After-Hours Emergency AC Repair in Seattle-Tacoma
AC quit in a heat wave? Our phones are answered after hours for heating and cooling emergencies, with after-hours service across the Puget Sound.
Locally-owned since 1977 • Licensed, bonded and insured in Washington (WA Contractor Reg. #HOMECCA785BD) • NATE-certified technicians • Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer
After-hours emergency AC repair
Home Comfort Alliance answers its phones after hours for heating and cooling emergencies and sends NATE-certified technicians for emergency AC repair, including nights and weekends, across the Seattle-Tacoma area and the wider Puget Sound region. Call (425) 645-0404. Same-day and after-hours service covers every city we serve, for central air conditioners, heat pumps and ductless mini-splits of all major brands.
Someone unwell from the heat? The Washington State Department of Health lists dizziness, nausea, headaches and muscle cramps as warning signs: move the person somewhere cooler, have them rest and sip cool drinks, and get medical help if they don't feel better (DOH hot weather safety). Call 911 for anyone who is confused, faints or can't be cooled down. Burning smell or smoke from the AC? Turn it off at the thermostat and the breaker, and call 911 if there is smoke or flame.
Is it an AC emergency?
An air conditioning failure is an emergency when it is a safety risk or when the heat is a danger to someone in the home. Western Washington homes are built to hold heat, so indoor temperatures can keep climbing for days during a heat wave. If the house is still comfortable, check the table before paying an after-hours fee.
| What's happening | What to do now |
|---|---|
| Burning or electrical smell, smoke, sparks or loud buzzing from the indoor or outdoor unit | Turn the system off at the thermostat and breaker and call us. If there is smoke or flame, leave and call 911. |
| No cooling during a heat warning with infants, older adults, someone pregnant or medically vulnerable, or pets at home | Call us. Meanwhile move everyone to the coolest room or an air-conditioned public place. |
| Ice on the copper refrigerant lines or the indoor coil | Switch the thermostat from COOL to OFF and the fan to ON so the ice melts, then call us. Running a frozen system can damage the compressor. |
| Water dripping from the indoor unit, a ductless head or the ceiling | Turn the AC off, protect the floor and call us. A blocked condensate drain is the usual cause. |
| Outdoor unit humming but its fan isn't turning | Turn the system off so the compressor doesn't overheat, then call us. A failed capacitor or fan motor is a common cause. |
| Breaker for the AC trips again after one reset | Leave it off and call us. Repeated tripping points to an electrical fault. |
| AC stopped, but it's a mild day and the house is comfortable | This can usually wait. Book the next available visit to avoid the after-hours fee. |
For other urgent problems in the home, see our after-hours emergency service page.
Quick checks before an emergency call
If nothing in the table is a safety risk, these checks take a few minutes and can save an after-hours fee:
- Thermostat on COOL, set below room temperature, fan on AUTO, with fresh batteries.
- Both breakers on: the outdoor unit and the indoor furnace or air handler each have one. Check the disconnect switch beside the outdoor unit too.
- Filter not clogged. The U.S. Department of Energy says replacing a dirty filter can lower an air conditioner's energy use by 5% to 15% (DOE). A badly blocked filter can also cut airflow enough to freeze the coil.
- Supply and return vents open and not blocked by furniture or rugs.
- Nothing blocking the outdoor unit: clear leaves, grass clippings and stored items from around it.
Don't keep resetting a breaker that trips again, and don't open the outdoor unit's panels: the capacitor inside can hold a charge after the power is off. Both are jobs for a technician.
Staying cool and safe while you wait
Pick the coolest room, usually the lowest floor on the shady side, and keep everyone there. Close blinds and curtains on windows that get morning or afternoon sun; the Department of Health notes awnings can cut that heat by up to 80%. Drink plenty of water and skip alcohol, caffeine and very sugary drinks. Check on older neighbors and relatives at least twice a day, as DOH advises. If the house stays hot, spend the hottest hours somewhere air-conditioned, such as a library, a mall or a cooling center your city or county opens during heat warnings. Never leave children or pets in a parked car.
If the power is out, the air conditioner can't help until it's back. Report the outage to your utility and use the cooling steps above until power returns.
What does emergency AC repair cost?
An after-hours AC call with Home Comfort Alliance carries a $330 after-hours dispatch fee (instead of the $119 daytime dispatch fee), and a $72 standard or $130 deeper diagnostic fee, then the repair itself. You approve the repair price before any work starts. Updated October 2026.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| After-hours dispatch fee (replaces the $119) | $330 |
| Dispatch (trip) fee | $119 |
| Standard diagnostic fee | $72 |
| Deeper diagnostic fee | $130 |
| Capacitor replacement, Seattle (Angi regional estimate, May 2026) | $110 to $280 |
| Refrigerant recharge, Seattle (Angi regional estimate, May 2026) | $110 to $555 |
| Compressor replacement, Seattle (Angi regional estimate, May 2026) | $900 to $2,900 |
Home Comfort Alliance prices as of September 2026, listed separately. Part ranges from Angi, Seattle HVAC repair cost, which puts the average Seattle HVAC repair at $389 and emergency or after-hours HVAC labor at up to $275 an hour, against $80 to $150 for standard service (May 2026).
