When the AC starts acting up in a South Florida summer, you need answers fast — not a sales pitch. This guide covers the most common air conditioning problems we see in Wellington homes, what you can safely check yourself, and when it's time to pick up the phone.
The safe checks below take about five minutes and never require opening any equipment. If a check doesn't fix it, call (561) 786-1337 — we diagnose before we quote, so you get the cause and the price in writing before any work begins.
How to Use This Guide
Start with the quick checks below — thermostat, filter, and breaker cover most simple causes. Then match your symptom to a problem page. Nothing here asks you to open the air handler, handle refrigerant, or touch wiring.
Safe Checks Any Homeowner Can Do
Work through these in order:
- Thermostat: set to COOL, setpoint at least a few degrees below room temp, fan on AUTO. Blank display? Swap the batteries.
- Filter: hold it to the light. If you can't see through it, replace it and give the system time to catch up.
- Breaker: make sure the AC breaker is fully ON. If it's tripped, reset it once — if it trips again, call us.
- Frozen coil: ice on the copper lines? Turn the system OFF at the thermostat and let it melt. Never chip at the ice.
When to Call Right Now
Call (561) 786-1337 immediately if you notice any of these:
- A burning smell coming from the vents, the air handler, or the outdoor unit.
- Water pooling near the air handler while electrical equipment is wet or sparking.
- The system is completely out during extreme heat and someone home is elderly, very young, or has a medical condition.
When It's Fine to Schedule
If the system is running and the house is mostly comfortable, a regular visit is usually fine. That includes a slowly rising electric bill, one room that's a little warmer than the rest, or a system that runs longer than it used to.
Mention what you noticed when you call — it helps the technician arrive with the right parts.
Common questions
How long should I wait after changing the filter before deciding it didn't help?
Give the system at least a few hours to catch up, especially on a hot day. If the supply air still isn't cool by the next morning, it's time for a service call.
Is it safe to reset my AC breaker more than once?
No. Reset a tripped breaker once, and if it trips again, leave it off and call us. A breaker that keeps tripping is doing its job — it's telling you something is wrong.
My thermostat screen is blank. Is the whole system broken?
Usually not. A blank display is most often dead batteries or a tripped float switch cutting power because the drain pan is full. If fresh batteries don't wake it up, we can sort it out on a visit.
Will running a struggling AC make the problem worse?
Sometimes, yes. Running with a frozen coil, very low refrigerant, or a weak capacitor puts extra strain on the compressor. If something seems off, running it less until we check it is the safer move.
Related help
Ready when you are.
For fastest service, call now. Prefer to book online? Send a request and we'll call you back to schedule.
(561) 786-1337