AC Repair in Westchase, FL

The U.S. Census Bureau describes census designated places as closely settled, unincorporated communities that are locally recognized and identified by name. Westchase is one of them, so it has no city government of its own.

A community built mostly after 1990

The sociocultural data report for the Westchase census designated place, published through the University of Florida GeoPlan Center, tracks how fast housing arrived:

• 1990: 837 housing units.
• 2000: 4,742 housing units.
• 2010: 9,244 housing units.
• 2017 to 2021 survey years: 10,127 housing units.

The same report counts 6,913 single-family units and 3,025 multi-family units in the most recent survey years. Both owners and renters live in Westchase.

What that means for a repair call

The year your house was built does not tell you how old the air conditioner is, because equipment may have been replaced since. The nameplate on the outdoor unit tells you more than the address does. If you rent, or live in a townhome or condo, check who is responsible for the equipment before you book a repair.

Refrigerant is the fluid that carries heat out of the house. Some older central systems use a refrigerant called R-22, also written HCFC-22. The EPA says the refrigerant in a home air conditioner is typically listed on the nameplate, which for central systems is usually on the outdoor condenser.

If yours says R-22, here is what the EPA says about it:

• You may keep using it. The EPA does not require homeowners to replace existing equipment that uses HCFC-22.
• New supply has stopped. As of January 1, 2020, no new HCFC-22 is made or imported into the United States. Used refrigerant cleaned to new specifications remains available.
• It can still be serviced. You can no longer buy a central AC unit that uses HCFC-22, but you can continue to service an existing one.
• There is no simple swap. The EPA says there are no drop-in replacements for HCFC-22, and alternatives will not work well without changes to system components.
• Fix the leak, do not top it off. If the system leaks, the EPA advises asking technicians to locate and repair the leak.

If an R-22 system has a leak, that is a sensible moment to weigh repair against replacement. Blume has EPA Section 608 certified technicians, the federal refrigerant-handling credential. Our guides to the R-22 to R-410A conversion and EPA Section 608 refrigerant rules go further.

Work through these in order. None needs tools or an open panel, and you should stop at any step that feels unsafe.

1. Thermostat. Set it to Cool, a few degrees below the room reading, with the fan on Auto. If the screen is blank or faded, check its batteries.
2. Air filter. ENERGY STAR advises inspecting, cleaning or changing central air filters once a month. It also says a dirty filter can damage equipment and lead to early failure.
3. Around the outdoor unit. With the system off, pull leaves, grass and storm debris away from the cabinet by hand. Leave the fins and the panels alone.
4. Drain pan. Look at the pan under the indoor unit. If it holds water, leave the system off.
5. Ice. If you see ice on the outdoor unit's copper lines, turn the cooling off and call a technician.

Do not add refrigerant, open the electrical panel on the outdoor unit or touch the capacitor. The EPA says Section 608 certification is required to recharge appliances, and refrigerant for them is only sold to certified technicians or their employers.

These figures come from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Tampa International Airport weather station. They describe the regional climate, not readings taken in Westchase itself.

Long stretches of heat

The station averages about 94 days a year with a high of 90°F or more. August averages about 22 such days, and June, July and September each average about 18 to 21. From June through August the normal high is about 91°F and the normal low about 76°F.

A wet summer

Normal rainfall from June through August is about 24 inches, out of about 49 inches a year. August averages about 9 inches. ENERGY STAR says a plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity. If you find water in the pan, our guide to an AC leaking water explains the usual causes.

Hillsborough County lets you look up the FEMA flood zone for a property in its FEMA Effective Flood Zone Viewer. High-risk areas, called Special Flood Hazard Areas, are labeled with the letters A or V on the map.

The county also keeps its own floodplain maps. It says the watershed models behind them do not consider coastal storm surge, so surge risk is not reflected in the county floodplains.

Knowing your zone helps when you plan where new equipment sits. If water ever reaches the outdoor unit or the air handler, leave the system off and have a licensed contractor inspect it before it runs again. For storm preparation, see our hurricane-season HVAC prep guide.

Because Westchase is unincorporated, county offices handle permits. Hillsborough County Development Services provides permitting and building inspection services for all of unincorporated Hillsborough County, and its services are accessed online.

Westchase also has a Community Development District. Its audited financial report says it was created on January 9, 1991, by a Hillsborough County ordinance under Chapter 190 of the Florida Statutes. It was established to finance and manage a portion of the infrastructure needed for community development within the District.

What the county asks of homeowners

• Your contractor pulls the permit. The county says that if you hire a contractor, they will obtain all of the necessary permits.
• Check the license and insurance. The county advises making sure a contractor holds a valid license and is insured to work in Hillsborough County. You can search records on its HillsGovHub portal or with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
• Notice of Commencement. For a project that requires only a mechanical permit, including the repair or replacement of an existing heating or air-conditioning system, the county requires a Notice of Commencement when the project cost reaches a threshold it sets. The notice is recorded and certified at the Clerk's office and uploaded to the application on HillsGovHub.

Our guide to the Florida HVAC permit covers the statewide rules, and our Westchase HVAC page has more about service in the community.

Blume puts repair and replacement options side by side, and we do not sell equipment a building does not need. You get a written, upfront price before any work starts.

When replacement makes sense, Blume sizes the new system with an ACCA Manual J load calculation and Manual S equipment selection rather than copying the old unit's size. New equipment is commissioned with measured static pressure, airflow and refrigerant charge, and the results are documented. Financing is available through Synchrony Bank.

For help weighing the choice, see how to decide between AC repair and replacement. Nearby, we also have a page on AC repair in Tampa.

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.

Useful details for the call

• The refrigerant listed on the outdoor unit's nameplate, if you can read it.
• What the thermostat is set to and what it reads.
• Whether the outdoor fan and the indoor blower are running.
• Any water in the drain pan, ice, burning smell or new noise.
• Whether you own the home, rent it, or share equipment responsibility with an association.
• Roughly when the system was last replaced, if you know.