AC Repair FAQ — Boca Raton, FL

It depends on what failed. Clearing a clogged condensate drain line is a short job. Replacing a compressor on a 15-year-old unit is a much bigger one. The age of your system, what refrigerant it uses, and how easy the parts are to get all affect the price. Call (561) 609-0418 for a free estimate — we won't quote you blind over the phone.

Most common repairs — capacitors, contactors, refrigerant recharge, drain line clearing — get done in one visit, usually under two hours. If a part needs to be ordered, that adds time. Homes in West Boca built in the 1990s with older Carrier or Trane units sometimes need parts that aren't stocked on the truck, so it's worth asking upfront.

The most common reasons are low refrigerant from a slow leak, a failed capacitor, or a dirty condenser coil. In Boca Raton, salt air from the coast speeds up corrosion on outdoor condenser units, especially in neighborhoods east of Federal Highway. That corrosion can cause refrigerant lines to develop pinhole leaks over time.

A frozen AC is almost always either low refrigerant or poor airflow across the coil. A dirty air filter, a blocked return vent, or a failing blower motor will all cause the coil to ice over. Turn the system off and let it thaw before calling — running it frozen makes the damage worse.

Replacing a full system in Florida requires a permit in most cases. Simple repairs — replacing a capacitor, clearing a drain line, recharging refrigerant — generally do not. If you're not sure, ask before work starts. A contractor who skips a required permit is putting that problem on your house, not theirs.

A rough rule: if the repair costs more than half the price of a new system and the unit is over 10 years old, replacing usually makes more sense. Systems in Boca Raton tend to age faster than the national average because they run almost year-round and deal with humidity and salt air. Ask us to look at it and we'll give you an honest read on which way to go.