
Signs you need AC repair
- Warm air from the vents. The system runs but the house won't cool. Common causes are a failed capacitor, low refrigerant from a leak, or a dirty coil.
- Weak airflow. A clogged filter, a dirty evaporator coil or a failing blower motor can all choke the air coming out of your vents.
- Water near the air handler. Almost always a clogged condensate drain line. In our humidity drain pans stay wet and algae builds up until the line backs up.
- Odd noises. Buzzing, clicking, grinding or banging usually points to a failing capacitor, contactor, fan motor or loose part.
- Unusual smells. A burning smell can mean an electrical problem, so turn the system off and call. A musty smell usually means mold on the coil or in the drain pan.
- Short cycling or no power. A system that turns on and off every few minutes, or won't start at all, often has an electrical or thermostat fault.
- Ice on the lines or indoor unit. Restricted airflow or low refrigerant can freeze the coil. Turn the system off and let it thaw before it's serviced.
Before you call, check that the thermostat is set to cool and the filter isn't clogged. If that doesn't fix it, don't keep running a system that's struggling. Small problems turn into expensive ones fast in our heat.
The most common AC repairs in Palm Beach County
Air conditioners here run 10 to 11 months a year in heat and humidity, so the same failures come up again and again:
- Clogged condensate drains. The most common "my AC stopped working" call we run. A clogged line trips the safety switch and shuts the system down.
- Failed capacitors and contactors. Florida heat is hard on electrical parts. Capacitors rated for 10 years often fail at 5 to 7 here.
- Refrigerant leaks. Coil leaks are common, and coastal salt air causes pinhole leaks in outdoor coils.
- Blower and fan motor failures. Motors that run nearly year-round wear out sooner, especially when filters and coils are dirty.
- Thermostat and control board problems. Especially on high-efficiency variable-speed systems, which have more electronics than single-stage units.
Many of these are caught early by twice-a-year maintenance, and musty smells and drain clogs often come down to a dirty coil that needs coil cleaning.
What AC repair costs
Most common residential AC repairs in Palm Beach County cost $150 to $900. Typical ranges for specific repairs:
- Capacitor replacement: $150 to $350
- Contactor replacement: $150 to $320
- Blower motor replacement: $400 to $900
- Evaporator coil replacement: $1,200 to $2,800
- Compressor replacement: $1,500 to $4,200
Your price depends on the part, your equipment and its age. High-efficiency variable-speed systems use more expensive parts.
What to expect when you call
- Call any time. A live dispatcher answers 561-855-0306 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Fast arrival. Most calls are on site within 2 to 4 hours. Calls involving infants, elderly family, medical equipment or animal welfare during peak heat get priority.
- Diagnosis. Your technician finds the cause, explains what's wrong and what the repair will cost before starting.
- Repair and test. We make the repair and check that the system is cooling, draining and running properly before we leave.
Brands we repair
Gulfstream Cooling is a Bryant Factory Authorized Dealer, and our technicians repair every major brand, including Trane, Carrier, Lennox, Rheem, Goodman, Bryant, American Standard, York, Ruud, Amana, Daikin, Mitsubishi, LG and Fujitsu. That includes high-efficiency variable-speed systems such as Trane XV, Carrier Infinity and Lennox SL, ductless mini-splits, and heat pumps.
Repair or replace?
Use the 5,000 rule: multiply your AC's age in years by the repair cost. If the result is more than $5,000, replacement usually makes more financial sense. Replacement is also worth considering when the unit is 10 or more years old or you've had two or more major failures in 24 months. See AC replacement for costs and options.
AC repair in your city
Local response times, neighborhoods and answers to common questions for each city we serve:
- Boca Raton AC Repair
- Boynton Beach AC Repair
- Coastal Palm Beach County AC Repair
- Delray Beach AC Repair
- Greenacres AC Repair
- Jupiter AC Repair
- Lake Worth AC Repair
- Loxahatchee & The Acreage AC Repair
- Palm Beach AC Repair
- Palm Beach Gardens AC Repair
- Riviera Beach AC Repair
- Royal Palm Beach AC Repair
- Wellington AC Repair
- West Boca AC Repair
- West Palm Beach AC Repair
- Westlake AC Repair
- All areas served