Your AC is running, the thermostat is set to 72, but the house is still 80°F. Frustrating — but in 95% of cases, it's one of seven specific problems, and most are fixable in a single visit. Here's exactly what's wrong, what it costs to fix, and what NOT to do while you wait.
⚠️ Do not keep running the AC if it's not cooling. Running a system with low refrigerant or a frozen coil for hours can destroy the compressor — turning a $250 repair into a $2,500 replacement. Turn it off and call us.
Refrigerant doesn't get 'used up' — if levels are low, there's a leak. Symptoms: warm air at vents, ice on the copper refrigerant line outside, hissing sound near the indoor unit. Florida's heat means small leaks cause noticeable cooling loss within weeks.
The outdoor unit's coil pulls heat OUT of refrigerant. If it's coated in grass clippings, dust, or salt (coastal homes), efficiency drops 15–25%. Symptoms: longer run times, higher electric bills, lukewarm vent air on hottest days.
The capacitor 'kicks' your compressor and fan motors into running. When it weakens or fails, the system runs but doesn't cool properly. Symptoms: humming sound from outdoor unit, fan not spinning, system cycling on/off repeatedly. #1 cause of summer breakdowns in FL.
The indoor coil ices over when airflow is restricted (dirty filter) or refrigerant is low. Symptoms: ice visible on indoor unit or copper line set, water dripping when ice melts, no airflow at vents. Don't run it — shut down and let it thaw 4 hours, then call us.
Modern systems have a float switch that shuts down the compressor when the drain backs up. Symptoms: AC stops cooling suddenly, water near indoor unit, but no other obvious symptoms. Quick fix — typical 30-minute repair.
The compressor is the 'heart' of the AC — when it dies, you usually replace the outdoor unit. Symptoms: outdoor unit silent or making loud grinding noise, breaker tripping immediately. If your unit is 10+ years old, replacement is usually the better call.
Sometimes it's not the AC — it's the thermostat. Dead batteries, miscalibration, wiring issues, or wrong mode setting (heat vs cool). 5-minute fix in most cases.
Run through these in order — about 30% of calls are resolved by the homeowner with these checks.
Set to COOL, fan to AUTO, temperature below current room temp. Replace batteries if it's a battery-powered model.
If it's gray and dusty, replace it. A clogged filter alone can drop cooling capacity 30%.
Look for a tripped AC breaker in the electrical panel. Reset ONCE. If it trips again, stop — call us, that's an electrical issue.
Make sure the fan is spinning. Clear any grass, leaves, or debris within 2 feet. Listen for buzzing/humming with no fan = capacitor.
If you see ice on the big copper pipe leading into the house, that's a frozen coil. Shut the AC OFF, let it thaw 4 hours, then call.
If you've tried the 5 DIY checks above and your AC still isn't cooling within 30 minutes — call us. Continuing to run a malfunctioning AC can turn a $150 repair into a $1,500+ disaster. We'll diagnose for free if you approve the repair, and most fixes are done in under 90 minutes.
📞 Get Help Now — (855) 417-8866The 7 most common causes are: low refrigerant, dirty condenser coil, failed capacitor, frozen evaporator coil, clogged drain line, failing compressor, or thermostat issues. The first three account for ~75% of cases in South Florida homes.
Most fixes cost $150–$650. Common pricing: capacitor $165–$295, refrigerant recharge $245–$495, drain line clear $129–$225, coil cleaning $295–$495. Compressor replacement runs $1,800+ and usually justifies a full system replacement instead.
No. Refrigerant handling requires EPA Section 608 certification — it's federal law. Adding refrigerant without fixing the underlying leak just wastes money. We find the leak FIRST, then recharge.
Most 'AC not cooling' repairs are completed in 30–90 minutes from arrival. We stock common parts on every truck.
Yes — turn the system OFF (not fan, the whole system) and wait 3–4 hours. Then call us to diagnose WHY it froze. Running it again without fixing the cause will just refreeze it.
Running but no cold air? Diagnose the cause.
5 causes from breaker to refrigerant.
Stop water damage before it spreads.
Step-by-step diagnostic guide.
Why ice forms — and how to fix it safely.
See all common repair costs upfront.
60-minute response. Same-day fix. No after-hours upcharge.
📞 (855) 417-8866