Most cooling failures in Larkspur come down to a short list: a failed capacitor or contactor in the outdoor unit, a dirty coil or filter starving the system of airflow, a clogged condensate drain, or a refrigerant leak. On ductless systems add sensor and communication faults between the indoor and outdoor units. A careful diagnosis tells them apart before any part is replaced, and you get an itemized price first. We repair and install air conditioners, heat pumps and mini-splits across Larkspur, and handle the heating side too.
Mini-split and heat pump repair
Ductless mini-splits and heat pumps are common in Larkspur homes, often added to houses that were built without central air. They are reliable, but they have their own failure patterns:
| What you notice | Likely cause | What it usually takes |
|---|---|---|
| Error code or blinking light on the indoor unit | A logged fault: sensor, fan motor, communication or refrigerant side | Reading the code, then testing that part |
| Water dripping from the indoor unit | Clogged drain line or condensate pump, dirty coil | Clearing the drain, cleaning the coil |
| Weak airflow from the indoor unit | Dirty filters or a clogged indoor coil and blower wheel | Cleaning |
| Outdoor unit not running | Power, fuse, control board or capacitor | Electrical diagnosis |
| One head of a multi-zone system dead, the others fine | Wiring, sensor or that head’s board | Testing that zone |
| Ice on the copper lines | Low airflow or low refrigerant | Airflow check, then a leak search |
Mini-split service in Larkspur and heat pump service in Larkspur go into more detail.
Central AC repair
For a ducted air conditioner, the technician checks airflow first: the filter, the return, the blower and the temperature drop across the indoor coil. Then come the electrical parts in the outdoor unit, the outdoor coil and fan, and only then the refrigerant. If the outdoor unit hums without the fan turning, or the breaker trips again after a reset, switch the system off and call; repeated restarts can damage the compressor. See AC repair in Larkspur.
Adding cooling or replacing an old AC
| Option | Suits | Things to plan |
|---|---|---|
| Central AC with the existing furnace | Houses with ducts in good condition | Duct size and sealing, outdoor unit location |
| Central heat pump | Ducted houses replacing both furnace and AC | Electrical panel capacity, thermostat |
| Ductless mini-splits | Houses without ducts, additions, upstairs bedrooms | Where each indoor head and the line sets go |
Larkspur’s mix of Victorians, hillside houses and townhouses makes placement the hard part. On a steep lot there may be little level ground for an outdoor unit; in a townhouse the unit may need to sit close to neighbors or follow HOA rules. We look at the house before quoting, and size the system to it. AC installation in Larkspur covers the details.
AC maintenance
Mornings are often cool and foggy here, but warm spells still arrive, and they find the weak capacitor or the coil clogged with leaves. A spring check cleans the outdoor coil, tests the electrical parts, clears the drain and measures how well the system cools. For mini-splits it includes cleaning the indoor coils and blower wheels, which filters do not fully protect. See HVAC maintenance in Larkspur; maintenance plans add priority scheduling and repair discounts.
Heating and service area
When the heat goes out, furnace repair in Larkspur covers gas and electric furnaces. We serve Larkspur, zip code 94939, including Downtown Larkspur, Bon Air, Baltimore Park and Larkspur Landing. A real person answers the phone 24/7, and same-day service is usually possible when you call before noon. We also serve San Anselmo and Sausalito.