Mini-Split Repair in Lexington, SC

Mini split repair in Lexington usually starts with a short list of symptoms: the head blows air that isn't cold, water runs down the wall under it, a light keeps blinking, or the outdoor unit sits silent. Ductless systems pack a lot into a small cabinet, so one clogged drain or failed sensor can stop the whole thing. We diagnose the head and the outdoor unit together and explain what we find before any work starts.

We repair ductless systems from most major brands, including ones another company installed or that came with the house. For an overview of how these systems work, see our ductless mini-splits page. A repair call covers the whole system, not only the head on the wall:

• Decoding the fault code, then confirming it with meter readings
• Clearing filters, coil, blower wheel and the drain or pump
• Testing sensors, fan motors, capacitors and both boards
• Checking the breaker, disconnect and the wire between units
• Leak searches and recharging when readings point to refrigerant
• A price for each option before anything is replaced

Mini split not cooling, leaking or showing a code?

Here is how common symptoms usually line up with causes; a visit confirms which one you have.

Before calling, check that the breaker and outdoor disconnect are on and the filters aren't caked. If a breaker has tripped more than once, leave it off.

Why ductless systems fail here

Midlands conditions are hard on ductless heads. Each spring, yellow pine pollen coats the outdoor coil and slips past indoor filters. Summer humidity keeps the indoor coil and drain wet for months, which is exactly what mold and drain slime need to grow on the blower wheel. Afternoon thunderstorms bring power surges that can damage control boards.

Use matters too. A workshop head pulls in sawdust that packs the coil, and a guest-room head idle for weeks often restarts with a musty burst. Pet hair loads filters all year, and a head mounted above a kitchen doorway collects a film of cooking grease on its coil.

Other failures are mechanical. Flare fittings, where the copper line set connects to the head and the outdoor unit, can work loose and leak refrigerant slowly. Fan motors and temperature sensors (thermistors, the small probes that tell the board how warm the coil and room are) wear out over time.

How we diagnose a ductless head and outdoor unit

At the head

We read the code or blink pattern, then open the front panel. We check the filters, the coil face and the blower wheel, test the room and coil sensors, and trace the drain path, including the condensate pump if there is one. We confirm the head is level and measure the temperature drop across the coil.

At the outdoor unit

Outside, we check the fan, the compressor, the coil, and the wiring between the two units. If the readings point to refrigerant, we connect gauges and search for the leak rather than just adding refrigerant. Refrigerant work is regulated under EPA Section 608.

The visit, in order

1. We call ahead, then hear the history of the problem.
2. We read the code and any fault history the board stores.
3. The head comes open: filters, coil, wheel, drain, sensors, level.
4. Outside: power, disconnect, fan, compressor and coil; gauges only when readings call for them.
5. You see what failed and the price of each option.
6. With your go-ahead we repair, test until temperatures and drainage check out, and clean up.

Repair options and what each involves

Once we know the cause, we explain the choices with the pros and cons and you decide.

• Deep cleaning. The head is bagged and the coil and blower wheel are cleaned and rinsed in place. Badly fouled wheels sometimes have to come out.
• Drain repairs. Clearing or rerouting the drain line, replacing a failed condensate pump, or re-leveling the head. Sometimes a gravity drain can replace a pump.
• Part replacement. Sensors, fan motors, capacitors and control boards. Brand-specific parts may need to be ordered.
• Leak repair. Re-making a flare fitting or replacing a leaking component, then pulling a vacuum and recharging to the manufacturer's spec.

Refrigerant law, licensing and permits on a repair

Opening a refrigerant circuit is covered by EPA Section 608: refrigerant is recovered, never vented, and only certified technicians handle it. A leak should be fixed, not topped off every summer. On newer A2L equipment (R-32 or R-454B), technicians also follow the added handling rules for mildly flammable refrigerants. Most repairs need no permit, though replacing an outdoor unit usually does, through the Town of Lexington or Lexington County. Contractor licenses are issued and listed by SC LLR, where anyone can check one. Our company is fully licensed and insured.

Older R-410A systems can still be serviced and recharged. If a unit is aging and the repair is large, we lay out the repair cost against mini-split installation so you can compare. Whole-house systems share many of these parts; see heat pump repair.

What affects the price of a ductless repair?

The price is mostly diagnostic time plus parts. A slimed drain cleared in half an hour costs far less than a communication fault that only appears on hot afternoons. Common sensors and capacitors are often stocked locally; a board for a less common brand may be special-order.

• How long it takes to pin down the fault, especially intermittent codes
• Part availability and brand
• Number of heads involved on a multi-zone system
• Access: a head high on a two-story wall takes more setup
• Refrigerant work: leak search, recovery, vacuum and recharge
• Whether a deep clean is part of the visit

On a multi-zone system, one fault in the shared outdoor unit can take every head down. We explain the cost of each option before we start, and financing can spread out a larger repair.

Keeping the next repair away

Rinse the filters every few weeks in peak season, keep the outdoor unit clear of shrubs and pine straw by two feet or so, and act on drips or smells early. A professional deep clean every year or two keeps the blower wheel and drain from becoming the next service call. Our mini-split maintenance guide walks through the homeowner side. We handle ductless repairs from Irmo to Cayce and throughout Lexington County.

What sets our ductless repair calls apart

Ductless faults hide well, and the 29 five-star Google reviews we had in October 2026 keep naming the same things: a refrigerant leak found after another company missed it, arrival on time with a call ahead, and a clean work area. You see the reading or the failed part and pick the fix, with no upsell toward a new system.

The company has been owner-operated since 2021 and holds NATE certification, with over 10 years in the trade. Water coming through a wall can't wait for office hours, so emergency calls are answered 24/7. Veterans, school staff and first responders qualify for published discounts.