Heating And AC Repair: Top Signs Your HVAC System Needs Some Maintenance | Fort Worth, TX
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Whether it is the dead of winter or the hot, humid heat of summer, if you live in Fort Worth, TX you know that it is important to keep your HVAC system in tip-top shape. If this past winter has proved anything, it is that you never know what will happen with the shifting weather patterns. Therefore, you need to stay up-to-date with your heating and AC repair so that you are never caught off guard when the weather shifts. Proper maintenance and repair is the best way to ensure that you get the best performance out of your HVAC system.
Benefits of Regular Heating and AC Repair and Maintenance
There are a lot of benefits that come with heating and AC repair and maintenance if you keep to a strict annual schedule. Not only does regular AC maintenance keep your warranty valid, but it also helps lengthen the lifespan of your HVAC system which everyone can agree is a large bonus. After all, your HVAC system is probably the costliest appliance in your home, so it pays to be smart about how to take care of it.
A well-maintained HVAC system also runs better and is more energy-efficient, so paying for maintenance once a year can help lower your energy bills every month and pay off in the long run. In addition, a system that is running efficiently will suffer less wear and tear as a result so you can likely reduce the number of times you need to call for repair throughout the year in Fort Worth, TX. in fact, the primary goal of regular HVAC maintenance and servicing is to avoid repair calls by catching damage and parts that are wearing out before they cause any damage.
Proactive repair is the best way to ensure that you don’t end up stranded in the middle of the hot summer without AC or during the chilly winter nights without heat. When a piece breaks unexpectedly you have to wait for it to be ordered and then for the heating and AC repair technicians to have time to fit you into their schedule. Annual servicing happens before the pieces break, so your AC can continue to work while you wait for the piece to arrive and you don’t have to worry about a disruption in service. This is just one of many reasons why maintenance is so important.
Of course, even with regular maintenance on occasion things happen and parts break. It is important to know the signs that you need heating and AC repair so that you can fix any damaged components before they cause even more damage. If you call for heating and AC repair immediately after you notice a problem you can usually avoid a complete breakdown, but you have to know what you are looking for. The following are a few of the most common heating and AC repair signs to be on the lookout for.
Signs You Need Heating Repair
There are a lot of reasons why you may need heating and AC repair but here a few that signal something is wrong with the furnace component of the equation. Believe it or not, your furnace can be running and you can still be cold in your home because it isn’t running right. Just because your furnace is on does not mean that it wouldn’t benefit from heating and AC repair. If you are still shivering or notice that your airflow is compromised you could have faulty components at play or issues with your thermostat. Here are a few more situations you may find yourself in.
Your Energy Bills Are Rising
As the winter rolls in do you notice that your energy bills are rising? In Fort Worth, TX the winter is actually usually the cheaper month in terms of energy bills because your furnace does not have to cycle nearly as much as your AC as it attempts to keep up with harsh temperatures. Therefore, if you notice your utility bill spiking this could be a sign that your furnace is working overtime to keep the house warm. There is a good chance that your furnace needs a heating and AC repair to troubleshoot where the problem is, or possibly just a good heating checkup to clean it out and streamline its functional abilities.
Your Home Always Seems Dusty
Dust in Texas is a part of life, but if it seems like your air home is always dusty even if you clean it on a regular basis this could be a sign that your furnace is not properly sending out through your air ducts. You might notice dust on items right after you clean them, or you may notice the dust buildup around the visible portion of your air ducts. Either way, this is an indication that your blower is not working right and the air pressure pushing through your vents is diminished allowing dust to accumulate within your duct system. Not only will this force your furnace to work harder to heat your home, but it will increase dust and air particles that could trigger allergies so you will want to call for heating and AC repair to straighten out the issue.
Your Furnace Is Making Weird Sounds
There are a lot of reasons that your furnace may suddenly be talking to you, but none of them are good. As your furnace gets older components begin to wear down and can start to fail, which you should take as a sign that it is time for heating and AC repair. Some sounds can actually mean more trouble than others, so it is a good idea to always have someone immediately come look at your system. The goal should be to catch problems before your entire furnace shuts down.
