Your ac repair specialists in Salida, CO. Free assessments, certified technicians, and guaranteed results.
Air conditioning systems serving Salida, CO homes operate under demanding conditions, and KIC Refrigeration provides the repair expertise needed to keep your cooling running at full capacity. From refrigerant recharging and compressor replacement to contactor repair and condenser fan motor service, our technicians resolve every AC fault with verified, measured results.
With a population of 6,154, Salida is home to thousands of properties that depend on reliable heating and cooling. Our ac repair team in Salida, CO combines local climate knowledge with NATE-certified expertise to deliver results that restore comfort and improve efficiency. Every project begins with a thorough system evaluation so we can recommend the right solution for your specific situation.
When you choose KIC Refrigeration for ac repair in Salida, you get a team that shows up on time, diagnoses accurately, and treats your property with respect. We handle all the details — from equipment selection and permits to final commissioning and warranty registration — so you can focus on staying comfortable.
Our proven process ensures your ac repair project is done right the first time.
Our Salida technician listens to your description of the problem, inspects the thermostat settings and wiring, checks the electrical disconnect and breaker, and performs a visual inspection of the outdoor condenser and indoor air handler for obvious issues like a frozen coil, tripped safety switch, or burned wiring.
We test capacitors, contactors, relays, and the compressor windings with a multimeter. We connect manifold gauges to measure suction and discharge pressures, calculate superheat and subcooling, and compare all readings to the manufacturer specification for your unit.
KIC Refrigeration performs AC repairs in Salida, CO by the book. For electrical failures, we match the replacement part to factory specifications. For sealed-system repairs, we follow EPA Section 608 recovery procedures, braze with nitrogen purge, pressure test to 300 PSI, evacuate to 500 microns, and charge by weight — never by guessing or topping off.
Our Salida technician verifies the repair by running the AC through a full cooling cycle. We measure supply and return air temperatures at the air handler to confirm a 16 to 22 degree split, check that suction pressure produces 35 to 45 degree evaporator saturation temperature, and verify the system cycles cleanly on and off.
Everything you need to know before scheduling ac repair for your property.
AC repair in Salida typically costs $150 to $500 for common component failures including run capacitors ($150 to $250), contactors ($150 to $350), condenser fan motors ($250 to $500), and blower motors ($300 to $600). Compressor replacement is the most expensive repair at $1,500 to $3,500 depending on unit tonnage and whether the system uses R-410A or older R-22 refrigerant. Evaporator coil replacement runs $800 to $2,500 including the refrigerant recovery and recharge. KIC Refrigeration provides a detailed written estimate with itemized parts and labor costs before beginning any AC repair at your Salida property so there are no surprises on the invoice.
The industry guideline is to repair if the unit is under 10 years old and the repair costs less than 50 percent of a new system. AC units over 15 years old — especially those running R-22 refrigerant — are almost always better replaced. R-22 has been phased out of production and the remaining supply costs $80 to $150 per pound, making even minor refrigerant leaks prohibitively expensive to fix. A new 16 SEER2 system uses approximately 38 percent less energy than a 10 SEER unit, and many qualify for the federal energy tax credit. KIC Refrigeration helps Salida homeowners evaluate repair versus replacement based on equipment age, repair history, refrigerant type, and projected energy savings.
An AC that repeatedly trips the circuit breaker is a safety issue that should not be ignored or reset repeatedly. The most common causes are a shorted compressor winding drawing excessive amperage, a failing run capacitor that cannot provide the boost needed for compressor startup, a locked rotor condition from a mechanically seized compressor, a ground fault from damaged wiring or a grounded compressor motor, or an undersized breaker that cannot handle the inrush current. Each reset on a breaker weakens it over time. KIC Refrigeration performs thorough electrical diagnostics at your Salida property — including megohm resistance testing on compressor windings and amperage measurements — to identify the root cause and repair it safely.
An AC that runs but produces little or no cooling is most commonly caused by low refrigerant charge from a leak, which reduces the suction pressure and causes the evaporator coil temperature to drop below 32 degrees, forming ice that blocks airflow completely. Other causes include a dirty condenser coil that cannot reject heat, a failed compressor that runs but does not pump refrigerant, a stuck or failed metering device — either a TXV or fixed orifice — that restricts refrigerant flow, or a blower motor running at reduced speed due to a failing capacitor. KIC Refrigeration connects manifold gauges at your Salida home and measures suction pressure, discharge pressure, superheat, and subcooling to diagnose the exact cause.
What our customers say about working with our HVAC team.
"Mini split installation went smoothly. Clean work, no mess left behind. Would have liked a bit more explanation on the maintenance schedule but overall very happy."
"Heat pump was not heating properly. They found a bad reversing valve and had it swapped out the next day. House is warm again and the system runs great."
"Good experience with the furnace tune-up. Technician was thorough and pointed out a couple things to watch for. Only reason for four stars is scheduling took a few days."