When your heating or cooling system fails, the situation can go from uncomfortable to serious faster than most people expect. Fitch Services is available around the clock for emergency HVAC repairs in Charlottesville and the surrounding area — with same day service for urgent situations. If you need someone now, we’re available.
No Heat in Winter or No Cooling in Summer — Both Are Urgent
There’s no good time for an HVAC system to fail — but extreme weather makes it genuinely serious. When the temperature inside your home starts moving in the wrong direction, it doesn’t take long for the situation to become urgent. Prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures is a genuine health risk — particularly for elderly family members, young children, or anyone with a condition affected by heat or cold. Whatever your system has stopped doing, the priority is the same — get someone there who can diagnose and fix it correctly, fast.
Signs You’re Dealing With an HVAC Emergency
Some situations are clear emergencies: a complete loss of heating or cooling in extreme weather, a system that’s running but producing no conditioned air, a burning smell or unusual odor coming from the equipment or vents, strange sounds — grinding, banging, or screeching — that weren’t there before, or a system that keeps shutting off immediately after starting. A significant unexplained spike in energy usage can also signal a system that’s struggling and working dangerously hard to compensate. If something feels wrong, trust that instinct. The cost of an unnecessary service call is far smaller than the cost of a system failure that could have been caught earlier.
What To Do Before We Arrive
If you smell burning or notice smoke coming from equipment or vents, turn the system off at the thermostat and call us immediately. For a heating failure in cold weather, close off unused rooms and use available supplemental heat sources safely to maintain temperature in the spaces you’re using. For a cooling failure in extreme heat, keep blinds and curtains closed on sun-facing windows to slow heat gain, move vulnerable household members to the coolest available space, and stay hydrated. Don’t attempt to reset a system repeatedly if it keeps shutting off — that pattern usually means something is wrong and cycling it isn’t the solution.
Why the Technician You Call Matters
Emergency HVAC work requires someone who can diagnose quickly, work accurately under pressure, and make sound decisions about the right repair without cutting corners because the situation feels urgent. A misdiagnosis in an emergency situation wastes time and money and leaves the problem unsolved. A temporary patch that fails again in two days isn’t a solution. When you call for emergency service you need a technician with the experience to get it right the first time and the honesty to tell you what the situation actually requires.
Fitch Is Available Around the Clock in Charlottesville
We’re a licensed, family-owned company that has been serving Charlottesville and the surrounding area since 1983, and we take emergency calls seriously — because we understand what’s at stake when a heating or cooling system fails in extreme weather. Day or night, we’re available, and we offer same day service for urgent HVAC situations. If you have an HVAC emergency, call us now at 434-296-9980.
Frequently Asked Questions
A system that won't run can have several causes — from a tripped circuit breaker to a failed component inside the equipment. If your system has stopped running unexpectedly, it's worth having a licensed technician evaluate it to identify the actual cause and get it running correctly.
An air conditioner that freezes up is usually experiencing restricted airflow or low refrigerant. Restricted airflow — most commonly from a clogged filter, blocked return vent, or dirty evaporator coil — prevents warm air from reaching the coil, causing temperatures to drop below freezing. Low refrigerant from a slow leak has a similar effect. A frozen system should be evaluated by a licensed technician to identify and address the underlying cause.
A gas smell near any appliance or equipment is a serious safety concern. Leave the home immediately without using light switches, phones, or anything that could create a spark. Once outside, call your gas utility's emergency line and 911. Do not re-enter the home until it has been inspected and cleared by the appropriate authorities.
If the coils of your outdoor unit are covered with a significant layer of ice, it may indicate a serious problem. Common causes include a malfunctioning defrost board, low refrigerant, a restriction in the refrigeration line, or a failed fan motor or capacitor. A light frost on a heat pump's outdoor unit in cold weather can be normal — but significant ice buildup warrants a professional evaluation.
A drain pan that's filling with water indicates a problem with the system. The two most common causes are a clogged condensate drain line or a rusted primary drain pan inside the unit. Many systems have a float switch in the drain pan that will automatically cut the system off if water accumulates — a safety feature designed to prevent ceiling damage. Water around your HVAC equipment is always worth having evaluated promptly by a licensed technician.
Yes — carbon monoxide is a serious safety concern in any home with gas, oil, or other fuel-burning appliances. When combustion isn't complete, carbon monoxide enters the air — and because it's odorless and colorless, it's impossible to detect without a working CO detector. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises that carbon monoxide detectors are the only reliable way to alert you to its presence. If you or a family member experiences unexplained headaches or difficulty waking, treat it as a potential emergency and seek medical care immediately. Annual maintenance of combustion heating equipment is an important part of keeping your system operating safely.
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Real Reviews from Your Charlottesville Neighbors
See All ReviewsGeorgia P.Great Sewer Line Repair
James B. (Charlottesville, Virginia)Going to use them for everything I can now including my HVAC maintenance. Replaced my sewer line for a great price. Camera'd my line for free and gave me a truly free estimate whether I used them or not. Job ended up being tougher than what was expected and not once did they bring up the possibility of changing from what they quoted me. Good group of guys right there. Chris and his crew know what they're doing.
Paul B. (Charlottesville, VA)As I commented on both Facebook and Angie's List this was a good experience. The service was performed as scheduled and well. There was a glitch in the billing, but your own people detected it and contacted me about it and took care of it on your own initiative. Greatly appreciated!
Johanne (Charlottesville, VA)Very efficient, quick diagnosis, and quick fix.
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