Air Conditioning Service: Top 10 Signs Of HVAC Failure You Should Never Ignore | Azle, TX
Photo By zms at istock
The State of Texas has diverse types of climate, ranging from arid and semi-arid conditions that prevail in the west to humid and tropical climates that dominate the eastern part of the region. However, when the summer season begins, temperatures can reach soaring levels throughout the state, with experts reporting average summer highs of between 86 and 98 degrees. This is why Azle, TX, homeowners should install an efficient HVAC system in their houses, with the help of a licensed heating and air conditioning service professional. Besides keeping your indoors cool under the Texan summer heat, HVAC systems also help create a warm climate during winters as well as regulate the humidity and ventilation aspects of your residence.
Despite that, they’re not immune to common heating and cooling issues that often arise in the course of their service due to wear and tear. Since these units utilize between 40 to 50 percent of your home’s energy, HVAC issues, which include ignition problems, thermostat malfunctions, and dirty coils or filters, should always be resolved without delay. Although your heating and AC service contractor near Azle, TX, can help you prevent such problems, understanding the telltale signs of HVAC failure can ensure that you receive professional assistance on time.
Therefore, below are some of the signs of HVAC failure that you should never ignore if you want to keep your home’s heating and cooling unit in working condition all year round.
Strange Odors
After spending some time away from your home, it’s understandable if you notice the smell of dust after switching on the furnace or air conditioner. However, other odors you may begin experiencing after that instance should be treated as a sign of HVAC failure.
These strange malodors can include a burning smell, musty or pungent smells, and an odor that resembles the smell of rotten eggs. Each odor denotes a different HVAC problem, but luckily, if reported on time, a well-trained heating and air conditioning service can provide timely and long-lasting solutions.
In that regard, a burning smell, however faint or strong it may be, is often a sign that there could be something that has caught fire. If the burning smell originates from the heating and AC system, then it could be time to request a replacement from a heating and AC service provider near you.
Electrical issues are a common plague on HVAC systems, often affecting the motor components. If these electrical problems are left unresolved, fires may break out within the unit and spread to the rest of your residence, resulting in significant property damage and even fatalities or injuries. As a precaution, you should immediately turn your home’s HVAC off if you notice a burning smell. You should also consider requesting a heating and air conditioning service immediately for comprehensive solutions.
Besides that, pungent or musty odors emanating from your home’s heating and cooling system should also never be ignored. This is because they’re a strong indicator of the presence of mold within the residence. A failing HVAC system may begin to leak moisture, which can lead to mold growth if it accumulates in the dark corners of your house. Besides significantly affecting its structural integrity, mold may also pose various health risks. In some individuals, mold exposure may result in a stuffy nose, skin rash, coughing or wheezing, or sore throat. It can also prompt severe reactions in asthmatic persons or individuals that are inherently allergic to mold.
Past that, if you begin noticing the smell of rotten eggs within your living space, you may need to schedule a heating and air conditioning service. This odor is often a result of gas leakage within the HVAC unit. HVAC gas leaks should never be ignored since they can jeopardize the health of your family while creating a significant fire hazard within your residence.
Odd Noises
Although traditional HVAC models may produce some noise during operation, modern heating and cooling systems are designed to efficiently control your home’s indoor air conditions covertly. Therefore, most of the strange noises you may hear the unit producing can point towards the need for an immediate heating and air conditioning service. These strange sounds include screaming, squealing, and clicking noises as well as clanking, buzzing, humming, and rattling and banging. Just like the strange odors that can denote HVAC failure, each sound hints towards a specific HVAC issue as explained below.
Firstly, if you notice screaming noises originating from your home’s heating and cooling system, you should immediately schedule a heating and air conditioning service as it often means that the unit could be having a refrigerant leak. However, before contacting your HVAC professional, ensure that you’ve turned off the unit since freon leaks have been proven to negatively affect people and the environment.
Professional heating and air conditioning service technicians attribute refrigerant leaks to excessive internal pressure. They also believe that the situation may worsen if the unit’s safety sensors fail to switch off the blower on time since the freon will continue to be distributed throughout your home.
Similarly, you should never downplay squealing sounds that originate from the heating and cooling system. These noises may occur due to worn-out belts and issues with your unit’s motor bearings. Under such circumstances, the best course of action would be to contact your preferred heating and AC service technician before the belt breaks or develops a crack. If any of the latter actions take place, the blower may not turn, consequently denying you the indoor comfort the HVAC system is supposed to provide.
Another sign of HVAC failure can be identified by the presence of repetitive clicking sounds that happen frequently. Typically, your home’s HVAC unit may produce a clicking sound as it powers up. However, if the clicking noises happen repeatedly, the unit could be having a faulty contactor, a failing electrical control system, or a wrong connection. A heating and air conditioning service professional can provide solutions.
Past that, clanking within your home’s heating and cooling system may also hint towards partial or complete HVAC failure. These noises are an obvious sign that there could be a loose or broken component inside the unit. For instance, they can be heard when the blades of the indoor blower or external fan become imbalanced, making them collide with other HVAC components.
