The Katy Summer AC Maintenance Checklist (Don't Skip #4)
Heat pumps and central AC systems get hammered in Texas summers. Here's the seasonal maintenance every Katy homeowner should run.
Katy summers regularly push 100°F. Your AC works 14+ hours a day, every day, June through September. The number-one reason for a mid-summer breakdown isn't age — it's neglect. Here's the maintenance routine that saves Katy homeowners thousands.
1. Replace the air filter every 30 days (yes, monthly)
Pleated 1" filters in MERV 8-11 are perfect. Anything denser strangles airflow and kills your blower motor.
2. Hose down the outdoor condenser
Dust, cottonwood seeds, and lawn clippings clog the coil. Kill power at the breaker, gently rinse from the inside out with a garden hose.
3. Pour bleach in the condensate drain line
1/2 cup of bleach poured into the drain line access (a vertical pipe near your AC) every 30 days kills the algae that causes overflow shut-offs.
4. Get a professional tune-up in April
Catch a low refrigerant charge or a weak capacitor before peak summer. Our verified Katy HVAC techs offer $79-$129 tune-ups that include refrigerant level, electrical, drain, and blower checks.
5. Know when to replace vs. repair
If your unit is 15+ years old and the repair quote is over $1,500, replacement is usually the smart move. Modern variable-speed systems cut electricity by 40%+.