AC Maintenance and Air Conditioning Tune-Ups in Seffner, FL

The University of Florida GeoPlan Center publishes census profiles for Florida communities. Its report for the Seffner CDP, built on 2017-2021 American Community Survey estimates, lists no city jurisdiction, only Hillsborough County. The American Community Survey is the Census Bureau's ongoing household survey. In the Census Bureau's words, CDPs are "a statistical geography representing closely settled, unincorporated communities that are locally recognized and identified by name."

What the housing looks like

The report counts 2,298 housing units, up from 1,927 in 1990. Single-family homes grew from 1,208 to 1,939 over that span. Mobile homes moved the other way, from 442 units to 244. The report lists 111 multi-family units. Residential land covers 1,270 acres, just over half the land in the report's land-use table.

Long-time owners

Owners outnumber renters about three to one: 1,616 owner-occupied units against 535 rented ones. The median owner moved in during 2008. Many Seffner owners, in other words, have lived in the same house for years.

That is a maintenance question worth answering before the technician arrives. Do you know when the system was last serviced, or how old the outdoor unit is? If the answer is no, say so when you book. A first visit can then set a starting record. Our guide to how long AC units last in Florida explains what age means for planning.

NOAA keeps 1991-2020 climate normals for a station at Plant City, east of Seffner. The figures describe that station, not Seffner itself.

Degree days in plain words

The National Weather Service explains degree days with a 65°F baseline. When a day's average temperature is above 65°F, the difference counts as cooling degree days. The daily numbers add up, so months and whole seasons can be compared. The Weather Service says their most common use is tracking energy use.

What Plant City's numbers show

A normal year at the station brings about 3,848 cooling degree days and about 436 heating degree days. Cooling degree days outnumber heating degree days nearly nine to one. January is the only month with more heating degree days than cooling degree days.

Even the mild months are not idle. February normally logs 94.7 cooling degree days against 86.4 heating degree days. December is almost even, at 105.6 cooling and 104.1 heating.

The steep climb starts in spring. Cooling degree days run 264.8 in April, 425.1 in May and 576.6 in both July and August. October still carries 367.1, more than April. The normal high is 86.2°F in April and 90.8°F in May.

What that means for booking

An air conditioner in Seffner gets no true off-season, so the best time to service it is just before the heaviest stretch. March or April fits. ENERGY STAR, the efficiency program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recommends an annual pre-season check-up by a contractor. It notes that contractors get busy once summer arrives, so cooling systems are best checked in spring. ENERGY STAR even suggests tying the visit to the spring time change. Trane, an equipment manufacturer, also recommends a tune-up every spring.

Tampa Electric says air conditioning is the biggest reason electric bills spike in summer, and that high humidity makes the system run more often.

A quick look and a hose-down is not maintenance. ENERGY STAR's checklist describes what a typical check-up includes. Here it is in plain terms.

Controls and start-up

The technician reviews the thermostat and the system's controls, then watches a full start-up. ENERGY STAR wants the equipment to start, operate and shut off properly.

Electrical parts and motors

Connections get tightened, and voltage and current are measured on the motors. ENERGY STAR warns that faulty connections can make a system unsafe and shorten the life of major components. Moving parts are lubricated to limit friction in the motors. All of this is technician work.

Both coils

The evaporator is the indoor coil that pulls heat and moisture out of your air. The condenser is the outdoor coil that releases that heat. ENERGY STAR says dirty coils make the system run longer and cool less. Trane says a technician turns the unit off first, may blow loose debris away with compressed air, and straightens bent fins with a special tool.

Refrigerant

Refrigerant is the fluid that carries heat from inside the house to the outdoor unit. ENERGY STAR says a charge that is too high or too low makes the system less efficient and shortens equipment life. Refrigerant work at Blume is handled by EPA Section 608 certified technicians, holders of the federal refrigerant-handling credential.

Drain and blower

Condensate is the water an air conditioner removes from indoor air. ENERGY STAR lists a check of the condensate drain, because a plugged one can cause water damage and affect indoor humidity. Blower components are cleaned and adjusted so air moves properly. Our page on the AC drain pan explains where that water collects.

Readings worth keeping

Blume sizes new equipment by ACCA Manual J load calculation with Manual S selection, not rule-of-thumb swaps. New equipment is then commissioned with measured static pressure, airflow and refrigerant charge, documented. Static pressure is the resistance the indoor fan pushes against. Written readings give the next visit a baseline to compare.

Only three checks belong to the homeowner. The rest waits for a licensed contractor.

• Filter. ENERGY STAR advises inspecting, cleaning or changing the filter once a month, and says your contractor can show you how. Tampa Electric adds that it must face the correct direction. See our guide to HVAC air filters.
• Thermostat. Confirm it is set to cool, at a temperature you actually want. Our thermostat settings page gives a starting point.
• Clear space. Trane suggests trimming plants back at least two feet from the outdoor unit on every side. Indoors, keep furniture and boxes off supply vents and return grilles.

Keep the outdoor unit's panels closed. Trane recommends a professional for coil cleaning and notes that some do-it-yourself maintenance can void a warranty. Refrigerant, wiring, capacitors and drain lines are licensed-contractor work.

A scheduled visit is for prevention. Some problems should not wait for it.

• Standing water in the pan under the indoor unit. ENERGY STAR notes a plugged drain can cause water damage and affect indoor humidity.
• A tripped breaker for the air conditioner. Leave it off and call a licensed contractor.

For a system that has stopped altogether, Blume offers 24/7 emergency HVAC service, with same-day response available based on location and technician availability. A person answers the 24/7 dispatch line.

Tampa Electric describes itself as the primary power provider in Hillsborough County. If it is your utility, it offers a free Energy Audit with certified energy experts. Tampa Electric says the auditor looks at heating and cooling systems, attic insulation and weather stripping. A free online version is available through your TECO account. Tampa Electric also advises servicing cooling systems annually.

Because Seffner has no city hall, building matters go to Hillsborough County. Its Development Services department handles permitting and building inspection for all of unincorporated Hillsborough County, online through the HillsGovHub portal. Its phone number is (813) 272-5600. Our Seffner HVAC page covers permits for replacement work and the area's flooding history.

Blume Mechanical Service is a Class A licensed Florida air conditioning contractor, license CAC-1822618, and is fully insured. Our office is in Belleair Bluffs, and our core service area is Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties, which takes in Seffner. We are brand-agnostic and service equipment from all major manufacturers as a licensed contractor.

If a tune-up turns up a problem that maintenance will not solve, you get a written, upfront price before any work. Where repair and replacement both make sense, the numbers are laid out side by side. Blume does not sell equipment a home does not need. Paid priority scheduling is available.

For the full seasonal list of homeowner and technician tasks, see our AC maintenance checklist for Florida homes. Plan details are on the AC maintenance plan page.