AC Repair
Warm air, a frozen line set, a noisy outdoor unit or water near the indoor unit. Most AC repair calls in Knoxville come during the first long stretch of summer heat.
AC repair guideKnoxville, Knox County and nearby towns
HVAC Services in Knoxville, TN
For HVAC repair in Knoxville, TN, check the thermostat, breakers and filter first. If the air is still warm or the heat will not come on, call to reach an independent heating and cooling contractor who takes calls for your ZIP code. Check their Tennessee license and get prices in writing.
- Free to call or send a request
- Independent local HVAC contractors
- No obligation to hire anyone
- How our referrals work
By the Knoxville HVAC Services editorial team · Last reviewed
Before you call: what quick checks can you make yourself?
Five checks clear up a good share of no-cooling and no-heat calls. They take a few minutes and need no tools. If everything looks normal and the system still will not cool or heat, it is time for a technician.
Never open panels on the furnace or outdoor unit. Capacitors can hold a charge even with the power off.
Check 1
Check the thermostat
Make sure it is set to Cool or Heat, not Off, and that the target is a few degrees past the room temperature. A blank or faint screen usually means dead batteries.
Check 2
Check the breakers
The indoor unit and the outdoor unit often have separate breakers, plus a disconnect box by the outdoor unit. Reset a tripped breaker once. If it trips again, leave it off.
Check 3
Check the filter
ENERGY STAR advises inspecting, cleaning or changing filters once a month during heavy use. A clogged filter can freeze an AC coil or make a furnace shut itself off.
Check 4
Look at the outdoor unit
In cooling mode the fan on top should spin. Clear leaves, grass clippings and anything stacked against it. Ice on the copper lines in summer means turn the system off and let it thaw.
Check 5
Stop if anything feels unsafe
If you smell gas, a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, or you smell burning, do not keep testing. Leave the house if you smell gas, and call for help from outside.
Which HVAC service do you need in Knoxville?
Most HVAC Knoxville TN calls fall into three groups: cooling that has stopped, heat that has stopped, and problems that cannot wait until morning. Pick the closest match for the full guide.
Heating and Furnace Repair
No heat, a furnace that short cycles, or a heat pump leaning on backup heat. Fall is the time to find weak parts, before the first cold snap.
Heating repair guide
Emergency HVAC Repair
No cooling with someone at risk from heat, no heat in a freeze, or a gas smell or CO alarm. What to do first, and what to ask on an after-hours call.
Emergency repair guideGuides for heat pumps, replacement, maintenance and commercial systems
What are the signs your system needs a technician?
Most people do not call about "HVAC". They call about warm air, a cold house, a noise or a smell. Find yours in the list. Each one links to the guide that explains the usual causes and what a technician checks.
ENERGY STAR notes that rooms that are too hot or too cold can point to equipment problems, duct problems or poor insulation, so uneven comfort is worth a look too.
- Warm air from the vents with the AC runningAC repair
- No heat, or the furnace starts and stops every few minutesHeating and furnace repair
- A heat pump that blows cool air in winter or stays iced upHeat pump repair
- A burning smell, a gas smell or a carbon monoxide alarmEmergency HVAC repair
- Water pooling around the indoor unit or furnaceAC repair
- Rooms that are always too hot or too coldHVAC replacement and duct questions
- Bills creeping up while comfort gets worseHVAC maintenance and tune-ups
How do I compare HVAC companies in Knoxville?
Compare HVAC companies in Knoxville on five things: a Tennessee license you can verify, written itemized estimates, references, how they size equipment, and how clearly they explain fees. We are a referral service, so we will not claim any one contractor is the best. These are the checks we would make ourselves.
- A Tennessee license you can check
- The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors regulates contractors in the state. Search the business name in its free Verify a License tool before anyone comes out.
- Written, itemized estimates
- ENERGY STAR advises getting written, itemized estimates and comparing cost, efficiency and warranties. It also says to sign a written proposal before work starts.
- References you actually call
- ENERGY STAR suggests asking for references. Call one or two and ask whether the work came in on time and on budget.
- Sizing done by measurement
- For a new system, ENERGY STAR notes that oversized equipment may cycle too often, with less comfort and a shorter lifespan. Ask how the contractor will size the system and check the ducts.
