All throughout the year, we rely on heaters, air conditioners and water systems to keep us comfortable and happy. Whether it’s taking a nice hot bath to ease off the day’s strains or relaxing in the cool indoor air while watching a movie in the middle of summer, our HVAC systems often run all throughout the day to achieve this. Naturally, this means that the systems are bound to start wearing down and might even start malfunctioning.
Often, these issues can show up in different ways, depending on what system starts to fail. The sudden lack of proper heating or cooling can make day to day life far too uncomfortable, but trying to find out how to start fixing the problem can be just as hard. Some homeowners may default to calling a professional right away, the fact that their HVAC system is so important makes them uncomfortable with trying repairs on their own. Yet, knowing a few ways to troubleshoot your system can save you on the cost of calling a technician in.
Here are a few basic tips to learn more and to help you begin to troubleshoot HVAC related problems yourself.
Check the thermostat
Your thermostat is the most reliable device in the system. It lets us know what modes the system is set to and what the current temperature is throughout the house. However, many homeowners don’t realize that quite a few HVAC related problems sometimes come from a faulty or incorrectly set thermostat. In fact, keeping your home’s thermostat well maintained can reduce the chances that an issue can pop up by a bit.
If a problem does happen, be sure to check your thermostat first. Due to the fact that a thermostat regulates the house’s heating and cooling, something as small as having low power can interfere with the air conditioner or heater. However, a small malfunction like this is quite easy to solve, especially since most thermostats run on batteries. If the issue still persists after replacing the batteries, the next best option is to call a professional to fix it.
Reset your system
If the system doesn’t turn on, chances are that the main issue is with a tripped circuit. Many HVAC systems offer different models that also use different sources of power to heat or cool your house and water. As such, electric powered HVAC systems run the risk of tripping your house’s circuits, just like your TV or a treadmill might.
Additionally, there may be a chance that other appliances throughout the house aren’t running as well, depending on what time of the day this issue pops up. If only some of the lights or appliances are working in your house but others aren’t, the issue can be solved with resetting your circuit breaker. However, if nothing in your house seems to be turning on, it’s likely an issue with your house’s power. To make sure, you might need to call a professional.
Replace the filter if needed
On occasion, the filter in your HVAC system can be the main cause of any problems that happen. This is primarily due to the fact that, as dirt, sand and other sediments clog up the filter, it can no longer clean out the air or water coming through it. As such, the debris can then build up on the parts and slowly reduce the system’s efficiency.
This also means that any warm or cool air that’s released into your house is also being blocked by your dirty air filters. While some air is released, it is more than likely that it’s also just as dusty as the air filter. The same happens if your water system uses a filter to clean incoming water. Any water that comes through your fixtures may be cloudy or have sediments in it. Changing the air or water filters can solve these types of issues and it’s recommended to replace your filters every 90 days or less depending on some key factors.
There are weird smells coming from the HVAC system
If you find that there are odd smells coming from the fixtures, the air conditioner or heater, the cause can be a few things depending on the system. When dealing with your heater or air conditioner, the problem can be due to either mold or burnt wiring, both of which are serious issues if not dealt with as soon as possible. Further mold growth, however, can be prevented without the need to call a professional.
Mold is one of the most common reasons for why your air system is giving off foul smells. If you believe that there may be mold growing, carefully protect yourself before checking the system, since these molds can cause major health risks. Check for leaks in the parts of the system you can access, and make sure to seal them off well. Since air conditioners and heaters also use water, these leaks are what causes mold. If the smell is caused by burnt wiring, the only safe option is to call an electrician to replace any wires properly.
The cause of smells in the water from tankless water heaters and similar water systems can be mainly caused by mineral build up or corrosion in the system. If it’s only coming from the taps when the hot water runs, you may need to get the system replaced or cleaned out. If the smell comes from being near the system, there’s likely a leak that needs to be sealed.
Takeaway
Knowing some of the basic ways to fix your HVAC system can be a great benefit to many homeowners, especially when the system malfunctions at what seems like the worst possible time. Thankfully, some of these solutions and tips are fairly simple, and can be done without the need to call and pay a professional. However, if the issue seems too complex or if you can’t seem to fix it yourself, professional help is the best choice to make when dealing with HVAC systems.
Thank you for sharing! By the way, not only do dirty, clogged air conditioner filters make the unit work harder and inefficiently. They can also affect the air quality in a home. You can prevent this problem by maintaining your filter cleaning schedule. Remember to replace it every 30-90 days, more or less depending on your air filter type and if you have pets, a large household, or excess dust and debris.
Thanks for some amazing tips! Every home owner must know about it. Solar Energy Perth Western Australia
This blog post can help home owners understand what is happening with their home’s HVAC before they need to contact a company representative. Electrician Thorneside
If you have HVAC problems, know about these tips to recognize and solve them.
1. Check the air exchange. Inspect your air exchange to make sure it’s working properly. In cold weather, your air exchange may be too small. In hot weather, your air exchange may be too large.
2. Check the function of your thermostat. Review the thermostat’s settings to see if they are correct. If they are not, adjust them. Best Home Builders Brisbane
3. Check the filters and HVAC fans. Check the filters and HVAC fans to see if they are clean and running properly. If they are not, replace them.
