Emergency
Emergency AC Repair in Shreveport: What to Do Right Now
Switch the system off if you smell burning, see water through a ceiling or hear grinding; then decide whether it can wait until morning. After-hours labor runs $160 to $250 an hour nationally against a standard $75 to $150 (HomeGuide, read November 11, 2026), so a true emergency is worth the premium and a warm-but-safe house usually is not.
Published November 11, 2026 · Figures and rules checked against the sources listed at the end of this page.
Burning smell, smoke or sparks: switch the system off at the breaker and leave it off. If anything is on fire, leave the house and call 911. A gas smell near a furnace or package unit: leave and call the gas utility from outside.
Do these first
- Thermostat off. Turn the system off if the unit is grinding, squealing or tripping the breaker. Running it can turn a part failure into a compressor failure ($600 to $2,500 nationally).
- Breaker. Reset a tripped AC breaker once. If it trips again, leave it off. Do not reset it if you smell burning.
- Water. Standing water under the indoor unit or a wet ceiling: cooling off, towels down, and dry everything within 24 to 48 hours, the window the EPA gives for preventing mold.
- Ice. Ice on the copper line or indoor coil: cooling off, fan ON, and let it thaw for a few hours before anyone diagnoses it.
- Heat. Close blinds on the sunny side, run ceiling fans, and move anyone vulnerable to the coolest room or somewhere air-conditioned.
Emergency, or wait until morning?
| Situation | Call now? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Someone at risk from heat (infant, elderly, ill) | Yes | Move them somewhere air-conditioned now, and call 911 if they show signs of heat illness. The repair call comes second. |
| Water through a ceiling | Yes | Damage grows by the hour. |
| Burning smell, breaker keeps tripping | Off, then yes | Electrical fault; do not run it. |
| Warm air, fan runs, house safe | Usually no | Most causes are the same in the morning at the standard rate. |
| Ice on the lines | No | It must thaw before anyone can diagnose it. |
What after-hours repair costs
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic / service call | $75 to $200 |
| Standard hourly labor | $75 to $150 |
| Emergency hourly labor | $160 to $250 |
| Capacitor | $100 to $250 |
| Condenser fan motor | $200 to $700 |
The part ranges above are not split by time of day; HomeGuide lists the after-hours difference as a labor rate. Ask for the after-hours rate and the diagnostic fee before anyone is dispatched. The full table is on the cost page.
Before you say yes on the phone
- Ask for the Louisiana license number and the city registration, and look the license up. It takes a few minutes, even at night.
- Ask whether the after-hours fee is waived if the repair is done on the same visit.
- A replacement recommendation made at 11 p.m. can wait for daylight and a second quote. See the replacement cost guide.
- Bossier City homes: a repair that replaces a part may need a city permit; the Bossier City page has the trigger and fee.
Sources and dates
Every figure and rule above names where it came from and the date it was read. If a source disagrees with a quote you receive, the quote wins: it reflects your house, your equipment and this week's demand. Prices are rechecked at least every six months.
- HomeGuide, “How Much Does AC Repair Cost? (2026)” — read November 11, 2026. National ranges, not Shreveport or Bossier City quotes
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home” — read November 11, 2026