Frequently Asked Questions
Four decades of service calls means we have heard just about every question a Gulf Coast homeowner or business owner can ask. Here are the ones that come up most. If yours is not covered, call us at 251-463-8031 and we will walk you through it — no charge, no pressure.
Why Choose Shawn’s HVAC & Appliance Service?
The Shawn’s difference is showing up on time, being presentable and professional, and following through on the job the whole way. We will do whatever it takes to make you comfortable in your own home. What you can expect when you hire us is that we go above and beyond your expectations — not just getting you heating and cooling, but giving you a level of service you have not had before.
The Shawn’s difference is really the people who work here. We are veteran-owned, we have been in Baldwin County for 40 years, and we stand behind our work. We do whatever it takes to make sure customers are satisfied and happy. One of our core values is a team like family, and we take that seriously. We all help each other out, and we all help our customers out too.
What Are Some HVAC System Best Practices?
Keep it simple and consistent. Change your filter on schedule, keep two feet of clearance around the outdoor unit, and leave vents open in unused rooms. Closing them throws off system balance and raises static pressure. Book maintenance twice a year, once before cooling season and once before heating season.
On the coast, add one more habit: rinse the outdoor coil with fresh water every few months. Salt in the air settles on the fins and eats through them far faster than it does inland. Five minutes with a garden hose can add years to a condenser.
How Often Should I Get My Heating & Cooling System Checked?
Twice a year is the standard we recommend. Spring for the cooling side, fall for the heating side. Coastal properties benefit from that cadence even more than inland homes because salt air accelerates corrosion on outdoor coils and electrical contacts. Regular checks keep efficiency up, extend equipment life, and catch failing parts before they leave you without air conditioning in August.
Members of our Gulf Coast Comfort Maintenance Plan get both visits scheduled automatically, plus priority booking and 15% off any repairs that come out of them.
What Should I Check Before I Call An HVAC Company?
A few quick checks can save you a service visit entirely, and we are happy to have you try them first:
- Thermostat: Set to “cool,” temperature below the current room reading, batteries good.
- Air filter: A clogged filter restricts airflow and can freeze the coil.
- Breakers: Check both the indoor and outdoor disconnects.
- Outdoor unit: Clear pine straw, leaves, and debris away from the coil.
- Condensate drain: A full pan will shut many systems down as a safety measure.
Still not cooling? Give us a call and we will get a technician out, often the same day.
How Often Should I Change My Filter?
For a standard one-inch pleated filter, every 30 to 60 days. Stretch that to 90 days only if the house is empty most of the time. If you have pets, allergies, or run the system hard through summer, check it monthly — in our climate a filter loads up faster than the package suggests.
Thicker media filters (four to five inches) typically run six to twelve months, but they still need checking. A restricted filter is the single most common cause of the “my AC is not cooling” calls we take.
How Often Should I Get My HVAC System Maintained?
Two professional maintenance visits a year is the right target for most systems, and it is what manufacturers require to keep warranties valid. A maintenance visit is more thorough than a filter change: we check refrigerant charge, clean coils, test capacitors and contactors, verify amp draw, flush the condensate line, and inspect ductwork and electrical connections.
Skipping maintenance rarely causes an immediate failure. It just quietly shortens the life of the equipment and raises your power bill until something breaks at the worst possible time.
How Can I Keep My Home Cool This Summer?
Start with the basics: a clean filter, a clear outdoor unit, and a thermostat schedule that does not swing more than a few degrees. Close blinds on west facing windows in the afternoon, run ceiling fans counter-clockwise, and make sure attic insulation is intact — a lot of Baldwin County homes lose cooling straight through the ceiling.
If one room never keeps up with the rest of the house, that is usually a duct problem rather than an equipment problem, and it is worth having looked at. We find collapsed and disconnected attic ducts on a regular basis.
How Can I Improve The Air Quality In My Home?
Humidity control comes first on the Gulf Coast. If your system is oversized it will cool the air quickly without running long enough to pull moisture out, which leaves the house clammy and encourages mold growth. A properly sized system, a whole-home dehumidifier, or a variable-speed air handler all help.
Beyond that, a higher-MERV media filter, UV treatment at the coil, and sealing duct leaks in the attic will all measurably improve what you are breathing. We can assess which of those is actually worth the money in your specific home rather than selling you all three.
Do You Repair Appliances As Well As HVAC?
Yes, and that is one of the things that sets us apart. The same crew that services your air conditioner also repairs refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, ovens, ranges, cooktops, microwaves, and garbage disposals. We work on all major residential brands and carry common parts on the truck.
On the commercial side we service walk-in coolers and freezers, reach-ins, prep tables, and ice machines for restaurants and businesses across Baldwin and Mobile counties.
Do You Offer Emergency Service?
Yes, 24 hours a day. No-cool and no-heat calls get priority, and so do commercial refrigeration failures where inventory is at risk. Call 251-463-8031 any hour and you will reach a real person, not a machine.
Our regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm, but emergency dispatch runs around the clock, including weekends and holidays.