Summer in Pittsburgh brings backyard barbecues, outdoor concerts, and plenty of sunshine. But it also brings heat and humidity that can make your home feel like a sauna. Air conditioning isn’t just a luxury anymore. It’s a necessity for staying comfortable, protecting your health, and making your home livable during those sweltering summer months. At Pro Degree, we specialize in Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, and we’re here to make sure you stay cool all summer long.
Why Air Conditioning Matters More Than Ever
There was a time when people considered air conditioning a nice bonus feature. Not anymore. Today’s summers are hotter and longer than they used to be, and the combination of high temperatures and humidity can be dangerous, especially for children, elderly family members, and anyone with health conditions.
A properly working air conditioner does more than just cool the air. It removes humidity, filters out dust and allergens, and creates a healthy indoor environment. When your AC stops working during a heat wave, it’s not just uncomfortable. It can actually be unsafe. That’s why having a reliable air conditioning service provider isn’t optional. It’s something every homeowner and business owner needs.
At Pro Degree, we’ve seen what happens when air conditioning systems fail at the worst possible times. We’ve gotten emergency calls from families with young children who can’t sleep in the heat, from elderly customers whose health is at risk, and from business owners who are losing customers because their buildings are unbearably hot. These situations are stressful, and we take them seriously. When you call us, we respond quickly because we know how important it is to get your cooling system back up and running.
Common Air Conditioning Problems We Fix Every Day
Air conditioners can develop all sorts of problems, especially if they haven’t been properly maintained.
Here are some of the most common issues we see when customers reach out for help:
- Your outdoor unit is running but not cooling. This is one of the most frustrating problems because your system seems like it’s working, but your house stays hot. The issue could be low refrigerant levels, a frozen evaporator coil, a failed compressor, or problems with your ductwork. Our technicians can diagnose the exact cause and get your system cooling again.
- Strange noises are coming from your AC. Air conditioners should run relatively quietly. If you’re hearing grinding, squealing, banging, or rattling sounds, something is wrong. These noises usually indicate mechanical problems like loose parts, worn bearings, or debris in the system. Ignoring strange sounds can lead to bigger problems and more expensive repairs.
- Your thermostat isn’t working correctly. Sometimes the problem isn’t with your air conditioner at all. A faulty thermostat can make your system run constantly, not run at all, or cycle on and off at the wrong times. We can test your thermostat and either fix it or recommend a replacement that will work better with your system.
- Water is leaking from your unit. Air conditioners produce condensation as they remove humidity from the air. Normally, this water drains away through a condensate line. But if that line gets clogged or if there’s a problem with the drain pan, water can back up and leak into your home. This needs to be fixed quickly to prevent water damage.
- Your system won’t turn on at all. This is the worst-case scenario, but it happens. The problem could be as simple as a tripped breaker or as serious as a failed compressor. Either way, you need professional help to figure out what’s wrong and get it fixed.
- Weak airflow throughout your home. If some rooms in your house are cool while others stay hot, or if the air coming from your vents feels weak, you might have ductwork problems, a dirty air filter, or issues with your blower motor. We’ll inspect your entire system to identify the cause.
Our Approach to Air Conditioning Service
When you contact Pro Degree for air conditioning help, you’re going to get more than just a quick fix. You’re going to get a thorough, professional service experience from start to finish.
We start by listening to your concerns. You know your home or business better than anyone, and the details you share about what’s happening with your air conditioner are important. Whether you’re dealing with warm air, strange smells, high energy bills, or a complete breakdown, we want to hear everything.
Next, we perform a complete inspection of your cooling system. We don’t just look at the obvious problem and call it a day. We check your entire system to make sure we’re not missing anything that could cause issues down the road. This thorough approach means fewer callbacks and better long-term results for you.
