If your air conditioner runs all day and your house still never reaches the temperature you set, something is wrong. That’s exactly what Debbie and Grady in Willis, TX were dealing with before they called Total Air AC Repair, Plumbing & Water Heater Repair. What started as a comfort complaint turned into a full system replacement and, ultimately, a $176 drop in their monthly electric bill.
Here’s how it all went down.
The Problem — An AC That Ran Constantly but Couldn’t Keep Up
Debbie and Grady called us because their AC system would run all day long and couldn’t get the inside of their home down to 70 degrees. In the Texas heat, that’s not just uncomfortable — it’s a real problem. Summers in Willis bring high humidity and temperatures that climb well into the 90s, and an air conditioner that can’t keep up puts a serious strain on your home and your wallet.
When our technician arrived, it was clear this wasn’t a simple fix.
What We Found During the Inspection
After arriving at the home, our technician got to work inspecting the system. Right away, a few things stood out.
- There was ice on the refrigerant lines, and the indoor coil was completely frozen — a sign the system was struggling badly.
- The outdoor unit had a capacitor that was reading outside of acceptable tolerance.
- The compressor contactor showed pitting and carbon buildup, meaning it had been working under stress for a long time.
- Once the system thawed out, we confirmed the unit was low on refrigerant, pointing to a leak somewhere in the system.
The bigger issue sitting behind all of this was the age of the equipment. This home had a 20-year-old system running on R22 refrigerant, which is no longer manufactured and is extremely expensive to source. Even if we tracked down the leak, repairing an R22 system of that age would cost a significant amount of money — with no guarantee the system wouldn’t have more problems down the road.
What We Recommended
We gave the family a straightforward look at their options. We could perform a leak search to find where the refrigerant was escaping, and potentially attempt a repair, but we were upfront with them: given the age of the unit and the cost of R22 refrigerant, a repair would be expensive and likely temporary. We recommended they sit down with our comfort advisor to go over replacement options so they could make an informed decision.
That conversation covered three tiers of equipment — a good efficiency system, a better efficiency system, and a high efficiency system — along with an honest breakdown of what each one would mean for their comfort and their energy costs.
The Solution They Chose
Grady was especially interested in what he could save during the summer months, and after going through the numbers, they chose to move forward with the high efficiency system. It was the larger investment upfront, but the long-term energy savings made it the right call for their home.
The Results — Real Savings, Right Away
They didn’t have to wait long to see the difference. Their July electric bill, running on the old unit, was $359. Their August bill, with the new high efficiency system running through the hottest stretch of summer, came in at $183.
That’s a savings of $176 in a single month.
They shared this in their Google review:
“We had to replace our old unit, it was 20 years old and not very efficient. Our July bill was $359.00 and had the new AC put in on August 1. We got our August electric bill today and it was $183.00, that is a $176.00 savings. We would like to thank Total Air for their service and the job they did at our home.”
Stories like this are exactly why we do what we do.
Willis, TX Homeowners — Your AC Works Harder Than You Think
Living in Willis means your air conditioner is putting in serious work from late spring all the way through September. The combination of heat and humidity in this part of Montgomery County pushes older systems to their limits. Refrigerant leaks, frozen coils, and worn-out components like capacitors and contactors are all more common when a system has been running hard for years in these conditions.
If your AC is more than 10 to 15 years old and you’re noticing higher bills, rooms that won’t cool down, or a system that seems to run without stopping, it’s worth having a licensed technician take a look before the problem gets worse.
Is Your AC Struggling to Keep Up? Total Air Can Help
At Total Air AC Repair, Plumbing & Water Heater Repair, we don’t believe in pressuring homeowners into decisions. We show up, tell you what we find, explain your options clearly, and let you decide what’s right for your home and your budget. That’s the same approach we took in this situation, and it’s the approach we take with every customer we serve in Willis and the surrounding area.
We’re veteran owned, locally operated, and we back every job with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
If your air conditioner is struggling this season, give us a call. We offer 24-hour emergency service and straightforward, upfront pricing with no hidden fees.
FAQs
Why was my AC freezing up and not cooling my house?
A frozen coil is usually caused by restricted airflow, a dirty filter, or low refrigerant due to a leak. When refrigerant levels drop, the coil gets too cold and ice forms, which prevents the system from cooling your home properly.
Is it worth repairing a 20-year-old AC system?
In most cases, no. Systems that old use outdated refrigerants like R22 that are costly and hard to find, and the components have significant wear. Replacement is usually the more cost-effective choice in the long run.
How much can a high efficiency AC system save on my electric bill?
Savings vary depending on your home and usage, but as this family experienced, the difference can be significant. Upgrading from an aging low-efficiency system to a modern high-efficiency unit can cut cooling costs by hundreds of dollars during peak summer months in Willis, TX.
What is R22 refrigerant and why does it matter?
R22 is an older refrigerant that was phased out of production due to environmental regulations. Because it’s no longer manufactured, it’s very expensive to source, which makes repairing older R22 systems costly compared to replacing them with modern equipment.
How do I know if my AC system needs to be replaced or just repaired?
A licensed technician can evaluate the age of your system, the condition of key components, and whether refrigerant leaks or electrical issues are present. As a general rule, if your system is over 15 years old and facing a major repair, replacement is often the smarter investment.