Louisiana senior citizen reviewing LIHEAP crisis assistance application documents and utility bills for broken AC repair financial help

When You Can’t Afford the Repair: Here’s What Most Louisiana Families Don’t Know

/ 10 minutes of reading

Your AC compressor failed and you can’t afford the repair? Learn about Louisiana’s $1,000 emergency assistance program and warranty options most people miss.

Table of Contents

We got a call this morning from a 77-year-old woman in Ponchatoula. Her compressor died. Eight years old. She’s on a fixed income with less than ideal credit. Sitting in a house with no AC and no heat…

She wasn’t calling to ask for free work. She just wanted to know if we could wait until after New Year’s to send someone out—maybe by then she’d have figured something out.

Here’s what we told her: Before you panic, before you sit in a house without cooling or heating, check two things that might get your system fixed without spending thousands of dollars you don’t have.

If you’re in this situation right now—compressor failed, can’t afford the repair, don’t know what to do—call us at (504) 314-1486. We can’t always do the work, but we can help you understand your options and point you in the right direction.

First: Check If Your Warranty Still Covers the Parts

Most people with systems that are 5-10 years old have no idea they might still be under warranty. And we’re not talking about a maintenance plan—we’re talking about the manufacturer’s parts warranty that came with your system when it was installed.

Here’s what most manufacturers offer:

  • 5-year base parts warranty (automatic, no registration needed)
  • 10-year parts warranty if your installer registered it within 90 days of installation

Your builder or previous HVAC contractor might have registered it. You might have no idea. But that warranty could mean the difference between a $3,000 repair bill and a $600 labor charge.

How to Check Your Warranty Right Now

Step 1: Find your serial number

  • Go to your outdoor unit (the big box outside)
  • Look for a metal data plate on the side
  • Take a clear photo of the entire plate—you’ll need this

Step 2: Call the manufacturer directly

Step 3: Ask this exact question

“Is the compressor on serial number [X] still under parts warranty?”

What This Actually Means for Your Wallet

Even if the compressor is covered under warranty, you still have to pay for labor. A compressor replacement typically runs $800-$1,500 in labor costs, even when the part is free.

But here’s the thing: knowing you only need to cover labor, not parts AND labor, changes everything. That’s when assistance programs or financing options become realistic instead of impossible.

If you need help figuring out your warranty situation, our AC repair team has handled hundreds of warranty claims and can tell you exactly what’s covered and what you’d need to pay. Call us at (504) 314-1486—even if we don’t end up doing the work, we’ll help you understand what you’re dealing with.

Hagerman Services call to action with list of all services and contact us in text.

Second: Louisiana Has Emergency Assistance Most People Don’t Know About

Louisiana’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), administered by the Louisiana Housing Corporation, isn’t just about paying your utility bill. They have a crisis assistance component specifically designed for households whose heating or cooling equipment stops working.

Most people have never heard of this. We’re telling you because seniors shouldn’t be sitting in a house with no heat when programs exist that might help them.

LIHEAP Crisis Assistance – Equipment Component

What it covers:

  • Up to $1,000 per household per year
  • Repair OR replacement assistance (whatever your system needs)
  • Available year-round (October 1 through September 30)
  • You do NOT need a disconnect notice from your power company
  • You just need proof your heating or cooling isn’t working

What qualifies:

  • Compressor failure
  • Furnace won’t ignite
  • AC won’t cool
  • Heat won’t heat
  • Any situation where your system is non-functional

Who’s eligible:

This isn’t just for seniors or people on disability. Anyone meeting the income limits can apply.

Income Limits (60% State Median):

  • Single person: Under $30,618/year
  • Two people: Under $40,093/year
  • Family of 3: Under $49,568/year
  • Family of 4: Under $58,882/year
  • Family of 5: Under $68,357/year

If you’re 60+, disabled, or have children under 6, you get priority processing.

Reality Check: What This Money Can Actually Do

This won’t cover a complete system replacement—those run $5,000-$12,000 in Louisiana. But $1,000 toward a compressor, condenser fan motor, or heat exchanger? That can be the difference between getting it fixed and going without.

