Is your AC running but your house just keeps getting hotter? You’re not alone — “AC not cooling” is the number one call we get in Wichita every July. Sometimes it’s a two-minute fix you can do yourself, and sometimes it means a component has failed. This page walks you through what to check before you call, and the warning signs that mean it’s time to get a technician out — often the same day.
Quick version: try the four checks below. If none of them solve it, call 316-351-8894 and we’ll get your home cool again fast, with an up-front price before any work starts.
4 Things to Check Before You Call (2 Minutes, No Tools)
1. Thermostat settings
Make sure it’s set to COOL (not just “fan on” — that circulates air without cooling it) and the set temperature is below the current room temperature. If the screen is blank, try fresh batteries. You’d be surprised how many “broken AC” calls end here — and we’d rather you check than pay us to flip a switch.
2. Air filter
A clogged filter chokes airflow and can even freeze the system solid. If you can’t remember the last time you changed it, pull it out and hold it up to a light. Can’t see light through it? Replace it, then give the system a few hours. In dusty Kansas summers, filters need changing every 1–3 months.
3. Breaker box
Check your electrical panel for a tripped breaker labeled “AC,” “condenser,” or “air handler.” If it’s tripped, reset it once. If it trips again, stop and call us — a breaker that keeps tripping means an electrical problem that needs a professional, and resetting it repeatedly can damage the system.
4. The outdoor unit
Walk outside and look at the condenser (the big unit with the fan). Is the fan spinning? Is the unit caked in cottonwood fluff, grass clippings, or debris? A blocked condenser can’t dump heat. Clear away anything within two feet of it. If the fan isn’t spinning while the system is calling for cooling, or you hear a hum with no movement, that usually points to a failed capacitor — one of our most common Wichita repairs, and typically a fast fix.
Signs It’s Time to Call — Don’t Wait These Out
- Blowing warm air with the thermostat set correctly — often low refrigerant from a leak, or a failed compressor or capacitor
- Ice anywhere on the unit or lines — turn the system OFF (running it frozen can kill the compressor) and call
- Runs constantly but never reaches temperature — the system has lost capacity; something is failing
- Loud buzzing, grinding, or screeching — mechanical failure in progress
- Breaker trips more than once — electrical fault, safety issue
- Water pooling around the indoor unit — clogged condensate drain, and water damage gets expensive fast
In a Kansas heat wave, a struggling AC rarely limps along for long — small problems become compressor-killing problems when the system runs 14 hours a day. Catching it early is almost always the cheaper repair.
Why ACs Give Out in Wichita Heat
When it’s 100°F+ for days, your air conditioner runs nearly nonstop, and the weakest component fails first. The failures we see most in Wichita: capacitors (heat is brutal on them — this is the classic “outdoor fan hums but won’t spin”), refrigerant leaks (warm air, ice on the lines, long run times), clogged condensate drains (humidity means gallons of water a day through that drain), and dirty condensers (cottonwood season packs the coil, and the system overheats). All of them are fixable — and most are same-day fixes with the right part on the truck.
What Happens When You Call Slater
We’re a family-owned, owner-operated Wichita company — when you call 316-351-8894, you talk to the people who do the work. We diagnose the actual problem, give you the price up front, and fix it right. No scare tactics, no pushing a new system when a repair makes sense. If your AC is down and it’s dangerous-hot, we offer 24/7 emergency service, and we prioritize no-cooling calls in extreme heat.
Want the full rundown of what we repair? See our AC repair in Wichita page. Already know it’s time? Once you’re cooled off, an annual spring tune-up catches most of these failures before they strand you in July.
Serving Wichita & Surrounding Towns
We handle AC-not-cooling calls throughout Wichita, Derby, Andover, Maize, Goddard, Haysville, Mulvane, Clearwater, Valley Center, Rose Hill, and Benton.
Hot House? Call Now
If the quick checks didn’t fix it, don’t sweat through another night. Call 316-351-8894 for fast, honest AC repair in Wichita — same-day in most cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my AC running but not cooling the house?
The most common causes are a dirty filter, low refrigerant from a leak, a failed capacitor, or a blocked outdoor condenser. Try the quick checks above; if none solve it, the fix needs a technician.
Why is my AC blowing warm air?
First confirm the thermostat is on COOL, not FAN. If it is, warm air usually means a refrigerant leak, a failed compressor or capacitor, or the outdoor unit isn’t running at all.
Should I keep running my AC if it’s not cooling?
If you see ice on the unit, hear grinding, or the breaker keeps tripping — turn it off. Running a failing system can turn a small repair into a compressor replacement.
How fast can you get here?
Same-day in most cases, and we prioritize no-cooling calls during extreme heat. We also offer 24/7 emergency service.
How much does AC repair cost in Wichita?
It depends on the failure — a capacitor is a very different job than a refrigerant leak. What we promise: an accurate diagnosis and the full price up front, before any work begins.