JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It's the first day of the week and A/C repair tech Dan Brown is bracing for a long and busy day.
"We've been extremely busy, extremely busy," Brown said.
His Monday is just getting started at Mike Miller's home. This is his third call.
"Now it is blowing air, so I don't know," said Miller. "The unit was working, but I noticed it was stuffy, so I put my hand up to one of the vents and there was absolutely nothing coming out."
Two months ago, Miller did his preventative maintenance, but there was still a problem. For homeowner's, it is a surprise but for A/C repair contractors, it is not.
They say the intense heat during hot summer days as well as the lightning from afternoon thunderstorms are contributing factors.
In Miller's home, the problem was electrical -- a relay. Brown couldn't say if it was the result of a power surge or lightning.
Tim Wood is with Snyder, a local A/C contractor.
"This heat has been daunting, we've had over 275 calls in the past two days," Wood said.
He said over the weekend he had three technicians on call and they worked up until 10 p.m.
"We're doing our best to get to everybody as soon as possible," he said.
Wood said some companies have their schedules filled for almost a week out.
"This year has been really hot," Wood said. "Last year, it was not as warm."
Miller's repair was quick, his system is now doing what it is supposed to do -- keep him cool.
"I should be good for now," Miller said. "I hope so. We still have hot days coming up."
Dan Brown is off to his next call. He will likely make eight or nine before the day is over.
So what can you do to prepare your a/c units for the dog days of Summer?
The experts advise the following:
Check your filter - Good airflow is essential. A clogged or dirty filter creates problems.
Avoid obstructions - Shrubs and overgrown grass can block the airflow around the unit.
Do your preventative maintenance - It helps ensure the system is working at its maximum capacity and may detect potential problems before they happen.