Common questions
What people ask us most on the phone and on WhatsApp. If your question is not here, call us and we will answer it.
Prices, payment and warranty
How much is the diagnostic visit?
[From $89]. It is credited toward the repair if you go ahead with us.
Can you give me a price over the phone?
We can give you a range if you send a photo of the unit label on WhatsApp and tell us what it is doing. The exact price comes in writing after the diagnostic, before any work starts.
How can I pay?
[Confirm with Yoel: cash, card, Zelle, check.] You get a receipt with the details of the work and the warranty.
What warranty do you give?
Repairs carry [90 days] on parts and labor, in writing on the receipt. New systems also carry the manufacturer's warranty.
Visits and repairs
Do you come the same day?
Almost always, if you call before [2 PM]. In summer, systems that are not cooling go first.
Should I repair or replace?
We tell you with numbers. If the unit is over [12 years] old and the repair costs more than half of a new one, we recommend replacing it.
Do I need to be home?
Yes, an adult needs to be there to let us in and approve the price before we start. In a rented home, that can be the owner or the tenant with the owner's permission.
What should I do while I wait?
If the AC is leaking or the coil has frozen, turn it off and leave it off until we arrive. If the breaker tripped, do not reset it more than once.
Areas
How far do you travel?
Anywhere in Florida. We work most in Miami-Dade, in Hialeah, Kendall, Doral, Westchester and nearby. If you are farther away, call us and we will tell you when we can come.
Do you charge for distance?
Not in Miami-Dade. [Outside Miami-Dade, confirm with Yoel.]
About Yoel's Appliance
Do you speak Spanish?
Yes. Yoel works in English and Spanish, on the phone, on WhatsApp and at your home.
Are you licensed?
Yes. We are a Florida state licensed air conditioning contractor [CAC########], EPA 608 certified to handle refrigerants.
Are you the same company as Yoel's Florida Service?
Yes. Same Yoel, same team, same phone numbers. We only changed the name so it says what we do.
Repair
See details: RepairHow long does a repair take?
Most are done in the same visit, in [one or two hours]. If a part has to be ordered we tell you on the spot and come back [within 24 to 48 hours].
Do you repair older units?
Yes, as long as parts are available. If the unit is over [12 years] old and the repair costs more than half of a new one, we recommend replacing it and give you the quote.
Do you charge for the visit if I decide not to repair?
The diagnostic is charged, [from $89], and it covers the full check and the price in writing. If you repair with us, it is credited.
Do you work weekends?
Yes. We work Monday to Sunday, 7 AM to 8 PM, at the same price. [Holidays: confirm with Yoel.]
Installation and replacement
See details: Installation and replacementHow much does it cost to replace a central AC?
It depends on the size of the house, the equipment, and how much ductwork and electrical work it needs. After the visit you get the full price in writing. [Typical range, confirm with Yoel.]
How long does an installation take?
Most system replacements are done in [one day]. If ducts or wiring need work, the quote says so.
Do I need a permit?
Yes. In Florida, replacing a central system needs a permit from the city or the county, pulled by the licensed contractor. [Confirm with Yoel that it is included.]
Can I replace just the condenser?
Sometimes, but with the new refrigerants the air handler usually has to be replaced too so the two match. We tell you what applies to your system during the visit.
What size system do I need?
It is worked out from the house, not from the old unit, using the square footage, windows, attic insulation and how much sun it gets. A system that is too big or too small costs more to run and cools worse.
Do you offer financing?
[To be confirmed with Yoel.]
What happens to the old system?
We take it away. The refrigerant is recovered as the law requires, and the metal goes to recycling.
Mini-splits
See details: Mini-splitsHow long does a mini-split installation take?
A single-zone unit takes [half a day to a day]. A multi-zone system takes [one or two days].
Do I need a new electrical circuit?
The unit almost always needs its own breaker. We check during the visit and include it in the quote. [Confirm with Yoel whether he does it or an electrician.]
Can you install one in an apartment or condo?
Yes, if the association allows it. We bring the license and the paperwork the association asks for, and we coordinate access.
Do mini-splits use a lot of power?
Less than a window unit of the same size, because the compressor speeds up and slows down instead of switching on and off.
Do they heat too?
Most are heat pumps, so they also handle the few cold mornings Miami gets.
What maintenance do they need?
Wash the filters every [month] and have a deep cleaning once a year. We can add it to your maintenance plan.
Maintenance
See details: MaintenanceHow often does an AC need maintenance?
In Miami, at least once a year, and twice is better, in spring and in fall. If the unit is near the ocean or you have pets, more often.
How often should I change the filter?
One-inch filters every [one to three months]. With pets or a lot of dust, every month. If you do not know which filter your system takes, we will tell you during the visit.
