In Florence and the Pee Dee region, your AC works harder than average — long, hot, humid summers + mild but cool winters add up to systems running 8–10 months out of the year. Here’s the maintenance schedule that actually fits SC climate.
National guidance says “once a year” for HVAC maintenance. That’s a Northern recommendation. In SC, with our humidity and runtime hours, twice a year — spring and fall — is the practical schedule that prevents breakdowns and saves money.
Done before peak summer demand. The tech inspects refrigerant levels, cleans the outdoor coil, tests the capacitor, flushes the drain line, and checks electrical connections. Catches the issues that turn into “AC died on July 4th” emergencies.
Done before first cold snap. Different system, different inspection: heat exchanger check (gas furnaces), igniter and flame sensor test, carbon monoxide check, defrost cycle test (heat pumps), filter check, electrical check.
This is the one thing you should do yourself. Check your filter every month. If it’s gray and dusty, replace it. Some homes need monthly changes (pets, allergies, lots of cooking), others can stretch to every 2–3 months. Don’t go longer than 3 months even on the cleanest household.
Once a year, look at your unit. Are the outdoor fins caked with dirt? Is there mold around the indoor unit? Does the system make new noises? Is your electric bill creeping up year-over-year? Any of these = call sooner than scheduled.
An average tune-up: $129. An average emergency AC repair on a 95° Saturday: $400–$800 + the after-hours fee. Plus the discomfort, wasted food in your fridge, and possibly a hotel night. Maintenance is cheap insurance.
Our Comfort Club membership includes both spring and fall tune-ups, 15% off any repairs found, no after-hours fees, and priority scheduling — all for $19/month. Pays for itself with a single avoided emergency. See plan details →
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