Frostline provides 24/7 emergency AC repair across coastal Palm Beach County. When an AC won't turn on, isn't cooling, freezes up, or leaks water, Frostline answers the phone and dispatches a technician the same day. After-hours, weekend, and overnight AC repair available every day of the year.
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Some AC problems can wait for standard AC repair. A few can't. Weak cooling in a comfortable house can wait for morning, but the signs below mean it's time to call now.
The system is unresponsive when it should be cooling. Common causes are a tripped breaker, a thermostat setting issue, a failed capacitor, or a failing compressor. A breaker that trips repeatedly means there's a short, a bad capacitor, or a compressor problem. Frostline finds which one instead of just resetting it.
The fan runs but the air isn't cold. Usually low refrigerant from a leak, a frozen coil, or a failing compressor. In a Florida heat wave the house heats up fast, which makes this an emergency.
Ice on the coil or refrigerant lines stops cooling and puts the compressor at risk. Running a frozen system can flood the compressor with liquid refrigerant (liquid slugging) and damage it. The system should be shut off until a technician arrives.
Water at the indoor unit, on the floor, or on a ceiling usually means a clogged condensate drain line. On most systems a float safety switch trips and shuts the AC down to prevent flooding, which is why a leaking AC sometimes won't turn on. Left alone, the leak causes drywall and mold damage.
A burning or melting-plastic smell indicates an electrical fault, typically overheating wiring or a failing motor. The system should be shut off at the thermostat and the breaker before a technician arrives. Running it risks a fire.
These are the failures behind most after-hours and 24-hour emergency calls. Common parts are stocked on every service truck, so most are completed on the first visit.
The capacitor gives the compressor and fan motor the jolt they need to start. When an AC won't turn on, the cause is usually a failed capacitor, a burned contactor, or a tripped breaker, not the full system. Capacitor replacement is the most common emergency repair and is typically a same-night fix. When a breaker trips repeatedly, Frostline locates the short or the failing component rather than resetting it.
AC blowing warm air usually means refrigerant is low, and low refrigerant means a leak. Frostline locates the leak, seals it, and recharges the system to spec. A simple top-off bleeds back out within a week. Running low on refrigerant causes the compressor to overheat, so Frostline addresses these calls quickly.
Ice on the coil restricts airflow and puts the compressor at risk. Compressors are built to pump gas, not liquid, so a frozen coil can cause liquid refrigerant to slug back into the compressor and damage it. Frostline thaws the system, identifies the airflow or refrigerant cause, and protects the compressor before failure.
A clogged condensate drain line backs water into the pan, then onto the floor or into a ceiling below. On most systems a float safety switch trips and shuts the AC off to prevent flooding, which is one reason a leaking AC sometimes won't turn on at all. Frostline performs drain line cleaning, tests the float switch, and confirms the system drains correctly.
A burning smell, visible sparking, or a breaker that won't reset is an electrical hazard. Frostline shuts the system down safely, isolates the fault, and keeps the system off until the fault is fixed.
Our Process
Frostline answers 24/7 and dispatches a technician the same day when possible. Describe what the AC is doing when you call.
While the technician is en route, you get over-the-phone guidance. If there's something safe to do in the meantime, like shutting off a frozen unit or killing a smoking breaker, Frostline walks through it on the call.
On arrival, the technician inspects the system, finds the cause, and gives the full price before any work begins.
Most emergency repairs are finished on the first visit. Common parts are stocked on every service truck, and the technician tests the system before leaving.
Emergency AC repair is what Frostline does. Frostline is an AC repair specialist, and the technicians dispatched for after-hours calls work on residential AC and HVAC systems every day. A real person answers every call, and Frostline gives the full price before any work begins, with no upsells.
Frostline provides emergency AC repair across Delray Beach and coastal Palm Beach County, where AC systems run nine to ten months a year and salt air accelerates equipment wear. Many emergency failures can be prevented with regular AC maintenance. When one does happen, Frostline answers. Technicians are licensed, insured, and bonded, and all repairs are backed by a warranty.
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We diagnose before we quote, at no cost.
We stock common parts for same-day repair.
24/7 emergency AC service.
Diagnosis before any quote. No upsells.
Answers to the questions homeowners ask most during an AC emergency.
It depends on the situation. If the home isn't cooling and the temperature is in the 90s, that qualifies as an emergency. A burning smell, water leaking from the unit, or a frozen AC also count as emergencies, since each gets worse the longer the system runs. Weak airflow or slow cooling in a comfortable home usually can wait for standard AC repair.
Start at the thermostat: set it to COOL, several degrees below room temperature, with fresh batteries. Then check the breaker and reset it once. If the breaker trips again, leave it off. A breaker that won't reset points to a short, a failed capacitor, or a compressor problem. Also check the disconnect box at the outdoor unit and the air filter, since a heavily clogged filter can shut the system down. If none of that restores operation, the system needs a technician.
In a Florida heat wave, usually yes. Warm air means the system isn't cooling, which is typically low refrigerant from a leak, a frozen coil, or a failing compressor. The home heats up quickly in these conditions, making it an emergency call. Frostline diagnoses the actual cause rather than topping off refrigerant that will leak back out within days.
If the system is frozen or blowing warm, no. Running a failing AC can turn a small repair into a full compressor replacement, and a frozen coil can flood the compressor with liquid refrigerant and finish it off. Also avoid rapidly cycling the system on and off. This is the 3-minute rule: a compressor needs several minutes for internal pressures to equalize before restarting, or it overheats. Most thermostats build that delay in. If the home is comfortable and the cooling is only slow, the repair can wait for a daytime visit.
Frostline answers 24/7 and dispatches a technician as quickly as possible, same-day on most calls, including evenings, weekends, and after-hours. When you call, Frostline provides a realistic arrival window.
Shut the AC off if it is frozen, leaking water, or smells like burning. Running it makes the damage worse. Close blinds against direct sunlight, run fans for air circulation, and stay hydrated.
Even during an emergency call, Frostline provides the repair-versus-replace math. Two rules apply: the $5,000 rule (multiply the unit's age by the repair cost; if the total exceeds $5,000, replacement should be considered) and the 50% rule (if a single repair costs more than half the price of a new system, it's time to look at AC replacement). A 12-year-old unit needing a significant repair typically clears both thresholds. Frostline provides the numbers and lets the homeowner decide.