Current offer: $50 off HVAC service or repair (special offers). Larger repairs can be financed through Salal Credit Union or Synchrony from $179/month* (financing). Home Comfort Club members get priority scheduling and discounted repair rates (membership plans from $15 a month). If the repair isn't worth it, our AC repair guide covers when to replace instead.
*Financing through Salal Credit Union or Synchrony, subject to credit approval. Rates, terms and monthly payments depend on the amount financed, the plan and your credit. 0% interest options are available to qualifying customers. See lender for full terms.
Get an estimateA comfort advisor will call you to set up your visit.
What happens when you call
- We answer. Our phones are answered after hours for heating and cooling emergencies. Tell us what the AC is doing, how warm the house is, and whether anyone at home is vulnerable to heat.
- Safety first. If you describe smoke, sparks or a burning smell, we will tell you to shut the system off or leave and call 911 before anything else.
- A technician comes out. A NATE-certified technician diagnoses central air conditioners, heat pumps and ductless mini-splits of all major brands, including the electrical parts, refrigerant circuit and condensate drain.
- Upfront price. You approve the price before any repair. If a safe repair isn't possible tonight, we explain the options, including replacement.
Why homeowners call Home Comfort Alliance after hours
- After-hours emergency service: our phones are answered after hours for heating and cooling emergencies, and after-hours service covers every city we serve.
- Upfront, transparent pricing before any work begins, with every fee published on this page.
- NATE-certified technicians; Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Dealer and Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer, servicing all major brands.
- Heating, cooling and ductless systems of all major brands, with HVAC after-hours service in every city we serve.
- Licensed, bonded and insured in Washington; serving the Puget Sound since 1977.
- Best Pick Reports Best Pick 2025 and 2026.
Where we provide emergency AC repair
Emergency AC repair is available across the Puget Sound region from our Redmond, Everett, Bremerton and Sumner offices, including Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Redmond, Bremerton and Sumner. Local AC repair pages: Puyallup, Sumner and Bremerton. See all service areas.
Emergency AC repair FAQ
What counts as an AC emergency?
Smoke, sparks or a burning smell from the system, or no cooling during a heat warning when someone at home is very young, older, pregnant or medically vulnerable. Water leaking through a ceiling also needs a quick call. If the house is still comfortable, the repair can usually wait for a regular visit.
Who do I call if my AC stops working at night?
For smoke or flame, call 911. For no cooling without those signs, call an HVAC company with after-hours emergency service. Home Comfort Alliance answers its phones after hours for heating and cooling emergencies at (425) 645-0404 and provides after-hours service across its Puget Sound service area.
How much does emergency AC repair cost?
Home Comfort Alliance charges a $330 after-hours dispatch fee for emergency HVAC calls (instead of the $119 daytime dispatch fee), and a diagnostic fee ($72 standard or $130 deeper), then the repair. Angi puts the average Seattle HVAC repair at $389 (May 2026). You approve the repair price before work begins.
Why is my AC running but not cooling?
The most common causes are a clogged filter, a frozen indoor coil, a tripped breaker or switched-off disconnect at the outdoor unit, a failed capacitor or fan motor, or low refrigerant from a leak. Check the thermostat, breakers and filter first; if the outdoor fan isn't spinning or there is ice on the lines, turn the system off and call for repair.
Why is there ice on my AC lines?
Ice usually means the indoor coil is too cold, from low airflow through a dirty filter or blocked vents, or from low refrigerant. Switch the thermostat to OFF and the fan to ON to melt it, replace the filter if it's dirty, and call for repair if the ice comes back.
Should I turn off my AC if it's leaking water?
Yes. Turn it off and protect the floor or ceiling below. A blocked condensate drain or a cracked drain pan is the usual cause, and many systems have a safety switch that shuts the AC off when the pan fills. A technician clears the drain and checks why it backed up.
Is it safe to keep running an AC that smells like burning?
No. A burning or electrical smell can mean an overheating motor, wiring or capacitor. Turn the system off at the thermostat and the breaker and call for repair; if there is smoke or flame, leave and call 911.
Do you repair heat pumps and ductless mini-splits after hours?
Yes. Our after-hours service covers central air conditioners, ducted heat pumps and ductless mini-splits of all major brands. If your heat pump fails in winter instead, see emergency heat pump repair.
Is it worth paying after-hours rates for AC repair?
It is when the heat is a risk to someone at home, when there is a safety concern, or when water is damaging the house. If everyone is comfortable and safe, booking the next regular appointment avoids the $330 after-hours dispatch fee.
Sources: Washington State Department of Health (hot weather safety), U.S. Department of Energy (air conditioner maintenance), Angi (Seattle HVAC repair cost data, May 2026), all checked October 2026.
Why Choose Home Comfort Alliance for Emergency AC Repair?
Your Comfort is Our Promise
We promise...
Reliable heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical service, all from one trusted company.
To educate and guide you through your options so you’ll find the right solution at the right price.
Knowledgeable and respectful workers who ensure both your own comfort during every visit, and lasting comfort from your home systems.
Outstanding service, communication, and follow-up, so your home is comfortable now and for years to come.
Get your cooling back on
Tell us what your air conditioner is doing and whether anyone at home is vulnerable to heat. Our phones are answered after hours for heating and cooling emergencies.
Get an estimate
A local comfort advisor will call you to set up your visit.