When your AC stops cooling in Florence, SC, check the thermostat, the breaker and the air filter first. If all three look fine, call Quality Service Company for AC repair. Your tech will find what’s keeping the house from cooling, then tell you why.
Why does Florence weather wear out an AC?
Florence summers are long, hot and wet. A normal July here has an average high of 92 degrees and an average low of about 72.
NOAA counts about 70 days a year at 90 degrees or higher at Florence Regional Airport. In 2026, the airport hit 100 degrees on July 5 and again on July 8.
Your system barely rests from May through September. It has to pull moisture out of the air as well as heat.
What should I check before I call for AC repair?
Most homeowners can safely do these checks.
- Thermostat. Make sure it’s set to Cool and below the room temperature. Replace the batteries if the screen is blank.
- Breakers. Most systems have one breaker for the outdoor unit and one for the indoor unit. If one has tripped, reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off and call.
- Air filter. A clogged filter chokes airflow and can freeze the coil. Swap it if it looks gray or caked with dust.
- Outdoor unit. Clear grass, leaves and clutter from around it. When the system runs, the fan on top should spin.
- Vents and returns. Open the supply vents. Move furniture and rugs off the return grilles.
- Drain line. Many systems shut off when the condensate drain backs up. Water near the indoor unit is a clue.
Do you see ice on the copper lines or the indoor coil? Turn the system off.
What signs mean my AC needs a technician?
Call for AC repair if you notice any of these:
- Warm or weak air from the vents
- Ice on the lines or coil, even after you change the filter
- A system that turns on and off every few minutes
- Grinding, squealing or loud buzzing from either unit
- Water pooling around the indoor unit
- Rooms that feel cool but damp or clammy
- A breaker that keeps tripping
- A power bill that jumps while your habits stay the same
- A burning smell. Turn the system off at the thermostat first.
Leave refrigerant and electrical parts to a trained tech. Refrigerant work needs a certified technician.
When is a broken AC an emergency?
For some households, a dead AC on a hot night is a health risk. Call right away if a baby, an older parent or someone who is sick lives with you.
Quality Service Company runs 24/7 dispatch for heating and cooling. Learn more about emergency HVAC repair.
While you wait, close the blinds on sunny windows and run the ceiling fans. Keep everyone drinking water.
What happens on an AC repair visit?
There’s a fee for the first visit. Your tech will check the system, show you what’s wrong and explain why.
You’ll get a quote before any repair starts. If there’s more than one way to fix it, your tech will walk you through the options.
Quality Service Company has served Florence and the Pee Dee since 2003. We’re independently owned by Chris McDonald and Chuck Polk. We have more than 40 technicians, and our people live where we work.
Should I repair my AC or replace it?
Sometimes a repair is the right call. Sometimes the system is near the end of its life. Your tech will look at:
- How old the system is and how it has held up
- How often it has needed repairs lately
- Whether some rooms stay hot or damp while it runs
If you replace it, size the new system for the house, not for the old unit. An AC that’s too big cools fast, shuts off and leaves the air damp.
We’re an authorized dealer for Ruud and Trane. Read about AC installation and replacement to see what a new system involves.
How do I keep my AC running all summer?
- Get a spring tune-up before the heat sets in. Learn about HVAC maintenance and tune-ups.
- Check the filter often in pollen season. Pine, oak and birch pollen runs high across South Carolina in late March. Weed pollen peaks in late summer.
- Watch indoor humidity. EPA suggests keeping it below 60 percent, ideally 30 to 50 percent.
- Keep the outdoor unit clear of grass clippings and overgrown shrubs.
- Prepare for storms. Before a storm, Trane advises turning the AC off at the thermostat and at the breaker. Trane also suggests a surge protector for the system. After flooding, have the unit inspected before you run it.
Need help with your AC? Call (843) 920-2004 or book online.
Common questions
Why is my AC running but not cooling the house?
You can check for a dirty filter, a blocked outdoor unit or a wrong setting yourself. Anything past those checks needs a technician. If you see ice, turn the system off and call.
Why is there ice on my air conditioner?
Ice on an AC usually means too little airflow or a refrigerant problem. Set the system to Off and the fan to On so the ice melts. Check the filter while you wait. If it freezes again after thawing, turn it off and call a technician.
Can I get AC repair at night or on a weekend?
Quality Service Company runs 24/7 dispatch for heating and cooling across Florence and the Pee Dee. Call (843) 920-2004 and tell us what the system is doing. If someone at home is at risk from the heat, say so on the call. Keep the blinds closed and drink water while you wait.