How To Identify What is Wrong with Your HVAC System
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Your heating, ventilation, and AC (HVAC) unit is a critical component of your home. It maintains comfort throughout the year. Additionally, it keeps the air dry to minimize the risk of mold and mildew. However, there are times when it fails for one reason or another. Here are some ways to identify what's wrong with your HVAC system.
Get the Unit Serviced
You may not know anything is wrong with your HVAC system until you get it serviced. Air conditioner or furnace maintenance helps detect if there's an existing problem. It also allows the technician to see if any components are about to fail.
Service agreements normally come with a new HVAC unit. If your equipment is older, then it's a good idea to pay for a contract. Though there might be a significant cost at the start, your return on investment is enormous. The service plan gives you a sense of security that your furnace and air conditioner will run during extreme temperature highs and lows.
Check Your Air Filter
The air filter is used for your furnace and AC. Normally situated near the ventilation fan, it collects dust, dirt, and other debris as it lets clean air through. When this isn't cleaned, problems occur.
For instance, warmed air from the furnace won't reach the rest of the house if it can't get through the filter. Conversely, cooled air blocked by a dirty filter starts to freeze components like the condenser motor.
Needless to say, your air filter must be replaced every 30 days. This is especially true during the height of pollen season. Regular change-outs help to keep your HVAC components in good working order.
Check Your Outside AC Unit
Central AC is comprised of your home's ventilation system and an outside unit. This draws in and cools warm air for distribution through your home. If the unit's fan runs but the air is warm, then check some of its components.
The first place to look is the unit's air filter. Similar to the one in your ventilation system, it keeps capturing particularities. If it gets too full, then the condenser motor overheats and can break. So, make sure this air filter is regularly washed down with a hose.
Next, check for any leaks around the unit's base. Damp areas in an otherwise dry space could mean potential leaks or breaks in the cooling fluid hoses. Immediately turn off the unit if this is seen. Leaving it on without cooling fluid can destroy the condenser.
On top of these items, make sure the AC unit's fan starts up. Sometimes, though the motor seems to work, the blades don't move. This could either mean broken components or that the fan is stuck due to an object jammed in the space.
Examine the Thermostat
The other place to identify what's wrong with your HVAC system is your thermostat. This isn't a separate entity. The thermostat is directly wired to send signals to your furnace and AC. If nothing happens, then you need to troubleshoot.
Although the thermostat is wired into your home's electrical system it normally has a battery backup. When these power sources are drained it messes with the internal computer. Replacing the batteries should correct the situation.
If that doesn't work, then check the thermostat's programming. The heat or AC doesn't turn on if they're set to start at a certain time or temperature. Clear these items to see if the problems are corrected.
Should these two items not work, then pull the thermostat off the wall and examine the wiring. Broken or frayed connections could signify a short. For this, reach out to an HVAC technician to fix it. In the end, they may need to replace the thermostat altogether.
Conclusion
If you keep this list of troubleshooting tips on hand, then you won't have much trouble identifying what's wrong with your HVAC system. Overall, it's best to have an HVAC service company work with you to get to the actual problem. If you're diligent with standard maintenance like air filter replacement, then the cost should be minor. On the other hand, if you let things go, the bill could be higher, or you might need a new HVAC system. Don't let it get that far.
Guest Contributor: Elizabeth Howards