Your AC stopped working, and the house is getting warm. Whether the system blew hot air this morning, quit overnight, or has been limping along for weeks, you need two things: an honest diagnosis and a repair you can trust. That is exactly what we do.
Affordable Heating and Air offers AC repair throughout Los Angeles County from our Chatsworth headquarters. We provide same-day and emergency service, including nights and weekends. Our Simi Valley branch brings the same service to Ventura County.
AC broke down? Call now: (818) 722-1332 Ventura County: (805) 755-4074
The $95 diagnostic fee is credited toward your repair, so you never pay twice.
Most AC failures feel urgent, and many are. But two of the most common causes take thirty seconds to rule out:
Tripped breaker. Find the AC breaker in your electrical panel. Turn it completely off, wait ten seconds, then turn it back on. LA’s summer grid strain trips breakers more often than most homeowners realize. If it trips again right away, stop. This means there is an electrical fault and you need a technician.
Clogged filter. Pull out the filter and hold it up to the light. If you cannot see through it, the restriction may be choking airflow badly enough to freeze the evaporator coil and shut down cooling. Swap in a fresh filter and give the system thirty minutes.
Still not cooling? That is when a licensed technician earns the service call.
We do not specialize in one brand or one type of failure. Our trucks carry parts for the issues that actually show up in LA homes:
Capacitors, contactors, fan motors, and control boards. Capacitors are the most common part to fail during heat waves — sustained high temperatures degrade them season by season until they give out. Our vans stock the most common capacitor sizes, so most electrical repairs are completed in a single visit.
Low refrigerant always means there is a leak. We find the leak, repair it, and recharge the system to the manufacturer’s specification. Topping off without fixing the leak is only a temporary fix and can damage the compressor. We do not do that. All refrigerant work is done by EPA Section 608 certified technicians, as required by federal law.
Ice on the indoor coil or refrigerant lines signals an airflow restriction or refrigerant issue underneath. The system must thaw completely before diagnosis. If you see ice, switch the thermostat to Fan Only and let the blower run until the frost clears, then call us.
The compressor is the most expensive single component in the system. When it fails, the AC blows room-temperature air. Compressor diagnosis determines whether the failure is electrical, mechanical, or caused by a refrigerant issue — and whether repair or system replacement makes more financial sense.
A clogged drain line causes water to back up into the pan, and many systems have a safety switch that shuts down cooling when the pan fills. We clear the line, treat the pan, and check that the switch works. This 20-minute fix helps prevent water damage to ceilings and drywall.
Smart thermostats that lose Wi-Fi, reset to default schedules, or are set to the wrong system mode cause more service calls than most homeowners expect. We check thermostat operation and settings, including SCE and LADWP time-of-use settings, before working on anything mechanical.
Wildfire ash coats condenser coils, clogs filters within days, and leaves fine particles inside ductwork that keep circulating even after outdoor air quality improves. After a smoke event, we inspect coils, flush the system, and check if your current filter and duct setup can handle a MERV 13 or higher upgrade. More on wildfire air quality protection →
Every repair visit follows the same process. We do not take shortcuts or guess:
We arrive, listen to what you have noticed, and ask when the problem started. We inspect the full system — thermostat, filter, electrical parts, refrigerant performance, coils, drain, airflow, and ductwork. We find the root cause, not just the symptom. We explain what we found, what it will cost, and what your options are, including whether the repair is worth it or if the system’s age and condition suggest replacement.
You review everything and approve before any repair starts. We do not begin work without your permission, and we document every repair.
The Valley is not like the Westside or the coast. Chatsworth, Woodland Hills, Granada Hills, Northridge, Encino, and Santa Clarita regularly push past 105°F during summer heat waves.
That sustained heat creates specific repair patterns we see year after year:
Capacitor failures increase in July and August. Long periods of high temperatures speed up electrical wear. A capacitor that was getting weaker all spring often fails on the hottest day of the year.
Compressors work too hard in homes with poor attic insulation. When the attic reaches 150°F, and the ductwork is not well insulated, the AC must handle a lot of heat before it can cool your home. The compressor runs longer, works harder, and wears out faster.
Older homes often have ductwork that makes the system work harder. Leaky ducts, small returns, and restricted airflow force the AC to do more than it was designed for. This extra strain can cause frozen coils, short cycling, and early part failures.
