How do I know if my air conditioning needs repair?

Your air conditioner may need to be repaired if you notice unusual sounds or smells. It's common to hear buzzing noises or smell a musty odor when an AC system isn't working properly. You may also experience inconsistent cooling, poor airflow, or warm air coming from your vents. Finally, AC problems can reduce efficiency, so keep an eye on your summer energy bills.

How often should I have my air conditioning serviced?

You should have your air conditioner serviced at least once per year. Before summer begins, have an experienced cooling technician examine the system and perform a tune-up. Regular tune-ups prevent unexpected failures and keep your air conditioner operating efficiently. Routine AC maintenance also increases the lifespan of a cooling system.

How long does air conditioning repair take?

Your repair timeline depends on the age of your AC system and the extent of the problem. Minor cooling problems, such as broken thermostats and clogged filters, can take up to 3 hours to repair. Complex problems take longer to address, especially if we have to order replacement parts. For example, it can take up to a full day to repair a refrigerant leak.

Is it better to repair or replace my air conditioning?

It depends on the age and condition of your cooling system. If your air conditioner is only a few years old, it's usually better to repair it. Making small repairs can keep your AC running efficiently for years to come. If your system is more than 10 years old, it may be better to replace it instead of repairing it.

AC Services in Central Ohio | Repair & Installation

Dor-Mar has been cooling Central Ohio homes since 1962. From our shop at 228 E Main St in Newark, our EPA-certified technicians repair, replace and maintain air conditioning systems across Licking, Franklin, Fairfield and Muskingum counties, usually the same day you call.

A reliable air conditioner helps keep your home comfortable throughout Central Ohio’s warmest months. Dor-Mar provides complete AC service for homeowners, including system installation, replacement, repair, and routine maintenance. Our technicians also service ductless mini-splits and provide emergency AC repairs when cooling problems cannot wait.

Whether your system needs a quick fix or you are considering a new air conditioner, our team can explain your options. We will help you find a solution that supports consistent cooling, dependable performance, and your household’s needs.

Schedule air conditioning service in Central Ohio today.

Why Choose Dor-Mar for AC Service?

Experience matters on a cooling call, because the difference between a $300 repair and a $7,000 replacement is often a diagnosis. Dor-Mar has been servicing air conditioning systems for more than 60 years. We are family-owned; we employ more than 30 local people rather than subcontracting, and our technicians are EPA-certified to handle refrigerants. Our Google Business Profile averages 4.6 stars across more than 1,800 reviews.

Why choose us?

More than 60 years serving Central Ohio
30+ local employees, not subcontractors
24/7 emergency service
EPA-certified refrigerant handling

Top Team Contractor with Rheem & Coleman
Free, no-obligation replacement estimates
Financing available on new systems
Family-owned since 1962

Complete Air Conditioning Services

Dor-Mar handles the full cooling system, not just the outdoor unit. Repairs, replacements, seasonal maintenance, ductless systems and emergency service run through the same team, which means one company diagnosing, installing and standing behind the work.

Our technicians know Central Ohio permitting and local building codes, which keeps replacement projects from stalling at inspection. They are also EPA-certified to handle refrigerants, which matters more now than it used to.

Dor-Mar is proud to offer these cooling services in Central Ohio:

Air Conditioning Repair Most cooling failures trace back to a handful of causes: a failed capacitor, a bad contactor, a seized blower motor, a clogged condensate line, a dirty condenser coil, or low refrigerant from a leak. Our technicians diagnose before quoting, and we stock the common failure parts on the truck so the majority of repairs finish in one visit.

If we find a refrigerant leak, we tell you where it is and what it will cost to keep the system charged, rather than topping it off and leaving. Repeated top-offs on an R-410A system are getting expensive for a reason we explain below.

Air Conditioning Installation & Replacement Sizing is where replacements go wrong. An oversized unit short-cycles, never runs long enough to pull humidity out of the air, and wears out early. We size to the house using a load calculation rather than matching whatever was there before, which is often oversized by a ton or more. Ohio falls in the federal North region, where split system air conditioners must meet a minimum of 13.4 SEER2. We will walk you through where higher-efficiency equipment pays back and where it does not, given how many cooling hours Central Ohio actually sees in a year.

Air Conditioning Services in Central Ohio

Air Conditioning Maintenance

An annual tune-up before cooling season is the cheapest thing you can do for an air conditioner. Most of the emergency calls we run in July trace back to something a spring visit would have caught: a condensate drain starting to clog, a capacitor reading out of spec, a coil packed with cottonwood and grass clippings.

During a tune-up we check refrigerant charge, test electrical components under load, clear the condensate line, clean the condenser coil, inspect the blower and verify the temperature split across the coil. If something is drifting out of range, you hear about it in April rather than during the first stretch of ninety-degree days.

Maintenance also protects your equipment warranty. Most manufacturers, including Rheem, require documented annual service to keep coverage intact, and a denied warranty claim on a compressor is an expensive surprise.

Ductless Mini-Split Systems

Adding central air to a home without ductwork is expensive, and in older Central Ohio houses with plaster walls and finished attics it is sometimes not practical at all. A ductless mini-split solves that. Each system pairs an outdoor unit with one or more indoor heads, typically wall-mounted, though ceiling cassettes are an option where wall space is limited.

