By the middle of May, East Texas has already given you a preview of what is coming. The question worth asking now is whether your system is genuinely ready for July and August, or whether it is going to make it a few more weeks and then quit on the hottest afternoon of the year.
In this video, we explain what reliable HVAC service means to us and what you should expect when you call.
What a Real Service Call Includes
There is a meaningful difference between a technician who arrives with a meter and a technician who arrives with a price list. A proper visit on a cooling system covers:
- Refrigerant pressures and temperature split measured against the manufacturer specification, not eyeballed
- Electrical testing at the disconnect and contactor, with the capacitor tested under load
- Condenser and evaporator coil condition, and cleaning where it is needed
- Blower motor, wheel condition and actual measured airflow
- Condensate drain cleared and the safety switch verified, which matters a great deal in our humidity
- Thermostat calibration and a full cycle test
- Filter inspection and a realistic replacement interval for your home
If nobody puts instruments on the system, you did not get a diagnosis. You got an opinion.
Why the East Texas Climate Is Hard on Equipment
Our cooling season runs long and our humidity is high, which means an air conditioner here is doing two jobs at once: dropping the temperature and pulling moisture out of the air. Systems run for months with very little rest. Pollen loads coils early in the season, and heat degrades capacitors and contactors faster than a milder climate would.
That is why a system that seemed fine in April fails in July. The components were already marginal, and the first sustained run of hundred-degree days finished them off.
The Promise Part
Comfort is the product, but the promise is about how you are treated getting there:
- We show up when we said we would, and let you know when the technician is on the way.
- You see the price before the work starts and approve it.
- We explain what we found in plain language, and we will show you the readings.
- We present options when more than one path is reasonable, including doing nothing right now.
- We do not sell you a system you do not need. If a repair buys you several more seasons, we will say so.
Repair, Maintain or Replace?
Most homeowners are somewhere on this spectrum and are not sure which end they are on. A reasonable way to think about it: if the system is under about a decade old, holding its charge and getting annual attention, repair is almost always the right call. If it is well past that, has needed multiple repairs in a single season, or has a failed compressor, replacement deserves a serious look.
Either way, an annual maintenance visit is what tells you where you stand before the season forces the decision for you.
Why Mid-May Specifically
Right now a technician can get to you on a normal schedule, parts are available, and a failed capacitor is a same-day fix. Six weeks from now, every HVAC company in Gregg County is running emergency calls and the same repair means waiting in a hot house. The work is identical. The experience is not.
Comfort You Can Count On
Napps has kept Longview homes comfortable since 1957, across residential and commercial HVAC. If your system struggled at all last summer, this is the month to find out why.
Schedule service with Napps Cooling, Heating & Plumbing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should my AC be serviced?
Once a year at minimum, ideally in spring before the cooling season. Heat pumps run year round and warrant two visits, one before cooling season and one before heating season.
My AC is cooling. Do I still need a tune-up?
Yes. Most of what a tune-up catches, such as a weak capacitor, a dirty coil or a restricted drain line, does not stop the system from cooling. It stops it from cooling efficiently, and it is what fails in August.
How often should I change my filter?
Check a one-inch filter monthly during heavy cooling months and during pollen season. Thicker media filters last longer. Your technician can give you an interval based on your home and whether you have pets.
Does maintenance affect my warranty?
Usually yes. Most manufacturers require documented annual maintenance to keep parts coverage valid, which matters a great deal if a compressor ever fails.