A/C not cooling?We'll be there today.

Most A/C repairs run $185–$795 depending on the failed part. Capacitor $185–$285. Contactor $195–$295. Condenser fan motor $485–$795. Refrigerant recharge $95–$175 per pound, and most systems need 2–5 lbs. Compressor replacement $1,795–$3,495 — at that number, replacing the whole unit is usually the better call, and we'll say so.

Most repairs are done in one visit, 60–90 minutes on site. Capacitor, contactor and motor replacements take about 45 minutes. Refrigerant leak diagnosis plus recharge runs 90 minutes to 2 hours. Coil cleaning is about an hour. A full diagnostic with no repair is 30–45 minutes. Compressor replacement is the only common job that usually needs a second visit.

Tier 1 dispatch — Haledon, Paterson, Clifton, Hawthorne, Fair Lawn, Hackensack, Teaneck, Paramus, Montclair, Newark — is on site within 90 minutes during business hours and 2–4 hours overnight. Tier 2 — Mahwah, Morristown, Parsippany, Jersey City, Wayne — runs 2–3 hours. Emergency dispatch runs 24/7/365.

Yes. We run 24/7 through heat waves with expanded dispatch. Calls during the July–August peak are prioritised for elderly residents, families with infants and medically vulnerable households. Average response during a heat wave is 2–4 hours.

For repairs over $750, yes — 0% APR for 12 months through GreenSky or Synchrony. Soft credit check, no impact to apply, and approval usually comes back in under 60 seconds while we're on site. For full system replacements, financing up to 84 months at a fixed APR is available.

Three causes cover most of it. Low refrigerant from a leak, so the system runs but can't move heat. A dirty outdoor condenser coil, so it can't dump heat outside. Or a failed capacitor, so the compressor or fan motor can't start under load. We diagnose with gauges and electrical meters in about 20 minutes rather than guessing.

Either restricted airflow — dirty filter, dirty evaporator coil, closed vents, a failing blower motor — or low refrigerant, usually from a leak. We thaw the unit, which takes 4–6 hours, then diagnose the cause. Thawing without finding the cause means it freezes again within days.

Buzzing usually means a failing contactor or a capacitor about to die. A loud clatter or rattle is normally a fan blade hitting something, a loose mount, or a failing compressor. Grinding means bearing failure. Don't let any of these run for more than a few minutes — keep going and you can burn out a much more expensive part.

The condensate drain line is clogged. Algae and dust build up in the pipe, water backs up into the pan and overflows. The quick fix is to shut the system off and clear the drain line. The proper fix is a full pan cleaning, a condensate pump check and algae tablets. It runs $185–$285 and prevents ceiling damage.

Usually one of five things. Refrigerant is low so the system runs longer to hold temperature. The coil is dirty so heat transfer drops. The thermostat is failing or set wrong. There's a duct leak in the attic and you're cooling unconditioned space. Or a failing capacitor is making the compressor draw more current than it should.

Three questions. How old is it — under 10 years usually repair, over 15 usually replace, 10–15 depends. What failed — capacitor, contactor or fan motor means repair; compressor or evaporator coil usually means replace. And is it an R-22 system — if so, refrigerant is now $200+ per pound and replacement generally wins.

Every major brand: Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Rheem, Bryant, Goodman, York, American Standard, Bosch, Mitsubishi, Daikin, LG, Heil, Amana, Ruud and Payne. We're factory-trained on the major brands and carry common parts — capacitors, contactors, motors — on every truck.

R-410A production is being phased down for environmental reasons, and newer systems ship with R-32 or R-454B instead. Existing R-410A systems remain serviceable — we're EPA 608 certified and work on all three refrigerants. If you have an older R-22 system, that refrigerant is far more expensive and replacement usually makes more sense; we'll tell you which situation you're in.

SEER2 is the updated efficiency rating that took effect in January 2023. It's tested under more realistic conditions with higher static pressure, so the numbers read slightly lower — a 14 SEER unit is roughly equivalent to 13.4 SEER2. The NJ minimum for new split-system installs is 14.3 SEER2.

No. Permits are required for installations and full system replacements, not for repairs, refrigerant recharges, capacitor swaps or motor replacements. When you do need one — on an install — we file it the same day.

Yes. Labour carries a 1-year workmanship guarantee on every repair. Parts carry a 1-year minimum and often a 5-year manufacturer warranty on Rheem, Carrier, Trane and Lennox. If the same component fails within 12 months we fix it free, and if the same issue recurs within 90 days the return visit is free.

Once a year, in spring before the heat arrives. A proper tune-up covers refrigerant level, indoor and outdoor coil cleaning, a capacitor test, contactor inspection, electrical tightening, condensate drain flush, filter change and thermostat calibration. It's $189 and it meaningfully extends system life.

Repairs don't qualify. Replacements with high-efficiency systems at 16+ SEER2 often qualify for $300–$1,500 through the NJ Clean Energy Program, plus a federal tax credit of up to $600 on qualifying systems and up to $2,000 on heat pumps. We file the rebate paperwork for you.