AC Repair in Wesley Chapel, FL

Wesley Chapel grew fast. The University of Florida's GeoPlan Center, working from U.S. Census Bureau data, reports population and housing figures for the Wesley Chapel census-designated place (CDP). Its population count rose from 5,609 in 1990 to 72,354 in the 2019-2023 American Community Survey.

The count of housing units in the Wesley Chapel CDP rose from 2,704 in 1990 to 25,715 in the 2019-2023 survey. Single-family units make up 21,088 of the 25,715 counted. The same report counts 3,155 multi-family units and 1,471 mobile homes.

The biggest jump came between two censuses: the count rose from 6,304 units in 2000 to 17,830 in 2010.

If you know roughly when your system was installed, or whether it is the original equipment, mention it when you call.

NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for its nearby Saint Leo, Florida weather station describe the season a Wesley Chapel system works through.

• Many hot days. The station averages about 114 days a year with a high of 90°F or more. Each month from June through August averages more than 20 of them.
• Warm nights. From June through September the normal overnight low stays at 71°F or higher.
• A wet summer. June, July and August bring 24.72 inches of the station's 53.46 inches of yearly rain.
• Few extreme spikes. Days of 100°F or more average well under one a year.

These take a few minutes and need no tools. Stop at anything that feels unsafe.

1. Thermostat. Confirm it is set to Cool, below the room temperature, with the fan on Auto. ENERGY STAR includes checking thermostat settings in a typical maintenance check-up.
2. Air filter. ENERGY STAR advises that you inspect, clean or change the filter once a month.
3. Drain pan. Look under the indoor unit, whether it sits in a closet, the garage or the attic access. Carrier lists puddles near the indoor unit as a sign of a clogged condensate drain.
4. Outdoor unit. With the power off, clear leaves, grass clippings and anything stacked against the cabinet so air can move through the coil.

Do not open the electrical panel on the outdoor unit, do not add refrigerant, and do not try to clear a drain with chemicals or tools. Those jobs belong to a licensed contractor. For more on a system that will not start, see what to do when your AC is not turning on.

ENERGY STAR's maintenance checklist sets out what a typical maintenance check-up should include.

Electrical connections

ENERGY STAR's list includes tightening all electrical connections and measuring voltage and current on motors.

Refrigerant

Refrigerant is the fluid that carries heat from inside the house to the outdoor unit. ENERGY STAR lists checking the refrigerant level and adjusting it if necessary as part of the check-up. Blume has EPA Section 608 certified technicians, the federal refrigerant-handling credential.

Coils

The evaporator coil indoors and the condenser coil outdoors both have to stay clean to move heat. ENERGY STAR includes cleaning both coils on its checklist.

The condensate drain

Carrier describes the drain line as a ¾-inch PVC pipe that carries condensation from the evaporator coil to a drain outside the home. When it clogs, Carrier says, a dark mass of sludge made of algae, dust and mold will often be suctioned out. Carrier notes that a safety float switch can shut the system down completely when the drain backs up. If your system stopped with water in the pan, our guide to an AC leaking water explains the usual causes.

Wesley Chapel is a census-designated place. The U.S. Census Bureau describes these places as unincorporated communities that do not have a legally defined boundary or an active, functioning governmental structure. There is no city building department, so Pasco County's Building Construction Services sets the permit rules here.

The county's permit exemptions list includes "Air conditioning repair of existing equipment" among the items that do not need a building permit. Two exceptions change that:

• Flood zones. The county says the exemption list does not apply to buildings or parcels in special flood hazard areas. Its post-storm guidance adds that a property in a flood zone must have a permit before any work starts.
• Commercial property. The exemption list does not apply to commercial buildings or parcels either.

The county calls the list educational, and says it does not cover every type of work. If you are not sure of your flood zone, the county's Flood Information tool offers a property lookup. Permits are applied for online through PascoGateway, and Building Construction Services takes questions at 727-847-8126, option 5.

Replacing a whole system is a different job from repairing one. Our guide to HVAC permits in Florida explains how permits work for replacements.

If your system has failed, you may be weighing a repair against a replacement.

If replacement is the better answer, Blume sizes the new equipment with an ACCA Manual J load calculation and Manual S selection instead of copying the old unit's size. After installation we commission the system with measured static pressure, airflow and refrigerant charge. You get a written, upfront price before any work starts, with repair and replacement side by side when both are reasonable. We do not sell equipment a building does not need, and financing is available through Synchrony Bank.

For more on the decision, see how to decide between AC repair and replacement. For heating, cooling and permits in the area more broadly, see our Wesley Chapel 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.

What to have ready when you call

• What the thermostat is set to and what it reads.
• Whether the indoor fan and the outdoor unit are running.
• Any water in the drain pan, ice on the copper lines, burning smell or new noise.
• Whether a breaker for the system tripped.
• Where the indoor unit is: a closet, the garage or the attic.
• Whether the system is original to the house, if you know.