Why Is the Fan on My Outdoor AC Unit Not Spinning?
Outdoor AC fan stopped while the unit hums? Usually a capacitor, fan motor or contactor. Why to shut it off now, what you can check safely, and typical costs.
Read the guideCooling Guides
Central air, sizing, noises, leaks and what to do when the AC quits in July.
Central air in Minnesota works hard for a short season. Humid July dew points, cottonwood fluff packed into the condenser coil and a system that sat idle all winter explain a lot of the calls we get in June. These guides cover why an air conditioner blows warm air, hums without starting, freezes up or leaks water, and what each fix involves.
If you're replacing a system, start with sizing and efficiency: how a Manual J load calculation sets the tonnage, what SEER2 means for a Minnesota house, and when a two-stage or variable-speed unit is worth the extra money. For service, see AC repair and AC replacement.
How Long Does a Central Air Conditioner Last in Minnesota?
Carrier and Lennox put central AC life at 15–20 years. Why Minnesota's short summers help, what cottonwood, salt and hail do, and when to repair or replace.
Read the guideWhy Is My AC Freezing Up? Ice on the Lines or the Indoor Coil
Ice on your AC lines or indoor coil means too little airflow or too little refrigerant. What to do right now, what you can check, and when to call.
Read the guideR-454B and R-32: What the Refrigerant Change Means for Your AC
R-454B and R-32 are the lower-GWP refrigerants in new ACs and heat pumps. What the EPA rule says, what A2L means, and what it means for your R-410A system.
Read the guideSEER2 vs SEER: What the New AC Rating Means
SEER2 replaced SEER on January 1, 2023 under a tougher DOE test, so the numbers read lower. What it measures, Minnesota's 13.4 minimum, and what's worth buying.
Read the guideAC Leaking Water Inside the House: Causes and What to Do
Water by the furnace in July? What's normal dripping and what's a leak, the usual causes (drain, pump, iced coil, cracked pan), and what to do right now.
Read the guideDoes the Furnace Need to Be On for AC to Work?
Yes. Central AC runs on the furnace's blower, filter and low-voltage power. What each part does in July, what to check at the furnace, and when to call.
Read the guideBest Central AC Brands for Minnesota (2026)
Central AC brands for Minnesota's short, humid summers: SEER2 payback, humidity control, matching the coil to your furnace, and the R-454B and R-32 switch.
Read the guideCarrier Performance vs Comfort Air Conditioners: What Differs
Carrier Comfort vs Performance AC: which models are single-stage or two-stage, published SEER2 and sound ratings, warranty rules, and Minnesota fit.
Read the guideAC Installation in River Falls, WI: What to Know Before You Replace
Replacing central air in River Falls, WI: Manual J sizing, heat pump and ductless options, RFMU and Focus on Energy programs, and our installed prices.
Read the guideHigh-Velocity AC for Older Minnesota Homes: Pros and Cons
How small-duct, high-velocity AC works in boiler-heated Minneapolis and Saint Paul houses, what it costs nationally, and when ductless is the better call.
Read the guideClogged AC Condensate Drain: How to Find It and Clear It
Water around the furnace in July? How the AC condensate drain works, the order to check it in, how to clear a clog, and when a pump or trap is to blame.
Read the guideR-22 Air Conditioner in Minnesota: Repair, Recharge or Replace
Still running an R-22 AC? Which repairs are worth it, what reclaimed R-22 costs nationally, why retrofits rarely pay, and what replacing it changes.
Read the guideAC Humming Noise: What the Sound Means and What to Do
A humming AC condenser can be normal, or a failing capacitor, fan motor or contactor. How to tell by the sound, what is safe to check, and what repairs cost.
Read the guideWhy Your AC Smells Like Dirty Socks, and How It Gets Fixed
A dirty-sock smell from the AC usually means growth on a wet indoor coil or a drain pan that won't drain. Why it hits Minnesota in spring and how it's fixed.