Then we explain everything in language that makes sense. We’re not going to throw a bunch of technical terms at you and hope you nod along. We’ll tell you exactly what’s wrong, what needs to be fixed, why it needs to be fixed, and what it’s going to cost. You’ll have all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Finally, we complete the repair efficiently and test everything to confirm it’s working properly. We don’t leave until your air conditioner is running the way it should and you’re satisfied with the work. That’s our commitment to every customer, every time.
The Smart Investment of Regular Maintenance
Here’s something that might surprise you. Most air conditioning breakdowns are completely preventable. With regular maintenance, you can avoid the majority of problems that cause systems to fail.
Think of AC maintenance like getting your oil changed. You wouldn’t skip oil changes and then act surprised when your car engine fails, right? Your air conditioner works the same way. Regular maintenance keeps everything running smoothly and catches small problems before they become big, expensive emergencies.
During a maintenance visit, our technicians will clean your coils, check refrigerant levels, inspect electrical connections, test your thermostat, change or clean your filter, lubricate moving parts, and look for any signs of wear or damage. This typically takes about an hour, but it can save you from days without air conditioning in the middle of summer.
Maintenance also helps your system run more efficiently. A clean, well-maintained air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home. That means it uses less energy, which translates directly to lower utility bills. Over the course of a cooling season, those savings really add up.
And here’s another benefit. Regular maintenance extends the life of your air conditioning system. A well-cared-for AC unit can last 15 to 20 years, while a neglected one might only make it 8 to 10 years. When you consider that replacing an air conditioner can cost several thousand dollars, those annual maintenance visits look like a pretty smart investment.
Our Maintenance Programs Make Life Easier
At Pro Degree, we offer maintenance programs designed to take the worry out of air conditioning care. Instead of trying to remember when your system needs service or scrambling to schedule an appointment during the busy season, our programs keep you on a regular schedule automatically.
Our maintenance programs typically include annual tune-ups, priority scheduling, discounts on repairs, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing your system is being looked after by professionals. Many of our customers sign up for a maintenance program and never think about their air conditioning again. They just enjoy cool comfort all summer long while we handle the technical stuff behind the scenes.
If you’re not sure whether a maintenance program makes sense for you, just give us a call. We’ll discuss your specific situation, explain your options, and help you decide what works best. There’s no pressure and no obligation. We just want to help you make the right choice for your home or business.
What to Do When Your AC Stops Working
If your air conditioner quits on a hot summer day, here are some quick troubleshooting steps you can try before calling for service:
- Check your thermostat settings. Make sure it’s set to “cool” mode and that the temperature setting is lower than the current room temperature. Also verify that it’s not in “fan only” mode, which will blow air but not cool it.
- Look at your circuit breaker. Your air conditioning system has a dedicated circuit breaker that can trip during power surges or if there’s an electrical problem. Check your breaker box and reset any tripped breakers.
- Inspect your air filter. A completely clogged filter can cause your system to shut down. If you can’t remember when you last changed it, that might be your problem. Pop in a fresh filter and see if that helps.
- Make sure your outdoor unit is clear. Your outdoor condenser unit needs good airflow to work properly. Check to make sure it’s not blocked by leaves, grass clippings, or other debris. Also make sure there’s at least two feet of clearance around all sides of the unit.
- Check for ice on your indoor unit. If you see ice forming on the refrigerant lines or the indoor unit, turn off your system and let it thaw completely before trying to run it again. Ice usually indicates a problem that needs professional attention.
If none of these steps solve the problem, it’s time to call Pro Degree. Even if you did manage to get your system running again, it’s still worth having us take a look. Whatever caused the shutdown could happen again, and it’s better to address it now.
Emergency Service When You Need It Most
Air conditioning emergencies don’t happen on a convenient schedule. Your system can quit at midnight on Saturday just as easily as it can fail on Tuesday afternoon. That’s exactly why Pro Degree offers true 24/7/365 emergency service.
When we say we’re available around the clock, we mean it. Call us any time, day or night, weekday or weekend, holiday or regular day, and you’ll reach a real person who can help you. We don’t use answering services or voice mail. We answer our phones, and we dispatch technicians immediately.
