Climate zones 1 and 2
Home maintenance checklist for hot climates (zones 1 and 2)
In zones 1 and 2 the AC is the system that matters, and it runs most of the year. Freeze jobs mostly drop off the list. Hurricane season and, in the humid half, mold and condensate lines take their place.
Typical places: South Florida, the Gulf Coast, south Texas, Hawaii, Phoenix and the low desert, Puerto Rico and Guam. Zones are drawn by county, so check the IECC map if you are near a boundary.
What shapes the schedule here
- Long cooling season
- Hurricanes on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts
- Humidity and mold (moist zones 1A and 2A)
- Wildfire and extreme heat in the dry desert (2B)
Spring (March to May)
Get the AC ready in March
Cooling season starts earliest here. Change the filter, clear the outdoor unit and check the condensate drain before the first hot week.
HVAC sizing calculatorPrepare for hurricane season in May
Season runs June 1 to November 30. Check shutters, trim trees near the house and restock water and batteries while stores have them.
Clear defensible space in the dry desert
In zone 2B, clear dry brush within 5 feet of the house before wildfire season.
Summer (June to August)
Flush the AC condensate drain in June
In humid zones algae clogs the line and the pan overflows into ceilings. A cup of diluted vinegar keeps it clear.
Check attic and crawl space for moisture
Humid air on cool ducts condenses. Look for damp insulation and rust on the air handler.
Mold removal sheet
Fall (September to November)
Inspect the roof after storm season
Lifted shingles from one storm let water in during the next.
Shingle roofing sheet
Winter (December to February)
Clean gutters in December
Leaves come down late in the warmest zones.
Service the heat before the few cold nights
A heat pump that sits unused for months can fail on the one night you need it.
These are the jobs that change with the climate. The full seasonal checklist has the ones every home needs, like smoke alarms and the dryer vent.