Quick answer
In North Texas, test and tune up the air conditioner in early spring before the first 90-degree days, change filters monthly through summer, test the heat and carbon monoxide alarms before the first fall cold front, and plan for hard freezes and spring hail with the steps below.
DFW weather is hard on HVAC equipment: long, hot summers, quick swings in spring and fall, hailstorms, and the occasional hard freeze. A few minutes each season heads off most surprise breakdowns.
Spring (March to May)
- Replace the air filter and put a reminder on your calendar.
- Clear at least two feet around the outdoor unit: trim shrubs and remove leaves and debris.
- Gently rinse the outdoor coil with a garden hose (no pressure washer), with the power off at the disconnect.
- Test the AC on a mild day before the first 90-degree stretch, so a problem doesn't wait for the first heat wave.
- Look at the drain pan under the attic unit for standing water or rust.
- Schedule an AC tune-up, which includes clearing the condensate drain line.
Summer (June to September)
- Check the filter monthly during peak cooling. Homes with pets, construction, or allergies may need more frequent changes.
- Keep the thermostat steady. Setting it very low doesn't cool the home faster; it just runs longer.
- Close blinds on west- and south-facing windows in the afternoon.
- Keep supply and return vents open and unblocked by furniture.
- If the outdoor unit runs constantly and the home won't drop below about 78 on a hot afternoon, call for a check before it fails.
Fall (October to November)
- Test the heat before the first cold front. A brief dusty smell on the first run is normal; a burning smell that lingers isn't.
- Test carbon monoxide alarms and replace their batteries. Every home with a gas furnace or attached garage should have them.
- Replace the filter again, and replace the humidifier pad if you have a whole-home humidifier.
- Schedule a furnace or heat pump tune-up, which includes safety checks and a carbon monoxide test.
- Make sure nothing is stored against the furnace or water heater.
Winter and Hard-Freeze Prep (December to February)
- Know where your HVAC breakers and gas shutoff are before a storm.
- For heat pumps, use emergency or auxiliary heat only when the outdoor unit can't keep up or isn't working; it uses much more electricity.
- Keep snow and ice from piling against the outdoor unit, but don't wrap a heat pump in a tarp. It needs airflow to heat.
- Never run a generator, grill, or gas oven to heat the home indoors or in a garage. Carbon monoxide builds up fast.
- If power goes out, set the thermostat to Off, and turn it back on a few minutes after power returns and stays stable.
Storms, Hail, and Flooding
- After hail, look at the outdoor unit's fins. Flattened fins restrict airflow; light damage can often be combed straight, heavy damage may be an insurance claim.
- Don't run equipment that sat in floodwater. Have it inspected first.
- A whole-home surge protector helps protect the system's control boards from lightning and grid surges.
- Clear branches and debris from the outdoor unit before turning it back on.