8 on Your Side offers home air conditioning repair tips

LAS VEGAS - Homeowners in Las Vegas depend on their air conditioning during the summer months. 8 on Your Side shows how to keep your unit running without getting ripped off.

If you are a homeowner and something goes wrong with your air conditioning unit, you need to act quickly and carefully.

The best way to do that is to call at least three companies for a quote. Calling multiple companies ensures you will get the best price.

If anything major is wrong with the system, it's always good to get a second opinion and sometimes a third opinion, said Blake Ballard with the Southern Nevada Air Conditioning Service Contractors Association. There are some unethical companies that tell you you need to replace a system or do major repairs, when that really is not the case. So, a second or third opinion can help you with that.

Make sure whichever company you choose is licensed in the state. That information is available through the Nevada State Contractors Board. If the company is not licensed, do not hire it.

If the repairman says you need a certain part for your unit, ask for a price quote. Then, call around to see what other companies charge. That way, you are in control. Air conditioning companies can charge whatever they want for parts and service. These services are not price controlled.

Repair times vary. Most contracted, licensed companies can fix your problem in a matter of hours.

That's not the case when you rely on your home warranty company for a repair.

Ballard says when you rely on home warranty companies, repairs can take days or weeks.

We find a very common complaint of people who have home warranties is that it's going to take three to five days to get it resolved or to get somebody out there, he said. In many cases, you could get it resolved that day.

Read more:
8 on Your Side offers home air conditioning repair tips