FAQs
HVAC Questions, Answered
Straight answers to the questions Boca Raton homeowners and businesses ask most. Don't see yours? Call us.
Homeowner questions
What areas do you serve?
Boca Raton and nearby communities in Palm Beach and Broward counties — roughly 50 miles around Boca Raton. See the Service Areas page for the full list.
Do you work on homes and businesses?
Yes. We service and install systems in homes, and we handle light commercial work such as offices, retail and restaurants.
How do I request service?
Call 561-888-5889 or send the request form with your address, the type of system if you know it, and a few details. Photos of the equipment help.
How do I know if I need a repair or a replacement?
Age, repeated failures and repair cost tell the story. In Florida's climate, systems past roughly 10–12 years face rising failure odds. We diagnose, show you the numbers both ways, and tell you which option makes sense — including when a repair is the smarter move.
How often should my AC be serviced in South Florida?
Once a year at minimum, ideally before the heavy cooling season. Your system runs more hours a year than almost any appliance you own, and most manufacturer warranties require annual maintenance to stay valid.
Do AC installations need permits in Boca Raton?
Most equipment replacements do. We'll explain the permitting steps that apply to your project before work begins.
Questions by service
Why is my AC running but not cooling?
The most common causes are low refrigerant from a leak, a failed capacitor or compressor, a dirty condenser coil, or a thermostat issue. It could also be something as simple as a clogged filter choking airflow. A proper diagnosis tells you which one it is — the symptom alone doesn't.
More about ac repair →How quickly can you respond to an emergency?
Call 561-888-5889 and tell us what's happening and why it's urgent. We'll give you a straight answer on how fast we can get to you — we don't promise response times we can't deliver.
More about emergency ac repair →How do I know if I should repair or replace my AC?
Age is the biggest factor: systems past roughly 10–12 years in Florida's climate face rising failure odds, and refrigerant-phase-out equipment gets expensive to fix. If a repair quote approaches a meaningful share of replacement cost on an older unit, replacement usually wins. We'll show you the numbers both ways.
More about ac installation & replacement →How often should my AC be serviced in South Florida?
Once a year minimum, ideally before the heavy cooling season. High-runtime systems, homes near the ocean, and households with allergies all benefit from twice-yearly visits.
More about ac maintenance & tune-ups →My AC runs constantly but never gets cool. What is it?
Most often that's low refrigerant, a badly clogged filter, or an undersized system struggling against an extreme heat load — sometimes all three. It needs measurements to sort out; constant running alone doesn't tell you which.
More about ac troubleshooting →How much can a programmable thermostat save me?
Meaningful amounts in Florida — every degree you let the house drift during the workday is runtime you don't pay for. The exact number depends on your schedule and how disciplined the programming is, but it's one of the lowest-cost efficiency upgrades available.
More about thermostat installation →Will a smart thermostat lower my FPL bill?
Typically yes, by letting the house drift while you're out and pre-cooling efficiently. The size of the savings depends on your schedule, insulation, and how you use it — but in a cooling-dominated climate like ours, runtime avoided is money saved.
More about smart thermostats →How much air do leaky ducts actually waste?
In older Florida homes it's common to find a significant share of conditioned air lost to the attic. Even well-built systems loosen over decades. The only way to know yours is an inspection with measurements — which we do during a duct evaluation.
More about ductwork repair & replacement →Why does my house feel humid even when the AC is on?
Usually one of three reasons: the system short cycles and never runs long enough to dehumidify, it's oversized for the house, or duct leaks are pulling in humid air. Sometimes all three. We measure, find the cause, and fix that instead of selling a dehumidifier as a band-aid.
More about indoor air quality →What MERV rating should I use?
For most Florida homes with a proper media cabinet, MERV 11–13 is a good balance of particle capture and airflow. Higher ratings exist but only make sense with equipment designed for them. We measure your system's airflow before recommending a level.
More about air filtration →Is it normal for my heat pump to blow cool-ish air in heating mode?
Somewhat, yes — supply air from a heat pump runs cooler than furnace air, so it can feel unimpressive while still heating the room. If rooms aren't warming at all, or the system leans on auxiliary heat constantly, that's a repair call.
More about heat pump repair →Will a heat pump keep up in a Florida winter cold snap?
Yes — our winters are mild by heat pump standards. Equipment sized properly for your home handles the coldest Boca Raton nights, with auxiliary heat as backup for the rare deep dip.
More about heat pump installation →My heater blows cold air. What's wrong?
On a heat pump, it may be in a defrost cycle or cooling mode by thermostat mix-up — or it may have a refrigerant or reversing-valve problem. On a furnace, cold air usually means the burners aren't lighting or a safety is shutting it down. Note what happens — never heats, heats then stops, blows cold from the start — and tell us; that shortens the diagnosis.
More about heating repair →Should I switch from electric strip heat to a heat pump?
In most Boca Raton homes, yes — strip heat costs several times more per unit of heat delivered, and our mild winters are exactly where heat pumps excel. We'll estimate the difference for your home's size and usage.
More about heating installation →Do you handle rooftop packaged units?
Yes — that's core light-commercial equipment. Note that building access (roof hatch keys, elevator scheduling, management clearance) is easier when you arrange it before we arrive; tell us the building's rules when you call.
More about commercial hvac services →Ready to get your comfort back?
Call, or send the request form with a few details and your address. We'll follow up about next steps.
Or email Estimates@bocahomeservices.com — every request lands in the same inbox.