AC Maintenance in College Station, TX
Air conditioners here run from April through October, so March is the time for a tune-up. Tell us about your system, and a licensed contractor who covers Brazos County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Seven months of Texas heat wears on your AC
Your air conditioner runs from April through October here, with summer afternoons averaging 94°F. That is seven straight months where the compressor and fan barely get a break, especially once the afternoons turn hot and stay that way into evening.
A tune-up during that stretch catches what long runtimes do before they cause a breakdown. A technician checks refrigerant charge, since a system low on refrigerant has to work harder to hit the same temperature. They check the capacitor, which weakens with heat and long run cycles and is a common reason a unit stops turning on. They also clean the condenser coil outside, because a dirty coil makes the system work harder to move heat out of the house.
- 7 months
- April through October, your air conditioner is on duty
- 94°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
- 50 hail events
- in ten years, and hail bends the fins on outdoor coils
- 75 wind events
- in ten years, and wind drives debris into outdoor units
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
Book your AC tune-up in March, before homes here start needing cooling in April.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
A tune-up checks the refrigerant charge, cleans the coils, tests the capacitor and tightens the electrical connections.
Texas requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation issues that license, and it tests and records the contractor, not the job. A company can hold one license and send any of its technicians to a maintenance call in Brazos County, because the state's record is on the business, not on each visit.
For a maintenance visit, that license is what stands behind the work. If the technician opens the refrigerant side of the air conditioner to check the charge or the coil, federal law also requires that person to hold EPA Section 608 certification, no matter what state they work in. That certification is separate from the Texas license and covers only refrigerant handling.
Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
- What does AC maintenance include?
- A technician checks refrigerant pressure, cleans the condenser coil outside, and tests the capacitor and contactor that start the compressor. They check the coil inside for dirt or mold, inspect the blower wheel, and check that the drain line is clear so condensate does not back up into the house. They also test the thermostat and check the electrical connections for signs of wear. In a place where the system runs from April through October, that drain line and the outside coil are the two things most likely to cause trouble if they get skipped.
- How often does an air conditioner need maintenance?
- Once a year, ideally before the cooling season starts. Here that means getting it done sometime in late winter or early spring, before the heat that runs from April through October sets in. A yearly check catches a weak capacitor or a dirty coil before it causes a breakdown on a 94 degree afternoon.
- Is AC maintenance worth it?
- Yes. A system that runs seven months a year, April through October, works harder here than in most places, and regular maintenance is what catches a failing part before it leaves the house without cooling on a 94 degree day. It also protects the warranty on newer equipment, since manufacturers generally require proof of annual service. A licensed contractor, the kind the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation certifies, is who should be doing that work.