Should I Repair or Replace My Air Conditioner?

Before deciding on replacing or repairing your AC, you should answer the following questions: - How old is the air conditioner? If it’s already more than ten years old and requires regular repairs, you’ll get more value by replacing it. - How much will a new system cost? If the cost of repairing your air conditioner is more than 30% of the cost of a new system, it’s best to replace it. We’ll run the numbers during our consultations to show you how a new system is a better upgrade than repairing the old one. - How much money will you save on energy bills? A more efficient unit will consume less electricity, saving you a significant amount over time.

How Long Will My Air Conditioner Last?

The average lifespan for an air conditioner is 10-15 years with adequate maintenance. However, some models can last longer if you maintain them regularly. Ignoring maintenance and obvious problems can also reduce your air conditioner’s lifespan.

Should I Cover the Outside Unit in the Winter?

Air conditioners undergo stress tests during manufacturing. The outside units can withstand the winter weather without the need for protective covering. Covering the unit can cause internal rust and corrosion if water enters the compartments.

What Temperature Should I Set My Thermostat?

The right temperature level to set your thermostat is the one at which you and your family feel the most comfortable. For most homes in Lakeland, FL, the optimum range will be around 70 and 75 degrees for most days. When you return to a warm home, you may feel like setting the thermostat to the lowest possible temperature to cool your house quickly. However, this approach will only increase your cooling bills. Over the same time, an air conditioner with the thermostat set to 75 degrees will cool the home as efficiently as one set to 60 degrees.

What Does Charging My Air Conditioner Mean?

Charging your air conditioner refers to topping off the refrigerant. Air conditioners operate in a closed-loop system. However, when system damage leads to a refrigerant leak, you must top it off to restore optimum function and continue the delivery of cold air. The air conditioning service company will charge your air conditioner using the manufacturer-specified refrigerant for optimum results.

How Long Will AC Repair Take?

When your AC breaks down on a hot summer afternoon, you want to it fixed and delivering cold air as quickly as possible. Thus, it makes sense to ask how long it will take to complete the AC repair. However, there’s no ready-made answer to the question. The time it will take to complete the repair comes down to the type of AC repair. Cleaning AC coils or replacing dirty filters will take a few minutes, while more serious issues like replacing a damaged motor or fixing refrigerant leaks will take longer. At Egberts Cooling and Heating, we arrive at your property with a fully-stocked van. We can diagnose and fix your air conditioner in one visit, reducing the amount of time you have to wait in the heat.

How Much Will AC Repair Cost?

The cost of an AC repair project will also vary from project to project. The extent of the damage, the affected parts, and your warranty are just a few factors that can affect the final price. Requesting a quote is the best way to figure out how much your AC repair will cost. At Egberts Cooling and Heating, we offer free, no-obligation estimates on all projects. Do you need financing for the repairs? We’ll discuss the options available to you in our consultation.

What Models of Air Conditioners Are the Best?

All air conditioners on the market today are high-quality systems that meet industry standards. When choosing a system for your home or business, look beyond the manufacturer name and focus on the specifications. Is the air conditioner powerful enough for your home? Is it Energy Star-rated? Buying an underpowered or overpowered system will leave you spending money on repairs prematurely. Work with a qualified technician to choose an air conditioner that ticks all the right boxes.

AC Repair in Lakeland FL

Contact Us

Lakeland summers are no joke. Between the heat and the humidity rolling in off the lakes, your air conditioner runs almost nonstop from April through October. That kind of workload wears systems down faster here than in most parts of the country, and when something gives out, you feel it within the hour.

At Egberts Electrical Plumbing Air Conditioning, we provide AC repair for homeowners throughout Lakeland and the surrounding Polk County area. Our team shows up on time, explains what we find in plain language, and gets your home comfortable again without a lot of back-and-forth. We use quality parts and proven methods so the fix holds up through the rest of the season.

Our Services

What Your Neighbors Are Saying About Us

This company is A++ and we recommend them to anybody who needs AC or heating repair. They answered all of our questions and made sure we knew how to work the thermostat. We are extremely satisfied with everything.

They work very fast and efficiently to get the job done. Adam was a wonderful guy who came and found a problem, he fixed it quickly and at no cost to me. Thanks Adam!

Called them on Friday night after discovering our home AC was not working. Old system removed, new system installed and updated, new thermostat, UV light and all duct work cleaned. Highly recommend Egbert’s for home Air Conditioning needs!

