Why This Matters in Georgetown TX
Georgetown's 99% summer design temperature is 102°F — meaning systems sized to industry standards will run continuously on the hottest 1% of days and may only reach 76–78°F indoors on truly extreme days. However, if your system can't reach setpoint at 95°F outside, or runs all day at 90°F, something is wrong. Georgetown's hard water also causes condensate drain blockages that trigger float switch shutdowns — causing the system to cycle, reset, and run again without actually cooling.
Common Causes & What They Cost
Our Georgetown technicians diagnose these issues daily. Here's what we find most often.
A system 15–20% low on refrigerant loses significant cooling capacity. Refrigerant micro-leaks are common in Georgetown systems 8+ years old. The system runs constantly because it can never fully satisfy the thermostat setpoint.
$150–$350 for recharge; $300–$600 if leak repair neededDirty coils reduce heat transfer efficiency. A condenser coil clogged with cottonwood, pollen, or yard debris in Georgetown can reduce cooling capacity by 20–30%.
$120–$280 for professional coil cleaningBuilder-installed systems in Georgetown new construction are often sized to minimum code requirements. A 2.5-ton system in a 2,200 sq ft home will run all day in July. This requires a proper Manual J load calculation.
$200 for Manual J; $4,500–$7,500 for correctly sized replacementGeorgetown's 8–12 GPG hard water builds calcium scale in drain lines. The float switch shuts the system down when the pan fills. System resets and restarts repeatedly, never completing a cooling cycle.
$85–$150 drain flushA thermostat in direct sunlight, near a supply vent, or in a room that cools faster than the rest of the house creates a false reading — the system shuts off before other rooms reach setpoint.
$180–$280 thermostat relocation or replacementHow We Diagnose It
We measure supply air vs. return air temperature. A functioning AC should produce a 16–22°F temperature split. Low split indicates refrigerant or coil issues.
We attach manifold gauges to check static and operating pressures. This identifies low charge, overcharge, or system restrictions.
We test airflow at each supply register. Low airflow indicates a dirty air handler coil, blower issue, or duct restriction.
We visually inspect both coils and the condensate drain system. Georgetown's hard water makes drain line inspection mandatory on every call.