Your AC is running, the fan is blowing, but the room just will not cool. Before you assume the worst, here are the seven most common causes we see in Hyderabad homes — and a realistic idea of what each costs to fix.
1. A clogged filter or coil
The most common and cheapest cause. Dust blocks airflow, so the cooling drops. A standard service (from ₹549) usually fixes it.
2. Low refrigerant gas (a leak)
Gas does not get “used up” — if it is low, there is a leak. Watch for ice on the copper pipes and a hissing sound. Refilling without fixing the leak is a waste of money, so insist the leak is fixed first. Gas filling starts at ₹1,499 for a top-up.
3. A faulty capacitor
If the outdoor unit hums but the fan or compressor will not start, the capacitor is a common culprit. Replacement typically starts around ₹699.
4. Dirty or blocked outdoor unit
If the outdoor condenser cannot release heat — because it is caked in dust or boxed in with no airflow — cooling suffers. Cleaning is part of a normal service.
5. Thermostat or remote settings
Worth checking first and free to fix: make sure it is on “Cool” (not “Fan”), the set temperature is low enough, and the mode is not on “Dry”.
6. A sensor or PCB fault
On inverter ACs, a bad sensor or control board can stop proper cooling and often shows an error code. PCB repair starts around ₹1,499.
7. An undersized or ageing AC
If your 1-ton AC is cooling a large, sunny room, it may simply be too small. And beyond 10–12 years, declining performance can mean the unit is near the end of its life.
What to do next
Start with the free checks (settings, filter). If the room still will not cool, a diagnosis visit (₹299) pinpoints the exact cause and you get the repair price before any work begins.
Thomas Daniel
CoolSaathi’s lead AC specialist with 10+ years servicing split and window ACs across Hyderabad.