Heat, humidity and salt air are hard on air conditioners. Here is how Savannah homeowners can keep a system running and spot problems early.
Call (507) 308-5158In Savannah the air conditioner does two jobs: it cools, and it pulls moisture out of very humid air. Systems run for most of the year, and homes near the marshes and islands also deal with salt in the air that corrodes outdoor units.
This page covers the HVAC problems that show up most in Chatham County, what coastal conditions do to your equipment, and how to check that a contractor holds a Georgia conditioned air license.
Check the thermostat setting, the filter and the breaker first. If the outdoor unit hums but the fan does not spin, the capacitor is a common culprit.
In humid weather, the drain line carries a lot of water and algae can clog it. A clog can trip a float switch that shuts the system off, or leak into ceilings.
Ice on the indoor coil or refrigerant lines usually means low airflow from a dirty filter or blocked return, or low refrigerant. Turn cooling off and run the fan to thaw it.
Many Savannah homes use heat pumps. Gas furnaces should get a carbon monoxide check whenever they are serviced.
A home that feels clammy at 76 degrees may have an oversized system that cycles off before removing moisture. A dehumidifier or a variable-speed system can help.
Leaky ducts in hot attics waste cooling and pull in humid air. Sealing ducts and changing filters regularly improves comfort and air quality.
Salt carried inland from the coast settles on outdoor condenser coils and speeds up corrosion of the thin aluminum fins and copper tubing. Units closer to the water, such as on Tybee, Wilmington Island and near the marshes, see it most. Rinsing the outdoor coil gently with fresh water a few times a year, and annual professional coil cleaning, slows the damage. Coated coils are an option when replacing equipment near the coast.
High humidity also means more water running through the condensate drain and more chance of algae clogs. Keeping the drain line clear is one of the cheapest ways to avoid a mid-summer shutdown or a stained ceiling.
In Georgia, HVAC contractors are licensed as conditioned air contractors through the Georgia Secretary of State. A Class I license is restricted to smaller systems, typically homes; Class II is unrestricted. You can check a license with the Secretary of State's online license lookup.
Most often the condensate drain line is clogged with algae, which is common in Savannah's humidity. Turn the system off and have the drain cleared before it overflows into the ceiling.
The system may be oversized and short-cycling, the fan may be set to ON instead of AUTO, or ducts may be leaking humid attic air. Each has a different fix.
Salt settles on the outdoor coil and corrodes the fins and tubing, which reduces efficiency and can cause refrigerant leaks. Regular rinsing and coil cleaning slow it down.
Use the Georgia Secretary of State's license lookup and search for the conditioned air contractor license. Class I covers smaller systems; Class II is unrestricted.
It depends on the filter and the home, but in Savannah's long cooling season checking it monthly is a good habit. Replace it when it looks gray and dusty.