Our emergency service covers the entire Pittsburgh metro area and surrounding communities. No matter where you’re located in our service area, we’ll get someone to you as quickly as possible. We keep our trucks fully stocked with common parts so we can often complete repairs on the first visit without needing to order parts or schedule a return trip.
We also know that AC emergencies are stressful. When it’s 95 degrees outside and even hotter inside your home or business, you need help fast. Our technicians are not only skilled at what they do, but they’re also professional, courteous, and respectful. We’ll work efficiently to restore your cooling and get you back to comfort as soon as possible.
Serving Homes and Businesses Throughout Pittsburgh
Pro Degree is proud to serve residential and commercial customers all across the Pittsburgh metro region. Whether you need service in the city or in any of the surrounding communities, we’ve got you covered.
Our service area includes Pittsburgh and all these communities:
- Cranberry Township
- Robinson
- Pine (Wexford)
- McCandless
- Ross Township
- Bridgeville
- Shaler
- Hampton
- Sewickley Heights
- Franklin Park
- Fox Chapel
- Bradford Woods
- Upper St. Clair
- Mount Lebanon
- Harmar
- Leetsdale
- Monroeville
- Bethel Park
- Pleasant Hills
- Moon Township
- Green Tree
- Butler
- Ambridge
- Washington
If you don’t see your area on this list but you’re in the greater Pittsburgh region, give us a call anyway. We may be able to serve your location, and we’re always looking to help more customers in new areas.
More Than Just Cooling
While we’re talking about air conditioning, it’s worth mentioning that Pro Degree is a full-service HVAC and Refrigeration company. We don’t just handle cooling. We can take care of all your climate control needs throughout the entire year.
When winter arrives and you need heating service, we’re the same reliable company you can call. We service all types of heating systems, from furnaces to boilers to heat pumps. And if you’re a business that depends on refrigeration, like a restaurant, grocery store, or medical facility, we offer specialized commercial refrigeration services to keep your equipment running properly.
Having one trusted company that handles all your heating, cooling, and refrigeration needs just makes sense. You don’t have to keep track of multiple contractors or wonder who to call when something goes wrong. You just call Pro Degree, and we take care of everything.
Why Customers Choose Pro Degree
The Pittsburgh area has no shortage of air conditioning contractors, so why should you choose Pro Degree? Here’s what sets us apart from the competition.
We offer honest, competitive pricing. We’re not going to overcharge you or try to sell you services you don’t need. You’ll get fair prices for quality work, with no hidden fees or surprise charges. We believe in treating customers the way we’d want to be treated.
Our technicians are the best in the business. Every member of our team is properly trained, licensed, and experienced. We don’t hire just anyone. We invest in our people through ongoing training so they stay current with the latest technology and repair techniques. When we show up at your door, you can be confident you’re getting a true professional.
We respect your time and your property. When we schedule an appointment, we show up on time. When we work in your home or business, we protect your floors and clean up after ourselves. We treat every property like it’s our own because that’s the level of care you deserve.
We stand behind our work completely. If something isn’t right, we make it right. We’re not satisfied until you’re satisfied, and we’re always available if you have questions or concerns after we’ve completed a job. That’s our guarantee to every customer.
Ready to Stay Cool This Summer?
Don’t wait until the hottest day of summer to discover that your air conditioner isn’t working properly. Be proactive and reach out to Pro Degree today. Whether you need emergency repairs, routine maintenance, or you’re thinking about replacing an old system, we’re here to help.
We specialize in Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, and we have the skills and experience to handle any cooling challenge you throw at us. Our team is standing by ready to answer your questions and provide the services you need to stay comfortable all season long.
Give Pro Degree a call today and let us show you why so many Pittsburgh area residents and businesses trust us with their air conditioning needs. We’re committed to your comfort, and we’re ready to prove it.