AC Repair Across Palm Beach County: Fast, Honest and Done Right

When your air conditioner stops cooling in a Florida summer, it is not an inconvenience. It is an emergency. We diagnose the real problem, tell you the price up front and fix it right.

Signs your AC needs repair

  • Blowing warm or weak air
  • Water leaking or pooling near the indoor unit
  • Ice on the coil or refrigerant lines
  • Grinding, squealing or banging noises
  • Musty or burning smells
  • Running constantly but never reaching the temperature you set
  • A sudden jump in your electric bill
  • Turning on and off every few minutes (short cycling)
  • Outdoor unit humming but the fan or compressor will not start

Safe things to check before you call

A few quick checks sometimes solve the problem and always help us diagnose it faster:

  1. Make sure the thermostat is set to cool, set below the room temperature, and has fresh batteries if it uses them.
  2. Check the air filter. A clogged filter restricts airflow and can freeze the coil.
  3. Look at the outdoor unit and clear leaves, grass or debris from around it.
  4. Check the breaker panel for a tripped breaker, and reset it once at most. If it trips again, leave it off and call us.
  5. If you see ice or water, turn the cooling off and set the fan to on so the ice can melt.

Never open electrical panels or remove the outdoor unit’s cover unless you are qualified to do so. If you smell burning or see smoke or sparks, turn the system off and call us.

Common AC problems in Palm Beach County

Common AC problems in Palm Beach County
ProblemWhat causes itWhat you notice
Clogged condensate drainHumidity creates algae and sludge that block the drain lineWater near the air handler, or the system shuts off by itself
Failed capacitor or contactorConstant use and heat wear these parts outOutdoor unit hums or will not start
Frozen evaporator coilLow airflow, a dirty filter or low refrigerantIce on the coil, weak airflow, water when it melts
Refrigerant leakCorroded coils or worn jointsWarm air, ice, hissing, rising bills
Dirty coilsDust, pollen and salt filmLonger run times and higher bills
Failed blower motorAge, dirt and heatWeak or no airflow from the vents
Thermostat problemsDead batteries, wiring or sensor faultsSystem does not respond or cycles oddly

A note on refrigerant: an air conditioner does not use up refrigerant. If the level is low, there is a leak somewhere. Topping it off without finding the leak is a temporary fix, and we will tell you if that is all you are getting.

Why Palm Beach County is hard on air conditioners

Our systems run most of the year, and the air itself is working against them. Humidity keeps drain lines wet and growing algae. Salt air near the coast corrodes outdoor coils, fins and electrical parts faster than inland. Summer storms bring power surges that damage compressors and control boards. A system that is twelve years old here has put in far more hours than the same system in a cooler state.

How a repair visit works

  1. We listen. Tell us what the system has been doing and when it started.
  2. We diagnose the whole system, not just the symptom, including airflow, electrical readings and the drain.
  3. We show you what we found and explain your options in plain English.
  4. You approve the price before any work begins.
  5. We repair, test and clean up, and we confirm the system is cooling properly before we leave.

Call us and we will explain exactly how diagnostic and estimate visits work before we schedule anything.

Repair or replace?

Not every old air conditioner needs replacing, and not every repair is worth making. We look at the age of the system, the type of refrigerant, how often it has needed repairs and what the current repair would cost. If your system is more than 12 years old and facing a major repair, we will give you an honest comparison of repairing and replacing, even if the answer is to fix it and wait. Read more in our guide to repair versus replace.

Brands we service

We work on all major brands of central air conditioners, heat pumps, air handlers and mini-split systems. If you are not sure about your equipment, tell us the make and model when you call.

Common causes include a dirty coil, low refrigerant from a leak, a failed capacitor, a frozen evaporator coil or a blocked drain. A proper diagnosis finds the real cause.

Usually a clogged condensate drain line, which is very common in humid climates. Turn the system off to prevent water damage and call us. See our guide: why your AC is leaking water.

Low airflow from a dirty filter or blocked return, or low refrigerant, can cause ice on the coil. Turn the cooling off, run the fan to thaw it, and call us if it comes back.

It depends on the age, the repair cost and the refrigerant type. We give you the numbers for repair and replacement and let you decide.

It depends on the problem. We quote the exact price before we begin, so you approve it first. We do not publish prices that would not apply to your system.

Yes. We repair central AC systems, heat pumps, air handlers and ductless mini-splits.

Ready to be comfortable again?

Call us or send a request and we will get back to you.

Kennedy HVAC