Important to understand: This program is administered by parish community action agencies, not by HVAC contractors. The process involves application, approval, and coordination with the agency. It’s not instant, but it exists, and it helps thousands of Louisiana families every year.

If you’re just over the income limit or need help faster than the application process allows, we offer flexible financing options through Synchrony that can make repairs affordable with manageable monthly payments—often with promotional 0% interest periods.

How to Access LIHEAP Crisis Assistance

The process takes time, but here’s how to get started.

Step 1: Contact Your Parish Agency Directly

These are the community action agencies that administer LIHEAP in your area. Call them directly—they can explain the process, timeline, and requirements.

Tangipahoa Parish (Ponchatoula, Hammond, Amite):

  • Quad Area Community Action Agency
  • (225) 567-2350
  • 45300 N. Baptist Rd, Hammond, LA 70401
  • Serves: Tangipahoa, Livingston, St. Helena, Washington parishes

Orleans and Jefferson Parishes:

  • Total Community Action
  • (504) 324-8609
  • 5520 Louisa St, New Orleans, LA 70117

East Baton Rouge Parish:

  • Catholic Charities Diocese of Baton Rouge
  • (225) 336-8706
  • 1900 S Acadian Thruway, Baton Rouge, LA 70808

St. Tammany Parish:

  • Northshore Community Action
  • (985) 892-5554
  • 101 E Boston St, Covington, LA 70433

St. Bernard, Plaquemines, St. Charles, St. John Parishes:

  • St. Bernard Community Action Agency
  • (504) 278-7379
  • 6825 W Judge Perez Dr, Arabi, LA 70032

Don’t see your parish? Call 2-1-1 from any phone and ask for “LIHEAP crisis assistance provider for [your parish].”

Step 2: What to Say When You Call

Be clear about what you need: “I need information about crisis assistance for non-functional heating and cooling equipment.”

Ask them:

  • What’s the application process?
  • What documents do I need?
  • How long does approval typically take?
  • How does the assistance get applied?

Step 3: Documents You’ll Likely Need

Based on program requirements, have these ready:

Required for everyone:

  • Social Security Card for all household members (the actual physical card, not just the number)
  • Government-issued ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport)
  • Last 30 days of income documentation (pay stubs, Social Security statements, unemployment benefits, etc.)
  • Proof of address (lease, deed, or utility bill in your name)
  • Proof your system doesn’t work (contractor estimate, repair quote, photos, or written statement)

Important: Louisiana changed the rules in August 2025. You must now provide actual Social Security cards. If you’ve lost your card, start the replacement process with the Social Security Administration immediately because this can take 2-3 weeks.

Step 4: Understand the Timeline

This isn’t an instant solution. The agencies process applications as quickly as they can, but government assistance programs take time. That’s just reality.

If you need help NOW and can’t wait for the application process, that’s when you need to look at other options—which is where we come in.

Additional Resources If You’re 60+ or Disabled

You get priority processing with LIHEAP, but there’s additional help available.

Local Councils on Aging:

These organizations can help with:

  • Application paperwork
  • Additional emergency assistance funds
  • Advocacy with LIHEAP agencies

Universal Resource Line: Call 2-1-1 from any phone and ask for “senior services and emergency home repair assistance.” They’ll connect you to every available resource in your area.

What Assistance Programs Won’t Do (Let’s Be Honest)

Government assistance programs are valuable, but they have limitations.

LIHEAP Crisis Assistance Won’t:

  • Happen instantly (applications take time)
  • Cover complete system replacement (max benefit is $1,000)
  • Work if you make more than the income limits
  • Work if you already received crisis assistance in the last 12 months
  • Pay for routine maintenance or tune-ups

It Will:

  • Help bridge the gap for eligible families
  • Provide real financial assistance for emergency repairs
  • Work with approved contractors in your area

If your system is 15+ years old and needs complete replacement, $1,000 won’t cover it. But for a specific failed component, it can make the difference. And if you’re dealing with an older system that’s beyond economical repair, it might be time to explore new HVAC system installation with financing that can actually lower your monthly energy costs.

