Describe the symptom
Not cooling, running constantly, a smell, a noise, water on the floor — the detail narrows it down before anyone arrives.
Unusual for a remodeller: Donte trained as an HVAC technician at Florida Career College and holds EPA Universal certification, so cooling and heating are handled directly rather than subbed out and marked up.
Why it matters here
Cooling is the single biggest line on a Tampa Bay power bill, and the system runs most of the year. A unit that's oversized short-cycles and never pulls the humidity out; one that's undersized runs constantly and dies early. Neither problem shows up on the sticker.
Diagnosis comes before parts. You get told what's actually failing and what it costs, including the honest version of whether an aging system is worth repairing again or whether that money is better put toward replacing it.
What's covered
Straight-cool and heat pump systems sized to the house, set on a level pad with clean line sets and a proper vacuum before charge.
Not cooling, short cycling, tripping the breaker or icing over — diagnosed first, then quoted.
Ductless systems for garages, additions, Florida rooms and the one bedroom that never gets cold enough.
Heat strips, furnaces and heat pumps — tune-ups before the first cold snap, swaps when the unit is past saving.
Leaking, crushed or disconnected ducts fixed, registers balanced and returns opened up so the system stops fighting itself.
Topping up thin or trampled insulation — often the cheapest change you can make to a Florida house to cut the summer bill.
Coil cleaning, drain line clearing, capacitor and contactor checks before the season they'd normally fail in.
Programmable and smart thermostats fitted, wired and actually set up rather than left on defaults.
How it runs
Not cooling, running constantly, a smell, a noise, water on the floor — the detail narrows it down before anyone arrives.
The fault is found and explained in plain terms, along with what it will take to fix it and what it would cost to replace.
Repair or replace, honestly
A written price before anything is ordered or opened up, including whether a warranty still covers part of it.
Installed, charged, airflow checked and the temperature split measured — then you see the numbers, not just a thumbs up.
Real jobs
Old unit removed and recovered to EPA standards, new condenser set level on a fresh pad with tidy line sets and a proper vacuum before charging.
Heavy-duty shelving built and anchored into the framing, sized around what actually needed storing rather than whatever the store had in stock.
Before you commit
If something isn't covered here, ask — you'll get a straight answer.
Yes. Donte trained as an HVAC technician at Florida Career College and holds EPA Universal certification through the ESCO Institute, which is what legally permits handling and recovering refrigerant across all system types.
It depends on age, refrigerant type and what has failed. A capacitor or contactor on a seven-year-old system is an easy repair. A failed compressor on a fifteen-year-old R-22 system usually isn't worth the money.
You'll get both numbers and a straight recommendation, including when the honest answer is that it can be repaired again this season.
It varies with tonnage, efficiency rating and whether ductwork or the air handler platform needs attention. Rather than quoting a range that means nothing, the walkthrough gives you a written figure for your house.
Sizing is measured, not assumed from whatever unit happens to be sitting there now.
Both. A seasonal service — coil clean, drain line clear, capacitor and contactor check, refrigerant level verified — is what stops most emergency calls from happening in the first place. It is also considerably cheaper than one.
Yes, and a ductless mini-split is usually the right answer. It avoids extending ductwork into a space that was never designed for it, and it can be zoned independently so you're not cooling the garage to keep the bedroom comfortable.
While we're there
Bundling work into one visit saves you call-out time and usually saves money too.
Full remodels, cabinets, counters, tiled showers and vanities.
ExploreFlooring, drywall, paint, trim, doors and feature walls.
ExploreFencing, pavers, decks, pressure washing and landscaping.
ExplorePunch lists, fixtures, mounting, storage and odd jobs.
ExploreBefore the next heatwave
Describe the symptom and you'll get a straight answer on whether it's a repair, a service or a replacement.
(727) 483-4882
donte@johnsons-home-improvement.com
Mon–Sat, 7am – 7pm
EPA Universal certified
Diagnosed before quoted
Free replacement estimates