Read the guideHow Many Tons of AC Does a Minneapolis House Need?
AC tonnage for Minneapolis homes: a tons-to-BTU and airflow chart, why square-foot rules oversize, how to read your old unit's size, and what a Manual J does.
Read the guideSigns Your AC Evaporator Coil Is Leaking
Ice on the big copper line, long run times, a system that needs refrigerant every summer: how a coil leak shows up, how it's confirmed, and repair vs replace.
Read the guideRheem vs Goodman Air Conditioners: What Actually Differs
Rheem vs Goodman central AC for a Minnesota home: who owns each brand, R-454B vs R-32, matching tiers, warranty registration and what matters more.
Read the guide2-Stage vs Variable-Speed AC: Which Fits a Minnesota Home
Two-stage or variable-speed AC for a Minnesota home? How each handles humid July days, what SEER2 and EER2 mean, what it costs and what your furnace needs.
Read the guideAC Not Turning On? What to Check First in a Minneapolis Home
AC won't turn on? Check thermostat, furnace switch, breakers, outdoor disconnect and float switch, plus Xcel Saver's Switch events, before you call a tech.
Read the guideAC Running but Not Cooling? What to Check, in Order
Your AC runs but the house won't cool. Checks a technician makes, in order: thermostat, filter, ice, outdoor unit, drain, and when it's a refrigerant leak.
Read the guideDuctless Mini-Split vs Central AC: Which Fits Your House?
Mini-split or central air? In Minnesota the answer turns on your ductwork and your heat. Costs, comfort, winter use and the houses where each one wins.
Read the guideHow to Size Central AC for a Twin Cities Home
Why square-foot rules oversize Minnesota air conditioners, what a Manual J load calculation measures, and how to read the size of the AC you have now.
Read the guideCooling questions
What warranty comes with a repair?
Completed repairs come with a written 1-year parts-and-labor warranty. If a part we installed fails within that year, we come back and fix it without charging you for the part or the labor. Keep the invoice somewhere you can find it, since it lists what was done and when, and that makes a warranty call quick.
What warranty comes with a new install?
Our installs carry a 2-year labor warranty from us, on top of the manufacturer's parts warranty. Many manufacturers require you to register new equipment online, often within 60 days of installation, to get their longer parts warranty, so check the current registration terms for your brand and don't let that window slip. Keep the model and serial numbers with your paperwork.
Should I repair my furnace or replace it?
Age and the type of failure decide most of these. We'd usually repair a 9-year-old furnace with a bad inducer motor, and usually recommend replacing a 22-year-old furnace with a cracked heat exchanger. In between, weigh the repair price against the furnace's age and how often it has needed work. Replacement price ranges are in our furnace cost guide.
Do you work on my brand of furnace or air conditioner?
Yes. We service every major brand: furnaces and air conditioners from Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Goodman, Rheem, York and the rest, mini-splits from Mitsubishi, Daikin, Fujitsu and LG, boilers from Weil-McLain, Burnham, Navien and others, and thermostats and air quality equipment. Many brands share a parent company and parts. The brands page has a page for each one; if yours isn't there, call and ask.
What does it mean if my furnace was red-tagged?
A red tag means a technician or the gas utility found the furnace unsafe to run and shut off its gas. The usual reasons are a cracked heat exchanger, carbon monoxide spilling into the house, or a venting problem. Don't turn it back on. Have the problem confirmed and fixed, or replace the furnace if the heat exchanger is cracked. Our heat exchanger guide covers the warning signs.
Can you recharge my old R-22 air conditioner?
Sometimes, but it's rarely a good deal. R-22 production and import ended January 1, 2020, so the only refrigerant available is reclaimed or stockpiled, and it's expensive. If the system is leaking, you'll be paying for it again next summer. On an older R-22 unit with a leak, replacement usually makes more sense. Our R-22 guide walks through the options.
Contact Us
Heat out? AC quit? Call or send a request.