Santa Ana winds cover condenser coils with dust. After a wind event, the outdoor coil can get so dirty that it reduces heat rejection. Cleaning the coil during a tune-up can prevent this from turning into a repair issue.
Our Simi Valley branch at (805) 755-4074 offers the same diagnostic and repair service throughout Ventura County. Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks experience inland heat like the San Fernando Valley. Coastal communities such as Oxnard, Ventura, Port Hueneme, and Camarillo face salt-air corrosion that damages outdoor condenser coil fins, electrical connections, and cabinet hardware over time.
We bring coil-cleaning compounds and anti-corrosion treatments to every coastal service call. For full Ventura County service details, visit our Ventura County HVAC Services page.
Not every AC problem should be repaired. We use a simple scoring approach to help you decide:
Repair is usually the best choice when the system is less than 10 years old, the problem is isolated, the repair cost is much less than half the price of a new system, and the unit still cools well when running.
Replacement is usually the better option when the system is over 15 years old, needs repairs more than once each cooling season, requires a major part like the compressor, or is already aging. It also makes sense if your energy bills have gone up a lot in the last two or three years, or if the system uses R-22 refrigerant, which is now very expensive to recharge.
We walk you through the numbers honestly. If repair is the best choice, we will tell you. If replacement makes more sense, we explain why and show you how LADWP rebates of up to $2,500 per ton on qualifying heat pump systems can help lower the cost of upgrading.
We quote every repair before we start, and you approve before we proceed.
The diagnostic and service call fee is $95. That amount is credited toward the cost of any repair we complete, so the diagnostic is free if you move forward with the repair. Labor-only repairs start at $350. Refrigerant leak repairs and major component work vary by system, access, and scope. We provide the full cost before starting.
We carry the most common parts on every truck. Most standard repairs, such as capacitors, contactors, fan motors, drain clearing, and thermostat issues, are completed in a single visit without needing a return trip.
We are locally owned and women-led. Our company is C-20 licensed, CSLB #1081403, with NATE-certified and EPA Section 608 certified technicians. We hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Our Chatsworth headquarters serves Los Angeles County, and our Simi Valley branch serves Ventura County. We offer 24/7 emergency dispatch and fully stocked service vans, so most repairs are completed in one trip.
We provide written estimates before any work begins. Financing is available for larger repairs and replacements. Our Care Club maintenance plans help prevent future breakdowns. We have a 4.9-star rating from over 1,300 Google reviews.
We offer 24/7 emergency dispatch from our Chatsworth headquarters. Response times depend on demand and location, but we give priority to emergency calls, especially during heat waves. Care Club members get priority scheduling over non-members during the busy summer season.
The $95 diagnostic fee covers the service call and inspection. That amount is credited toward any repair you approve. Standard repairs usually cost between $150 and $650 for electrical parts and fan motors.
Major repairs, such as compressor replacement or significant refrigerant leak repair, range from $1,300 to $2,500 or more, depending on the system. We quote every job before starting.
Repair is usually best for newer systems with isolated problems. Replacement often makes more sense financially when the system is over 15 years old, needs frequent repairs, uses R-22 refrigerant, or cannot cool your home well during summer heat. We review these factors with you and explain both options. LADWP rebates of up to $2,500 per ton on qualifying heat pumps can make upgrading more affordable than you might expect.
Yes. Our technicians are factory-trained and carry parts for the most common residential and light commercial brands and system types, including central AC, heat pumps, and ductless mini-splits.
Yes. Ash and fine particles coat condenser coils, clog filters, and move through ductwork. After a smoke event, we recommend a professional inspection that includes coil cleaning, filter evaluation, and checking if your system can handle higher-efficiency filtration. Learn about wildfire air quality protection →
Yes. Our Simi Valley branch at (805) 755-4074 serves all of Ventura County, including Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, and Port Hueneme. Visit our Ventura County page →
Check the breaker and the filter. If that does not solve the problem, call us. We will find the issue, explain it clearly, give you a written quote, and fix it right the first time.
Los Angeles County: (818) 722-1332 Ventura County: (805) 755-4074
Serving Chatsworth, Northridge, Granada Hills, Porter Ranch, West Hills, Van Nuys, Encino, Woodland Hills, Glendale, Burbank, Santa Clarita, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Agoura Hills, and all of Los Angeles County. Ventura County service through our Simi Valley branch.