Call and tell me what it's doing.

Most of the time I can narrow it down on the phone and tell you whether it's even worth a visit. That call is free and there's no pitch on the end of it.

If I'm under a system when you call, leave a message. I call back the same day.

What to have ready

• What it's doing: not cooling, short cycling, tripping the breaker, making a noise
• When it started, and whether anything changed right before
• What the thermostat says versus what the house feels like
• Brand and model off the outdoor unit, if you can reach it safely
• Roughly how old the system is, if you know