Does maintenance include a refrigerant recharge?
No. A healthy system does not lose refrigerant. If it is low there is a leak, and we quote it separately as a repair.
Do you service mini-splits?
Yes. We wash the filters, clean the indoor coil and blower wheel, and check the drain and the condenser.
What if you find something broken?
We explain it and give you the price in writing. You decide whether to repair it that day or not.
Do you have plans for businesses?
Yes, with [monthly or quarterly] visits and an invoice after each one. The details are on the businesses and condos page.
Businesses and condos
See details: Businesses and condosDo you work on rooftop units?
Yes. We repair and maintain rooftop units, split systems and mini-splits in offices and shops.
How fast can you get to a business?
[Confirm the response time for businesses with Yoel.] Contract customers go first.
Do you offer maintenance contracts?
Yes, with [monthly or quarterly] visits and an invoice after each one. The price depends on how many units you have and how big they are.
Do you work with property managers?
Yes. We can look after several properties with one contact and a report per building. [Confirm with Yoel.]
Can the invoice be in the business name?
Yes. The invoice carries your business name and address, the details of the work and the warranty in writing.
Do you install new equipment in commercial spaces?
Yes, we replace rooftop units and split systems. [Confirm with Yoel the largest size he installs.]
Walk-in coolers and freezers
See details: Walk-in coolers and freezersDo you come at night or on a Sunday?
We work Monday to Sunday, 7 AM to 8 PM. [Outside those hours, confirm with Yoel whether he covers emergencies and at what surcharge.]
Do you install new walk-ins or only repair them?
[Pending confirmation with Yoel, question 8.]
Do you work on ice machines and reach-ins?
[Pending confirmation with Yoel, question 8.]
Do you invoice the business?
Yes. You get an invoice itemising parts and labor, with the warranty in writing.
Hialeah
See details: HialeahHow long do you take to reach Hialeah?
[Between 30 and 60 minutes] during working hours. In summer, systems that are not cooling go first.
Do you work in condos with association rules?
Yes. We bring the license and the paperwork the association asks for, and we coordinate with management if we need access to the roof or the equipment room.
Do you cover Hialeah Gardens and Miami Lakes?
Yes, at the same price and with no distance charge.
Kendall
See details: KendallDo you cover The Hammocks and Kendall West?
Yes, all of Kendall, east to west, at the same price and with no distance charge.
Do you work in townhouses with an HOA?
Yes. If the association needs paperwork or wants to approve where the condenser goes, we sort it out with them before we start.
How long do you take to reach Kendall?
[Between 30 and 60 minutes] during working hours. In summer, systems that are not cooling go first.
Doral
See details: DoralDo you service offices and warehouses in Doral?
Yes. Rooftop units, split systems and mini-splits, with invoices in the business name and maintenance contracts.
My system is new. Does it still need maintenance?
Yes. Even a young system's drain clogs in Miami's humidity, and some manufacturers require up-to-date maintenance to honor the warranty.
Do you work in the Downtown Doral condos?
Yes, coordinating access and the paperwork they ask for with building management.
Westchester
See details: WestchesterDo you check the ducts?
Yes. We look at the attic ducts during the visit, and if they need replacing it goes in the written quote. [Confirm with Yoel whether he replaces ducts himself or arranges it.]
Do you work on systems in the attic?
Yes, it is the most common setup in Westchester. We leave the pan and float switch checked so the ceiling stays dry.
Do you also cover Westwood Lakes and Olympia Heights?
Yes, at the same price and with no distance charge.
Coral Gables
See details: Coral GablesDo you work on historic homes?
Yes. When ducts cannot go in without breaking things, we suggest mini-splits or other options that respect the house.
Do you pull the city permit?
[Confirm with Yoel that he pulls the permit in Coral Gables and that it is included in the quote.]
Do you service offices in Coral Gables?
Yes, with maintenance contracts and invoices in the business name.
Miami Beach
See details: Miami BeachWhy does AC equipment wear out faster in Miami Beach?
Salt. Ocean air corrodes the coil and the condenser connections. Washing it regularly helps it last.
Do you work in buildings with access rules and set hours?
Yes. We agree the day, the time and roof access with management, and bring the paperwork they ask for.
Do you charge more for Miami Beach?
The same price as the rest of Miami-Dade. [Confirm with Yoel whether parking is charged.]
Homestead
See details: HomesteadHow long do you take to reach Homestead?
[Confirm with Yoel.] We give you the arrival time when you call.
Do you cover the Redland and Florida City?
Yes. [Confirm with Yoel whether there is a distance charge.]
Do you check that the condenser is properly anchored?
Yes, on every maintenance visit. In Homestead, after Andrew, nobody wants to leave that to chance.