Tristan and Nick were awesome. Great work and my house is icy cold. They cleaned up before leaving and showed us how to work the new thermostat. Both guys were courteous, knowledgeable and professional.

.A great company, their team is very efficient and professional. Yoislan and Luis recommend them. I was very satisfied with the installation work they did in my house, very organized and clean. Thank you Egberts Teams.

Signs Your Air Conditioner Needs Repair

Most cooling problems give you some warning before the system quits for good. Here are the things we hear about most from Lakeland homeowners.

Warm air from vents
Weak or uneven airflow
Grinding, buzzing, or rattling
Rising electric bills
Clammy indoor humidity
Water is pooling near the unit
Musty or burning smells
Short cycling on and off
Thermostat not responding

If you notice any of these, it is worth having someone look before a small issue turns into a full breakdown on the hottest afternoon of the year.

What's Causing Your AC to Malfunction

Humidity is the biggest culprit in our part of Florida. Your system is pulling moisture out of the air all day long, and that constant condensate load leads to clogged drain lines, overflowing pans, and water damage around the air handler. Algae growth in the drain line is one of the most common service calls we run in Lakeland.

Refrigerant leaks are another frequent problem. When the charge drops, the system runs longer and longer without ever reaching the set temperature, and the compressor takes the beating. Low refrigerant also causes coils to ice over, which shuts down airflow completely until the unit thaws.

Electrical issues show up often, too. Capacitors, contactors, and relays all take a toll from the long run times and the afternoon thunderstorms we get through the summer. Since we handle both electrical and HVAC work under one roof, we can trace a cooling problem back to its electrical source without sending you to a second company.

Then there is simple wear. Dirty coils, failing blower motors, and neglected filters make a system work harder than it should. Lakeland’s pollen seasons and dusty dry spells clog things up quickly, and once airflow is restricted, everything downstream suffers.

Our AC Repair Process

We start with a real diagnosis. A technician walks the system from the thermostat to the air handler to the outdoor condenser, checks pressures and electrical readings, and identifies the actual cause rather than guessing at symptoms. That step matters because swapping a part without knowing why it failed usually means another call a few weeks later.

Once we know what is going on, we explain it to you in clear language and give you the pricing up front. You decide how you want to move forward. We never start work without your approval, and we never pad an invoice with things you do not need.

Most repairs get finished on the same visit. We carry common parts on the truck, so a bad capacitor or a clogged drain line does not turn into a multi-day wait. For larger repairs, we are straight with you about timing and about whether replacement makes better financial sense than another round of fixes.

Before we leave, we test the system under load to ensure it is cooling and dehumidifying as it should. We also point out anything that may give you trouble down the road so that you can plan rather than react.

24/7 Emergency AC Repair Available

A broken air conditioner in July is not something that waits until Monday. Indoor temperatures climb fast in Florida, and high humidity makes a hot house genuinely unsafe for older adults, young kids, and pets. That is why we answer emergency calls around the clock.

Call us at any hour, and you get a real person and a real plan. We prioritize no-cooling situations, water leaks from the air handler, and anything with a burning smell or a tripped breaker, because those pose safety risks beyond comfort. Our technicians arrive with the tools and common parts needed to restore cooling on the spot whenever possible.

Why Choose Egberts Electrical Plumbing Air Conditioning

Lakeland homeowners keep calling us back for a few straightforward reasons.

Years of hands-on experience
Fast, reliable response times
24/7 emergency service
Electrical and HVAC expertise
Competitive, upfront pricing
Financing and seasonal promotions
Warranties on our work
Satisfaction guaranteed on every visit
Local team, local knowledge

We treat your home the way we would want someone to treat ours, and we are honest with you even when the honest answer is not the one that makes us the most money.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast can you get to my Lakeland home?

We offer prompt scheduling and 24/7 emergency service, so most urgent no cooling calls are handled the same day.

Should I repair or replace my AC?

If your system is under ten years old and the repair is modest, repair usually wins. Older systems with repeated failures are often better replaced.

Why does my AC run, but the house stays humid?

That often points to an oversized system, low refrigerant, or a drainage problem. All three are common in Lakeland and fixable.

Do you offer financing for larger repairs?

Yes. We offer financing options and seasonal promotions so a surprise repair does not wreck your budget.

How often should I have my AC serviced?

Once a year at minimum, and ideally each spring before our cooling season starts. Florida systems run far more hours than average, so regular maintenance pays off.