Charlottesville HVAC Repair — Locally Owned, Family Operated
Heating or cooling acting up — you’re not sure exactly what’s wrong, you just need someone who knows what they’re doing. We’ll figure it out today.
Same-day diagnostic + $50 off any repair — written estimate before any work. Every kind of HVAC system Charlottesville homes have.
Local Charlottesville techs since 1960. Carrier, Trane, Rheem, Goodman, Lennox, York, Mitsubishi, Daikin — all major brands serviced.
Request $50 Off HVAC Repair
Same-day service often available. We’ll call you back within 30 minutes.
Or call us now: (434) 505-4780
Honestly didn’t know if it was the AC or the furnace acting up — just knew the house was uncomfortable and the system was making weird noises. Otter Guys came out same day, found a failing blower motor that was affecting both modes, and fixed it that visit. The tech explained everything in plain English and didn’t try to upsell me on a new system.
Why Charlottesville homeowners choose The Otter Guys
Every kind of HVAC, one phone call
Gas furnace, electric furnace, oil furnace, heat pump, mini-split, dual-fuel, central AC, boiler — every system Charlottesville homes have. You don’t need to know what kind you have. Tell us the symptoms, we’ll figure out the rest.
Real diagnosis, every time
We don’t guess. Real test gear, real measurements, real explanation of what’s wrong. Written estimate before any repair starts. You see the failed part. No hidden fees, no truck-bay surprises.
Your neighbors, not a national chain
Family-owned in Charlottesville since 1960. The dispatcher answering your call lives here. Most of our techs grew up here. We’re not chasing a quarterly sales target — we’re here next year, and the year after.
Repair Warranty
On all HVAC repairs and parts
Licensed & Insured
VA License #2705181379
BBB A+ Rated
Accredited business
Charlottesville’s Finest
Gold Award 2023–2025
Common Charlottesville HVAC problems we fix
System Won’t Turn On
Thermostat calls, nothing happens. Could be thermostat, control board, capacitor, contactor, blown fuse, breaker. We test in order — usually fixed in one visit.
No Heat or No Cool
System runs but no temperature change. Refrigerant, reversing valve, igniter, flame sensor, blower — we diagnose which one before any parts go in.
Loud Banging or Humming
Bang on startup, constant hum, grinding, squealing. Each sound points to a different failure — bearing, blower, capacitor, compressor. Don’t keep running it.
Water or Refrigerant Leaking
Water from indoor unit, ceiling stain below an air handler, oily refrigerant leak outside. Drain line, condensate pump, evaporator coil, refrigerant fitting.
Short Cycling On & Off
System runs for a minute, shuts off, restarts. Refrigerant low, dirty coil, oversized system, bad thermostat. Burns out the compressor over time.
Burning Smell or Smoke
Burning plastic, electrical smell, or smoke from vents. Shut off at the breaker. Electrical or motor — call us, we’ll prioritize the dispatch.
What Charlottesville homeowners say
Andrew W. was the tech who came to my house. He was very pleasant, on time, and I feel the price for the work was fair. When I had price questions, Andrew walked me through exactly what he was going to do and what I was paying for. No surprises — everything was crystal clear.B. Costello
Devin did a thorough job evaluating our system to ensure it was operating properly. He went above and beyond what we expected. Great service — we will definitely use Otter Guys in the future!Jamie R.
Michael was fantastic — taking the time to thoroughly assess my HVAC system and follow up on other home issues from his previous visit. Great service and staff. I will continue to use The Otter Guys in the future!AJ M.
How an HVAC repair visit works
Diagnose what’s actually wrong
Tech arrives, asks what you’ve been hearing/seeing, runs the system, and tests the components in order. You see exactly what failed before any repair starts. No guessing, no fishing.
Written estimate, all your options
We hand you a written estimate. If it’s a quick fix, we explain it and move on. If it’s major, we walk through repair-vs-replace numbers in real dollars. You pick — no high-pressure sales pitch.
Repair, $50 off
Most repairs (capacitors, contactors, igniters, sensors, refrigerant, drain clears) get done in the same visit. Larger jobs (compressors, heat exchangers, reversing valves) get scheduled. $50 off any repair after diagnostic.
HVAC issues don’t fix themselves — they get worse and more expensive.
A weak capacitor lets the compressor lock up. A clogged drain line floods a ceiling. A cracked heat exchanger leaks carbon monoxide. We’ll diagnose what’s actually wrong, give you all your options in writing, and take $50 off the repair.
Frequently asked questions
Absolutely — that’s most callers. Tell us the symptoms (no heat, no cool, weird noise, won’t turn on, etc.), your address, and roughly how old the house is. We figure out what you have when we get there. Charlottesville homes have everything from 1920s steam boilers to modern dual-fuel heat pumps — we service all of it.
Same-day for most calls if you call by mid-morning. Charlottesville and Albemarle calls go on our local routes first. Call early for the best odds.
Most HVAC repairs run $300–$1,500. Capacitor or contactor: $300–$450. Igniter or flame sensor: $200–$450. Blower motor: $800–$2,400 (ECM higher end, PSC lower). Refrigerant repair on R-410A: $400–$1,200. Compressor or heat exchanger replacement: $2,000–$4,500+. Diagnostic fee applies; $50 off any repair after diagnostic. Written estimate before any work.
Yes. 5–15 year financing with competitive rates, approved in about 2 minutes. Useful for larger repairs or if a unit needs replacement. Your tech walks through options during the visit.
If the repair cost is significant and the system is over 12–15 years old, replacement usually makes more sense — modern systems are 30–50% more efficient and qualify for federal tax credits. Under that, repair almost always wins. R-22 systems (typically pre-2010) tilt earlier toward replacement. We’ll give you all your options in writing and let you pick what works best for your comfort and budget. No hard sell.
Whatever’s going on with your HVAC system, we’ve seen it before right here in Charlottesville. Over 65 years, we’ve fixed every kind of system in every kind of house in this town. We’ll figure out what’s wrong, tell you what it costs, and let you pick the path forward. No pressure, no upsell.