With highs of 93°F and lows of 11°F, the last thing you need is HVAC problems that will lead to you suffering the brunt of bad weather. You need to ensure you can recognize when your air conditioning unit is breaking down so you can maintain or repair it before the worst happens. But, how do you recognize if something is going wrong?
This article will describe six of the most obvious ways you can see if your HVAC is starting to develop issues. As you read through, think about your existing system and think about if it could already be having trouble.
1. Not Enough Heat or Cooling
One of the main purposes of an HVAC system is the ability to keep the indoor temperature constant. When it gets too warm or cold outside, your HVAC should compensate. If it can no longer do this, and you find the heating and cooling functions do not work as intended, you will want to investigate.
There may be several reasons for this, and one of the most common ones is that the device might be wearing down. This is more common in buildings that have changed hands a lot, as sometimes people may be unaware of how old an HVAC is when buying. While regular maintenance may help with such HVAC issues, this is not always the case, and you may have to investigate replacing the system.
Sometimes, though, this is down to clogged ducts. It might well be that not enough air can flow around the building and change the temperature. As such, try to ensure you clean the ducts regularly and check they are free of dust or debris that might prevent the free flow of cool or warm air.
2. Eneven Temperatures in the Home
If you find some rooms are warmer or cooler than others, and you do not intend for them to be, this may also be an issue with blocked vents. Of course, not only should you check that the insides of the ducts are free from blockages, but it is a good idea to check the outside too. Make sure the vents both inside and outside of the house are free from dirt or piles of clothes, and clear any leaves or grass from around an outdoor vent.
Another problem might be that the ducts themselves need replacing. Sometimes, small cracks or breakages may appear in ducts due to either impacts or raising and lowering temperatures over time. Make sure to inspect them once a year and get them resealed if necessary.
Another issue might simply be that the system cannot keep up with different areas of a home and fluctuating temperatures. Some homes, especially large ones, might need to be separated into “zones” with different HVAC controls for each in that case.
3. Low Air Quality
The HVAC system should remove dust, allergens, and pollutants from the air around the home. If this is not happening, you should investigate the filters to see if they are clogged up.
To resolve this, you might need to do something as simple as change out the filters in the system. You could also look into investing in higher-quality filters. Depending on the brand of HVAC, this may not always be possible, but it is worth investigating.
If this does not resolve the issue, it might be a case of something more significant related to the filters or the ducts. In this case, it is a good idea to get someone else in to check the system and ensure it is safe from larger problems.
4. Thermostat Electronics Failure
Your home heating system is controlled by an electronic system that compares the temperature with that set in a central device. In some cases, this occurs in several different zones in the home and the thermostat controls them separately.
You should compare the thermostat’s readout with manual measurements from around the home to ensure they match up. If this is not the case, the thermostat may have issues that prevent it from keeping the air cool enough.
Another issue might be that the thermostat keeps restarting, or otherwise not working as it should. For this reason, you should check on it now and then to see if it needs replacing.
5. Noisy HVAC
If you suddenly start hearing strange noises coming from the HVAC, there are many possible reasons for this. There are several mechanical components in a modern HVAC, and as such you want to get them all checked.
One possibility might be that the fan blades have become unbalanced or grit has become trapped in their bearings. This will cause vibrations in the fans, leading to very loud noises traveling through the ducts in your home. This can often keep people awake at night and as such is important to resolve as soon as you can.
Another problem might be damaged parts in the HVAC, from adjustable vents to the compressor, to other components. No matter what they are, you should get someone to check and repair them.
6. Short Cycling
“Short cycling” is the process by which the home cooling system turns on and off with a higher frequency than usual. This is usually down to a safety feature that turns off the system if it overheats or senses other issues.
Get a professional to perform a thorough check on your air conditioning system to remove any potential for overheating. They will check ducts, inspect electronics, and otherwise run a safety inspection for you.
Dealing With HVAC Problems
With the above in mind, you should now have the knowledge you need to diagnose most of the HVAC problems you are likely to see in York County. Still, if they do occur, do you have the expertise to solve them all? This is where we come in.
We have several years of HVAC maintenance behind our belt and can give your system the service it needs to keep it running at full capacity. So, get in contact and talk to us about your system to ensure you stay at a comfortable temperature throughout both winter and summer.