It does get warm in Dover and the summer is quite hot as you will experience highs in the low 80s Fahrenheit with a peak month of July that has high temperatures averaging about 81 degrees. Winters are cold and snowy while temperature can drop as a low as 18°F; That is a lot of wide temperature changes and high humidity, which all add extra wear to home air conditioners.
Because of this, regular problems such as refrigerant leaks and component failures are more frequent as seals and metal parts expand and contract. Dover is near the coast and use of road salt in winter also mean outdoor units are exposed to corrosive salt air. This results in the corrosion of a coil and line that can ultimately compromise refrigerant leaks if not remediated. Here, you need to specifically take care of the AC and have regular maintenance done on time in order to keep cool.
Common Dover AC Challenges
Coastal salt-air corrosion: Although Dover is inland, salty sea air from the nearby Great Bay and ocean can travel miles inland. Carrier also notes, “salt water can travel up to two miles inland,” and with its entry into sensitive metal coils and fittings at the heart of outdoor AC units, corrosive materials (chlorides) hasten decay. Over time, they will corrode and break down and have a slightly better traction… unless of course these never get rinsed off and serviced regularly. This then leads to leaks and failures.
Attic heat stress: There are lots of homes in the Dover area that have an attic or a second story where they put the furnace/air handler. During summer, it can get really hot (often over 100°F) in these spaces, which causes your AC to work twice as hard. Several poorly insulated areas or no ventilation with forced hot air entering the living space from an attic will push heat into the system. This means that your AC is essentially”working harder” to provide the same level of comfort. This can lead to overheating, short cycling, or premature wear of parts.
Old ductwork and airflow issues: Dover boasts many historic neighborhoods (Downtown Dover, Central Avenue, and the Garrison Hill area abound with antique homes) that do in fact have some as-of-right options to modify existing structures. Additionally, most still have original ductwork and air returns. In the summer, evaporator coils tend to freeze up as a result of restricted airflow from dirty or undersized ducts. This includes: “A common issue we see in older Dover homes with original ductwork” is frozen coils. But if filters are clogged or vents closed in only one room, this moisture is trapped on coils and can slow them down to the point where they might not be able to cool as well.
Changing weather: You can go from a cold spring in Dover to sweltering summer within a month or so. Systems that are not tightly tuned can be easily overwhelmed by rapid changes in temperature and humidity. According to our technicians, Dover’s climate “poses its own set of challenges” — really any big alteration in temperature will break open tiny cracks or leaks in refrigerant lines or electrical connections. This means that if routine maintenance is skipped, a breakdown during a heat wave is more probable.
Energy-Efficient Upgrades and Maintenance
Energy-efficient upgrades investments pay off even more in the climate of Dover. Most high-SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) air conditioners and heat pumps have been designed to stand up to dampness and salt out of the box. For instance, models with stainless-steel condenser coils are less likely to develop leaks and continue providing cooling power longer. Additionally we highly suggest programmable and smart thermostats to be able to manage your cooling times smartly rather than non-stop foot on throttle. Simply adding attic insulation and sealing duct leaks can reduce cooling bills.
In addition to equipment upgrades, preventative maintenance plans are incredibly effective. During a service visit, a tech will clean coils, change filters, check refrigerant levels as well as test all electrical components. Taking these steps, helps to prevent those small issues from becoming emergency repairs (cracked pipes or blocked drain). Planned maintenance, in addition, can make equipment last years longer. Dover homeowners should book complete AC repair and annual tune-up services long before summer, so you are not surprised by its breakdown.
24/7 Emergency AC Repair in Dover, NH
During heat waves, an AC breakdown in Dover can be dangerous. And with our 24/7 emergency AC repair, you can rest easy knowing you won’t be left without cooling when you want it most. When your AC unit is out, the last thing you want to hear is, “We can send out a tech next Monday.” One local HVAC provider puts it well: “If it’s in the nineties or humid and 90% of homes are uncomfortably hot, every hour without cooling feels unbearable.” When you call us for emergency cooling service, our technician arrives fully loaded with the most common replacement parts to restore comfort at any hour of the day or night.
Serving All Dover Neighborhoods
1 Washington St, Dover, NH 03820
From the middle of historic Dover to its far-flung corners, or anwhere in between — we’re here to serve every community. You may see our trucks in Henry Law Park/on the Children’s Museum grounds, on Central Avenue downtown. We also offer residential service to Fourth Ward, Liberty Hill and the North End as well as homes along Garrison Hill and around Bellamy River. We Also Serve All The Famous Landmarks of Dover Including the Lookout Tower at Garrison Hill Park, The Historic Dover Pythian Castle & Piscataqua Riverfront.
Our technicians live wherever you do, and many of them know the roads and houses in their territory like the back of their hand. We also help customers near the coastline protect their units from salt spray. Our team is only a phone call away with maintenance and emergency cooling needs if you are anywhere in Dover (or nearby Strafford County neighborhoods).
FAQs: Dover-Specific Cooling Questions
If it still cools, how can i justify ac repair?
Small problems are caught before they fail (preventive maintenance). In the climate of Dover, a slow leak or damaged part will soon lead to more severe problems — especially during the summer. Coil-cleaning and control-adjustment tune-ups are far less expensive than a major repair or early replacement. In addition, properly maintained equipment will operate up to 25% more efficiently, reducing energy bills.
Does Road Salt + Dover Winters = AC Damage?
Indeed, road salt (and brine on the streets of Dover) can splash onto outdoor units and hasten rust. Remove snow and debris after snowstorms. As part of spring service, we look at damage done by salt, and, when it’s really ugly, may apply corrosion-inhibiting treatments. Carrier adds that corrosion also comes from road salt and pollutants, so it’s a problem even one mile inland. Regular off-season maintenance is key.
How do I prevent salt-air corrosion from damaging my AC?
The potential for salty air to reach your building from the Seacoast is one of the worst case scenarios for having an outdoor unit. Rinse the condenser annually (once a month in summer) to reduce corrosion. Likewise, protective coatings for coils or a “coastal” AC model that comes with better corrosion resistance may be considered. Park big vehicles or equipment so they keep salty air blowing away from your unit.
