October 3, 2025
Emergency HVAC Seattle
Emergency HVAC: What to Do Before You Call a Contractor
When the AC quits during a heat wave or heating dies on a cold, wet morning, the goal is simple: get people safe and the system back online. Here’s a quick, safe checklist to run before you call, then what to share with your tech for the fastest fix.
Immediate safety checks
- Electrical safety first: If you smell burning or see smoke, evacuate and call emergency services. Then call us.
- Thermostat & breakers: Confirm the system is set correctly and breakers haven’t tripped.
- Filters & airflow: Extremely dirty filters can trip safeties. Replace if clogged.
- Access & clearance: Clear debris or snow around outdoor units for airflow.
Information to have ready
- Model and serial numbers, error codes, recent work performed
- What changed right before the failure (storms, construction, power blips)
- Photos or a short video of alarms or unusual noises
What we do on arrival
- Verify power and controls, check safeties, scan for alarms
- Test capacitors, contactors, motors, and sensors
- Measure pressures, superheat/subcool, and delta-T
- Stabilize the system and provide a written plan for permanent repair
Seattle readiness tips
- Keep a spare filter set and post your unit access procedure.
- Enroll in preventive maintenance to get priority response during peak demand.
- Test emergency heat or backup systems each fall.
Helpful Resources: ASHRAE Standards for HVAC Systems | Energy.gov – Energy Efficiency | EPA – Indoor Air Quality
CUSTOMER GOOGLE REVIEWS
Five Star Mechanical
7509 Grange St W, Lakewood
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Debbie and Sherina are amazing. Our company refrigerator went out during the extreme 100+ temperatures and I was no showed twice by another company. After calling Five Star Mechanical they have gone above and beyond to make sure we were … More serviced. Their customer service is phenomenal. Bryan, the tech, was also very helpful. I will be a returning customer and recommending them to others!
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Saltwater Church suddenly lost heat in their office building on a Friday. The dispatcher was knowledgeable, professional, and efficient. Caleb came out within about an hour of our call, diagnosed the problem, and got the system up and … More running. He gave us the option of replacing the part that had shorted out, or seeing if the system could work adequately without it. We asked him to locate the part and give us a quote. We got the quote just 2 days later. We are very impressed and will use Five Star again!
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I had an emergency situation with my water chiller this morning and I work in aerospace chemical processing. So our Water Chiller is a key instrument to our processes. Without it we would be dead in the water. I made a call at 5am and the … More customer service was OUTSTANDING! Service tech was promptly here and ready to go. Service Tech diagnosed the problem explained the problem in words everyone could understand.I also received a prompt quote via email from the service manager. 5 Stars knowledge and technicians expertise is 5 STARS all the way. Thank you to Jason & Chuck!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, check breakers, thermostat settings, and filters. Avoid opening live electrical panels.
Yes. Call (253) 852-8284 any time.
As fast as possible; PM customers receive priority.
We aim to stabilize and often complete repairs same day if parts are in stock.
Yes, reduced airflow trips safeties and can freeze coils.
Yes. Rooftops, splits, boilers, and chillers.
If there are burning smells or loud grinding, yes. Otherwise leave it as-is for diagnosis.
Shut the system off and keep areas warm to prevent damage; call us.
Yes, transparent pricing before work proceeds.
Regular maintenance and logging helps catch issues early.
Resources:
- Commercial Appliance Repair Seattle
- Commercial Heating Repair Installation and Service
- HVAC Preventive Maintenance Seattle
- HVAC Repair & Installation in Auburn, WA