What Is HVAC Yearly Maintenance in South Florida and Why Do I Need It

What is HVAC yearly maintenance?

HVAC yearly maintenance is one scheduled visit a year where a licensed technician inspects, cleans and tests your air conditioning system before something fails. It covers the drain line, the coils, the electrical parts, the refrigerant pressure and airflow. Think of it as a physical for your AC.

Why do South Florida systems need it more than others?

An AC in Ohio runs a few months. An AC in Hollywood or Hialeah runs most of the year. Salt air near the coast, humidity that never lets up and a rainy season that waters every drain line make it a harder job.

Three things build up in a Florida system:

• Algae and slime in the drain line. Humid air makes water, and that water has to leave the house. When the line clogs, it backs up into the pan and onto your ceiling.
• Dirt on the coils. The cold coil inside and the hot coil outside both have to pass heat. A coating of dust and pollen makes the system run longer for less cooling.
• Worn electrical parts. Capacitors and contactors take a beating from the heat and from frequent starts. They fail slowly, then suddenly.

What happens during the visit?

Our technician follows a 31-point list. In plain terms:

1. Look at the indoor and outdoor units for visible damage, rust or leaks. 2. Flush the condensate drain and check the safety switch that stops the unit if water rises. 3. Clean the coils, with the depth depending on the package. 4. Test capacitors, contactors and wiring with a meter. 5. Check refrigerant pressure against the unit's range. 6. Confirm the thermostat and the temperature drop across the system.

You get a summary of what we found. If something needs a repair, we quote it separately and wait for your decision.

How does maintenance save money?

It does not save money the way a coupon does. It saves it by moving small, cheap fixes to a calm week in spring instead of a no-cool emergency in July. A neglected unit also uses more electricity to cool the same house. A coil coated in dust makes the compressor work longer on every cycle, and that is a real number on your FPL bill.

How often should I schedule it?

Once a year, ideally before May so you are done before the heat peaks. If your system is over ten years old, runs around the clock, or has had water problems, ask about a second visit in fall.

When is it a repair instead?

If your AC is warm, leaking, freezing or tripping the breaker, do not wait for the yearly visit. That is a repair call. A diagnostic is $59.99 and is credited toward the repair if you go ahead. See our AC repair service.

How does it work?

1. Call or book online. Call (954) 658-9511 or book online. Tell us the brand if you know it and how many units you have. 2. A technician comes out. A licensed technician comes out, runs the full check and shows you what they found. 3. We fix it. We finish the maintenance and quote anything extra in writing. You say yes or no.

Where do we send technicians?

We send technicians to homes and businesses across both counties, with the closest crews staged around the cities below. Call (954) 658-9511 and we will tell you how soon someone can be at your door.

Broward County: Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Davie, Miramar, Plantation

Miami-Dade County: Miami, Hialeah, Miami Beach, Aventura, Coral Gables

Licensed Florida HVAC contractor CAC1817184. Learn more about our AC maintenance service and maintenance contracts.