Year-Round HVAC Care in Florida: A Month-by-Month Checklist

Florida does not have four seasons the way northern states do, but a home air system still works to a calendar. It runs almost nonstop from May through October, rests for a few mild months, and gets one or two cold snaps in between. A short list for each part of the year keeps small problems from landing on the hottest day.

January and February: the cold snaps

This is when heat pumps and furnaces get used, often after sitting idle since last winter. Before the first cold night, switch the thermostat to heat and listen for the system starting normally. A burning smell for the first few minutes is common with a heater that has collected dust, but a smell that lasts, or any noise that sounds like scraping, deserves a call. Replace the filter now, since the one in place has been through the long cooling season.

March and April: the best time for a tune-up

Spring is the sweet spot. The weather is mild, technicians have open schedules, and any problem found now can be fixed before summer demand begins. A tune-up checks refrigerant levels, electrical connections, the condensate drain, and the coils, and it is when a weak capacitor gets replaced for a few dollars instead of failing in July.

May: get ahead of the heat

• Clear leaves, grass clippings and anything stacked against the outdoor unit, leaving at least two feet of room around it.
• Pour the manufacturer-recommended amount of cleaning solution or a cup of vinegar down the drain line access if your technician showed you how.
• Check that supply and return vents are open and unblocked.
• Set a recurring reminder for filter changes.

June through September: running hard

This is peak load, and the rule is to watch for changes. A system that takes longer to cool, a higher bill with similar weather, ice on the lines, water around the indoor unit, or new sounds are all early warnings. Shut the system off if you see ice or water and call, since running a frozen coil can damage the compressor. Check the filter monthly if you have pets or run the system constantly.

Hurricane season sits in this stretch as well. Before a storm, switch the system off at the breaker so a surge or a power flicker does not damage it, and have a technician look at the outdoor unit after the storm before you start it again.

October and November: the second tune-up window

After the long summer, the system has earned a look. This is also the time to schedule duct cleaning, a thermostat upgrade, or the replacement you have been putting off, because schedules open up again and cooler weather makes installation more comfortable for everyone.

December: the quiet check

Replace the filter, check that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have fresh batteries if you have a gas furnace, and confirm the thermostat's schedule matches your holiday routine. A programmable thermostat that is set for a work week can run the system all day while you are away.

Every month, all year

1. Look at the filter, and change it when it is dirty.
2. Walk past the outdoor unit and make sure nothing is leaning on it.
3. Glance at the drain line outlet for a steady drip in humid weather.
4. Notice sounds and smells, and write down when anything changes.

Keeping a note on your phone of the date of the last tune-up and the filter size saves a lot of guessing. If you would rather have someone else keep the calendar, a maintenance plan with spring and fall visits does exactly that.