03/09/2026
Hey y’all, quick AC tip before the East Texas heat shows up.
Every year around the first real stretch of 95° weather, the phone starts ringing off the hook. Most of the time it’s systems that were almost fine… until they had to run all day.
If you’re a homeowner and want to take a quick look at your system before summer, here are a few simple things worth checking:
- Look at the outdoor unit.
If the coil is packed with pollen, grass clippings, or cottonwood fluff, it can’t breathe very well. That makes the system work harder and run longer.
- Check your air filter.
If it looks like it’s been through a dust storm, it’s probably time. A clogged filter can choke airflow and make the system struggle.
- Take a peek around the indoor unit.
If you see water around it or rust starting to show up, the drain line may be getting clogged. That’s pretty common around here thanks to the humidity.
- Pay attention when the system starts.
If it hums for a bit before the fan kicks on, or struggles to start, that can be a sign a capacitor is getting weak.
- Listen for weird noises.
Grinding, buzzing, rattling… HVAC equipment shouldn’t sound like it’s arguing with itself.
None of this stuff is complicated — it just takes a few minutes and a willingness to poke around your HVAC equipment.
But if you open the panel and immediately decide you’d rather be fishing, grilling, or doing literally anything else…
That’s usually when folks give us a call.
— Z & T HVAC Solutions