Some troubling noises you should worry about the moment you hear them include banging, rumbling, rattling, squeaking, whistling, and thumping. A lot of people hear an odd noise and then think that it will just go away on its own, but this is the worst decision you could make. The noise won’t go away and waiting only gives it time to get worse as the component causing the noise will continue to deteriorate.
Make sure to note what type of noise you are hearing when you talk to the heating and AC repair technician as different sounds indicate different problems within your HVAC system. Squeaking for example can mean that a bearing is coming loose or deteriorating while thumping is usually an indication that something is wrong with your ignition. On the other hand, if you are hearing rattling in your system this usually points to loose screws somewhere in your system or ductwork that is starting to come loose.
The Air Coming Out of Your Vents Is Starting to Smell
Noises are not the only indication that something may be wrong, odors are also an indication that it may be time for heating and AC repair in Fort Worth, TX. If you start to notice foul odors coming from your air vents this is a clear sign that something is either wrong with your HVAC system or your ductwork. There are several smells that are common, and a few that are more worrisome than others.
If you smell any type of electrical burning this is a clear sign that you need to call for emergency heating and AC repair, because it indicates that something is wrong with your wiring. This is not something that should be taken lightly and if you smell it your first step should be to shut off your HVAC system and the second step should be calling a local HVAC company.
Another emergency odor that needs to be immediately addressed is anything that smells like natural gas. While gas is naturally odorless, additives that smell like sulfur and rotten eggs make it possible for you to smell if there is a leak. This is another immediately urgent situation and you should turn off your HVAC system before calling for help. If the smell is still lingering you should leave your home and call for help once you are safely out of your home.
Signs You Need AC Repair
During the summer months, you may not be as worried about your furnace as you are about your AC. Unfortunately, your AC may need repairs as well depending on its overall shape and condition. Once again, booking an annual maintenance visit is the best way to ensure that your AC is up to the challenge of cooling your home, but it pays to be aware of an impending problem with your AC as well.
The Air Coming Out Is Room Temperature
It may sound like your AC is running, but if it is coming out at room temperatures then something is wrong with your AC. Usually, this is due to an issue with leaking or low refrigerant, but there are several other issues that could be the root cause such as duct leakage and condenser issues. Either way, your AC is clearly not doing its job if the temperature of the air is not cool so you need to call for heating and AC repair in Fort Worth, TX.
Moisture in Odd Places
If your AC is working the way it is supposed to be there should not be moisture or condensation anywhere. Your HVAC system is designed to be a dry machinery so that mildew and mold do not grow and spread throughout your home. Therefore, any sign of dampness or a leak needs to be immediately investigated to prevent further problems. Common issues that may produce moisture include a broken condensate drain, refrigerant leak, or other issues within the machine. An HVAC repair technician is the best person to diagnose the problem.
You Notice Poor Air Flow Around Your Air Vents
It is possible that the air coming out of your vents is cool, but decreased compared to how it normally is. This is a clear sign that you need to call for heating and AC repair. Usually, this indicates a problem with your fan being able to push air through your ductwork properly, but sometimes it can mean that your ductwork is blocked or there is a clog in your air filter.
The first thing you should do is check your air filter to see if it needs to be changed. If it is extremely dirty this may be the cause of the issue, but if you change the air filter and have the same problem you need to call for heating and AC repair. The problem is that reduced airflow means your HVAC system will have to cycle more frequently to cool your home resulting in more wear and tear on your AC unit and a higher energy bill. It truly pays to troubleshoot this problem quickly to avoid both of those consequences.
Odd Smells or Sounds
Your furnace is not the only thing you should worry about if you notice odd smells or sounds coming from it. Odd smells and sounds should also not come from your AC system. AC units are supposed to run quietly so if you notice banging, grinding, or screeching you need to immediately call for heating and AC repair to make sure that serious system damage doesn’t occur. If it is not yet super hot you may even want to consider turning off your AC unit until it can be thoroughly examined.
Like your furnace, you should also not smell any electrical burning or gas odors. Both of these are red flags when it comes to AC units as well, so if you notice either of these smells you need to turn off the AC and call for help.
Whether you have noticed any of the above signs or simply want to schedule a maintenance visit, One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth is here to help. Give us a call and we can talk about your options.