Air Conditioning Repair & Installation
An AC that's blowing warm is usually telling you something specific. The trick is not replacing a whole system because of a fifty-dollar part.
We work on central split systems, packaged and rooftop units, and the through-wall and window units that cool a large share of New York apartments. Diagnosis comes first because the same symptom — warm air — comes from a failed capacitor, a dirty coil, a stuck contactor, a low refrigerant charge, or a compressor at the end of its life, and those range from a same-day inexpensive fix to a system replacement.
On refrigerant we'll be direct, because this is where the industry oversells. A system doesn't consume refrigerant. If yours is low, it leaked, and topping it up without finding the leak means paying again next season while venting refrigerant into the atmosphere. We look for the leak. If it's repairable we repair it; if it's in the evaporator coil of an old system, we'll tell you honestly that repair may not be the sensible spend.
Sizing matters more than people expect, especially here. An oversized unit short-cycles, never runs long enough to pull humidity out, and leaves a room cold and clammy. Bigger is not better. If we're quoting a replacement we size it to the actual space rather than matching whatever was there before.
When this is likely your problem
What's included — and what isn't
Included in the quote
- Full diagnostic — electrical components, airflow, coil condition, and refrigerant pressures
- Repair or replacement of capacitors, contactors, fan motors, and controls
- Coil cleaning and condensate drain clearing
- Refrigerant leak search where pressures indicate a loss
- Load-based sizing before any replacement is quoted
- Startup and performance verification after installation
Quoted separately
- The equipment itself on a replacement
- Refrigerant recharge without a leak repair, which we won't do as a standalone service
- Electrical work beyond the unit — new circuits, panel capacity, disconnects
- Structural, roof, or facade work for condenser placement or through-wall sleeves
- Permits, filings, and building approvals for equipment installation
- Rigging or crane work for rooftop and terrace equipment
What drives the price
We quote after diagnosis, not before. These are the factors that move the number most on this particular service:
- SYSTEMCentral split, packaged, or through-wall — different equipment and labour.
- FAULTA capacitor is a small part. A compressor or coil is a different conversation.
- LEAKWhether a refrigerant loss is accessible and repairable or inside an aging coil.
- ACCESSRoof, terrace, air shaft, or window placement, and how equipment gets there.
- APPROVALSBuilding consent and any filing needed for exterior equipment.
NYC note
Condenser and through-wall placement often needs building approval, and exterior equipment on a facade or terrace can involve filings. Landmarked buildings have additional restrictions on anything visible from the street. We'll tell you what your installation is likely to require, but your managing agent and, where applicable, the relevant city agency are the authority — confirm with them before ordering equipment.
Related services
What the visit involves
Full diagnostic first
Electrical, airflow, coil, and pressures — not a guess based on the symptom alone.
Name the actual fault
You get told which component failed and what it costs before anything is replaced.
Repair where it's sensible
Most no-cooling calls are a repair. We'll say clearly when it genuinely isn't.
Size properly if replacing
Replacement equipment is sized to the space, not matched to what was there.
Questions about air conditioning repair & installation
My AC isn't cooling. Does that mean it needs refrigerant?
Usually not. Low refrigerant is one possible cause among several, and it's far from the most common. A failed capacitor, a dirty coil restricting airflow, a stuck contactor, or a blocked condensate line all produce the same complaint. We diagnose before adding anything, because a recharge on a system that wasn't low is money spent for nothing.
Why won't you just top up the refrigerant?
Because a sealed system doesn't use refrigerant up. If it's low, there's a leak, and recharging without repairing it means you'll be paying for the same service again next season while releasing refrigerant into the atmosphere. We look for the leak and tell you whether it's worth repairing on your particular system.
Is a bigger AC unit better?
No, and this is one of the most common installation mistakes. An oversized system cools the air quickly, shuts off before it has removed humidity, and leaves the space cold and damp while cycling constantly. Correct sizing comes from the room's actual load, not from rounding up.
Do I need building permission to install AC?
For a window unit, usually not, though some buildings have rules about brackets and appearance. For through-wall units, condensers on a terrace or roof, or anything altering the facade, you generally do — and in landmarked buildings the restrictions are tighter. Check with your managing agent before buying equipment.
How often should AC be serviced?
A pre-season check once a year is reasonable for most systems, mainly to clean coils, clear the condensate line, and catch a weak component before it fails during the first heat wave. It isn't a legal requirement; it's just cheaper than an emergency call in July.
Ready to get this looked at?
Call and describe what's happening. You'll get an honest read on urgency and cost before anyone comes out.