Newer Homes, Newer Systems, Same Louisiana Humidity
Broussard has grown fast. Many of the subdivisions along Ambassador Caffery, around Albertson’s Parkway, and south toward Youngsville were built in the last 15 years. That means a lot of relatively new heat pump systems that homeowners assume don’t need maintenance yet.
They do. Even a five-year-old heat pump benefits from annual tune-ups, and Broussard’s climate makes it more necessary than most places. Your system runs hard for cooling from April through October, then sits idle in heating mode until a cold front finally arrives. The transition is where problems surface.
Heat Pump Tune-Up: What We Check
Most Broussard homes use heat pumps, so this is where we spend the majority of our tune-up work in town.
Reversing valve test. This valve directs refrigerant flow and switches your system between cooling and heating. After running exclusively in cooling mode for seven or eight months, the valve can stick. We cycle it during the tune-up to confirm it moves freely and produces warm air at the supply vents.
Defrost board and sensors. On cold mornings, frost forms on the outdoor coil. The defrost system should handle this automatically. If the defrost board or outdoor temperature sensor has failed, ice builds up on the coil and heating output drops significantly. We test both during every tune-up.
Refrigerant charge. A heat pump that’s low on charge struggles to extract warmth from outdoor air. The auxiliary heat strips run more often, and your electric bill climbs. We measure charge against manufacturer specifications and look for signs of leaks.
Auxiliary heat strip test. When outdoor temperatures drop below about 35 degrees, your heat pump relies on backup electric heat strips. If one strip has burned out, you’ll have reduced heating capacity on the coldest nights. We test each strip individually.
Thermostat calibration. Your thermostat controls when the heat pump switches to auxiliary heat. If that threshold is set too high, you’re running expensive electric strips when the heat pump could still handle the load. We verify the staging is optimized.
Gas Furnace Tune-Up
Some of the older construction in Broussard (closer to Main Street and the original town center) uses gas furnaces. For these systems, we inspect the heat exchanger for cracks, test gas pressure, clean burners and flame sensors, check the ignitor, test all safety controls, inspect the flue, and run a carbon monoxide test at the supply vents.
The heat exchanger inspection is the most important check we do on a gas furnace. Cracks in the heat exchanger can allow combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, into your home’s air supply. In Broussard’s climate, where overnight lows swing from the 30s to the 60s within days, thermal cycling stresses the metal more than you’d expect for a southern state.
What Sits in Your System All Summer
Your heating equipment has been dormant since March. During that time, Broussard’s humidity (averaging 80% or higher through summer) settled into every component. Dust collected on burner assemblies. Electrical connections developed corrosion. Insects and small animals may have nested inside cabinets, ductwork, or exhaust vents.
We address all of this during the tune-up. Cleaning, tightening, clearing, and testing so your system is genuinely ready for the season.
Don’t Wait for the First Cold Night
The worst time to discover your heater doesn’t work is when you need it. October and November tune-ups are preventive: they catch problems before they leave you cold. We serve all of Broussard and the surrounding Lafayette Parish area. For combined spring and fall coverage, ask about our maintenance plans.
Call F & R Air Conditioning at (337) 893-5646 to schedule your fall heating tune-up.