Because there are no ducts, there is no duct loss, which in a typical home runs 20 to 30 percent of conditioned air. Mini-splits also let you zone: a hot second floor, a finished basement, a converted garage or a sunroom addition can each hold its own setpoint instead of fighting the rest of the house.

Most modern mini-splits are heat pumps, so the same equipment heats in shoulder season and can carry a room well into Ohio winter before backup heat is needed. That makes them a strong fit for additions and spaces the existing system never cooled properly.

Keep Your Cool with Air Conditioning Services from Dor-Mar

Dor-Mar has been installing, repairing and maintaining air conditioners since 1962. We are family-owned, our technicians train regularly on national safety standards and local building codes, and we provide free written estimates so there are no surprises when the invoice arrives.

Our shop is in Newark, and we serve 30 communities across Licking, Franklin, Fairfield and Muskingum counties. For details on service in your area, see the location page for Newark, Columbus, Westerville, Dublin, Reynoldsburg, Pataskala or Zanesville, or view our full service area.

Need cooling service in Central Ohio? Call Dor-Mar at (740) 345-6639.

Schedule AC Service in Central Ohio

A dependable air conditioner can make a noticeable difference in your comfort during a Central Ohio summer. Whether your system needs a repair, seasonal maintenance, or a complete replacement, Dor-Mar can evaluate its condition and explain your options. Our technicians provide recommendations based on your home, cooling needs, and existing equipment. We are also available for urgent cooling problems that cannot wait for regular business hours.

Get ahead of the heat and schedule your Central Ohio AC service with Dor-Mar today.

Frequently Asked Questions

We answered the questions Central Ohio homeowners ask us most about air conditioning.

Warning signs include unusual sounds, a musty or burning smell, inconsistent cooling from room to room, weak airflow, warm air from the vents, or the system running constantly without reaching the thermostat setting. A summer utility bill noticeably higher than the same month last year often points to a system working harder than it should. Water pooling near the indoor unit usually means a clogged condensate line, which is worth a same-day call before it damages flooring.

Once a year, in spring, before you need the system. A preseason tune-up catches the problems that cause midsummer breakdowns and keeps efficiency from drifting. Annual documented service is also required by most manufacturer warranties, including Rheem, so skipping it can cost you coverage on an expensive component.

Most repairs finish in one visit of one to three hours. Capacitors, contactors, thermostats, clogged drain lines, and dirty coils are all same-visit work because we carry those parts. Jobs that need a special-order part, or refrigerant leak repair that requires locating the leak first, can take a full day or require a return visit. We tell you which category you are in before we start.

Age and repair cost are the two factors. Under about eight years old, repair is usually the right call. Past 12 to 15 years, or when a single repair approaches a third of replacement cost, replacement generally wins. The refrigerant question now sits on top of that: If your air conditioner runs on R-410A and has a leak, rising refrigerant costs make repeated recharges harder to justify than they were a few years ago. We give you both quotes and the reasoning, and we do not push replacement on a system with life left in it.

Yes. We provide 24/7 emergency air conditioning repair throughout Newark and our full Central Ohio service area, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Call (740) 345-6639. If the outage affects someone vulnerable to heat, tell us when you call so we can prioritize the visit.

AC service costs depend on the condition of your system and the work needed. A Dor-Mar technician will inspect your equipment, review the available options, and answer your questions before work begins. For more information about repair or replacement costs, contact our team to discuss your air conditioning needs.

Replacement may be worth considering when an older air conditioner needs frequent repairs, uses more energy, or no longer cools your home consistently. The cost of the current repair, the system’s age, its overall condition, and the availability of replacement parts or refrigerant should all factor into the decision. Dor-Mar can compare the repair cost with your AC installation and replacement options so you can make an informed choice.

See Why Homeowners Trust DorMar

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"All of the technicians I’ve had experience either have been professional competent and friendly. DorMar has provided excellent sale and installation of my new furnace. Service was prompt and thorough. Highly recommend."

- Kathy S.

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Air Conditioning Services in Central Ohio

Why Choose Dor-Mar for AC Service?

Complete Air Conditioning Services

Keep Your Cool with Air Conditioning Services from Dor-Mar

Schedule AC Service in Central Ohio

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact the DorMar team today!

Main Office

Plumbing & Water Treatment

Radon Testing & Mitigation

Columbus OH

Buckeye Lake OH

Dublin OH

Grove City

Pataskala

Reynoldsburg

Westerville OH

Zanesville OH

Air Conditioning Services in Central Ohio

Why Choose Dor-Mar for AC Service?

Complete Air Conditioning Services

Keep Your Cool with Air Conditioning Services from Dor-Mar

Schedule AC Service in Central Ohio

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my air conditioning needs repair?

How often should I have my air conditioning serviced?

How long does air conditioning repair take?

Is it better to repair or replace my air conditioner?

Do you offer emergency AC repair in Newark and Central Ohio?

How much does AC repair or replacement cost?

When should I replace my AC instead of repairing it?

Contact the DorMar team today!

Columbus OH

Buckeye Lake OH

Dublin OH

Grove City

Pataskala

Reynoldsburg

Westerville OH

Zanesville OH