HVAC repair and replacement in Yuba City

On a 100° afternoon, yes. A working AC can run almost nonstop in that heat, and a common rule of thumb is that it holds the house about 20 degrees cooler than outside. Call if it runs all day in mild weather, can’t get the house below about 80°, or ices up.

ENERGY STAR suggests 78° when you’re home, 82° while you sleep, and 85° when you’re out. On the hottest afternoons, a higher setting also takes strain off an AC that’s already working hard. In winter, 68° while you’re home and awake is a good place to start.

Check it every month and replace it at least every 3 months, or sooner if it looks gray and dusty, as ENERGY STAR advises. During wildfire smoke, check it more often. The EPA and California’s air board suggest a MERV 13 filter if your system can take one.

Once a year for each system: the AC in spring, before the heat arrives, and the furnace in fall, before the first cold night. ENERGY STAR recommends that timing because HVAC companies get busy once summer and winter hit.

Most often the condensate drain line is clogged, so water backs up into the house instead of draining outside. A frozen coil can do it too: a dirty filter chokes the airflow, ice builds up, and the melt overflows the pan. Turn the system off, check the filter, and call if the leak keeps up.

Check the thermostat first. It should be set to Heat, with the fan on Auto. On makes the blower run between heating cycles, pushing room-temperature air through the vents. Then check the filter, since a clogged one can make the furnace overheat and shut itself off. If it still blows cold, it’s time to call.

Check that the thermostat is set to Heat, a few degrees above the room temperature, with fresh batteries. Then make sure the furnace’s power switch, which looks like a light switch near the unit, is on and its breaker hasn’t tripped. If it still won’t start, or it clicks without lighting, it’s time to call.

Try the $5,000 rule: multiply the system’s age by the repair quote, and over 5,000 usually points to replacing it. ENERGY STAR also suggests weighing a new unit once an AC passes 10 years, especially if repairs or power bills keep climbing. A well-kept AC lasts about 15 to 20 years.

No cooling in a heat wave, especially with babies, older adults, or anyone with a health condition at home. No heat when nights drop toward freezing. A burning smell from the unit, or water pouring out of it. If you smell gas or a carbon monoxide alarm goes off, leave the house and call 911 or PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 from outside.

No. Yuba HVAC Pros is a referral service, not a contractor. Your call goes to an independent local HVAC company that covers your ZIP code, and that company or the call network may pay this site a fee. You never pay this site. Before you hire anyone, check their C-20 license at cslb.ca.gov.