Add your custom HTML here

AC Repair on Isle of Palms, SC

Certified and Licensed | SC Mechanical Contractor #M111694 | Right-sized, high-efficiency systems | Financing available | Serving the coast since 1947

Call 843-305-5728 to get a free quote!

 Call for a free estimate
843-305-5728

Why is my AC running but not cooling?
  • Short Answer: The usual causes are a salt-corroded or dirty coil, low refrigerant from a leak, a failing compressor, or a frozen coil. On Isle of Palms the ocean salt is hard on outdoor coils and electrical parts, so corrosion-related failures show up sooner than inland.

Refrigerant does not get used up, so if it is low there is a leak to find and fix, not just top off. A salt-eaten coil cannot shed heat well, and a frozen coil leaves you with air moving but no cool. We check the simple, less expensive causes first and show you what we find before recommending anything bigger, because we would rather fix it right the first time than have you call us back next week. On the larger IOP and Wild Dunes homes that run more than one system, we check each zone.

When the AC quits on Isle of Palms, we get you cool again. We repair central air, heat pumps, and ductless systems across the island, from Front Beach and the oceanfront to Wild Dunes and the marina side, for owners, second-home owners, and rental managers. IOP takes the worst salt of anywhere we work, so we know what it does to a unit. We diagnose, explain your options, and get your okay before any work. Call (843) 723-3887.

Certified and Licensed | SC Mechanical Contractor #M111694  

a man in a white shirt with an american flag on his sleeve is working on a electrical outlet
Can you work on AC in Wild Dunes?
  • Short Answer: Yes. We service Wild Dunes homes, villas, and condos. Wild Dunes is a gated resort community with its own architectural review, so some exterior work needs a separate Wild Dunes permit in addition to the City of Isle of Palms permit, and we plan for both.

Wild Dunes runs its own review on top of the City, so swapping or relocating a visible outdoor unit is not a just-drop-it-anywhere job. We plan the placement to satisfy both the resort's rules and the City, and many villas and condos there run ductless systems or zoned setups that we service and repair. We are not better than the next company, just different, in that we would rather get the placement and the paperwork right the first time than have you redo it.


Certified and Licensed  | SC Mechanical Contractor #M111694

Does my AC need to be raised in an Isle of Palms flood zone?
  • Short Answer: Usually, yes. IOP is mapped FEMA AE and V (VE) flood zones, with homes on pilings. In VE zones the City requires construction drawings stamped by an architect or engineer with a V-Zone certification, and outdoor equipment should sit on a raised stand above expected flood.

A ground-level condenser on a barrier island is asking for trouble in a storm or a high tide. IOP is its own city, so a replacement is permitted and inspected through the City of Isle of Palms (and Wild Dunes if applicable), and contractors must be SC-licensed and hold a City business license, which we are and do. We set or raise the outdoor unit on a proper stand above the expected flood line and secure it for wind. Isle of Palms is a Community Rating System Class 5 community, which earns residents a 25 percent flood-insurance discount. Refrigerant work is done by technicians certified under EPA Section 608. Treating folks right for the long term is how we have lasted on this coast since 1947.

Do you offer same-day and emergency AC repair on Isle of Palms?

Short Answer: Yes. When your AC goes out in the heat, or right before a rental turnover, we prioritize emergencies and work nights and weekends. During peak season it can take a little longer, and we will be straight with you about timing.

A hot beach house with guests arriving, or family in town, is not something we ask you to sit on. We move emergencies to the front of the line and give you an honest window rather than a promise we cannot keep. Request service or call (843) 723-3887.

A few things to check before you call

  • Set the thermostat to cool and check the batteries.
  • Make sure the AC breaker has not tripped.
  • Check the air filter. A clogged filter is a common, easy fix you can do yourself.

If those look fine and you are still warm, that is when to call us.


Do I need a permit to replace my AC, and what about the coast?

  • Short Answer: Yes. A system replacement needs a mechanical permit, and the authority depends on your address (your city, or the county if unincorporated). Near the water, flood-zone rules may require the new equipment raised above the flood line, and coastal salt means coastal-rated equipment is worth it.

We pull the mechanical permit for your replacement and have the work inspected, through whichever authority covers your address. On the barrier islands and along the marsh, FEMA flood rules can require the condenser raised on a stand above the expected flood line, and the steady salt air rewards corrosion-resistant, coastal-rated equipment that lasts longer near the ocean. Inland, salt is barely a factor and the focus is humidity and efficiency. We size the equipment and the install to where you actually live, which is the same block-by-block read we bring to every Charleston County, Berkeley County, and Dorchester County job.

How much does AC repair cost on Isle of Palms?

  • Short Answer: Most AC repairs in the Isle of Palms area run about $150 to $600 after a service call to diagnose the problem. Salt-related parts like corroded contactors and fan motors are common here. We give you the estimate before we start, so there are no surprises.

Typical area ranges to help you plan, not a quote. Your exact price depends on the part and your system, and we confirm it after we diagnose the unit.

If a repair climbs toward the cost of a new system, we will say so honestly, and financing is available through our financing options.

Typical AC Repair Prices

Diagnostic Service Call $95 to $169
Capacitor or contactor Repair $150 to $450
Refrigerant recharge $200 to $600
Refrigerant leak repair and recharge 450 to $1,500
Fan or blower motor repair $450 to $1,200
Evaporator coil or compressor repair $1,000 to $4,500
Call 843-305-5728

Why Choose Coastal Air Plus?

  • Serving South Carolina Since 1947 – Trusted by homeowners throughout  Myrtle Beach and Charleston.
  • Certified & Licensed Technicians – SC Mechanical Contractor #M111694.
  • Flexible Financing Options – Convenient plans available for new HVAC Installations.
  • Home Service Membership Plans – Regular maintenance to keep your system running smoothly.
  • Highly Rated by Customers – Committed to quality service and customer satisfaction.

How does oceanfront salt affect my AC on Isle of Palms?

  • Short Answer: A lot. IOP is a barrier island on the open Atlantic, so salt corrodes coils, fins, and electrical parts faster than anywhere on the mainland. An unprotected oceanfront unit can last closer to 7 to 10 years instead of 12 to 15, which is why coastal-rated equipment and regular care pay off here.

Think of it like a car kept at the beach: leave the salt on it and the metal goes; rinse it and it lasts. A gentle fresh-water rinse of the outdoor coil every few weeks with the power off, no pressure washer, slows it down, and a professional clean and check once or twice a year does the rest. When it is time to replace, coil coatings or coastal-rated equipment are worth the money. You can fold the visits into our VIP Maintenance Club, or see our AC maintenance and tune-up service. The other barrier island we cover, Folly Beach, takes the same salt punishment.

Under about 8 to 10 years old Past 10 to 15 years old
A one-time electrical part (capacitor, contactor) Compressor failed and is out of warranty
Repair is well under a third of a new system Repair tops about half of a new system
System has been maintained Several service calls in the last couple of years
Uses current refrigerant Still runs obsolete R-22
Schedule Repair

Where we work on Isle of Palms

From Front Beach and the oceanfront to Wild Dunes and the IOP Marina, we cover all of Isle of Palms. We reach the island through Mount Pleasant on the Connector, so we also handle AC repair in Mount Pleasant on the way, and the other barrier island, Folly Beach. The wider region is on our Charleston County service area page. For other needs, see furnace and heating service and plumbing service.