4 Common Signs You Need Heating And AC Repair | Azle, TX
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Most people have some type of gut feeling when their HVAC system is starting to behave oddly, but for some reason, most homeowners also try to ride it out for a bit before calling for heating and AC repair in Azle, TX. It is not uncommon for us to hear that clients thought “they’d see if it worked itself out” or “we thought it was a one-time thing.” Unfortunately, if your HVAC system is giving you signs that it needs a heating and AC repair then you need to call a local HVAC company and do something about it. Very few things will resolve on their own.
While it is expensive and a phantom appliance that sits in the basement unnoticed, at the end of the day your HVAC system is simply a fancy piece of machinery. The average home in America owns two cars, which are also just fancy pieces of machinery. When those cars start to function oddly or make noises most people don’t think twice about taking them in for repair. So what makes heating and AC repair any different? As a homeowner, start to think about your HVAC system the same way you think about your vehicle.
A well-maintained HVAC system can make it to 15-20 years, but a system that is used but not serviced will probably only make it to 12 years. That is about the lifespan of the average used car, but your car would never see 20 years if you didn’t take it in for repair as needed and make sure that you change the oil every three to five months. Likewise, if you want to get the most out of your expensive investment, you need to make sure that you change the filters in y9our HVAC system every season, schedule an annual maintenance visit, and call for heating and AC repair when you notice problems arise.
If you start to think of your HVAC system the same way you think of your vehicle it gets easier to see why so much extra attention is needed. In reality, it isn’t extra attention at all, it’s just simply good practice. If you are a new homeowner, this is a good lesson on why heating and AC repair in Azle, TX is not something you should play around with. Plus, like cars, the longer you put off repair the more expensive it will likely be since one broken component can tear up the engine easily and lead to multiple broken components.
No one wants to be stuck in this type of situation, and with the right attitude towards heating and AC repair, you won’t be. Of course, at this point, the trick is learning how to identify the signs that your HVAC system may be struggling. An annual service visit once a year is a great way to proactively troubleshoot problems, but here and there something can still arise that should cause you alarm. The following are some of the most common signs that it is time for heating and AC repair.
The System Won’t Turn On
This is a pretty basic one, but if you switch on your AC or furnace and nothing happens, this is a pretty clear sign you need heating and AC repair. For some reason, we have clients who figure they will try again later or in a few hours. If there is a mechanical failure to blame, waiting any length of time won’t help. Instead, four hours from now it will be after hours and you will need to pay for emergency HVAC services. If your AC is blowing out hot air or your furnace won’t switch on then you need to call for heating and AC repair. Nothing is going to change until you do.
There is not much point in trying to troubleshoot this one on your own because there are hundreds of different potential causes. Unless you are a trained HVAC professional attempting to figure this out on your own is likely going to cause more expensive damage. While an HVAC system that won’t flip on can sound scary, there are a lot of things that can be repaired that won’t cost you a fortune. Instead of panicking, call for heating and AC repair and get to the bottom of the issue quickly. Until you know for certain what is wrong there is no reason to panic.
The one thing that you can do is carefully check your thermostat and make sure that it is set right. For instance, are you attempting to turn on the furnace but the temperature in your home is already high? If it is then the furnace is not going to turn on even if you have it set to warm. The same thing can be true of your AC, only the temperature may be lower. Grab your glasses and check your thermostat a little closer to see if you have the settings right. We have seen people misread their thermostat before which is the best-case scenario when your system won’t snap on.
Reduced Air Flow in Your Home
Another big sign that you need heating and AC repair in your home is uneven airflow in your home. There are several ways that you might notice there are airflow problems in your home. The first is the most obvious, which is reduced airflow at your vents. Most people are somewhat aware of how much air should be coming out of their vents. If you notice that the amount is less or feels pretty weak for more than one cycle then you have an issue that needs to be addressed with heating and AC repair in Azle, TX right away.
Another sign that you may have airflow issues in your home is hot and cold spots throughout your home. This is usually a sign that your ductwork is not able to properly support the airflow in your home. Another sign is if your doors seem to shut on their own or you notice whistling areas in the upper floors of your home. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a ghost on the prowl. Instead, it is a sign that the air pressure in your home is not regulated properly.
This can be caused by one of two things or a mixture of both things. It can be a sign that your compressor is blocked and is not able to blow out enough air or a sign that you need to change your air filter. Air filters should be changed every three to five months depending on the amount of dirt and dust that gets into your home. A clogged air filter can actually shut down your entire system or lead to increased wear or tear. Therefore, the number one thing you should check if you notice airflow problems is your air filter.
If you check your air filter and it isn’t the problem then it is time to call for heating and AC repair. At this point, it is either the compressor or issues with your ductwork. There are hundreds of feet of ductwork under the average home, and most of it is hidden from sight. It is possible that y9ou have a clog in your ductwork or so much dust that it is obstructing the proper flow of air.
You might think that you can live with reduced airflow in your home, but you will end up paying a lot more than the cost of heating and AC repair if you try to do so. Allowing your system to continually function when you know something is compromised will increase the wear and tear on your HVAC system which means you are shortening its lifespan. Is it putting off heating and AC repair for a year if you will have to pay for an entirely new system within a year or two? The answer to this question is usually a resounding no for most people.
In addition, if your HVAC system is only working at half capacity when it cycles, it will need to cycle more frequently throughout the day in order to properly heat or cool your home. The most expensive part of your HVAC cycle is when it starts up. Therefore, if it needs to kick on twice as much you can expect your energy bills to double as well. Paying twice as much every month for heating or cooling in Azle, TX is certainly more than paying one time for a repair visit.
Something Doesn’t Sound Right
If you have spent any time inside of your home, then you know how your HVAC system should sound. If you are a new homeowner, you should still have a general idea of how an HVAC system should sound. The only thing you should hear is the gentle hum of air flowing through your air vents. If you ever hear an obtrusive sound, whistling, banging, kicking, or any other noise that is not a gentle hum then you have a problem.
Usually, odd noises originate from the engine or compressor and indicate that a component is misfiring or rubbing on another. Even if the unit is still working fine for a minute these noises indicate that something is still going wrong inside of the machine. Think back to our car example from earlier. If you hear your brakes squealing you would instantly take your car into the repair shop because you don’t want them to fail. When you hear the brakes squeal they likely will still work, but you don’t take your chances and wait until the one day that they suddenly stop working.
With that in mind, if you hear odd noises coming from your HVAC system you need to do something about them. Don’t just ignore the problem because your HVAC is still producing what you think is the proper amount of air. A lot of times noise can be solved with a simple tune-up visit or adjustment. The noise itself is a warning sign that you need heating and AC repair. Pay attention to the warning and don’t wait until the problem becomes so severe you are looking for a replacement. Would you rather repair your brakes before or after you end up on the side of someone’s home because your brakes failed? If the answer is no, apply the same logic to your HVAC system and get help.
Changes in Your Energy Bill
Following up on the thought that your system will cycle more than usual if it is performing correctly, an increasing energy bill in itself can be a sign that you need heating or AC repair. If your energy bill keeps inching upwards compared to the same time last year and there haven’t been any significant changes in the cost of energy in Azle, TX then this is a sign that you need to book a tune-up or heating and AC repair on your HVAC system. A simple tune-up is usually fairly inexpensive and can help you reduce your monthly bills instantly. Most people are unaware of how many benefits come from yearly tune-ups, but lowered energy costs are one major one. Huge spikes in your heating or cooling costs indicate that something is very wrong with your system, and unless you want to pay an exorbitant amount until your system breaks down, you need to take action right away.
Have you noticed any of these signs around your home? Now that you know the major signs of heating and AC repair it is likely that something you ignored before may become more obvious. Instead of continuing to ignore it, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth. We will be happy to come out for a heating and AC repair visit or a tune-up to see what we can do to get you back to normal operations.