- Plain answers about fees
- Ask about trip or diagnostic fees, after-hours rates and the warranty on parts and labor before the visit is booked.
The same checks apply to HVAC contractors in Knoxville TN whether you found them through this site, a neighbor or a search for HVAC services near me.
How does a call through this site work?
This site connects you with independent HVAC contractors. It does not employ technicians or send its own crew. Here is the whole process.
- 1
Call or send a request
Use the call button on any page. The call is free.
- 2
Describe the problem
Say what the system is doing, what type it is if you know (heat pump, gas furnace or central AC) and your ZIP code.
- 3
Get connected
We connect you with an independent HVAC contractor who takes calls for your area, when one is available.
- 4
Agree the details with them
The contractor sets the visit time, the fees and the plan with you directly. You are free to say no or call someone else.
Which areas around Knoxville do you take calls from?
Calls come in from across Knoxville and Knox County, plus towns in Anderson, Blount, Loudon and Roane counties. Each town below has its own guide with local housing notes and the ZIP codes we take calls from.
Coverage depends on which contractors are taking calls that day. The contractor confirms they can reach your address before anything is booked.
Anderson CountyOak RidgeLocal guide Blount CountyMaryvilleLocal guide Blount CountyAlcoaLocal guide Knox CountyFarragutLocal guide Knox CountyPowellLocal guide Loudon CountyLenoir CityLocal guide Anderson CountyClintonLocal guide
Also taking calls from
Heiskell, Corryton, Mascot, Strawberry Plains, Louisville, Rockford, Seymour, Friendsville, Loudon, Greenback, Oliver Springs, Norris, Kingston and Harriman. See all service areas.
Which Knoxville ZIP codes and neighborhoods do you take calls from?
We take HVAC calls from the 30 Knoxville ZIP codes listed below, plus Powell, Farragut and other nearby communities. That covers neighborhoods such as Bearden, West Knoxville, Cedar Bluff, Sequoyah Hills, Fort Sanders, the Old City and Downtown, Fountain City, North Knoxville, Halls, South Knoxville, Northshore, Karns and Hardin Valley.
ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines. The contractor confirms coverage for your exact address when they call. Farragut and Powell have their own guides.
Knoxville ZIP codes
- 37901
- 37902
- 37909
- 37912
- 37914
- 37915
- 37916
- 37917
- 37918
- 37919
- 37920
- 37921
- 37922
- 37923
- 37924
- 37927
- 37928
- 37929
- 37930
- 37931
- 37932
- 37933
- 37938
- 37939
- 37940
- 37950
- 37995
- 37996
- 37997
- 37998
Nearby places we take calls from
- 37849 Powell
- 37934 Farragut
- 37754 Heiskell
- 37721 Corryton
- 37806 Mascot
- 37871 Strawberry Plains
- 37777 Louisville
- 37865 Seymour
What happens on the first HVAC repair visit?
We will add verified reviews here once we have them. We do not publish made-up testimonials. Until then, here is what a professional first visit usually looks like.
- Questions first. The technician asks what the system did, when it started and what you already checked.
- A diagnosis with readings. Expect electrical tests, a look at the filter and airflow, and refrigerant pressures on a cooling call.
- A price before work. You should hear the repair price, and see it in writing, before any parts go in.
- Repair or replace advice. On an older system, ask for the repair price and a replacement estimate side by side.
Heat pump, furnace or dual fuel: which suits an East Tennessee home?
Many East Tennessee homes heat with an air-source heat pump, which also cools in summer. A gas furnace makes sense where gas is already piped in. A dual-fuel system pairs a heat pump with a gas furnace that takes over on the coldest days. The right pick depends on your fuel, ducts and budget.
