One head has stopped and the others still work
On a multi zone system this narrows the problem considerably, and it usually means the outdoor unit is fine. Have it checked early, because it is often the cheapest repair on this page.
Mini Split Repair in Poway, CA
A ductless mini split fails differently from a central system, and the first question is almost always the same: is it one head or the whole system? We find that out, show you what failed, and give you the price in writing before we touch anything.
Signs Your Mini Split Needs Repair
Six things homeowners call us about. Each is a reason to have the system checked. None of them is a diagnosis.
Water is dripping from the indoor head
The condensate drain from a wall mounted head runs on a slope with very little margin. Blockages are common and they get worse.
The head runs but the room stays warm
Air is moving and nothing is being removed from it. The cause can be the charge, the outdoor unit, or the head's own coil.
There is a musty smell when it starts
Moisture sits in the head's blower wheel and drain pan. Deal with it early, because that air goes into the room you are sitting in.
The head is louder than it was, or rattles
The blower wheel in a mini split head is small and turns fast, and it shows wear and debris earlier than a central blower does.
The remote or the app has stopped controlling it
Sometimes the control, sometimes the board in the head. Those two have to be separated before anyone replaces anything.
Problems We Diagnose and Repair
Six groups of faults, what we check in each, and where a diagnosis can land.
The indoor head
Blower wheel, coil, drain pan, sensors, and the board inside the head. This is where most single zone faults live.
Condensate drainage
The drain line, its slope, and the pump where one is fitted. The most common mini split service call we get, and usually the least expensive.
Control boards and communication
The boards in the heads, the board in the outdoor unit, and the wiring between them. Mini split systems talk between units, and a communication fault looks like a dead head.
Refrigerant circuit
Charge, leaks, and the flare connections at each head, which are a common leak point on these systems. We locate the leak before we add refrigerant.
The outdoor unit
Compressor, fan, electrical components, and on heat pump models the reversing valve and the defrost function.
Controls and remotes
Remotes, receivers, wall controllers, and wifi modules.
We are a C-20 contractor, so HVAC is the only thing we do. Where the diagnosis lands depends on what it finds: a repair we can price on the spot, a part we need to source, or a conversation about whether this system is worth another repair.
Repair or Replace Your Mini Split?
We are on your side on this one, and here it matters more than usual. A single failed head on a multi zone system is frequently a repair, not a system replacement. It is worth having that established before you price anything bigger.
Replacement becomes the better answer when the outdoor unit has failed on an older system, when the refrigerant is being phased down, or when several heads are going at once. In those cases we tell you what the repair costs, what a replacement costs, and what each one buys you. If replacement is the direction, that continues on our Mini Split Replacement page.
How a Repair Visit Goes
- 1
You tell us what it is doing
Which head, or all of them, and what changed. Two minutes on the phone so we arrive with the right parts. The brand and model help here more than on a central system, because mini split parts are manufacturer specific.
- 2
We diagnose before we quote
Always in that order. On a multi zone system that includes establishing whether the fault is in one head or shared.
- 3
You see what failed
We photograph the failed component and show it to you, then we talk about price.
- 4
You get the number in writing
Before any work starts. If the repair turns up a second problem, that comes back to you first.
- 5
We repair it and test it
We test every zone, not only the one that failed, confirm the drainage, and tell you what to watch for.
What Does Mini Split Repair Cost?
We price after we know what failed, so the number is the number for your fault.
What affects the price
- The component. A blocked drain and a compressor are different orders of magnitude.
- Parts availability, which matters more here than on central systems. Mini split parts are manufacturer specific and not interchangeable between brands. Current models are stocked. Older systems and discontinued models take longer and cost more to source.
- How many zones are affected.
- Access to the head and to the outdoor unit.
- Whether the fault has a cause behind it. A board that failed because water reached it is two repairs, and we show you both.
You get the repair price at the end of the diagnostic visit, in writing
- Which zone failed
- What failed
- The condition of the components around it
- The repair we recommend
Repair price
We establish whether the fault is in a single zone before anyone talks about the system.
