AC Repair in Valrico, FL

The Census Bureau lists Valrico as a census-designated place, or CDP. The Bureau defines CDPs as communities that are identifiable by name but are not legally incorporated under state law. Its 2024 gazetteer gives the Valrico CDP 13.809 square miles of land and 0.415 square miles of water.

Because Valrico has no incorporated city government, building matters go to Hillsborough County. The county's Development Services department handles planning, zoning, development review and building inspection services for all of unincorporated Hillsborough County. Its call center number is (813) 272-5600, and the county runs the permit process through its HillsGovHub portal.

Power is part of an AC call too. Tampa Electric describes itself as the primary power provider in Hillsborough County. If the lights flickered or the power went out just before the air conditioning quit, mention it when you call.

These take a few minutes and no tools. Stop at any step that feels unsafe.

1. Thermostat. Choose Cool, set it a few degrees below the room reading, and leave the fan on Auto. ENERGY STAR lists checking thermostat settings as part of routine upkeep.
2. Filter. ENERGY STAR advises inspecting, cleaning or changing the air filter once a month. It warns that a dirty filter can damage equipment and lead to early failure.
3. Around the outdoor unit. With the system off, pull leaves, grass clippings and fallen branches away from the cabinet by hand.
4. The drain. Look in the pan under the indoor unit and at the end of the drain line outside. Standing water in the pan is a reason to call, not to bypass a switch.
5. Ice. Ice on the copper lines or the indoor coil means turning cooling off and calling a licensed contractor. Our page on why an AC freezes up explains the usual causes.

Leave the outdoor unit's electrical panel closed. Do not add refrigerant, the fluid that carries heat out of the house. Do not keep restarting a unit that hums but will not start.

NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for its Plant City, Florida station give a measured picture of the summer load in the area. The normal daily high there is 92.9°F in June, 93.8°F in July and 93.5°F in August. Normal lows in those months run from 71.9°F to 73.7°F.

The same station averages about 111 days a year at 90°F or above. About 69 of those days fall in June, July and August. Normal rainfall is 56.11 inches a year, and 27.21 inches of it falls in those three months.

Storm season

The National Weather Service Tampa Bay office says late May through June is when severe storms are most likely, with heavy rainfall and frequent lightning. From July through early September, it says heavy rainfall and seasonal river flooding remain significant hazards, along with frequent lightning. A system that quit during a storm should be checked by a licensed contractor before it is run hard again. Our page on AC surge protection in Florida covers that side of storm season.

A repair visit starts with the complaint and then works through the system. These are the places a contractor looks, and why.

The condensate drain and overflow switch

An air conditioner pulls water out of the air, and that water, called condensate, leaves through a pan and a drain line. Trane says an overflow switch that detects a potential condensate overflow shuts down the outdoor compressor, the condenser fan and the supply fan. Trane adds that when a system with such a switch suddenly shuts off in the heat of the day, a clogged condensate line or pan may be to blame.

Trane describes two types of condensate overflow switch. One, a sensor switch, shuts the system down as soon as it detects a few drops of water and is installed on the inside or outside of the condensate drain pan. ENERGY STAR says a plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels. See why an AC leaks water for more.

Electrical connections

ENERGY STAR's maintenance checklist includes tightening all electrical connections and measuring voltage and current on motors. It says faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation and reduce the life of major components. This is work for a licensed contractor, not a homeowner.

Coils

ENERGY STAR says dirty coils reduce the system's ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer.

Refrigerant

Refrigerant work belongs with a licensed contractor. Blume has EPA Section 608 certified technicians, the federal refrigerant-handling credential.

Hillsborough County says most construction in the county requires approval and permits from Building Services. The county says that if you hire a contractor, the contractor will obtain all of the necessary permits.

Before hiring, the county advises making sure the person holds a valid contractor license and is insured to work in Hillsborough County. It points residents to HillsGovHub records and to the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation to search for a contractor. Our page on the Florida HVAC contractor license explains what the license covers.

The county also says payments due to Development Services will always be billed through HillsGovHub. If an email asks for a payment outside that portal, the county says to disregard it. For the steps of a replacement permit, see the Florida HVAC permit process.

You get a written, upfront price before any work starts. Where both make sense, Blume shows repair and replacement numbers side by side, and we do not sell equipment a building does not need.

When replacement is the answer, Blume sizes the new equipment with an ACCA Manual J load calculation and Manual S selection, not a like-for-like swap. We commission it with measured static pressure, airflow and refrigerant charge, and document the results. Financing is available through Synchrony Bank.

For the general decision, see how to decide between AC repair and replacement. For flood rules, storm history and the wider picture of HVAC service here, see our Valrico HVAC page.

Blume Mechanical Service, LLC is a Class A licensed Florida air conditioning contractor (license CAC-1822618) and is fully insured. We are brand-agnostic and service all major manufacturers' equipment. Our office is at 2840 West Bay Drive #114, Belleair Bluffs, FL 33770, and our core service area is Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

Before you call, note

• What the thermostat is set to and what it reads.
• Whether the outdoor fan and the indoor blower are running.
• Whether the system stopped during a storm, after a power flicker, or on a dry day.
• Water in the pan, ice on the lines, a burning smell or a new noise.
• Where the indoor unit sits: a hall closet, the garage or the attic.