Is my AC broken, or is it the heat? Here’s how to tell during a scorching MS Coast summer.

Anita Lee
·2 min read
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The air conditioner thermostat is set at 72 degrees but registers a sultry 78 degrees inside a home on a sunny afternoon in South Mississippi.

What gives? Plenty of Mississippi Coast residents are calling heat and air repair companies because they think their air conditioning systems are malfunctioning. But that’s not always the case.

“It’s the heat, man,” said Shane McNeely, owner of Airology of Mississippi in Ocean Springs and a heat and air specialist for 35 years.

He said air conditioning systems just aren’t made to handle the extreme heat hitting South Mississippi this summer, especially when they are cooling older homes with less insulation.

Record daily temperatures have been recorded a number of times this summer in the Gulfport area, beginning with a record high of 100 degrees for June 28, National Weather Service data shows. The temperature reached record levels of 98 and 99 degrees for three days in a row from Aug. 13-15 before dropping to a more reasonable 91 degrees on Aug. 16.

Maximum temperatures shown for the Gulfport area.
Maximum temperatures shown for the Gulfport area.

The forecast shows South Mississippi could be in for more record temperatures . But the thermometer has yet to reach the all-time high of 104 degrees recorded three times since 1924 during the dog days of August in the Gulfport area.

Heat taxing air conditioning systems

McNeely said he hasn’t seen temperatures remain so high for so long. He said that three out of 10 calls he receives in a day are from people whose AC units turn out to be functioning fine but just can’t keep up with the heat. With heat indexes (air temperature plus relative humidity) reaching up to 115 degrees, he said, “It’s hard for any unit to keep up.”

But he’s seeing plenty of units break down, too, because they’re running 18 to 22 hours a day.

“Being a business owner, I guess the benefit to me is, we’ve been pretty busy.”

He said a typical central air conditioner should last 10 to 12 years based on current industry standards. When repairs start running $800 or more, it might be time to consider replacing the system. But prepare for sticker shock.

The American Society of Home Inspectors puts the cost of a central air conditioning installed at $5,000 to $10,000. Most of the systems McNeely installs are three tons, which will cool a house that is 1,500-1,600 square feet, or more if the house is newer.

Shane McNeely, owner of Airlogy of Mississippi, poses for a portrait at a new construction home in Biloxi where his HVAC company was installing an air conditioning system on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.
Shane McNeely, owner of Airlogy of Mississippi, poses for a portrait at a new construction home in Biloxi where his HVAC company was installing an air conditioning system on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.

Stay cooler, save on power bills

Other measures that will help keep a home cooler include sealing around windows, doors and ductwork, installing double-pane windows and making sure attic insulation is sufficient.

Mississippi Power’s energy-saving tips can help, too:

  • Keep thermostats on the auto setting.

  • Change air filters monthly.

  • Have heating and air system serviced annually.

  • Clear weeds and other debris away from outdoor units.

  • Make sure all interior doors and air vents are open.

  • Use ceiling fans.

An Airlogy of Mississippi truck is parked outside a new construction home in Biloxi on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.
An Airlogy of Mississippi truck is parked outside a new construction home in Biloxi on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.
Trevor Todd, an employee of Airlogy of Mississippi, works to install an air conditioning system and ductwork at a new construction home in Biloxi on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.
Trevor Todd, an employee of Airlogy of Mississippi, works to install an air conditioning system and ductwork at a new construction home in Biloxi on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.