Aircon Servicing & Repair in Richmond Hill

A musty smell means mould or bacteria on the evaporator coil or in the drain pan — fixed with a chemical wash. A burning smell can be dust on a heater element or a failing motor and is worth an inspection. A vinegar-like or chemical smell can indicate a refrigerant leak; turn the unit off and call a technician.

The most common cause is a clogged condensate drain line — dirt and algae block the pipe and water backs up into the room. Other causes are a dirty evaporator coil that ices over and then melts, a cracked drain pan, or an incorrectly sloped drain pipe. A drain flush during a standard service usually fixes it.

A unit that trips the breaker at startup usually has a failing compressor, a shorted capacitor, or a wiring fault — all electrical faults that need a technician. Do not keep resetting the breaker; repeated tripping can damage the compressor beyond repair.

Refrigerant does not get used up — if the level is low, there is a leak. A proper job is leak detection, repair, then regas, which costs several times a plain top-up but stops the problem recurring. Be wary of any technician who suggests routine annual top-ups.

Get 2-3 quotes and compare what each service actually includes — some cheap quotes cover only a filter rinse. Check for the refrigerant-handling certification required in your country, ask how long they have serviced your brand and type of system, and read recent reviews that mention follow-up visits, not just the first appointment.

A standard service covers cleaning or replacing filters, cleaning the evaporator coil and blower, flushing the drainage tray and pipe, checking refrigerant pressure, testing thermostat and controls, and inspecting electrical connections. It does not include repairs, parts, or refrigerant top-ups — those are quoted separately.

Yes — federal and provincial programs (e.g. Canada Greener Homes-successor programs, provincial utility rebates) offer meaningful rebates for replacing AC/furnace setups with cold-climate heat pumps. Amounts change by province and year, so ask the contractor which programs your equipment qualifies for and get it in writing.

May-June, before the short cooling season peaks. Many homeowners bundle a spring AC tune-up with a fall furnace service; combined maintenance plans typically cost less than two separate visits.