AC repair in Oakland
Oakland summers are mild until they aren't. When your AC gives out in September, we fix it. And if your older home has no ducts, we'll tell you what actually works.
What we fix
Most Oakland homes weren't built with central air. That changes what 'AC repair' means here.
- Window and wall AC units
We'll check it, and if replacing it costs less than fixing it, we'll say so.
- Mini split systems
Warm air, error codes, drips or an outdoor unit that won't start, on ductless systems of any age.
- Central AC in newer and renovated homes
Capacitors, contactors, refrigerant leaks, frozen coils and drain problems.
- Older central systems
We tell you plainly when an old system is worth repairing and when it isn't.
- Ductwork in homes that have it
Leaky or undersized ducts can make a good AC feel broken, so we check them too.
Why "AC repair" means something different in Oakland
Most Oakland homes were built to be heated, not cooled. Wall heaters and floor furnaces did the job, and there were never any ducts to carry cold air.
Victorians, Craftsman bungalows and 1920s homes around Lake Merritt and Rockridge can't take ducts without tearing up original plaster and trim. For most of these houses, a ductless mini split is the practical answer. It cools one room or one floor with no ducts, and it heats in winter too.
If your home does have ducts, we look at the whole system, the equipment, the ducts and the airflow, before we recommend a repair or a replacement. See ductless mini splits for Oakland homes.
What happens when you call
No scripts and no runaround. Here is how it goes.
- 1 You reach a person
Someone who knows heating and cooling answers, not a call center.
- 2 We schedule the first available visit
Usually within a few days in cooling season, and sooner in the spring and fall.
- 3 We diagnose on site
We test the system and show you what failed and why.
- 4 You get a written price before any work starts
Nothing is done until you approve it.
- 5 If replacement makes more sense, we say so
We price the repair and the replacement side by side so you can choose.
Do I need ducts to have air conditioning?
No. A ductless mini split cools one room or one floor without any ductwork, and it heats in winter too. That is why it is the usual answer for older Oakland homes.
Should I repair or replace my AC?
Repair it if the system is in good shape and the fix is a small part, like a capacitor or contactor. Replace it if the compressor or coil has failed on an older system, or repairs keep adding up. We price both side by side in writing so you can decide.
How much does AC repair cost in Oakland?
It depends on what failed, so we don't quote a number over the phone. We diagnose the system on site and give you a written price before any work starts. Nothing is done until you approve it.
Can you install a mini split in a house with no ducts?
Yes. That is what mini splits are built for. A small refrigerant line runs from an outdoor unit to one or more indoor units, with no ducts and no tearing into plaster.
Do you work on window units?
We'll look at one, but most window units cost less to replace than to repair, and we'll tell you that up front. If you are tired of window units, a mini split is the long-term fix.
What about the heat pump rebates?
The federal heat pump tax credit ended on December 31, 2025, and California's federally funded home rebates have been waitlisted since February 2026. Utility and manufacturer offers change often. We check what is available for your home when we give you a price.
Oakland and East Bay neighborhoods we serve
Rockridge, Temescal, Montclair, Piedmont Avenue, Grand Lake, Lake Merritt, Glenview, Dimond, Laurel, Redwood Heights, Maxwell Park and Fruitvale, plus the rest of Oakland. Nearby East Bay homes in Piedmont, Alameda, Berkeley, Emeryville and San Leandro too.
No cooling and it's 90 degrees? Call now. We'll tell you the soonest we can get there.
ZIP codes
94601, 94602, 94603, 94605, 94606, 94607, 94609, 94610, 94611, 94612, 94618, 94619, 94621 and 94705.
Book an AC repair
Call, or send the form and we call or text you back.
- 1 Call or send the form
Your name, phone number and email.
- 2 We set a time
We call or text you back to book the visit.
- 3 Diagnosis and written price
Nothing is done until you approve the price.