Signs Your AC Needs Immediate Repair: Don't Wait Until It Breaks

Some AC problems can wait a few days. Others will destroy your compressor, flood your home, or leave you without cooling in the middle of an Austin summer when temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees. Knowing the difference can save you thousands of dollars and keep your family safe.

At CG Service Pros, we see homeowners every season who waited too long. In Austin, waiting even a day in peak heat can mean a dangerous home, especially for elderly family members, young children, and pets. Here's how to tell which signs demand immediate AC emergency repair and which ones can wait until you can schedule a regular appointment.

Signs That Require Immediate Action

These seven warning signs indicate a serious problem. For each, we've included what's happening, how urgent it is, what to do right now, and what happens if you wait.

1. Burning Smell

What's happening: A burning or electrical odor usually means overheating components, a burned-out motor, or an electrical short. Wires, capacitors, or contactors may be failing.

Urgency: 10/10. This is an electrical emergency. Electrical faults can cause fires.

What to do right now: Turn off the AC at the thermostat and at the circuit breaker. Do not run the system again until a technician has inspected it. Call for emergency AC repair immediately.

What happens if you wait: The problem will worsen. You risk an electrical fire, damage to your electrical panel, or a complete system failure. In the worst case, you could face a house fire.

2. Ice on Refrigerant Lines or Evaporator Coil

What's happening: Ice forms when airflow is restricted (dirty filter, closed vents, failing blower) or when refrigerant is low. The system is essentially damaging itself. Liquid refrigerant can flood back to the compressor, which is not designed to handle it.

Urgency: 9/10. The system is actively harming critical components.

What to do right now: Turn the AC off immediately. Let it thaw completely before any technician arrives (this can take several hours). Replace your filter and ensure all vents are open. Schedule a service call. Do not turn it back on until a professional has diagnosed and repaired the underlying cause.

What happens if you wait: Continued operation with ice will damage or destroy the compressor. A compressor replacement typically costs $1,500 to $3,500. Waiting can turn a $200 refrigerant or airflow fix into a multi-thousand-dollar repair.

3. Breaker Tripping Repeatedly

What's happening: The circuit breaker is protecting your home from an electrical overload or short circuit. Each trip means something is drawing too much current or there is a fault in the system.

Urgency: 9/10. Repeated tripping indicates a persistent electrical fault.

What to do right now: Do not keep resetting the breaker. Each reset risks further damage and fire hazard. Leave the breaker off and call for AC repair. A technician will identify the cause, which could be a failing compressor, bad capacitor, shorted wire, or failing motor.

What happens if you wait: You may damage the compressor, overload the electrical system, or create a fire risk. Repeatedly forcing the breaker to reset can also damage the breaker itself.

4. Loud Banging, Grinding, or Metal-on-Metal Sounds

What's happening: These sounds usually indicate a broken internal part: a failed fan blade, loose or broken motor mount, failing compressor, or worn bearings. Metal grinding means components are destroying each other.

Urgency: 8/10. Catastrophic failure is imminent.

What to do right now: Turn the system off. Every minute it runs, more damage occurs. Call for service. Describe the sound to the dispatcher so they can prioritize your call.

What happens if you wait: A small problem becomes a large one. A loose fan blade can break off and damage the condenser coil. A failing compressor can seize completely. What might have been a $300 motor repair can become a $2,000 compressor replacement.

5. Water Flooding Around the Indoor Unit

What's happening: A blocked condensate drain line or a cracked drain pan is causing water to back up and overflow. Your AC removes moisture from the air; that water has to go somewhere. When the drain is clogged, it spills into your home.

Urgency: 8/10. Water damage escalates quickly.

What to do right now: Turn the AC off to stop the flow of water. Move any furniture or belongings away from the area. If you're comfortable, you can try clearing the drain line with a wet/dry vacuum. If water is actively flooding, call for service. A technician can flush the line, repair or replace the drain pan, and check for mold.

