Heating & AC Repair in Columbus, OH
Ohio asks a lot of a climate-control system: air conditioning that keeps up in August and a heater that clears the windshield in February. When either side quits, partner shops in the Alpha Automotive network diagnose it with the proper tools — electronic leak detection, UV dye, and manifold gauges — before replacing anything, because topping off refrigerant on a leaking system only buys a few weeks.
Partner shops handle the full system: refrigerant recovery and recharge, compressors, condensers and evaporators, heater cores, blend-door actuators, and cooling-fan circuits. Each shop quotes before work begins and backs its work under its own warranty terms.
If a cooling-system failure overheats your engine, Roadside Towing & Recovery Inc tows you to the partner shop you choose. VIP members use one of their included tows (1–4 per year by tier, up to 5–35 miles) and get 5–10% off labor on Plus, Elite, and Platinum; everyone else pays our standard published tow rate and still gets priority scheduling at the shop. Do not keep driving an overheating car to the shop — a short tow is far cheaper than a warped head.
Call (740) 812-9489 · Request a tow now (SOS) · Get an online quote
What partner shops do
- AC Recharge & Leak Detection: Refrigerant recovery, vacuum test, electronic leak detection, and recharge with the correct refrigerant type for your vehicle.
- Compressor Replacement: Compressor diagnosis and replacement including the receiver-drier, expansion valve, and a system flush.
- Heater Core Repair: Diagnosis and replacement of leaking or clogged heater cores that fog the windshield or leave a sweet coolant smell in the cabin.
- Blend Door Actuator: Repair of stuck actuators that leave the system blowing only hot or only cold.
- Condenser & Evaporator: Replacement of damaged condensers and evaporators that cause weak cooling.
- Cooling Fan Service: Electric cooling-fan motor, relay, and temperature-sensor diagnosis and replacement.
Warning Signs Your HVAC Needs Service
- AC blows warm or lukewarm air instead of cold
- Heater takes too long to warm up or never gets hot
- Sweet coolant smell inside the cabin
- Foggy windshield that will not clear with defrost
- Unusual noise when the AC compressor engages
- Water pooling on the passenger-side floor
- Only hot or only cold air regardless of the setting
- AC cycles on and off rapidly
VIP member benefits
- VIP members save 5–10% on labor at partner shops, depending on tier (Plus, Elite, and Platinum) — parts are billed at the shop's normal price
- Included tows to a partner shop — 1–4 per year by tier, up to 5–35 miles each
- Elite and Platinum members: 4–6 rental car days per year at 10% off the daily rate (every tier gets 10% off any rental it uses)
- Plus and above: one free oil change per year at a partner shop
- Priority scheduling at the partner shop when we deliver your vehicle, and priority dispatch on Elite and Platinum
- Appointments, service history, and rental booking in the CONVINI app
Frequently asked questions
How often should I recharge my AC?
A sealed system should not need regular recharging. If it is low, it is leaking, and the leak should be found and fixed before refrigerant is added.
Why does my car smell like coolant inside?
A sweet smell in the cabin usually means a leaking heater core. Have it looked at promptly — coolant vapor is not something you want to breathe, and a leaking core can also fog the windshield.
How much does an AC compressor replacement cost?
It varies widely by vehicle and by which supporting parts need to be replaced along with the compressor, so the shop quotes each job before work begins. VIP savings apply to labor only, at 5–10% depending on tier (Plus, Elite, and Platinum); Essential does not include a repair discount. Parts for AC work are billed at the shop's normal price. Elite and Platinum members can also use 4–6 rental days per year at 10% off the daily rate while the car is in the shop.
Can partner shops service older refrigerant systems?
Ask the shop about your specific vehicle. Refrigerant handling requirements differ by system type and the equipment each shop carries, so we will route you to a shop that can do the work.
Repairs are performed by independent partner shops: the Alpha Automotive network and standalone partners such as Arrow Transmissions & Automotive. Roadside Towing & Recovery Inc provides the tow, the CONVINI app coordination, and VIP member pricing. Find a partner shop · See all auto repair services · Compare VIP tiers.
Related repair services
Towing to partner shops from
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Roadside Towing & Recovery Inc (dba Columbus Roadside Towing).
Corporate office (private, no walk-ins): 3879 Regatta Ct, Lewis Center, OH 43035
Tow yard & impound lot: 1620 Harrisburg Pike, Columbus, OH 43223
(740) 812-9489 · chris@columbusroadsidetowing.com
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