Short answers that point to the full story
Most questions people bring to this site fall into six groups: how the line works, money, licenses, cooling trouble, heating trouble and safety. Each answer below is short on purpose and links to the page that covers the topic in depth.
One thing to know up front: only the HVAC company that looks at your equipment can tell you what is wrong with it or what the fix will cost. If your house is getting hot or cold right now, skip the reading and call (832) 662-4107.
The line and how calls work
What happens when I call Houston Air & Heating?
An automated assistant picks up and first asks what you need. For heating or cooling, it asks a few quick questions about the problem and your location, and then your call is handed to a local HVAC business. Before it comes on the line, the company gets a brief rundown of what you said, so you are not repeating yourself. The how it works page walks through each step.
Is the line answered at night, on weekends and on holidays?
Yes. The assistant takes calls around the clock, every day of the year. Whether a company can come out at 2 a.m. on a Sunday is up to that company, so ask about timing and any after-hours charge while you are on the phone with it.
Can I send an email or fill out a form instead?
There is no email inbox, but there is a short form. On the contact page you can send your name, phone number, city or ZIP code and what you need, and an independent local company calls you back. Calling is still the quickest route, since the assistant can connect you with a local company while you are on the line.
What if the HVAC company does not pick up?
The assistant takes your name, callback number, area and a description of the problem and passes them to the company so it can call you back. Answer unknown numbers for a while after you hang up.
Cost and who pays
How much does an air conditioner repair cost in Houston?
It depends on the part that failed, the size and age of the system, where the equipment sits (attic units take longer) and the time of day. The line has no prices of its own. The AC repair cost guide collects published ranges with their sources and explains what moves a quote up or down. Your real number comes from the company that inspects your system.
Will the company charge me just to come out?
Many HVAC companies charge for a service visit or diagnosis, and some apply it to the repair. Policies differ, so ask on the first call what the visit costs and what it includes. You never pay the line anything.
How does the line make money if calling is free?
The HVAC companies may pay it a referral fee. That is why every page carries a disclosure. The fee does not appear on your bill from the line, because there is no bill from the line.
Licenses, permits and choosing a company
Does Texas require an HVAC license?
Yes. Anyone offering air conditioning and refrigeration contracting in Texas needs an ACR Contractor license from the state licensing agency, TDLR. TDLR says a Class A license allows work on units of any size, while Class B is limited to smaller equipment: cooling up to 25 tons and heating up to 1.5 million BTUs an hour. Ask for the number and check it on the TDLR license search.
Does an AC replacement in Houston need a permit?
Inside the City of Houston, the Houston Permitting Center lists mechanical permits for a new complete system and for altering an existing one. It says the contractor must be licensed by TDLR and have that license registered with the city. Suburbs run their own permit offices. Ask the company whether its quote includes the permit.
How do I choose between two quotes?
Compare what each one includes, not just the total: the exact equipment model numbers, the permit, the labor warranty in writing and how the size of the system was worked out. The guide to choosing an HVAC company has a full list of questions to ask.
Cooling problems
Why did my AC stop working?
Start with the safe checks: make sure the thermostat is on Cool with a setting lower than the room, and swap its batteries. Look at the air filter. Check the breaker panel; a tripped breaker may be reset one time, and if it flips again, stop there and phone for help. Clear leaves and debris from around the outdoor unit. If none of that brings the cold air back, the AC not cooling guide explains the usual causes, and the AC repair page explains what a careful technician checks.
Why is my AC leaking water inside the house?
An air conditioner pulls a lot of moisture out of humid Gulf Coast air, and that water has to drain away. A clogged drain line, a full or rusted pan or a tripped float switch can send it into a closet or through a ceiling below an attic unit. Turn the system off at the thermostat to stop the water and read the AC leaking water guide.
Should I repair my AC or replace it?
Age, the size of the repair, how often it has failed and your plans for the house matter most. A repair quote on an older system deserves a replacement price beside it, and the reverse. The repair or replace guide walks through the decision. If someone says you must replace an R-410A system because of a federal deadline, read the free refrigerant guide first.
How long does an AC repair take?
A common part swap may take one visit; a refrigerant leak search, a coil or a compressor can take longer, especially if parts have to be ordered. Ask the company for its estimate of time as well as price before you approve the work.
Heating problems
My furnace will not turn on. What can I safely check?
Confirm the thermostat is set to Heat and above room temperature, replace its batteries, and look at the filter. Check that the furnace switch (often a light switch on or near the unit) is on and that its breaker has not tripped; reset a breaker once only. Do not take panels off or touch the burners or gas valve. If you smell gas, see the safety answers below. The furnace repair page covers what happens next.
What is the difference between a heat pump and a furnace?
A gas furnace makes heat by burning natural gas. A heat pump is an air conditioner that can run in reverse, using electricity to move heat from the outdoor air into the house. Many Houston homes have one or the other, and some heat pumps have electric heat strips for backup. The heating repair page covers heat pump and electric heat problems.
Safety first
I smell gas in the house. What now?
Walk everyone out of the home at once. Inside or near the house, avoid light switches, phones and car ignitions, since any spark could set the gas off. Once you are well away, call 911 and your gas company. CenterPoint Energy, the gas company in Houston, lists 888-876-5786 for reporting a gas leak. Never try to find or fix a gas leak yourself.
What if my carbon monoxide alarm goes off?
Get everyone outside into fresh air and call 911. Do not hunt for the source first. You cannot see or smell carbon monoxide, and a faulty furnace is one place it can come from. Stay out until responders say it is safe, and do not run the suspected appliance again until a qualified technician has checked it.
Someone in the hot house seems confused or very hot. What do I do?
Call 911. The CDC lists confusion, passing out and a body temperature of 103 degrees or higher as signs of heat stroke, which is a medical emergency. Move the person somewhere cooler and cool them with wet cloths while you wait. Call about the air conditioner after help is on the way.
Verify the license before work begins. Texas requires anyone contracting to do air conditioning, refrigeration or heating work to hold an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (ACR) Contractor license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Ask the company for its ACR license number, then confirm it on the TDLR license search (opens in a new tab). The line does not check this for you.
About this line: Houston Air & Heating is a free phone line, not an HVAC contractor. It answers your call and connects you with an independent local heating and air conditioning company, which inspects, quotes and does the work, and which you pay directly. Companies may pay a referral fee. You never pay the line. Read how the line works.