When You Need Help Now: Our Role in This

Here’s how we see our role when someone calls about a broken system they can’t afford:

We can help you:

  1. Check your warranty status – We know how to read serial numbers and contact manufacturers
  2. Understand what actually needs to be fixed – Sometimes the problem is smaller (and cheaper) than you think
  3. Navigate your options – Warranty, assistance programs, financing, payment plans
  4. Provide honest guidance – Even if we don’t end up doing the work

What we offer directly:

Call us at (504) 314-1486 and tell us what’s going on. We’ll help you figure out the best path forward—whether that’s using your warranty, applying for assistance, financing through us, or a combination of approaches.

What That Woman from Tangapahoa Is Doing Today

After our call this morning, here’s her plan:

  1. She’s taking a photo of her serial number and calling Carrier to check her warranty
  2. She’s calling Quad Area Community Action at (225) 567-2350 to ask about LIHEAP crisis assistance
  3. She’s calling Tangipahoa Council on Aging at (985) 345-5000 for additional help
  4. She’ll call us back once she knows where she stands

She has a plan. She has options. She’s not sitting in the dark wondering what to do.

That’s what we want for you, too.

Why We’re Telling You This

Most HVAC contractors don’t publicize this information. Why? Because it doesn’t directly benefit us. The assistance programs work through community agencies, not through contractors advertising services.

We’re telling you because we’ve been serving Greater New Orleans families since 2012, and we know what it’s like when your AC or heat fails, and you’re trying to figure out how to pay for it while also feeding your family.

We’re Louisiana-licensed (#62951), EPA-certified, and we’ve been in this community long enough to know that sometimes the best thing we can do is just help people understand what resources exist.

Sometimes we do the work. Sometimes we point people to assistance programs. Sometimes we help them understand their warranty. Either way, we’re here to help.

And once you get your system fixed—however that happens—consider our preventive maintenance service agreements. Regular maintenance catches minor problems before they become expensive emergencies. It’s a lot cheaper than crisis repairs.

Start With What You Can Control Right Now

If you’re sitting there with a broken HVAC system and no idea how you’re going to pay for it:

  1. Take a photo of your outdoor unit’s serial number plate (right now, before you forget)
  2. Call your manufacturer to check warranty status (numbers listed above)
  3. Call your parish LIHEAP agency to understand the assistance process (numbers listed above)
  4. Call us at (504) 314-1486, and we’ll help you understand your options

Even if we don’t end up doing the work, we can help you figure out what you’re dealing with and what makes sense for your situation.

That’s what we did for that woman in Ponchatoula this morning. That’s what we’ll do for you.

Need help figuring out your options? Call Hagerman Services at (504) 314-1486. We serve Greater New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, the Westbank, Northshore, and Slidell. Louisiana HVAC License #62951 | EPA Certified | Heil Elite Dealer

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I have to use LIHEAP with a specific contractor?
A: That’s a question for your parish LIHEAP agency. They can explain how their process works with contractors in your area.

Q: How long does the LIHEAP application process take?
A: It varies by parish and time of year. Call your local agency for current timelines.

Q: What if I make just slightly over the income limit?
A: You won’t qualify for LIHEAP, but you might qualify for our financing options. Call us at (504) 314-1486, and we’ll walk through what’s available.

Q: Can I get both warranty coverage and LIHEAP assistance?
A: Potentially, yes. If your warranty covers parts but you can’t afford labor, assistance programs might help with the labor portion. But you’d need to verify this with your parish agency.

Q: Will this work for heat pump repairs?
A: Yes, LIHEAP crisis assistance covers heating and cooling equipment. The same process applies.

Q: What if my system is really old and needs full replacement?
A: Then you’re probably looking at a situation where assistance programs can’t cover the full cost. That’s when we should talk about financing options for new system installation that might actually lower your monthly costs compared to an old, inefficient system.

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