Schedule a Diagnostic Visit
Why Homeowners Choose GVK for Mini Split Repair
One head diagnosed as one head
We establish whether the fault is in a single zone before anyone talks about the system. On multi zone systems this is the difference between a repair and a project.
Diagnosis before recommendation
We find the cause first. Nothing gets quoted against a symptom.
You see what we found
We photograph the failed component and show it to you, along with what happens if it stays that way.
Every zone tested after the repair
We run all of them. On a system where the units talk to each other, that is the only way to confirm the repair.
A C-20 contractor since 2003
License #911659, bonded and insured. A 4.9 rating across 300+ reviews on Yelp and Google, and 600+ permitted projects on public record.
What Mini Split Repair Looks Like
Mini Split Repair Reviews
Dave M.Yelp review
“My impression of George is that he's a very honest person who takes a lot of pride in providing a high quality service.”
Read on YelpScott KanuhaGoogle review
“It was very clear that it was important to him that his service is high quality.”
Read on GoogleTom S.Yelp review
“We live in South Orange County and GVK Heating and Air were recommended to us — specifically Denys at GVK.”
Read on YelpOliver ChiongGoogle review
“They performed the first AC installation on my 30-year-old home.”
Read on GoogleGabe MagassyGoogle review
“He wants to meet your needs at a good price and he is a pleasure to work with.”
Read on GoogleServing All of San Diego County
We are based in Poway and work across all of San Diego County: repairs, replacements, maintenance, and tune-ups.
- Poway
- Rancho Bernardo
- 4S Ranch
- Carmel Mountain
- Sabre Springs
- Rancho Penasquitos
- Scripps Ranch
- Mira Mesa
- Escondido
- Ramona
- San Marcos
- Rancho Santa Fe
- Carmel Valley
- Del Mar
- Solana Beach
- Encinitas
- Carlsbad
- Oceanside
- La Jolla
- Valley Center
- Santee
- Lakeside
- El Cajon
- La Mesa
- Chula Vista
Mini Split Repair FAQ
One head is out and the others work. Is that the whole system?
Usually not, and this is the first thing we establish. A single dead head on a multi zone system points at that head or at the communication to it, and the outdoor unit is normally fine. It is one of the less expensive repairs we do.
What does the diagnostic visit cost, and when do I find out the repair price?
Ask us what the visit costs when you call and we will tell you before we come out. The repair price comes at the end of that visit, in writing, once we know what failed.
Can you service my brand?
Tell us the brand and model when you get in touch. Mini split parts are manufacturer specific and not interchangeable, so knowing the model in advance is what decides whether we can finish on the first visit.
Why is water dripping from the indoor unit?
Almost always the condensate drain. A wall mounted head drains on a shallow slope with little margin for error, so blockages show up as water on the wall. It is a common call and usually a straightforward fix.
Why does it smell when it starts up?
Moisture in the blower wheel and the drain pan of the head. It needs cleaning out properly, because masking the smell leaves the cause in place.
What happens if you do not have the part?
We carry what fails most often on the systems we see. Anything manufacturer specific or discontinued gets sourced, and we tell you the timing and the price before you approve it.
Do I need a permit for a repair?
Repairs generally do not. Replacing the system does. If your repair turns out to be a replacement, we tell you what that changes before anything is decided.
Related Home Comfort Services
Mini Split Replacement
When the arithmetic stops working and a new system is the better answer.
Explore Mini Split Replacement
Mini Split Installation
When you want to add a system to another space.
Explore Mini Split Installation
AC Repair
When the problem is with the central system, not the ductless one.
Explore AC Repair
Heat Pump Repair
When the heat pump is a central system with ducts.
Explore Heat Pump RepairGet Your Mini Split Diagnosed
Tell us which head is affected and what changed. A diagnosis tells you what failed, what it costs to fix, and whether fixing it is worth it. In writing, with a photo of the part.
Call or text(619) 277-6279
Emailgvkhvac@yahoo.com
HoursMonday – Saturday, 9 AM – 5 PM
Office13459 Olive Tree Ln., Poway, CA 92064