Let’s be real: In Houston, air conditioning isn’t a luxury. It’s life support.
When you live in a city where 90% humidity is considered a “good hair day” and walking to your car feels like swimming through soup, you can’t afford for your AC to quit. But because our units run nearly year-round, they take a beating that AC units in other parts of the country just don’t understand.
So, how often should you service your AC in Houston’s climate?
The short answer is twice a year. Once in the spring to prep for the heat, and once in the fall to clean up the mess left behind.
If you are worried your system is running on borrowed time, give Space City Air Pros a shout. We’ll make sure you aren’t sweating bullets in your living room this summer.
If you’re wondering why your system needs that much attention, here is the breakdown of what the Houston climate actually does to your HVAC system.
Why Houston is “Death Valley” for AC Units
If you ask a manufacturer, they might say once a year is fine. But they are probably testing those units in a dry lab, not in the humid, mosquito-filled reality of the Gulf Coast.
Houston creates a perfect storm for AC wear and tear:
- The Marathon Run: In most states, the AC runs for three or four months. Here, it runs for ten. Your system is putting in double the mileage of a normal unit.
- The Humidity Factor: Your AC doesn’t just cool the air; it pulls moisture out of it. When it’s 95% humidity outside, your system works overtime just to keep your walls from feeling sticky.
- The Debris: Between the pine pollen in the spring and the constant construction dust, the outdoor condenser coils get coated in grime fast. This acts like a winter coat on your AC, making it struggle to release heat.
The Two-Step Maintenance Schedule
Since our climate is so aggressive, you need a defensive strategy. Here is what that looks like.
1. The Pre-Summer Tune-Up (March/April)
You need to catch problems before the thermometer hits 100 degrees. Once the summer rush hits, every AC technician in Harris County is booked solid for weeks.
During this service, a pro should:
- Check Refrigerant Levels: If you are low on Freon, you have a leak. Finding it now prevents the system from freezing up in July.
- Wash the Condenser Coils: This is the outdoor unit. If it’s clogged with dirt, your electricity bill will skyrocket because the unit can’t breathe.
- Check the Capacitor: This little battery helps start your compressor. It is the #1 part that fails in Houston heat. If it’s weak, swap it out now so you aren’t left stranded on a Saturday night.
2. The Post-Summer Recovery (October/November)
You might think, “Why service it now? It’s cooling down.”
Actually, this is when the gross stuff happens. After running non-stop for six months, your drain lines are full of slime and algae (thanks to that humidity).
- Clear the Drain Line: A clogged drain line will trigger a safety switch that shuts your whole system off—or worse, it backs up water into your ceiling/attic.
- Check the Heater: Yes, we barely use heat here. But when that one freeze hits in January, you don’t want to find out your furnace is broken. Carbon monoxide safety checks happen here, too.
5 Signs Your AC is Screaming for Help
You don’t always have to wait for the scheduled visit. Your house will usually tell you when something is wrong. Watch out for these red flags:
1. The “CenterPoint” Shock
Did your electric bill jump $100 this month, but you didn’t change your habits? That usually means the AC is running inefficiently. It’s working twice as hard to give you the same amount of cool air.
2. Warm Spots
If the living room is an icebox but the bedroom feels like a sauna, you might have leaky ductwork or a failing compressor.
3. Weird Smells
If your air smells like dirty socks or mildew when the unit kicks on, that’s “Dirty Sock Syndrome.” It means bacteria or mold is growing on your indoor coils. In our humid climate, this is super common and needs to be chemically cleaned.
4. Short Cycling
Does your AC turn on, run for 5 minutes, and turn off? Then turn back on 5 minutes later? That is called short cycling. It destroys the motor and kills your energy efficiency.
5. It Sounds Like a Lawn Mower
Hissing, banging, or grinding noises are never good. A silent hum is what you want. Anything else means a part is loose or dying.
What You Can Do Yourself (The DIY Stuff)
You don’t need a pro for everything. There is one thing you must do to keep your warranty valid and your air clean: Change the filter.
In Houston, the “change every 3 months” rule is a lie. With our pollen and pet dander, you should check it every 30 days. If it looks gray, toss it. A dirty filter suffocates your system faster than anything else.
Also, keep the outdoor unit clear. If you have bushes or tall grass growing right up against the metal cage, trim them back. The unit needs at least two feet of breathing room to dump heat efficiently.
Don’t Gamble with the Heat
Ignoring your AC in Houston is like ignoring the check engine light on a car that you drive 100 miles a day. Eventually, it will leave you stranded.
Regular maintenance is cheaper than a brand-new unit.
If you want to keep your home cool and your bills low, let Space City Air Pros handle the dirty work. We know Houston heat, and we know how to beat it.
Ready for a tune-up? Call Space City Air Pros today to get on the schedule before the summer rush begins!