HVAC Repair in Ocean City, MD
Homes here need heat from October through April and cooling from June through September. If your system quits, tell us what it's doing and a licensed contractor who covers Worcester County will get in touch.
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Eleven months of work, with storms that cut the power
Your system in Ocean City runs nearly the whole year. Heat comes on October through April, seven months, with winter nights averaging 30°F. Cooling takes over June through September, when afternoons sit around 85°F. Only one month goes by without either one running.
Most homes here heat with electricity, so that seven months of cold nights falls on a heat pump or electric furnace with no gas backup. The same system then switches over and runs through summer afternoons near 85°F. That's a lot of hours on the same parts, in both directions, with barely a break between. Worcester County has seen 45 damaging wind events and 12 winter storms over the past ten years, and statewide, 11% of households lost power for a full day or more in 2024. A system built to run this much needs the power to stay on to do it.
- 7 months
- October through April, your system heats
- 4 months
- June through September, it cools
- 30°F
- the average winter night it heats against
- 85°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
Maryland requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
The Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors is the body that tests and licenses HVAC contractors in this state. The license belongs to the contractor, not to any one job, so the same license that qualifies someone to install a system is what qualifies them to repair yours.
For a repair like this, that license is what stands behind the person working on your heating and cooling system. Maryland's board has already tested the contractor and keeps a record of who holds that license, which is what a homeowner in this state has to go on before letting someone into their home to work on it.
Sources: Maryland General Assembly · Maryland Department of Labor
- Why is my heat not working?
- Check the thermostat first, since a dead battery or a setting bumped to cool will shut heat off completely. If that is not it, check the breaker and the furnace switch, since a tripped breaker or a switch left off stops the furnace before it starts. If the furnace runs but no warm air comes out, or it shuts off after a few minutes, the igniter or the flame sensor is a common cause and that is a job for a licensed contractor. With winter nights here averaging 30°F, do not wait long to get it looked at.
- Why is my system running but not cooling the house?
- The most common cause is a dirty filter choking off airflow, so check that first and replace it if it looks gray or clogged. If the filter is clean, look at the outdoor unit and clear away any leaves, grass clippings or debris blocking the coil, since air has to move through it to cool the refrigerant. If the air coming out feels only slightly cool or the outdoor unit is iced over even in summer heat, that usually points to low refrigerant or a failing compressor, and both need a licensed contractor to diagnose.
- What can I check before calling for HVAC repair?
- Start with the thermostat. Make sure it is set to heat or cool as needed, the batteries are good, and the display is on. Next check the breaker box for a tripped breaker and the furnace or air handler for a power switch that got switched off by accident. Check the filter and replace it if it is dirty, since a clogged filter can cause both heating and cooling problems. If the system still is not working after that, a licensed contractor can diagnose what the filter and breaker cannot fix.