When most homeowners think about HVAC problems, they think about summer. The air conditioner can’t keep up. The house won’t cool down. Energy bills spike. That’s usually when the panic sets in. But here’s the truth most people don’t hear often enough: HVAC systems rarely fail suddenly. Most breakdowns don’t start during summer heat waves — they start quietly months earlier. Winter is one of the most strategic times to pay attention to your HVAC system.

Ah, summer in Houston — when the humidity hugs you tighter than your grandma at Thanksgiving and your air conditioner becomes your best friend. But if you start noticing tiny, fuzzy bugs fluttering near your vents, your HVAC system might be hosting some uninvited guests: drain flies. Also called moth flies or sewer gnats, these little pests thrive in warm, damp environments — and your A/C’s condensate drain line or drip pan is the perfect vacation spot.