AC Maintenance in Meridian, MS
Air conditioners here run from May through September, so April is the time for a tune-up. Tell us about your system, and a licensed contractor who covers Lauderdale County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Five months of hard running, every year
Your air conditioner works from May through September here, with summer afternoons averaging 90°F. That is the stretch where it runs the longest and the hardest, cycling on through the heat of the day and often into the evening.
A tune-up during that time checks the parts under the most strain, the refrigerant charge, the coil, the condenser fan, before the heat finds a weak one for you. Meridian has also seen its share of hail and wind over the past ten years, so a service visit is a good time to look over the outdoor unit for dented fins or a cabinet that took a hit and still runs but shouldn't be left alone.
- 5 months
- May through September, your air conditioner is on duty
- 90°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
- 21 hail events
- in ten years, and hail bends the fins on outdoor coils
- 126 wind events
- in ten years, and wind drives debris into outdoor units
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
Book your AC tune-up in April, before homes here start needing cooling in May.
- 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.
Mississippi requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
Mississippi's State Board of Contractors issues that license to the contractor, not to each job. It covers the business, and it stays with them from one maintenance call to the next.
For this job, that license is what stands behind the company sending someone to your house. If the technician opens the refrigerant side of your air conditioner, they also need EPA Section 608 certification. That comes from the federal government, not the state, and every technician who works on refrigerant needs it, in Mississippi or anywhere else.
Source: Mississippi State Board of Contractors
- What does AC maintenance include?
- A technician checks refrigerant pressure, cleans the condenser coil, and tests the capacitor and contactor in the outdoor unit. Inside, they check the evaporator coil and the condensate drain, since a clogged drain can back up and cause water damage. They also check the thermostat and inspect the ductwork for obvious leaks. Anyone opening the refrigerant side of the system has to hold EPA Section 608 certification, so this part of the job is not optional work a homeowner can do.
- How often does an air conditioner need maintenance?
- Once a year, before the cooling season starts. Homes here need cooling from May through September, so spring is the right time to have it done. A yearly check catches a weak capacitor or a low refrigerant charge before a 90°F afternoon puts real strain on the system.
- Is AC maintenance worth it?
- Yes, because most of what causes a summer breakdown is something a technician can catch ahead of time. A dirty coil or a failing capacitor will not stop the system right away, but it makes it work harder, and that is how a small problem turns into a bigger one. This area also sees hail and high wind most years, and maintenance is when a technician notices if the outdoor unit's fins or coil took damage before it turns into a bigger repair.