4 Problems That Require A Call To An Emergency Heating And AC Repair Service | Fort Worth, TX
Winters in Fort Worth, TX, are relatively mild during the day, with an average temperature of 55 to 60 degrees. At night, it isn’t uncommon for the temperature to drop below freezing, and you rely on your furnace to keep your home warm and toasty. Summers in Fort Worth are very hot, with temperatures reaching 96 degrees, and you rely on your air conditioner to keep your home cool and comfortable.
Some heating and air conditioning issues can wait until an HVAC tech has an opening in their schedule, but some can put your home and family at risk and require a call to an emergency heating and AC repair service.
HVAC repairs should never be DIY projects. HVAC techs undergo years of training to learn to fix problems safely and correctly, and unless you’re a licensed HVAC tech, you shouldn’t attempt a DIY repair.
If your furnace or air conditioner experiences any of the following problems, it’s best to call an emergency heating and AC repair service immediately.
#1 The Air Conditioner Is Producing Warm Air
When the temperature reaches the 90s, you rely on your air conditioner to stay cool. Most people spend more time in their air-conditioned homes to escape the heat. If the air conditioner produces warm air, your home can become dangerously hot, putting your family at risk for heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Hot temperatures can be dangerous; therefore, it’s best to call an emergency heating and AC repair service immediately.
A few issues can cause the unit to produce warm air, including:
- Incorrect thermostat setting: If the thermostat isn’t set correctly, the air conditioner can’t do its job. The thermostat has to be set to the cooling mode, the fan should be set to auto, and the temperature inside has to be warmer than the setting on the thermostat.
- Refrigerant leaks: Your air conditioner relies on refrigerant to produce cold air. If the refrigerant leaks, the unit won’t have enough to make cold air. A few issues can cause a refrigerant leak, such as weakened or eroded joints or connections, worn-out seals around the service valve, or worn access fittings.
An emergency heating and AC repair service can send a tech to your home to resolve the problem. If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, the tech can fix the leak and refill the refrigerant. If your unit was installed before 2010, you’d need to replace it with a newer model. Older units use R-22 refrigerant, which was partially banned in the United States in 2010 because it’s toxic and harmful to the environment. Manufacturers began making units that use a different type of refrigerant, and techs could only use R-22 on existing units. On January 1, 2020, R-22 was banned entirely and is no longer available. A tech won’t waste time fixing the leak because they won’t have R-22 to refill the unit, and it will have to be replaced. - Frozen evaporator coils: The evaporator coils are essential in starting the cooling process. The coils extract the heat from the house and use it to produce cold air. The unit cannot produce cold air if the evaporator coils are frozen. A few issues can cause the coils to freeze, including:
- A dirty air filter prevents air from moving through the system, causing the unit to overheat.
- Dirty evaporator coils
- Refrigerant leak
- You ran the air conditioner when it was too cold outside.
- An emergency heating and AC repair service can send a tech to thaw the evaporator coils to ensure the unit produces cold air. They’ll also inspect the unit to determine why the coils froze to prevent it from happening again.
- Clogged condensate line: Condensation is released when the air conditioner runs and flows through a hose and outside the house. If mold or algae clogs the lines, the unit cannot remove humid air, causing it to produce warm air.
- The compressor isn’t working; The indoor unit works with the outdoor compressor to produce cold air. The unit cannot produce cold air if the compressor isn’t working.
The sooner you call an emergency heating and AC repair service, the sooner your home will be cool and comfortable.
#2 The Furnace Is Producing Cold Air
When you turn on the furnace in your Fort Worth, TX home, you expect to feel heat coming from the vents. If the unit produces cold air, it’s best to call an emergency heating and AC repair service immediately. When the temperature drops below freezing at night, your home can become dangerously cold, putting your family at risk for cold weather-related illnesses like frostbite and hypothermia.
Before making the call, check the thermostat setting. It has to be set to the heating mode, the fan should be set to auto, and it must be cooler in the house than the temperature setting. If the thermostat is set correctly, it’s time to call a professional. A few issues cause the unit to produce cold air, and you’ll need a licensed HVAC tech to diagnose the problem.
- The pilot doesn’t stay lit: If the pilot light doesn’t stay lit, the unit won’t produce warm air. An emergency heating and AC repair service can send a tech to figure out why the pilot won’t stay lit and make the necessary repair.
- Dirty flame detector: If your furnace doesn’t have a pilot light, it has a flame detector. If this component is covered in dirt and grime, it can’t do its job, and the furnace will stop producing warm air, and you’ll feel cold air coming from the vents.
- Dirty air filter: You must change the filter regularly to keep air flowing through the system. If you neglect to replace it, the air won’t move through the system, causing it to overheat and produce cold air.
- Clogged condensate hose: Newer furnaces have condensate hoses to help remove moisture from the unit. If the condensate hose clogs, it will deactivate the burners, causing the unit to produce cold air.
Because winter nights in Fort Worth, TX, can get very cold, it’s best to call an emergency heating and AC repair service when the unit fails to produce warm air.
#3 Poor Airflow
When you stand in front of the vents in your home when the heater or air conditioner runs, you should feel a powerful rush of warm or cold air coming from the vents. If the airflow is restricted, you should call an emergency heating and AC repair service right away.
Poor airflow can affect your home’s temperature, and the unit must work harder to keep the house comfortable. The extra work will cause your energy bills to increase considerably and reduce the unit’s lifespan.
There are a few problems that can restrict the airflow, including:
- Clogged air ducts: In just one year, up to five pounds of dirt and debris from your home can build up in the air ducts. When too much debris has accumulated, it will obstruct the airflow. Also, clogged ducts can affect your home’s air quality. When the heat or air conditioner runs, the debris will circulate in the air, putting our family’s health at risk.
An emergency heating and AC repair service can send a tech to clean the ducts, restricting the airflow. - Damaged air ducts: The air ducts in your Fort Worth, TX home are hidden behind the walls, under the floors, or above the ceiling. You can’t see the ducts, so you won’t know if they’re damaged until the airflow is reduced. The warm or cold air will escape from the damaged ducts before reaching the vents, restricting the airflow.
An emergency heating and AC repair service can send a tech to inspect the air ducts for damage and repair or replace the broken parts. They can also clean the ducts simultaneously, ensuring adequate airflow. - Broken blower: Your HVAC system has a blower designed to force the hot or cold air through the ducts and to the vents. If the blower isn’t working, most of the air won’t reach the vents, resulting in restricted airflow.
An HVAC tech can go to your Fort Worth, TX home and repair or replace the blower.
Because poor airflow can be an expensive problem, it’s best to call an emergency heating and AC repair service right away.
#4 Strange Odors When the Furnace or Air Conditioner Run
When the heat or air conditioner runs, it should produce clean, odorless air. If you smell something strange in your Fort Worth, TX home, only when the HVAC system runs, you should call an emergency heating and AC repair service right away. Strange odors can indicate issues that could put your home and family at risk, so it’s best to make the call immediately.
- Mold: If you smell mold when the heater or AC runs, there could be mold in the air ducts. The air ducts are hidden and don’t get any light. When it’s humid, condensation can form in the ducts, and with no light to keep them dry, it creates the perfect breeding ground for mold, creating a significant health hazard. When the HVAC system runs, mold spores will circulate in the air, putting your family at risk for allergies, respiratory issues, skin rashes, chronic headaches, and burning eyes.
An emergency heating and AC repair service can send a tech to inspect the ducts for mold, and it can be eradicated with an antimicrobial fogger. If there is no mold in the ducts, it could be in the air conditioner and is more challenging to eliminate. If the tech cannot remove every spore from the unit, you’ll need to replace the air conditioner to keep your family healthy. - Rotten eggs: A rotten egg smell indicates a gas leak, which is a severe problem. When you first detect the smell, shut off the furnace, get everyone out of the house, and call 911. A gas leak can result in an explosion, and failing to take action will put your home and family at risk. The fire department will cut the gas to your Fort Worth, TX home to prevent a disaster from occurring. When the fire department leaves, call an emergency heating and AC repair service. Your gas cannot be restored until the gas leak has been fixed, and you’ll need to make the call quickly so you can start using the furnace again. When the problem is resolved, the gas will be restored, and your home will begin to warm up.
- Burning; A burning smell indicates an electrical problem that could start an electrical fire. When you detect the smell, turn off the heater or AC immediately and call an emergency heating and AC repair service. A tech can inspect the unit to find the electrical problem and make the necessary repair.
Why Choose One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth?
If your HVAC system isn’t working correctly and you can’t wait for an appointment, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth. We are a full-service emergency heating and AC repair service serving customers in the area since 1988.
Our HVAC techs are professionally trained, NATE certified, knowledgeable, and have the skills to handle HVAC installation, maintenance, and repairs. Before they’re hired, our techs must pass a background check and a drug test and register with the state of Texas. We have these strict hiring policies in place, so our customers feel safe when they let our techs into their homes.
HVAC technology is constantly evolving, so our techs receive ongoing training and attend seminars to be sure they can work with the latest HVAC models.
If you have an issue like any of those listed above, don’t panic. We’ll do our best to get tech to your home as quickly as possible to resolve the problem.
If you need to schedule an appointment for emergency heating and AC repair service or any other HVAC service, give One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth a call today.