Cooling Services
Sonora & the Motherlode

Central air conditioning is the most common by far. Ductless mini-splits are growing fast for additions and homes without ducts, plenty of foothill homes still run evaporative (swamp) coolers, and heat pumps cool just as well as an AC while heating in winter too.

Yes. In cooling mode a heat pump is an air conditioner, using the same technology to move heat out of your home. The difference is that it can reverse in winter to heat the house too. See our Bryant heat pump page for the full picture.

Once a year, in spring, before cooling season. A yearly tune-up catches the worn parts that cause most no-cool calls, and maintenance starts at $200 per system. See our HVAC maintenance page for what a visit covers.

Keep the windows closed and run your system. A MERV 13 filter catches most smoke particles, though not every blower can take one, so ask us first. Change filters every 2–4 weeks in heavy smoke. Sealed ductwork helps too. Evaporative coolers pull outside air in by design, so heavy smoke days are hard on them.

Filters are rated by MERV, which measures how fine a particle they catch. Most systems ship with a MERV 8, which handles everyday dust and protects the equipment. If wildfire smoke is your concern, step up to a MERV 13. The tradeoff is airflow: denser media makes the blower work harder, and not every system is built for it. Ask us to check yours before you switch, and plan on changing a MERV 13 more often.

Yes. We install, repair, and maintain evaporative coolers, and we handle seasonal start-up in spring and shutdown in fall. It is a real service line for us, not a sideline.

It depends on how much smoke season bothers you, how humid your summers feel, and whether operating cost or comfort control matters more. An evaporative cooler is less expensive to run in dry heat. Refrigerated AC holds a steadier temperature and, with a MERV 13 filter, keeps smoke out. We will give you the honest comparison for your home. See our Bryant air conditioner page for the refrigerated side.

Our service area covers Sonora, Twain Harte, Columbia, Jamestown, Tuolumne, Mi-Wuk Village, Pinecrest, Groveland, Chinese Camp, Don Pedro, Sierra Village, Angels Camp, and surrounding communities across Tuolumne County and Calaveras County.