What happens if you wait: Water damages drywall, flooring, and ceilings. Mold and mildew can develop within 24 to 48 hours. Repair costs for water damage often exceed the cost of fixing the AC. Your homeowner's insurance may not cover damage if you ignored a known leak.

6. System Running But Zero Cooling

What's happening: The fan runs, the compressor may or may not be running, but no cool air comes out. This typically indicates compressor failure, refrigerant loss, or a complete refrigerant leak. The system is essentially running in vain.

Urgency: 8/10. You have no cooling, and in Austin summer that is dangerous.

What to do right now: Turn the system off. Running it when it's not cooling wastes energy and can cause further damage if the compressor is struggling. Call for AC repair. In the meantime, use fans, close blinds, and stay hydrated. If anyone in your home is elderly, has health conditions, or is very young, consider staying elsewhere until the AC is fixed.

What happens if you wait: In Austin, indoor temperatures can reach 90 degrees or higher within hours when the AC is off. For vulnerable individuals, that can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. If the compressor has failed, waiting does not fix it. If it's a refrigerant leak, running the system can damage the compressor.

7. Electrical Sparks or Visible Smoke

What's happening: You are seeing or smelling evidence of an active electrical failure. Wires may be shorting, a component may be burning, or there could be an imminent fire.

Urgency: 10/10. This is a fire hazard. Treat it as an emergency.

What to do right now: Turn off the AC at the thermostat. Go to your electrical panel and shut off the breaker for the AC. If you see or smell smoke, call 911 first, then call your HVAC company. Do not attempt to inspect or repair electrical components yourself.

What happens if you wait: You do not wait. This is an immediate danger to your home and family.

Pro Tip: Keep your HVAC breaker clearly labeled in your electrical panel. In an emergency, you need to shut off power quickly. Knowing exactly which breaker controls your AC can save critical seconds.

Signs That Can Wait a Few Days

Not every AC issue requires same-day service. These problems should be addressed soon, but they typically do not warrant an emergency call:

Slight temperature fluctuations. If your home is generally cool but one room is a few degrees warmer, or the system cycles a bit more than usual, it may be a duct issue, thermostat placement, or minor refrigerant variance. Schedule a maintenance visit when you can.

Minor noise changes. A faint hum that's new, or a slight increase in operational sound, often indicates normal wear or a filter that needs changing. Replace the filter first. If the noise persists or grows louder, schedule a service call.

Slightly higher energy bills. A gradual creep in your electric bill can mean dirty coils, a dirty filter, or an aging system. It's not an emergency, but it costs you money. Schedule a tune-up to improve efficiency and catch small issues before they become big ones.

If any of these "wait a few days" signs worsen suddenly, or if you notice any of the seven urgent signs above, treat it as an emergency and call right away.

Why Austin Makes Urgency Matter More

Austin's climate is unforgiving. The city regularly sees 30 to 69 days above 100 degrees each year. Overnight lows in summer often stay above 77. When your AC fails, your home heats up fast. Attic temperatures can exceed 140 degrees, and that heat radiates into living spaces.

For healthy adults, a day without AC is uncomfortable. For elderly family members, infants, and pets, it can be dangerous. Heat-related illness can develop quickly when indoor temperatures climb into the 90s. If you have family members with respiratory conditions, heart problems, or mobility issues, a working AC is not a luxury. It's a safety requirement.

That's why we recommend addressing urgent signs immediately. A same-day or next-day repair may cost a bit more than a scheduled appointment, but it prevents compressor failure, water damage, and health risks. The cost of waiting almost always exceeds the cost of acting quickly.

Get Help When You Need It

CG Service Pros offers AC repair and maintenance throughout Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, and the surrounding Central Texas area. Our technicians are trained to diagnose problems quickly and give you honest recommendations. If a quick fix will solve it, we'll do that. If your system is failing and replacement makes more sense, we'll tell you that too.

When you see any of the seven urgent signs, don't wait. Turn off the system if needed, and call for service. We'll get you back to comfort as soon as possible.

Schedule Emergency AC Repair

Need help now? Call us at (512) 766-5079 or visit our contact page to schedule service.