    If replacement is still recommended, ask for repair, partial replacement, full replacement, and duct/airflow scope as separate options.

Documents to collect

  • Technician notes
  • Test readings
  • Quote with equipment model numbers
  • Warranty terms
  • Rebate assumptions

Packet prompt

Create a packet with symptoms, failed readings, cheaper causes ruled out, replacement range, and quote questions.

Open the decision packet