The clanking noise can also be heard if the compressor becomes loose or due to the failure of components within the sealed unit. These loose components can cause more damage to the functional parts of the HVAC unit, which is why scheduling a heating and air conditioning service should be a priority under such circumstances.
If a buzzing sound can be heard from your home’s heating and cooling unit, it could be time to contact a professional HVAC service company. These noises may happen due to the accumulation of dirt and debris in the indoor or outdoor HVAC units. They may also mean that the system has imbalanced fan blades or loose outdoor fans. In other scenarios, buzzing noises may imply that you need to change the air filters, inspect the refrigerant levels, or replace the blower. Regardless, you can rely on your heating and air conditioning service expert near Azle, TX, for comprehensive HVAC inspection, repair, or replacement solutions.
Your Home’s HVAC System Doesn’t Work
An HVAC unit that isn’t functional is among the obvious signs that you may need to contact a heating and air conditioning service professional for replacement or repair solutions. Once the system experiences a complete breakdown, it becomes really difficult to maintain the preferred indoor conditions during the summer or winter.
There are many reasons why your residential heating and cooling system may experience a complete breakdown. However, the most common ones include low refrigerant levels, extensive compressor damage, faulty motors, dirty or clogged air filters, improperly maintained outside units, and incorrect thermostat calibration. Whichever the case, your indoor comfort may be negatively affected and that’s why you should contact a heating and air conditioning service professional when your residence’s HVAC unit loses functionality.
Air Flow Problems
Your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is responsible for keeping your indoors cool during the summer and warm during the cold season. To do this, the conditioned air it produces should flow freely throughout the vents installed in your home. When the unit has airflow issues, it becomes really hard for it to regulate indoor temperatures. As a result, your residence may have hot and cold spots, drafty areas, inconsistent individual room temperatures, and whistling sounds that stem from air pressure issues.
There are wide-ranging factors that may contribute to the onset of HVAC airflow issues. They may develop as a result of debris accumulation around the condenser unit, clogged filters, and blocked registers and vents. Other possible causes of HVAC airflow problems include duct leaks and clogs, thermostat issues, dirty evaporator or condenser coils, low freon levels, oversized systems, and outdated or traditional HVAC designs. Regardless of the cause, airflow problems have synonymous consequences. They force your home’s heating and cooling unit to work harder to maintain the preferred indoor conditions. The stress arising from such scenarios may eventually lead to total compressor failure.
Given that the compressor is considered the heart of your home’s HVAC system, complete failure may force you to contact your preferred heating and air conditioning service technician for HVAC replacement solutions, which can be quite costly.
Frequent On and Off Cycles
Heating and air conditioning service specialists in Azle, TX, and beyond believe that a properly functioning HVAC system will go on and off regularly as it strives to keep your family comfortable. In that case, the heating and AC system may keep running until the desired temperature is achieved, after which it cycles off until the indoor temperatures rise again. However, if the short cycles become more frequent, it may be time to schedule a heating and air conditioning service since the HVAC system may be failing.
There are three main culprits behind short cycling – dirty or clogged air filters, low refrigerant levels, and the evaporator coil being covered in ice. This phenomenon may also occur when the system has an improperly maintained evaporator coil. Luckily, your heating and air conditioning service provider can avail timely solutions regardless of the cause of the problem.
For instance, they can change or clean the air filter on your behalf if it’s identified as the main cause of your unit’s frequent short cycling. If the air filters are clean, the technician can also conduct an in-depth inspection to get to the root cause of the problem. Once the problem has been traced back to its origin, they can provide repair or replacement solutions accordingly.
Ice Build-Up
As a vital component in your home’s HVAC system, the AC is responsible for cooling your home. However, this doesn’t mean that you should expect ice build-up or puddles near the indoor or outdoor components. If there’s ice build-up or a puddle around the unit, it may be time to consult with a heating and air conditioning service professional near you for solutions. Ice may begin to accumulate when there’s a blockage in the build-up line, a component that’s responsible for getting rid of substances that can freeze on the coils.
If the line clogs and eventually cracks, water may start spilling outward. When this moisture freezes, ice build-up may be inevitable. If it doesn’t, then puddles may begin forming. Besides affecting the performance of your home’s HVAC unit, the accumulated moisture may also damage your home. This is why an immediate heating and air conditioning service request is key in preventing these scenarios from playing out.
Past that, if there can’t seem to be any visible problems with the build-up line and hoses, then the accumulated liquid may be Freon, an issue you shouldn’t take lightly. As aforementioned, freon can harm your family’s health and the environment altogether. This is why in such situations, the recommended course of action would be to schedule a heating and air conditioning service in Azle, TX.
One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth; An HVAC Service Provider in Azle, TX, You Can Trust
Even though you may now know the various signs that denote HVAC failure, you’d be doing yourself and your loved ones a great disservice if you attempt to remedy heating and AC issues by yourself. If any of these signs become apparent in your residence, feel free to contact a heating and air conditioning service professional from One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth. Founded in 1988, our technicians have extensive experience serving all manner of heating and cooling needs for Fort Worth area residents. We can help with new HVAC installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement.