It’s fall and that means the leaves are changing and the temperatures are dropping - for our friends up north.

Here in Sarasota, it’s still HOT (and the leaves are still green) and that means we still want the AC blowing COLD. On the Suncoast, we depend on our AC year-round and, if you’re like us, you have a trusted AC Company you can call at the first sign of trouble, but not every problem requires a pro.

This checklist can help you avoid an unnecessary (and possibly expensive) service call:

Check the Thermostat

Make sure the thermostat is set to the "COOL" position and that it is set to the desired temperature.

If your thermostat is battery operated (or if it has a battery backup in case of a power outage) a fresh battery could clear up some issues and/or restore connectivity between the AC unit and the thermostat. If you haven’t changed the battery in over a year – it might be time for a fresh battery.

Check the Breakers

Make sure all the circuit breakers in the box are set to the "ON" position. If there is a “tripped breaker” (at the neutral position) turning it off and then on will reset it.

Resetting the breaker that controls your thermostat and/or the air conditioning system can sometimes be enough to restart an unresponsive system
If your air conditioning system keeps tripping the breaker – DON’T TURN IT BACK ON.

Check the Filter

A clogged filter will make it hard for cold air to reach your living space. A clogged filter also makes your system work harder, which will result in higher electric bills and, if your filter is really clogged, it could be the reason the breaker keeps tripping. It’s a good idea to check your filter once/month (more or less depending on the type of filter and the conditions in your home) by taking it out and holding it up to the light – if you can’t see through it, it’s probably time for a new filter.

If after all that, your air conditioning system still isn’t working right, call Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating at 941-921-7208. We're always ready to help!

Have you been putting off maintenance on your AC system?

With a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic that made travel all but impossible for several months and mortgage rates at historic lows, many of us (simultaneously) decided to address deferred maintenance we had been putting up with or completely remodel the homes we would be spending more time in.

If you’ve purchased a 2’ x 4’ or a sheet of plywood recently, you’ve experienced firsthand the effects that this increased demand, combined with pandemic-related supply chain disruptions, has had on the price and availability of building materials, but the construction industry isn’t the only one affected.

Shortages on copper, plastics, PVC, plumbing supplies; vinyl siding, paint, microchips, and more have affected every industry – including the HVAC industry.

Shortages, including skilled-labor shortages up and down the supply chain – from manufacture to installation, have made it difficult to get new HVAC systems as well as the parts required to service existing units. All this to say that preventive maintenance has never been more important…

In addition to giving you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your system won’t breakdown at the most inconvenient time, regular preventive maintenance keeps your system running at peak efficiency, cutting your cooling costs by as much as 15% and extending the life of your system.

And, if you think you don’t need regular preventive maintenance because your system is still under warranty – think again. Regular preventive maintenance, performed by an authorized service provider and documentation of same, is a warranty requirement.

So, if you haven’t had your system serviced in a while, call Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating at 941-921-7208 and schedule your preventive maintenance today or, better yet, ask us about our preventive maintenance agreement.

A preventive maintenance agreement with Sean McCutcheon's Air Conditioning and Heating, will not only keep your system running at peak efficiency, it will ensure that all warranty requirements are met and that you have the necessary documentation when you need warranty service.