Moving to St Petersburg, Florida, was a big change for me.
I grew up in the northeastern part of the country, where the summers are short and winters are brutal.
There was no need for central air conditioning. We got by with window air conditioners in the bedrooms, and there were years when the units were unnecessary. The furnace ran for eight straight months, handling temperatures down to negative twenty-five. Snow shovels, ice scrapers, rock salt, heavy boots and wool coats were essential. I was eager to head south. I expected extreme heat and humidity but didn’t totally understand the difficulties. Running an air conditioner just about year round is expensive. The excess humidity creates concerns with indoor air quality. It encourages the growth of mold, mildew, dust mites, bacteria, viruses and cockroaches. The summer weather in St Petersburg is as problematic as the winter weather up north. It’s essential to tighten up the house to prevent energy waste. I am once again trapped indoors for months at a time. When the temperature soars into the nineties, I feel tired, sluggish and unproductive. I’ve learned the importance of taking very good care of the air conditioner. To make sure it operates at peak efficiency, capacity and reliability, I change the air filters every four to six weeks. I arrange for professional service from a local St Petersburg HVAC contractor every spring. The technician cleans the condensate drain and coils, tests the refrigerant charge, verifies the accuracy of the thermostat, tightens wires and makes little adjustments. I make sure that the ductwork gets checked for leaks and cleanliness as well.
Air conditioning maintenance in St. Petersburg Florida