The system runs, air comes out of the vents, but the house will not get cold. In Fort Lauderdale this is the most common no-comfort call we get, and it usually comes down to a handful of causes: a failed capacitor, low refrigerant, a frozen coil, or a thermostat that is lying to the system.
Near the beach, salt air adds another suspect: corrosion on the outdoor coil and connections, which quietly kills efficiency year after year. The checks below are safe for any homeowner. If they don't fix it, call (561) 786-1337 and we will diagnose it properly.
Start Here: The Two-Minute Checks
Confirm the thermostat is set to COOL with the fan on AUTO, and the setpoint is several degrees below room temperature. A thermostat accidentally set to HEAT or FAN-only is more common than you would think.
Then check the filter. A clogged filter chokes airflow, which can freeze the indoor coil — and a frozen coil can't cool at all. Hold the filter to the light; if you can't see through it, replace it and give the system a few hours.
The Usual Mechanical Causes
If the thermostat and filter check out, the problem is inside the equipment:
- Failed capacitor — the compressor or fan motor hums but never starts.
- Low refrigerant — from a leak, not from being 'used up.' Low charge freezes the coil and drops capacity.
- Frozen indoor coil — ice on the copper lines at the air handler means shut the system down and let it thaw.
- Dirty or corroded outdoor coil — beachside units eat salt spray, and a matted coil can't reject heat.
- Failed contactor or control board — power isn't reaching the compressor.
What About Refrigerant?
Refrigerant doesn't get consumed; if it's low, there's a leak. Topping it off without finding the leak is a short-term patch on a long-term problem. Older systems still running on R-22 face a harder decision, because that refrigerant is scarce and expensive — which changes the repair-versus-replace math.
We find the leak, show you the readings, and quote the real fix in writing before anything is touched.
When to Call
Call (561) 786-1337 if the system runs for hours without cooling the house, if you see ice on the refrigerant lines, or if the outdoor unit isn't running at all while the indoor fan blows. Those need a technician, not another day of waiting.
If the air is cool but one room stays warm, that's usually a duct or airflow issue rather than an equipment failure — see our ductwork page.
Common questions
My AC runs all day but the house stays at 78. What is wrong?
Most often low refrigerant, a failing capacitor, or airflow blocked by a dirty filter or frozen coil. Beachside, a salt-fouled outdoor coil is another common culprit. We measure pressures, airflow, and temperature split to find the actual cause.
Can I just add refrigerant myself?
No. Refrigerant handling requires certification, and adding refrigerant without finding the leak doesn't fix anything. A leak test and repair is the correct job.
The outdoor unit is loud and the air is warm. Related?
Possibly. A struggling compressor or a fan motor that won't start makes noise and kills cooling. Turn the system off if it sounds wrong and call us — running a damaged compressor can destroy it.
Related help
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(561) 786-1337