AC Repair Services in Rockford, IL and surrounding areas & Winnebago County

Your AC isn't cooling because of low refrigerant from a leak (most common in Rockford systems), dirty condenser coil restricting heat release, failed compressor preventing refrigerant circulation, or frozen evaporator coil blocking airflow. Our EPA-certified technicians diagnose the exact cause using pressure gauges, temperature probes, and visual inspection of both indoor and outdoor units. 

Once diagnosed, Refrigerant recharge costs $250-$450, coil cleaning runs $300-$500, and compressor replacement (rarely needed on units under 10 years) costs $1,200-$2,500. The most common culprit we see in Winnebago County is refrigerant leaks from worn valve cores or corroded coil joints, which cost $400-$800 to locate and repair including refrigerant recharge.

An AC that runs constantly without cooling properly indicates refrigerant leaks (70% of cases we see), failed or failing compressor unable to pressurize refrigerant, dirty outdoor condenser coil covered in cottonwood seeds or debris preventing heat release, frozen evaporator coil blocking airflow, or an undersized system for your home. 

In Rockford's humid summers, dirty outdoor coils are extremely common such as cottonwood season (late May-June) clogs condenser coils reducing efficiency by 30-40%, which we can clean for $300-$500 restoring full cooling capacity.

Gilley's can often provide same-day AC repair service for 90% of calls received before 2pm during the cooling season. We understand that when your Rockford home reaches 85°F or higher with no cooling, it's an emergency, especially with young children, elderly family members, or health conditions affected by heat. 

Our standard same-day service operates Monday- Friday 7am-5pm with no extra fees. For after-hours emergencies (evenings, weekends, holidays), we offer emergency service June through August with typical response times of 2-4 hours for complete cooling failures when outdoor temperatures exceed 85°F. 

For a 12-year-old AC in Rockford, repair makes sense if the problem is minor (capacitor, contactor, thermostat), costs under $500, and you've had no other major repairs in the past 3-5 years. 

However, replacement offers better long-term value if repair costs exceed $800, you've had 2-3 repairs in the past 2 years showing progressive system decline, your unit uses expensive R-22 refrigerant being phased out, or energy bills have increased 20%+ despite similar usage. 

At 12 years old, your AC has reached 80% of its expected 15-year lifespan in Rockford's climate. The decision comes down to math: a $1,000 repair on a 12-year-old system might buy 2-3 more summers before another expensive failure, while a new $4,500 high-efficiency AC provides 12-15 years of reliable cooling with 30-40% lower energy bills (saving $200-$400 annually).

Your AC freezes up because restricted airflow from a clogged filter (most common cause, 70% of freeze-ups we see), low refrigerant charge from leaks causing coil temperature to drop below freezing, failed blower motor not moving enough air across the evaporator coil, dirty evaporator coil restricting airflow, or closed/blocked supply vents in too many rooms forcing air back into the system. 

When refrigerant levels are low or airflow is insufficient, the evaporator coil temperature drops below 32°F, causing moisture in the air to freeze on the coil fins. This ice buildup blocks airflow completely, making the problem worse in a vicious cycle.

Yes, Gilley's repairs all major central air conditioning and heat pump brands commonly installed in Northern Illinois homes, including Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Bryant, Rheem, Goodman, York, Amana, Coleman, Heil, Payne, Armstrong, American Standard, and Daikin. Our EPA-certified technicians receive ongoing factory training from major manufacturers and maintain relationships with parts suppliers for even discontinued models from the 1990s and 2000s. 

Your AC should be professionally serviced once per year, ideally in April or May before Rockford's cooling season begins and before the summer rush when temperatures hit 90°F and everyone's AC is running full blast. Annual AC maintenance costs $140-$180 but prevents 70-75% of mid-summer breakdowns.

During a maintenance visit, our EPA-certified technicians clean both indoor and outdoor coils (critical in Rockford after cottonwood season), check refrigerant charge and pressures, test capacitor and contactor, inspect electrical connections, measure airflow and temperature drop, clear condensate drain, lubricate motors, and verify thermostat accuracy.