4. Check the coils. Check the coils to see if they are properly sized and installed. If they are not, replace them.
5. Check the compressor. Review the compressor’s settings to make sure they are correct. If they are not, adjust them.
Another part of your air conditioner you need to pay attention to is condensate drain channels. If these become clogged, the unit will be forced work harder and consime much moreenrgy to function. Additionally, it won’t be able to remove humidity which can lead to moisture buildup in the home. When living in a humid area, not getting away from it can be extremely uncomfortable. The extra humidity can also lead to the discoloration of furniture, walls, and can aid in the growth of mold and mildew.
If your home’s HVAC system is not keeping up with the requirements, it may be necessary to call a technician to help. Here are some tips to help you troubleshoot HVAC issues and ensure your home stays warm and comfortable.
1. Check the thermostat. If your thermostat is not accurate orAddress any other HVAC issues below.
2. Reset the thermostat. Resetting the thermostat can help to fix a few common issues with your HVAC system. Neck Pain Specialist Adelaide
3. Check the filter. If your filter is not particles-free, it can cause the air in your home to be contaminated and cause problems with your HVAC system.
4. Replace the filter if it has not been replaced in at least 6 months.
5. Check for leaks. Leaks can cause air to enter and circulate incorrectly in your home, leading to an increase in drafts and a decrease in comfort.
If your HVAC system is not working properly, it is important to determine the cause. Here are some tips on how to troubleshoot HVAC systems:
1. Check the filters. If your filters are dirty, you may need to replace them.
2. Check the thermostat. If the thermostat is not working properly, you may need to adjust it. hardwood flooring adelaide
3. Check the janitorial service. If your janitorial service is not working properly, you may need to fix it.
4. Check the condenser filters. If your condenser filters are dirty, you may need to clean them.
5. Check thesi celectronic equipment. If your electronic equipment is not working properly, you may need to fix it.
I found your blog post on HVAC troubleshooting to be incredibly helpful. I’m not sure what it’s like where you live, but where I live, we have so many different types of HVAC systems, it’s hard to know what problems might be occurring. I enjoyed reading your tips for when you start to experience problems. Electrician Ballajura
There are many things that can go wrong with your HVAC system, and one of the most common culprits is an incorrect thermostat. If you experience any problems with your HVAC system, it’s important to keep a few things in mind so that you can troubleshoot and fix the issue as quickly as possible. Here are some tips to help you out:
1. Check the thermostat and make sure it’s working properly. If it isn’t, then you may need to replace it. hunter pest and building inspections
2. Check the breaker panel and make sure there are no power outages. If there are, then you may need to fix the power outage or turn off the system altogether.
3. Check your Summary Report. This is a document that your home’s HVAC system provides every month that tells you about the temperature, humidity, and air pressure in your home. If there are any changes, or if the report gets different every month, then you might need to check the thermostat.
4. Check your ducts and tubes. If you notice any hiccups in your heating or cooling system, then it might be worth
Your post was very helpful and I learned a lot from it! I especially appreciated that you shared tips on how to troubleshoot HVAC related problems. bespoke home builder melbourne
As for air filter, consider upgrading to a pleated filter with a MERV rating in the 7 to 12 range. According to this source https://escoutah.com/breathe-easy-tips-improve-indoor-air-quality/, these higher performing filters catch smaller particles like dust, pollen, and mold spores and give relief to allergy and asthma sufferers. Additionally, they don’t need to be changed that often.
Not only does the sudden lack of proper heating make your life less comfortable, but also threatens your plumbing system. Without a proper heating the water in pipes may freeze and expand, which can lead to pipe burst. Burst pipes are a really serious problem, which involves expensive repairs. So, yeah, you should always check your furnace before the cold winter days come.
While replacing air filters is very important, you also should remember to clean your HVAC items by vacuuming inside and around every month. This is especially true for furnaces. By doing this, you help your system work more efficiently, and also improve fire safety. The thing is, dust can be highly flammable, and it only takes a small spark to set this off.
For wall furnaces, clean inside the burner compartments. Clean this area at least once a month during winter to avoid lint buildup. For natural gas furnaces, the flame should burn blue. Orange or yellow flames may mean your furnace needs cleaning or adjusting by a professional
Thanks for sharing such helpful information. Winter is not that far off, which means that we will turn on our heating devices very soon. And in order for them to work smoothly all winter, it is important to carry out annual maintenance. Not only will it provide you with comfort and warmth during the cold winter months, but prevent pipe freezing.
Six consecutive hours in cold weather without heating are enough for your pipes to freeze. Frozen pipes are a very common problem that has huge property damage!
By the way, this article says https://www.edelmaninc.com/common-furnace-problems/ that if your air conditioner or furnace is making some noises when working, it may also indicate that the filters are dirty or clogged. In this case, try replacing the air filter to see if that helps. If it doesn’t, there could be internal issues that are best addressed by an experienced HVAC specialist.
Yes, a clean air filter is more important than it may seem. Dirty filters can cause many problems and cause premature breakages.
By the way, if you get tired of replacing air filters, consider washable option. The initial cost of a washable filter is higher, but they are expected to last as long as the unit, around 15-20 years. The washing process is as simple as removing filter and running it under warm water.