Expert HVAC Repair & Diagnostics in El Paso, TX

 

Fast, Honest Relief for Broken Air Conditioners, Gas Furnaces & Packaged Units

 

In the Borderland, a broken HVAC system is more than an inconvenience—it’s a safety risk. Whether your AC has stopped blowing cold air during a 100°F Westside afternoon or your furnace is blowing cold air on a freezing January night in Horizon City, Southwest Air Conditioning is ready to help.

 

Since 1991, we have specialized in the specific systems that power El Paso homes and businesses. Unlike other regions that use heat pumps, we are experts in Gas Heating and Gas-Package systems. We provide transparent, flat-rate diagnostics so you know exactly what the fix is before we turn a single wrench.

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Detailed AC Repair: Battling the Desert Elements

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Our desert environment is brutal on cooling components. The combination of triple-digit heat and fine caliche dust puts a massive load on your outdoor unit. We carry a wide range of parts to fix the most common "Sun City" failures on the first visit:

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• Electrical Component Failure: The intense El Paso heat causes capacitors and contactors to fail more often here than anywhere else. These parts are responsible for starting your compressor and fan. If you hear a humming sound but no air is moving, this is the likely culprit.

• Caliche & Dust Buildup: Fine desert dust acts like a blanket on your coils, preventing heat transfer. This causes the system to overheat and "trip" your breaker or, worse, burn out your compressor. We provide professional coil cleanings to restore factory-spec airflow.

• Refrigerant Leak Detection: If your unit runs constantly but never reaches your target temperature, you likely have a leak. We use electronic "sniffers" and nitrogen pressure tests to find the source rather than just "topping it off" with expensive refrigerant.

• Frozen Evaporator Coils: A block of ice on your indoor unit in the middle of summer is usually caused by restricted airflow (dirty filters) or a refrigerant imbalance. We thaw the system safely and diagnose the root cause to prevent a recurrence.

 

Specialized Gas Furnace & Heating Repairs

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Because El Paso relies almost exclusively on gas for heat, you need a technician who is licensed and trained in gas safety and combustion.

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• Gas Valve & Ignitor Service: Modern furnaces use electronic ignitors rather than old-fashioned pilot lights. If your heater clicks but won't light, your ignitor or gas valve may be faulty.

• Flame Sensor Maintenance: Desert dust can coat your furnace's sensors, causing the heater to shut off just seconds after it starts as a safety precaution. A professional cleaning is often all that's needed.

• Blower Motor & Belt Replacement: The blower is the "lungs" of your system. We replace seized motors and worn belts to ensure quiet, powerful airflow through your vents.

• Heat Exchanger Safety Checks: We inspect for microscopic cracks that could leak carbon monoxide. This is the most critical safety check for any El Paso home during the winter.

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Thermostat & Digital Control Repair

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Sometimes the problem isn't the unit—it's the brain. We diagnose and repair:

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• Wiring Issues: Corroded or loose low-voltage wiring that prevents communication between your home and the unit.

• Smart Thermostat Calibration: We fix "ghost" readings and connectivity issues with Nest, Honeywell, and Ecobee systems.

• Zoning System Repairs: If one floor is freezing while the other is hot, we repair the dampers and zone boards that control your home’s air distribution.

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Commercial HVAC Repair for El Paso Businesses

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A broken AC in a retail space or office can mean a lost day of revenue. We provide priority repair services for:

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• Rooftop Units (RTUs): Specialized diagnostics for large-tonnage packaged units.

• Make-Up Air Units: Crucial for El Paso restaurants and commercial kitchens.

• VAV Box & Damper Repair: Ensuring proper airflow in large office complexes.

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The "Southwest Standard": Our Honest Repair vs. Replace Guide

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At Southwest Air Conditioning, we know that an unexpected HVAC failure is stressful. Our goal is to provide you with the facts so you can make the best financial decision for your home. We use a transparent evaluation process to help you decide if a repair is a smart investment or a "band-aid" on a failing system.

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The 40% Rule

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The simplest way we help you decide is by comparing the cost of the repair to the cost of a brand-new, high-efficiency system.

Our Policy: If the cost of a single repair exceeds 40% of the price of a new system, we typically recommend replacement.

Why 40%? Investing nearly half the cost of a new unit into an old, out-of-warranty system often leads to "chasing" repairs. In the desert heat, once a major component like a compressor or heat exchanger fails, other aging parts are likely to follow.

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The Benefits of Opting for Replacement:

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• Total Warranty Reset: When you repair an old unit, you only get a short warranty on the new part. When you replace the system, you get a full manufacturer's warranty (often 10 years on parts), giving you a decade of "no-surprise" cooling.

• Lower Utility Bills: Most older El Paso units are 10-SEER or lower. A new SEER2-compliant system can slash your El Paso Electric bill by 20–40% immediately, based on current rates (we cannot control or guarantee any rates as these are determined by El Paso Electric and also individual usages; thermostat settings, lack of filter changes, etc.).

• Utility Rebates: We help you claim El Paso Electric (EPE) rebates that are only available for new, high-efficiency installations. These rebates can significantly lower your upfront cost.

• Reliability for the "Long Haul": You gain peace of mind knowing your family is protected during 105°F heatwaves without the fear of a midnight breakdown.

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💡 Pro-Tip: If your current unit still uses R-22 refrigerant (Freon), any leak repair will be extremely expensive because that gas is no longer produced. This is a situation where the 40% rule almost always leans toward replacement.