Why Memorial Day Weekend Is the Worst Time to Discover Your AC Doesn't Work
By Coastal Air Plus | Serving Myrtle Beach and Charleston, SC Since 1947
We get it. There is no worse timing. If you are reading this because your AC just stopped working, we are sorry. Bad timing does not get much worse than this. Here is what to do right now, and how to reach us: 843-238-3838. We serve Myrtle Beach and Charleston and we work through holiday weekends because this is exactly when people need us. You will not be oversold on the visit. We tell you what the system needs and nothing extra.
Do These Things First
- Check the thermostat. Make sure it is set to cool and the target temperature is below the current room temperature. It sounds basic, but a thermostat that got bumped to heat or fan-only is a common cause of what seems like an AC failure.
- Check the circuit breaker. Find the breaker for your AC in your main panel. If it has tripped to the middle position, switch it fully off and then back on. If it trips again immediately, stop. Do not keep resetting a breaker that keeps tripping. That is an electrical issue that needs professional attention.
- Check the air filter. A severely clogged filter can restrict airflow enough to cause the system to shut down on a safety switch. If the filter is visibly clogged, replace it, then reset the system by turning the thermostat off for a few minutes and back on.
- Check the outdoor unit. Make sure it is running. If the indoor unit is blowing air but the outdoor unit is not running, you likely have a capacitor or contactor issue. This requires a technician.
- Check for ice. If you see ice on the refrigerant lines or the outdoor unit, turn the system to fan-only and let it thaw for a few hours before attempting to run cooling again. Running a system with a frozen coil damages the compressor.
If None of That Fixes It
Call us. 843-238-3838. We offer emergency service through holiday weekends. When our tech comes out, they take their time to diagnose correctly rather than rushing to the next call. We will be straight with you about timing and cost.
We are not going to tell you we are the only company that works holiday weekends. Not better than every option out there, just different in that we will be straight with you about timing and cost upfront. That is not something we apologize for. Emergency service on a holiday weekend requires our technicians to work when others are not, and that has a real cost. We will tell you the rate upfront before we come out. You decide whether to proceed. We will not surprise you with the bill.
Why This Weekend Is Particularly Dangerous for AC Systems
Memorial Day weekend is typically the first stretch of real heat in South Carolina. AC systems that have been largely idle since October are suddenly asked to run hard on the hottest days of the year so far.
Capacitors and contactors, which are the components most likely to fail in a system that has been sitting dormant, are stressed most on initial startup under high load. A capacitor that was marginal all winter will often survive the mild spring. For more on what our AC maintenance checklist covers, see our full AC maintenance checklist. and then fail on the first 90-degree day. Memorial Day weekend is that day. If you have not already run our summer AC readiness post assessment on your system, now is a good time. for a lot of systems.
This is not bad luck. It is physics. The system was going to fail. The timing is what hurts.
Temporary Cooling If You Are Waiting
If you are waiting for a technician, here is how to keep the house as bearable as possible. Close blinds and curtains on any sun-facing windows. This alone can reduce indoor temperature meaningfully. Run ceiling fans, which do not cool the air but make it feel cooler by moving it across your skin. Keep interior doors open so heat does not concentrate in any one room. Avoid using the oven. Put ice in bowls in front of fans if you have it.
For sleeping, ground-floor rooms are cooler than upstairs. If you have a beach house or vacation property and guests are affected, be transparent with them about the situation and the steps you are taking. Most guests are understanding when owners communicate quickly and honestly.
Next Year: Do This in Early May
The fix for this problem is simple, and it is what this post is really about for most people reading it. Turn your AC on in early May, before the heat hits. Run it for an hour. If it does not cool, if it makes unusual sounds, or if the outdoor unit does not start, you have found the problem while there is still time to fix it without emergency pricing and holiday weekend stress.
Our VIP Maintenance Club takes this off your plate entirely. We schedule a spring visit every year before the heat arrives, catch the capacitor and contactor issues before they fail, and make sure you are not the person calling us on a Friday afternoon in May.
At Coastal Air Plus, creating lasting relationships is what we are all about. We would rather be your neighbor who does the annual maintenance call than the emergency number you dial on a holiday weekend. We help each customer one at a time. Rest easy knowing we are here either way.
Call 843-238-3838 now if you need emergency help. Or visit coastalairplus.com/request-service to schedule your spring service before next year's first heat arrives. Simple. Reliable. Coastal Air Plus.
