RepairNorth Bellmore, NY·Central AC
No-Cool AC Repair: Failed Capacitor Replaced in North Bellmore
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Repair · Plainview, NY · May 2026
AC Not Cooling: Diagnosis, Deep Clean and Recharge in Plainview
A split AC that stopped blowing cold gets a nitrogen leak test, a full outdoor-unit cleanout and an R-410A recharge.
Before
AfterPhotos are lightly enhanced for clarity. The work shown is as installed or serviced.
The problem
The homeowner reached out because the central air had stopped blowing cold. An AC that won't cool can have more than one thing going on, so both the refrigerant side and the airflow side needed a look. On the second visit, with the condenser top off, part of the picture came into view. Dead leaves were packed deep around the compressor, the condenser coil face was matted with lint and dirt, and the return air filters were heavily loaded with dust. A coil smothered in debris struggles to shed the heat it pulls out of the house, and clogged filters cut airflow across the indoor coil, so both work against cooling.
Our solution
The first visit was about diagnosis. Our technician connected gauges and ran a standing pressure test with dry nitrogen to check the refrigerant circuit for leaks, then opened up the attic air handler to inspect the evaporator coil and the expansion valve area. On the second visit, the outdoor unit's top and fan assembly came off so the leaves and debris could be cleared out of the cabinet. As part of a premium AC tune-up, the coil was cleaned with foaming coil cleaners and worked over with a fin comb. The system was evacuated with a vacuum pump and recharged with R-410A, and UV leak-detection dye was also added to the system. The dye travels with the refrigerant and glows under a UV light wherever it escapes. A new MERV 11 filter went in, condensate pan tablets were added to keep algae down, and the suction line insulation at the air handler was closed back up and sealed with foil wrap.
The result
By the end of the second visit, the refrigerant circuit had been pressure-tested, evacuated and recharged, the outdoor coil and cabinet had been cleaned out, and a fresh MERV 11 filter was installed. The suction line insulation in the attic was sealed back up, which helps keep that cold line from sweating. The UV dye added during service also gives a quick way to trace the source if the charge ever drops again.
Serviced
- Comfort-Aire (Heat Controller LLC) RSG1448S1P outdoor condenser, R-410A: diagnosed, deep-cleaned, evacuated and recharged
- Comfort-Aire attic air handler: evaporator coil and expansion valve area inspected, suction line insulation resealed
Highlights
- Standing nitrogen pressure test on the refrigerant circuit, plus UV leak-detection dye
- Condenser top and fan removed to clear leaves packed around the compressor
- Matted condenser coil deep-cleaned with foaming coil cleaners and a fin comb
- System evacuated with a vacuum pump, then recharged with R-410A
- New MERV 11 pleated filter installed
- Attic suction line insulation closed back up and sealed with foil wrap
Scope of work
- 01Diagnosed a central AC that had stopped blowing cold air
- 02Connected gauges and ran a standing nitrogen pressure (leak) test on the refrigerant circuit
- 03Opened the attic air handler to inspect the evaporator coil and expansion valve area
- 04Premium AC tune-up: removed the condenser top and fan assembly and cleared leaves and debris from the cabinet
- 05Cleaned the condenser coil with foaming coil cleaners and used a fin comb on the fins
- 06Evacuated the system with a vacuum pump and recharged it with R-410A refrigerant
- 07Added UV leak-detection dye to the system
- 08Installed a new MERV 11 pleated filter (20x25x1)
- 09Added condensate pan treatment tablets to help prevent algae and slime
- 10Closed the suction line insulation at the air handler back up and sealed it with foil wrap
More photos from the job
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The Comfort-Aire outdoor condenser as we found it, with fallen leaves collecting around the base of the cabinet. -
First visit: gauges and a dry nitrogen cylinder hooked up for a standing pressure test of the refrigerant circuit. -
The condenser coil face was matted with lint and dirt, which makes it harder for the unit to shed heat. -
The return air filters came out heavily loaded with gray dust and lint, cutting airflow to the indoor coil. -
Top and fan assembly set aside so the cabinet could be cleared out and the coil cleaned. -
A vacuum pump evacuates the system through the manifold gauges before the R-410A recharge.
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