An American Standard system that runs but no longer keeps the house comfortable, or one that has picked up a new rattle or hum, rarely needs more than one repair. In homes in San Anselmo, Larkspur and San Rafael the usual causes are a thermostat problem, a clogged filter or coil, a worn motor, or a part that has worked loose. We find which it is, explain it in plain words and give you the price before any work starts.
American Standard and Trane
American Standard heating and cooling equipment comes from the same parent company as Trane, and the two brands share much of their engineering and many replacement parts. In practice that means familiar designs and good parts supply. It does not mean any part fits: compressors, motors and control boards are matched to the model and serial number on the data plate. We are independent and not affiliated with either brand; we repair the equipment you already own.
The four kinds of equipment we see
Central air conditioners. The outdoor unit holds the compressor, the condenser coil and the fan; the indoor coil sits on top of a furnace or inside an air handler. Capacitors, contactors and fan motors fail far more often than compressors, so they are tested first.
Heat pumps. An American Standard heat pump heats through the long, damp winter and cools on warm inland afternoons. Beyond the AC parts it has a reversing valve and a defrost control that clears frost from the outdoor coil on cold mornings. See heat pump services for the full checklist.
Gas furnaces. A no-heat call usually traces to the ignition sequence: inducer motor, pressure switch, igniter, gas valve and flame sensor, then the limit switches and the blower.
Air handlers. The indoor half of a heat pump system. It holds the blower, the indoor coil, a drain pan and often electric heat strips that back up the heat pump. A tripped heat-strip limit, a failed blower motor or a full drain pan will stop the whole system.
Too warm or too cold: the simple causes first
Weak heating or cooling on an American Standard system most often comes down to the thermostat or the filter. A thermostat in a sunny hallway or above a register reads the wrong temperature, and one configured for the wrong equipment type can keep the backup heat or the compressor from running. A clogged filter starves the coil of air, which can freeze an AC coil in summer and trip the high-limit switch on a furnace in winter. We check both before measuring refrigerant pressures or testing motors. When only one or two rooms are off, read our page on uneven temperatures; the cause is often in the ducts.
Reading the noises
| Sound | Where it usually comes from | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| Rattle or buzz from the cabinet | Loose screws, panels or a fan guard | Tighten and check the mounts |
| Loud hum outdoors, fan not turning | Capacitor or condenser fan motor | Electrical test, then that part |
| Grinding or squeal from the blower | Worn motor bearings | Replace the motor before it seizes |
| Bang or thump as the blower starts | Loose blower wheel or ductwork flexing | Inspect the wheel and duct connections |
| Repeated clicking, nothing starts | Relay, contactor or control board | Electrical diagnosis |
| New hiss near the indoor unit | Duct leak or, sometimes, a refrigerant leak | Duct and leak checks |
More on what each sound means is on our strange noises page. A loud new noise is a reason to switch the system off and call; running a motor that is seizing can turn a small repair into a big one.
How a visit works
Call at any hour; a real person answers 24/7. Describe the symptom and, if you can, read us the model number from the outdoor unit. The technician tests before replacing anything and gives you an itemized price. Parts are factory certified and carry the manufacturer’s warranty, and our work carries a labor warranty. If you would rather stay ahead of problems, a maintenance plan adds priority scheduling and repair discounts.
Local notes
Hillside homes in San Anselmo and Larkspur often have the outdoor unit squeezed into a narrow side yard or set on a deck, with the air handler or furnace in a tight crawlspace. Access shapes how long a repair takes, so tell us where the equipment sits when you book a visit through our San Anselmo or Larkspur pages or by phone.