The system runs, air comes out of the vents, but the house never gets comfortable — or the air itself feels warm. This is the number-one AC call in West Palm Beach, and it has a short list of usual causes.
A few you can check yourself. The rest need a technician with gauges and a meter. Here is how to tell which you are dealing with.
Check These First
Before you call, run through the safe homeowner checks:
- Thermostat — set to COOL, setpoint below room temperature, fan on AUTO.
- Air filter — a clogged filter chokes airflow and can freeze the coil. Replace it if it is dirty.
- Breaker — check whether the outdoor unit's breaker tripped. Reset once.
- Outdoor unit — clear leaves, mulch, and vegetation at least two feet around it.
- All supply registers open — closing vents does not save energy; it strangles airflow.
The Usual Causes
If the basics check out, the cause is inside the equipment:
- Failed capacitor — the compressor hums but never starts. The most common single failure we see.
- Low refrigerant — a leak somewhere in the system. The coil ices up and cooling fades.
- Dirty coils — indoor or outdoor coils coated in grime cannot transfer heat.
- Failing compressor — the heart of the system; when it goes, cooling stops.
- Duct leaks — the system makes cold air but loses it into a 140-degree attic before it reaches the rooms.
Frozen Coil? Do This Now
If you see ice on the indoor coil or the refrigerant lines, turn the cooling OFF but leave the fan running — the moving air thaws the coil. Check the filter. Then call us.
Do not keep running a frozen system. Ice on the coil can slug the compressor with liquid refrigerant, turning a moderate repair into a system replacement.
Older Systems and the R-22 Question
In the historic east-side neighborhoods, weak cooling on an older system often traces to a refrigerant leak — and if the system runs on phased-out R-22, the refrigerant itself is scarce and expensive. At that point the honest conversation is repair versus replacement, with real numbers for both.
We diagnose first and show you the findings. You decide with the full picture, not a sales pitch.
Common questions
The air from the vents feels cool but the house won't cool down. What's wrong?
Usually an airflow or capacity problem: dirty filter, duct leaks losing cold air to the attic, low refrigerant, or an aging system that can no longer keep up with the heat load.
How quickly can you get here?
We prioritize no-cooling calls across West Palm Beach. Call (561) 786-1337 and we will give you an honest arrival window.
Should I turn the system off until you arrive?
If it is running without ice, strange noises, or leaks, you can leave it on. If anything seems wrong beyond weak cooling — turn it off and call.
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(561) 786-1337