Emergency
Emergency AC Repair in Killeen: What to Do Right Now
If you smell burning or see sparks, switch the system off at the breaker. If it has simply stopped cooling, four quick checks sometimes bring it back, and after-hours labor costs $160 to $250 an hour (national range, HomeGuide, read November 11, 2026), so it is worth five minutes before you call.
Published November 11, 2026 · Figures and rules checked against the sources listed at the end of this page.
Burning smell, smoke or sparks: turn the system off at the breaker and do not turn it back on. If anything is on fire, leave the house and call 911.
Do these first
- Thermostat: COOL, fan AUTO, set below room temperature, fresh batteries.
- Breakers: if there is no burning smell or scorch mark, reset a tripped AC or air handler breaker once. If it trips again, leave it off.
- Filter and outdoor unit: replace a clogged filter and clear anything blocking the outdoor unit.
- Drain pan: water in the pan under the indoor unit trips a safety switch that shuts the system down.
If none of those brings the cooling back, the AC-not-cooling guide has the likely causes.
What can wait until morning
- Usually can wait: weak cooling, a noisy but working unit, ice on the lines (turn it off and let it thaw), a slow drip into the pan.
- Should not wait: electrical smells or scorch marks, water coming through a ceiling, or indoor heat that is a risk to an infant, an older adult or someone unwell.
While you wait, close blinds on the sunny side, run ceiling fans, and move anyone vulnerable to the coolest room or to somewhere with working air conditioning. If anyone is confused, faint or has hot, dry skin, call 911: that is a medical emergency, not a repair problem. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the house and call 911; if you smell gas, leave and call the gas utility from outside.
What after-hours repair costs
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Service call / diagnostic | $75 to $200 |
| Standard hourly labor | $75 to $150 |
| Emergency hourly labor | $160 to $250 |
| Capacitor (a common no-start repair) | $100 to $250 |
Source: HomeGuide, “How Much Does AC Repair Cost? (2026)”. National figures, not Killeen quotes.
Even at midnight, check the license
Urgency is when people skip the checks. Ask for the company’s Texas air conditioning contractor license number on the phone and look it up with TDLR while they are on the way, and ask for the after-hours rate before they set off.
Sources and dates
Every figure and rule above names where it came from and the date it was read. Price ranges are national guides; a written quote for your own system is the real number. For permit and license rules, the City and TDLR have the last word. Prices are rechecked at least every six months.
- HomeGuide, “How Much Does AC Repair Cost? (2026)” — read November 11, 2026. National ranges, not Killeen quotes
- Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1302 (Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors), §§1302.002, 1302.053, 1302.251 — read November 11, 2026