ENERGY STAR says an air-source heat pump can deliver up to three times more heat energy than the electricity it uses, and the Department of Energy says modern heat pumps can cut electricity use by 50% compared with furnaces and baseboard heaters.
| Heat pump | Gas furnace | Dual fuel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it heats | Moves heat from outdoor air into the house | Burns natural gas or propane | Heat pump most of the time, furnace on the coldest days |
| Cooling | Yes, the same unit cools in summer | No, it is paired with a central AC | Yes, through the heat pump |
| Efficiency notes | Up to three times more heat than the electricity it uses (ENERGY STAR) | An ENERGY STAR furnace is 15% more efficient than a conventional one | Ask the contractor how the switch between the two is set |
| When to think about replacing | More than 10 years old (ENERGY STAR) | More than 15 years old (ENERGY STAR) | Judge each half by its own age |
ENERGY STAR also notes that an air-source heat pump can often go in as a drop-in replacement when a central AC or a furnace needs replacing. Our heat pump guide covers repair and installation.
How does Knoxville's climate affect heating and cooling?
Heating and cooling in Knoxville, TN has to handle both seasons. The city has a humid subtropical climate. The city averages 36 days a year at 90 F or hotter, and January's daily average is 38.2 F. That means long AC run times in summer and plenty of heating hours in winter, with humidity to manage on top.
The Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB) supplies electricity in the city, so heat pump and AC running costs show up on your KUB bill. Ask KUB or your power company and TVA EnergyRight about current rebates before you buy new equipment.
How much do HVAC services cost in Knoxville?
We do not publish prices. Cost depends on the part, the system and the contractor, and a number on a referral site would only be a guess. What you can control is how the price is set: ask for the diagnostic fee up front and get the repair price in writing before work starts.
- Is the trip or diagnostic fee credited toward the repair?
- Is the price flat-rate or time and materials?
- Are evening or weekend rates different?
- What warranty covers the parts and the labor?
For context, ENERGY STAR puts a typical household's energy bill at around $1,900 a year, with almost half going to heating and cooling.
How can you avoid HVAC repair calls in the first place?
Change or clean the filter every month during heavy use, keep the outdoor unit clear, and book a pre-season check-up. ENERGY STAR recommends checking the cooling system in spring and the heating system in fall, before contractors get busy, and notes that airflow problems alone can cut efficiency by up to 15 percent.
Leaky ducts matter too. ENERGY STAR says about 20 to 30 percent of the air moving through a typical duct system is lost to leaks, holes and poor connections. See the HVAC maintenance guide for a full checklist, the replacement guide if your system is aging, and the HVAC glossary for the terms a technician may use.
Sources: ENERGY STAR maintenance checklist, ENERGY STAR replacement guide, ENERGY STAR hiring tips, ENERGY STAR quality installation, ENERGY STAR duct sealing, ENERGY STAR air-source heat pumps, Department of Energy on heat pumps, Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, Knoxville climate normals via Wikipedia.
Questions people ask
Which Knoxville ZIP codes can I call from to reach an HVAC contractor?
Calls are taken from 30 Knoxville ZIP codes, from 37902 downtown to 37922 and 37923 in West Knoxville and 37938 in the north. The full list is in the Knoxville ZIP codes section, along with nearby towns.
Is Knoxville HVAC Services an HVAC company that sends its own technicians?
No. This is a referral website. When you call, you are connected with an independent HVAC contractor who takes calls for your area. That contractor sets the price and the schedule, and does the work. You are never obliged to hire them.
Is a heat pump or a gas furnace better for a Knoxville home?
Both work here. Heat pumps heat and cool with one system and suit mild winters. A gas furnace gives strong heat on the coldest nights if you already have gas. A dual-fuel setup pairs the two. Ask a contractor to compare running costs for your house.
What should I tell the HVAC contractor when I call about a problem?
Give your ZIP code, the type of system, what it is doing and when it started. Mention any breaker trips, ice, water or odd smells, and the checks you already made. The age of the system helps too.
How often should a Knoxville heating and cooling system get a check-up?
Once a year for each season it works. ENERGY STAR recommends checking the cooling system in spring and the heating system in fall. A heat pump does both jobs, so many owners book it twice a year.
Does KUB offer rebates on a new heat pump or air conditioner?
Programs change, so we do not list amounts. Ask KUB or your power company and TVA EnergyRight about current rebates before you buy. Ask the contractor too, and get any rebate terms in writing with the estimate.
Checked the basics and still no cooling or heat?
We will connect you with an independent HVAC contractor who takes calls for your part of Knoxville.