Autumn weather in Cape Coral, FL is a lot like summer everywhere else. With average daytime temperatures in the mid-80s and nighttime temps rarely dipping below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, your HVAC system is probably running all the time. Notwithstanding this fact, fall ushers in many of the same autumnal challenges for outdoor AC condensers that are seen throughout the nation. As such, your HVAC equipment still requires professional maintenance. Read on to find out why this seasonal service is so important.
Cape Coral Trees Go Dormant in Fall and Lose Their Leaves
Although locals don’t expect to see much “sweater weather” from September to November, they can anticipate a deluge of falling leaves. If you’ve recently purchased property in the area, you may be surprised to see your foliage going through the normal autumn routine, even though the outside air lacks a distinctive fall-time chill.
Surprisingly, many of the trees that are common to this region go dormant during the autumn months and lose their leaves in the process. These include:
- Weeping willows
- Elms (winged and drake)
- Crape myrtles
- Sycamore
- Sweetgums
Rather than turning a resplendent array of oranges, reds, and golds, most leaves simply dry up, turn brown, and drop to the ground. With average autumn rainfall ranging between 2 and 8 inches every month, this could leave you with thick buildups of damp, organic material that inhibits airflow at your outside condenser unit.
Professional HVAC maintenance includes a thorough cleaning of all indoor and outdoor components. When performing your autumn HVAC tune-up service, we’ll make sure that your air conditioner’s condenser unit has adequate clearance on all sides and that it’s free of pests, particulate debris, and other airflow obstructions. These efforts prevent overheating and ensure the steady, reliable delivery of cooled air.
Constant Heat and Humidity Can Wreak Havoc on HVAC Equipment
With 355 days of sunshine each year, Cape Coral has a subtropical climate. This means that it’s both hot and humid nearly all of the time. More importantly, it also means that you’ll always have need of your HVAC system, even after you’ve acclimated to the local climate and you have developed all-new temperature preferences.
Excess humidity in the outdoor air forces air conditioners to work harder. As humidity levels rise outside of your home, they also increase in your living environment. While temperature regulation is among the most important services your HVAC system provides, its role in keeping indoor moisture levels in check is just as vital. Fall is the perfect time to reverse some of the wear that your HVAC equipment has sustained since your last service appointment.
During fall maintenance, our HVAC technicians will look for and address worn and corrosion-riddled components, pooling water, algal blooms within your air conditioner’s condensate drain line, mold, mildew, and more. These efforts will improve your HVAC system’s performance, and they’ll also ensure that your HVAC equipment is actually helping your indoor air quality (IAQ) rather than harming it.
Pest Problems Can Spiral in Fall
In Southwest Florida, termites swarm between February and April, but mosquito, cockroach, rodent, and snake activities are year-round. The last thing that you want near your home is an AC or a heat pump condenser with pooling water and piles of damp leaves around its perimeter. If these things don’t cause pests to take up residence in your AC or heat pump condenser, they’ll draw these unwanted visitors closer to your home. Not only does fall maintenance give HVAC technicians the chance to inspect and clean outdoor condenser units, but it also provides the opportunity to seal up all points of ingress and verify the integrity of HVAC ducting.
Annual Maintenance Is Required
For heat pumps, heaters, and air conditioners that are relatively new, scheduling annual maintenance service is vital for protecting their warranties. The manufacturer warranties on these units typically last between three and five years. While equipment manufacturers agree to cover the costs of repairing or replacing defective parts and products, consumers agree to duly maintain their units. If you read through the terms of these mutually binding agreements carefully, you’ll find that warranty issuers clearly state their maintenance demands. If you fail to meet these requirements, your claims could be delayed or denied outright, and your warranties could be voided entirely.
Winter Is Coming
Freezing temperatures are unheard of in Cape Coral, but this doesn’t mean that the weather can’t get crisp. Although it’s rare for the mercury to dip below 44 degrees Fahrenheit, when it does, you’ll want to know that your heat pump or heater is working. After all, although you have 355 sunny days a year to acclimate to high temperatures and lots of humidity, you won’t have long at all to adjust to the temperature lows in the region.
We proudly serve Cape Coral, FL and the surrounding communities. We offer top-notch heating, cooling, electrical, and indoor air quality services. We also provide air purifiers, whole-house dehumidifiers, pool heaters, and pool pumps. To schedule your fall HVAC system maintenance, get in touch with Ultimate Homes & Cooling now!
