Memorial Day Weekend Prep: Test Your AC Right Now, Before the Heat Hits

We get it. It is easy to put this off. Stop what you are doing. Go test your AC right now. Seriously. Memorial Day weekend is days away, temperatures are climbing, and every HVAC company in Myrtle Beach and Charleston is about to get buried in service calls. If your system has a problem, today is the day to find it. Friday afternoon is not.

This will take 15 minutes. We work through this with homeowners one step at a time. Here is exactly what to do.

Step 1: Turn Your AC On

Set your thermostat to cool. Set the target temperature 5 degrees below the current room temperature. Make sure the fan is set to auto, not on. Then go to the outdoor unit and confirm it starts within a minute or two. Both the compressor and the fan on top of the outdoor unit should be running.

If the outdoor unit does not start, check the circuit breaker first. If the breaker is fine and the unit still will not start, call us. 843-238-3838.

Step 2: Wait 15 Minutes and Check the Vents

Go to several supply vents in your home. Hold your hand in front of them. The air should feel noticeably cool. If airflow feels weak or the air does not feel cold, that is a problem.

Cool air coming out strong is a good sign. Move to Step 3.

Step 3: Listen

Walk around the system, both the indoor air handler and the outdoor unit. What you should hear is a consistent hum with no unusual sounds. What you should not hear: banging, grinding, squealing, or a compressor that cycles on and off every few minutes rather than running steadily.

Any unusual sound is worth a call. Our post on why your air conditioner is making noise is a good reference for what different sounds mean. And if you see ice on the unit, our post on why your air conditioner freezes up explains exactly what is happening. Not a panic call. Just a call to ask us what it might be. 843-238-3838.

Step 4: Check the Indoor Unit

Look at the air handler and the area around it. There should be no water pooling on the floor or dripping from the unit. If there is water, the condensate drain may already be clogged. In South Carolina, condensate drain clogs are the most common cause of indoor AC water damage and they accelerate as the system runs harder in summer.

Also look at the refrigerant lines going into the air handler. They should not have ice on them. Ice indicates a problem, usually a clogged filter or low refrigerant. If you see ice, turn the system to fan-only mode and call us.

Step 5: Run It for an Hour and Check the Temperature

Let the system run for a full hour. Check the thermostat. Is it actually reaching the temperature you set? A system that is running but cannot bring the house to the set temperature within an hour on a mild spring day will not keep up on a 95-degree August afternoon.

If everything checks out after an hour, your system has passed a basic functional test. We will be straight with you: that is not a guarantee it will make it through the whole summer, but it means there are no obvious problems today.

If You Found a Problem

Call us now. 843-238-3838. Do not wait until Thursday. When we come out, our techs take their time diagnosing rather than rushing through to the next call. Do not wait until the forecast shows 95 degrees. As we covered in our post on why Memorial Day weekend is the worst time for AC failure, our schedule fills fast and emergency weekend service costs more than a regular appointment. A call today is a different situation than a call Friday afternoon.

You can also schedule online at coastalairplus.com/request-service. If you want us to do a proper professional assessment before the holiday, our VIP Maintenance Club members go to the front of the line. Non-members, call us and we will do our best to get to you.

At Coastal Air Plus, creating lasting relationships is what we are all about. We have been keeping South Carolina families cool through every Memorial Day weekend since 1947, one home at a time. You will not be oversold when we come out. We would rather hear from you today than rescue you on Friday. Rest easy knowing we are here. Simple. Reliable. Coastal Air Plus.