East Texas Summer AC Checklist

Why summer is hard on AC here

NOAA's climate normals show East Texas summers as hot and humid (NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals), and the National Weather Service Shreveport office issues heat advisories for Tyler and Smith County when heat and humidity combine to dangerous levels (National Weather Service Shreveport (covers Tyler and Smith County)). An air conditioner here runs long hours, and it has to remove moisture as well as heat.

In spring

• Replace the filter. ENERGY STAR suggests checking monthly and changing at least every three months (ENERGY STAR, heating and cooling).
• Rinse pollen and debris off the outdoor coil gently with a hose, with power off at the disconnect.
• Clear two feet around the outdoor unit.
• Make sure the condensate drain is flowing and the secondary pan in the attic is dry.
• Run the system on a warm day before the first heat wave to make sure it cools.
• Schedule a professional cooling check.

Thermostat habits

The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Saver pages suggest setting the thermostat as high as is comfortable when you are home and higher when you are away (U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver heating and cooling). Big swings can backfire on the hottest days, when a system may not be able to recover quickly. A ceiling fan lets you feel cooler at a higher setting.

During a heat wave

• Close blinds on sunny windows, especially west-facing ones in the afternoon.
• Avoid running the oven and dryer in the hottest hours.
• Keep the filter clean; a clogged filter can freeze the coil.
• Expect the system to run continuously on the hottest afternoons. That alone is not a failure.
• Check on older neighbors and anyone without working AC.

Warning signs

• Warm air from the vents.
• Ice on the refrigerant lines or indoor unit.
• Water around the indoor unit or stains on the ceiling under an attic unit.
• The outdoor fan not spinning, or a loud hum, buzz or grinding.
• The breaker tripping.

If the coil freezes, turn cooling off and run the fan only until it thaws, then replace the filter. If the problem returns, see AC repair.

Attic units

Many Tyler-area homes have the indoor unit in the attic. A clogged drain there can overflow onto the ceiling. A float switch that shuts the system off when the pan fills is cheap protection. See what shapes a maintenance visit.

Related pages: ac repair, hvac maintenance & tune-ups, ductwork & airflow, and what shapes an estimate.

Sources: ENERGY STAR, heating and cooling; U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver heating and cooling; National Weather Service Shreveport (covers Tyler and Smith County); NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals.