System down? Start here.
Blackland is not taking service calls until our Texas contractor license is assigned, so this page does the next best thing: the checks that fix a third of no-cool calls, how to keep the house safe, and how to find a licensed contractor in the next hour.
Do this first
No cooling
- Check the breaker panel. Reset a tripped breaker once. If it trips again, leave it off.
- Look for ice on the copper lines. If you see any, turn the system off and set the fan to On.
- Change the filter if it is dirty.
- Look in the drain pan under the indoor unit. Standing water means a clogged drain line tripped the safety switch.
- Close blinds on the sun side and run ceiling fans. The house will hold longer than you think.
No heat
- Confirm the thermostat is on Heat and the setpoint is above room temperature.
- Check the furnace switch (it looks like a light switch near the unit) and the breaker.
- If you smell gas, leave the house and call Atmos Energy at 866-322-8667 before calling anyone else.
- A heat pump blowing lukewarm in a freeze is often normal; blowing cold for a whole cycle is not.
Keep people safe
Anyone over 65, under 4, pregnant or with a heart or lung condition should not spend a night in a house above 85 degrees. Family, a hotel or a library during the day beats waiting it out.
AC out in July: the full guideHire someone licensed today
Ask any company for its TDLR contractor license number, check it on the state search, and get the price in writing before work starts. Our guide takes two minutes.
How to check a licenseDo not get sold a system tonight
A failed capacitor on a 12-year-old system is a repair, not a replacement. If a technician quotes a new system without showing you readings, sleep on it and get a second opinion.
Repair or replace: the two rulesEmergency questions
Can Blackland come out today?
Not yet. Texas requires a contractor license assigned to the company before anyone can offer air conditioning work, and ours is in process. We will not pretend otherwise. The steps on this page and the TDLR license search will get you help today.
What counts as an emergency?
No cooling with a vulnerable person in the house, no heat during a freeze, water pouring from the indoor unit, a burning smell, or a breaker that will not stay on. A gas smell is a call to Atmos Energy first, from outside the house.
How do I know the company I call is licensed?
Ask for the TDLR contractor license number and check it on the state's license search. It should be active and match the company name. Our know-how guide walks through it in two minutes.