Did you know that winter temperatures in Texas can vary by as much as twenty degrees Fahrenheit between the northern and southern parts of the state?
No matter what part of the state you live in, you likely need to use your home heating and cooling systems for at least part of the year. You may not know this, but these systems need regular maintenance to stay in working order. Otherwise, you’ll likely find yourself typing “heating and air companies near me” into your favorite search engine.
But how do you know when your HVAC system is in need of cleaning and repair? Keep reading for some telltale signs that you need an HVAC service to come to your home.
1. Dusty Ducts and Vents
This one is more of a DIY fix, but if your vents and ducts are dusty, it can cause huge problems for the heating and cooling in your home!
It’s completely normal for dust to gather in the nooks and crannies of your air ducts over time. The plates that cover your air vents are also very likely to become routinely dusty.
For visible dust, it should be easy for you to dust regularly and keep the airways clear. However, if dust starts to accumulate deep in the recesses of your HVAC system, you’ll need to call your local HVAC service to clean out the pipes.
One thing you can do to prevent dust from accumulating as quickly is to change the air filter on your HVAC system. This will keep most dust and particles from accumulating in your air ducts in the first place. However, they will be due for a professional cleaning no matter what at least once every few years.
2. The Fan Won’t Stop Running
Another one of the most common HVAC issues that homeowners run across is that the fan on their system won’t stop running.
This could be caused by a couple of different issues. It could be that the temperature sensor on your heating or cooling system is broken, and the system is unable to tell if the air in your home is at the appropriate temperature. There could also be an issue with the fan itself, keeping it from turning off.
In either case, you’ll be able to tell that this is happening because you’ll hear the fan running constantly, or it’ll repeatedly turn off and then turn on again a few seconds later. If you don’t call the heating service right away, you run the risk of having much higher than normal heating bills, and other problems may develop in your system.
3. No Cool Air Coming from Your Air Conditioning
Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a sweltering summer, desperately turning down the temperature on your air conditioning but having it make no difference?
While you quickly down the second (or third, or fourth) iced coffee of the day, it may be time to call the local HVAC repair team and have them look at your cooling system.
This problem is usually caused by either a broken compressor or a problem with the refrigerant in your system. In either case, you’ll definitely want to call in professionals to help you fix this issue.
4. Bad Smells When You Turn the Heat On
If you turn on the heat for the first time in the season and smell something funky, you’ve got a problem on your hands.
A burning smell in your home could indicate a broken mechanical part or burnt wiring in your HVAC system. Other kinds of smells could indicate mold or animal infestations in the pipes in your home.
To fix this, you will need to remove the infestation and thoroughly clean your entire HVAC system to keep bacteria and dust from being blown into the air inside your home.
5. Evaporator Coil Needs Cleaning
The evaporator coil is the piece in your HVAC system that allows it to create cool air. The warm air is brought from the rooms in your home to the furnace via the return vents in your walls. From there, the coolant in the evaporator coil removes the heat from the air, which can then be sent back into your home.
Dirty evaporator coils will drive up your monthly cooling costs and could cause other parts of your cooling system to overheat. Having your HVAC system checked regularly by professionals will help you to catch any clogging in your system’s evaporator coil early, before it can cause too many problems.
6. Condensation Leaks
Condensation is created through the system’s heating and cooling processes. Normally, it’s funneled away through a drain in the floor of the basement right next to the HVAC system. If the drain gets back up, you’ll notice pooling water next to the HVAC system.
Even if you don’t see puddles of water yet, but you smell a stagnant, musty smell, cleaning out the drain is a good preventative step to keep you from experiencing further issues.
Search “Heating and Air Companies Near Me” Today
Now you know six of the most common problems that homeowners experience with their HVAC systems and how to tell when they’re occurring.
If you notice any of these HVAC issues occurring in your home, type “heating and air companies near me” into your search bar, and give your local HVAC technicians a call. They’ll be more than happy to help you with cleaning, repairs, or whatever else you need to get your HVAC system back in working order.
Interested in having one of our technicians over to take a look at your HVAC system? Fill out our contact form today to get in touch!
