Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips for Winter in Florida

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Bryant™ air conditioner maintenance technician in a customer’s home explaining how to prepare the air conditioner for winter.

Living in Florida has some major perks. Summers are sunny and winters are – sunny. While Florida winters are mild and often short-lived, it doesn’t mean you should skip proper winter air conditioner maintenance. In fact, if you don’t prepare, you may find out how uncomfortable Florida winters can be.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to prepare your AC for winter in Florida!

Change the AC Filter

When was the last time you changed your AC filter? If you run your system often – and most of us Floridians blast it daily – you need to change the AC filter on a regular basis. The purpose of the filter is to make sure your home has healthy air and has proper airflow. It also helps to protect your system from an expensive breakdown.

When you change the filter regularly, you are helping to reduce your energy costs!

Not sure how often to change your filter? That depends on the type of filter you have – along with its MERV rating. If you are not sure how often you should clean your filter, contact your local AC company to ask them about helping you set up a regular air conditioner maintenance schedule.

Check the Outdoor AC Unit

Your outdoor AC unit needs to be clean and clear of debris. When your system draws in air, it’s inevitable that it will also collect leaves, grass, and sometimes garbage. This puts a strain on the AC unit and can even cause permanent damage if left to accumulate.

Be sure you take some time to check and clean the inner coils, exterior casings, and other AC components before the weather turns cold. By cleaning the unit, you can feel confident it will continue working efficiently when you need it. This process is often done by air conditioner maintenance professionals – so it may be best to contact a trusted AC company for this type of maintenance.

Illustration of a Bryant™ tech smiling and inviting customers to schedule an air conditioner maintenance checkup.

Schedule AC Maintenance

Check the Thermostat

Whether it’s summer or winter, it’s a good idea to develop a schedule to maintain the temperature and humidity of your home. Your thermostat will help your AC function more efficiently and will also save you from overspending on energy costs! A programmable thermostat lets you set the humidity and temperature to your schedule.

You may also want to consider a thermostat upgrade. Smart thermostats offer an array of benefits that will help you take control of your indoor comfort. You can speak to your AC technician about installing this device and enjoy all the benefits offered by smart thermostat technology.

Install a Heat Pump

If it’s time for a new AC unit and furnace, a heat pump is an energy-efficient way to heat your home during cool Florida winters. Heat pumps use outside air to heat your home by moving warm air to where it is needed most. Heat pumps are alternatives to furnaces and air conditioners that can be used year-round.

The Evolution™ Extreme 24 Variable-Speed Heat Pump also helps maintain indoor temperatures by controlling indoor humidity levels. It can remove up to 400% more moisture than standard systems!

Call an Air Conditioner Maintenance Company

During the winter months, you may not use your air conditioner very often – but you still need to be on the lookout for any unusual behavior. Strange sounds, smells, or other issues are all indications that your AC needs service or repairs. Keep this in mind and call the professionals if you notice any of these problems.

Your air conditioner works hard to keep you comfortable – after all, Florida isn’t called The Sunshine State for nothing. Because of this, you need to ensure that your AC unit is properly cared for and maintained throughout the year – even during the winter months.

author avatar
Scott's Air
  
 

Scott’s Heating & Air Conditioning is a full-service heating and air conditioning company and a Bryant® Factory Authorized Dealer in Central Florida. Whether you need repair, maintenance, or installation of a new heating or cooling system, we provide efficient, cost-effective, and professional service. When it’s hot, call Scott!

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AC Service Testimonials

UPDATE 12/11/25-
Mr. Scott, the owner took the time to speak with me the day before to take ownership of the unfortunate event, and to rectify it, he personally came over to speak to me and issued a refund for the blower motor replacement to honor me being a customer and purchasing the unit from them in recent times. This speaks a lot about his integrity and customer centric approach. Even though I didn’t hear from them initially for a few months, this was a great gesture in difficult times, and I appreciate this, therefore updating my review.

STAY AWAY!!!

I purchased a new AC system from Scott’s Air & Heat in 2022 for approximately $7,000. Since then, I have already spent over $1,500 on repairs in 2 years. Despite the system having a 10-year parts warranty, I was charged $650 for labor alone to replace a blower motor—a repair that took about one hour to complete. Another reputable company quoted $500 total, including both parts and labor, for the same job.

Additionally, I was charged $258 for the same issue just a week prior, and when the problem recurred, the company billed me again instead of honoring their previous service. Attempts to reach the owner or manager for a resolution went unanswered.

Overall, I found their pricing to be excessive and their customer service severely lacking. I would not recommend this company based on my experience.
Response from the owner:Hi, Thank you for taking Scott's call today & allowing us to make this right. We're looking forward to meeting you tomorrow with the hopes of being able to earn your 5-star rating. We genuinely care for our customers and their families and want you to be 100% satisfied. Thank you again.
It’s been a long process, but Scott did call personally to make sure that our ac unit was working properly. They even upgraded to the correct size unit we needed after many repairs and issues. I appreciate the follow through and transparent communication! They will make sure to follow up and help when needed. Thank you Scott and team!!!!
Response from the owner:Hi Robin, Thank you so much for giving us an opportunity to make this right. We're happy to hear your system is running good now & we were able to turn your experience around. Thank you for trusting us with your home.
12/11/25

Same day update! I want to applaud Scott, the owner, for contacting me about my concerns regarding the labor charge for our last job. It was a disappointment that I had to have such an expensive charge on a relatively new unit. However, we talked about it, and he’s going to try to help. I appreciate any owner who listens to customers and wants to try to make things right. Thank you, Scott. I guess I don’t have to shop around for a new AC company for now.

12/11/25
Just to clarify. My response says that I’m frustrated to pay for labor for a warranty repair. I didn’t understand this was a warranty repair and I always am fine with paying for labor if a job is done. I believe my review explains my frustration with flat fees no matter how long the job takes.

10/8/25
Update today. The price that was quoted me was not only labor. They are charging flat fees for jobs. This is a change from the past with HVAC companies , but with more explanation and a little flexibility, I think we will stay with Scott’s for the time being. We’ll see how it goes. They still remain extremely responsive and professional and kind. This is worth something. They also come quickly when you have a problem.

This is a big change in my review for this company. Over the past five years things have changed. The company I used to trust I am now very skeptical of. They no longer charge labor by the hour so that you pay more for something that is more difficult and less for something that is less difficult. Just flat fees. And extremely high ones at that! Guess I’m looking for a new company now.
Response from the owner:Hi Karon, Thank you for trusting us with your home all these years. I can understand your frustration in having to pay labor for a warranty repair. The warranty from the manufacturer (not us) only covers the part itself. We value our customers and our community & want to make sure we take care of you and your home. We've left you a message & hope you'll return our call so we can make this right.
Chelsie was absolutely amazing!! She was on time, super friendly and personable! She was knowledgeable and even took the time to explain the problem and solution with our ac. I highly recommend them to service your HVAC needs!
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