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Straight answers about air conditioning in South Florida
How air conditioners work, why they fail here, and how to make good decisions about repair and replacement, without the sales pitch.
FL license CAC1821225 · Licensed in Florida (DBPR)
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- ChecklistAC Maintenance Checklist for South FloridaWhat AC maintenance should cover in South Florida, where systems run most of the year, from the drain and electrical parts to your part between visits.
- ExplainerHow We Diagnose AC ProblemsWhat an AC diagnostic visit measures, from temperature split and refrigerant readings to airflow, electrical tests and the drain, and how we explain it.
- GuideRepair or Replace Your AC in South Florida?How to weigh repairing against replacing an air conditioner in South Florida, from age and refrigerant to repair history, comfort and matched systems.
The parts of a central AC system
Most of the guides refer to these parts. Here's where each one is and what it does.
All guides
Filter by topic. Every guide is written for South Florida homes.
- ChecklistAC Maintenance Checklist for South FloridaWhat AC maintenance should cover in South Florida, where systems run most of the year, from the drain and electrical parts to your part between visits.
- ExplainerHow We Diagnose AC ProblemsWhat an AC diagnostic visit measures, from temperature split and refrigerant readings to airflow, electrical tests and the drain, and how we explain it.
- GuideRepair or Replace Your AC in South Florida?How to weigh repairing against replacing an air conditioner in South Florida, from age and refrigerant to repair history, comfort and matched systems.
- GuideAC Drain Line Clogs: Causes and Safe FixesWhy AC drain lines clog in South Florida, including the Zoogloea slime that grows inside them, what a float switch does, and what is safe to try first.
- GuideAC Replacement Permits in Broward CountyWhat an AC changeout permit covers in Broward County, from the paperwork and hurricane tie-down to the inspection, emergencies and who issues it.
- ExplainerAC Sizing and Manual J: Why Bigger Isn't BetterWhy an AC should be sized from a load calculation, not the old unit's tonnage, and why an oversized one leaves a South Florida house cold and clammy.
- ChecklistHumidity and Mold Control While You're AwayHow to leave a South Florida home for weeks or a whole season without coming back to musty air or mold, with AC settings, humidity targets and checks.
- ChecklistHurricane Season: Preparing Your ACHow to protect your air conditioner through South Florida hurricane season, from storm prep and power outages to the checks before turning it back on.
- GlossaryHVAC Glossary: AC Terms in Plain EnglishPlain-English definitions of the AC terms used on this site, from efficiency ratings and sizing to refrigerants, parts, airflow, drains and codes.
- ExplainerR-454B Refrigerant: What Homeowners Should KnowHow the switch from R-410A to R-454B and R-32 affects repairs, replacements and safety rules for Broward homeowners, plus what it means for R-22 systems.
- GuideReplacing an AC in a Florida CondoHow replacing a condo air conditioner in Broward differs, from association approval and closet air handlers to rooftop condensers, drains and access.
- ExplainerSEER2 Explained: AC Efficiency RatingsWhat SEER2, EER2 and HSPF2 measure, the minimum ratings for new systems in Florida, and how to read the numbers on a quote or a data plate.
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Florida license CAC1821225