What should I do if the AC stops working in my rental?

In the Riviera Maya, AC isn't a luxury — it's the difference between a tolerable afternoon and a 30°C night you can't sleep through. When a unit stops cooling, the fix is almost always one of five things, in order of how often we see them:

**1. Remote/thermostat issue (30% of "broken AC" calls).** Batteries dead, wrong mode (Fan instead of Cool), thermostat set above ambient. Check the remote first — if the LCD is blank, batteries.

**2. Tripped breaker (25%).** Power surges from CFE knock AC circuits off. Open the breaker panel (usually near the front door or kitchen), find the AC breaker (often labeled "Mini-split" or "Aire"), flip it OFF then back ON. If it trips again immediately, stop — that's a wiring issue and needs a technician.

**3. Clogged drain line (20%).** Mini-split AC units drip condensate through a small tube to the outside. In humid coastal climates, algae build up and clog it; modern units auto-shut-off when the pan fills. Look at the drain tube outside the unit — if no water is dripping, that's the culprit. A 2-minute fix for a tech with a wet/dry vac; impossible for a guest.

**4. Refrigerant low (15%).** Unit runs but doesn't cool. Air coming out feels lukewarm. This is a tech-only fix; needs gauges and the right refrigerant type (R-410A in most newer units, R-22 in older).

**5. Compressor or capacitor failure (10%).** Unit clicks but doesn't start, or makes a buzzing sound. Same tech-only category but more serious — often a same-day-replacement part.

**What to message your host:** - Which room (master bedroom, living room, etc.) - Photo of the thermostat display - Whether you tried the breaker reset - How hot the room currently is (if you have a meter or phone weather)

**What a competent host does in response:** - Replies within 30–60 minutes during business hours, 2 hours overnight - Sends a technician within 4–6 business hours during weekdays - Offers a portable fan or relocates you if same-day fix isn't possible - Refunds nights affected if AC was down for more than 24 hours

If you're getting "we'll see" responses with no timeline, that's a management red flag — escalate via the booking platform or look for the property's emergency contact in your arrival doc.