AC Repair in Dade City, FL: Air Conditioning and HVAC Service

Older housing, and what it means for the system

An inland city, not a salt-air one

Humidity keeps the system working hard

Storms, rain and power

Flooding: where the water goes matters for equipment

The 50 percent rule, in plain terms

The permit comes from the city, not from Blume. The city enforces the Florida Building Code and city ordinances while reviewing all applications. The city's Building Official ensures finished floor elevations conform to FEMA requirements and enforces building codes and FEMA regulations.

What to know before a replacement:

1. Confirm jurisdiction first. If you are unsure, check through the Pasco County Property Appraiser by entering the project address; it will list the jurisdiction. The city's Building Department services only the City of Dade City, the City of San Antonio and the City of Saint Leo.
2. Know what the application asks. The A/C mechanical permit application asks for the number of units, whether it is an equal change-out, tonnage per unit and HVAC/AHRI information, plus an electric diagram if electrical work is needed. That is a good reason to have the new equipment's model details settled before the paperwork is filed.
3. Don't let work begin early. Work may not start until the application has been processed, payment has been made and the permit is issued, and starting before the permit is issued results in penalties and fees.
4. Allow for review time. City review time is anywhere from 4-6 weeks, there is no expedite service, and applications are processed in the order received. Ask your contractor how that applies to a replacement.
5. Electrical work has its own form. The electrical permit application asks for the type of work, the number of fixtures, a TECO layout number where applicable and the number of amps.

Our statewide guide to HVAC permits in Florida explains the general process.

We are a design-build, maintenance, repair, installation and replacement contractor for residential and commercial buildings. Blume installs and services all major brands as a licensed contractor.

• AC and HVAC repair: diagnosing why a system isn't cooling, is short-cycling, is leaking or won't start.
• Maintenance: seasonal checks that catch drain, coil, airflow and electrical problems before a hot week. Paid priority scheduling is available.
• Installation and replacement: equipment selected from a load calculation, not a swap by size.
• Design-build and commercial work: for new construction, renovations and commercial spaces.
• Smart thermostats: if your electric service is through Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, note that it runs Cooperative Rewards, a voluntary program for residential members who have an eligible smart thermostat connected to their central HVAC/heating system. Check with the co-op for eligibility before buying a thermostat.

Financing is available through Synchrony Bank for those who want it.

1. You call and describe the problem. We have 24/7 emergency HVAC service, with same-day response available based on location and technician availability. A person answers the 24/7 dispatch line.
2. We diagnose before recommending. That means checking the thermostat, electrical supply, capacitor and contactor, airflow, coil and drain, and refrigerant circuit. For a cooling complaint, we look at the whole system, not only the part that failed.
3. You get a clear explanation. We tell you what failed, why it likely failed and what the options are. When repair and replacement are both reasonable, we show them side by side so you can compare. We don't sell equipment a building doesn't need.
4. If a system is replaced, it is commissioned. We measure static pressure, airflow and refrigerant charge and document the results, so the new system is checked against how it should perform, not assumed to work.

Call promptly if:

• the AC runs but the house isn't cooling, or indoor humidity is climbing;
• there is water around the air handler, or the condensate line is backing up;
• ice forms on the indoor coil or refrigerant line;
• the system trips the breaker, hums without starting, or restarts and stops;
• the equipment has been under water, or the power went out and returned and the system is behaving oddly;
• you are planning a replacement and want to know what the permit needs.