HVAC Issues? Call A Heating And AC Repair Company Today | Fort Worth, TX
Summers in Texas get very hot, and it’s not uncommon for the temperature to reach 90 degrees or higher, so your air conditioner is essential to your family’s comfort. Winter days are relatively mild, but you’ll still need your furnace to keep your house warm, and the temperature drops significantly at night, making the unit more essential.
Because your HVAC system is essential to your family’s comfort, routine maintenance is necessary. HVAC techs recommend maintaining the air conditioner every year before the cooling season begins, and the furnace should be maintained every year before the heating season begins. This will ensure the units function efficiently and minor problems can be detected early. Another way to ensure the unit works properly is to detect problems early so you can call a heating and AC repair company before further damage occurs.
The following problems indicate issues that must be addressed immediately, and a heating and AC repair company can help.
#1 Minimal Airflow
You should feel an intense rush of cold air when the heat or air conditioner runs, and minimal airflow indicates a problem that requires a call to a heating and AC repair company.
Minimal airflow will do more than affect your home’s temperature and can increase your electric bill. The heater and AC must work harder to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, and the extra work will cause the unit to consume more energy, and your energy bills will increase. The additional work will also strain the AC and furnace, decreasing the maximum lifespan, and you’ll need to replace the units sooner than you should have.
A few issues can restrict the airflow from the vents, and it’s best to call a heating and AC repair company as soon as possible.
- Faulty blower: Your heater and air conditioner have blowers to force the treated air from the unit through the air ducts and out the vents. If the blower isn’t working correctly, the treated air will sit in the ducts, resulting in little or no airflow.
- A heating and AC repair company can send a tech to your house to inspect the blower, allowing them to determine if the blower can be fixed or if a replacement is the best idea. When the blower is up and running, the airflow will be restored, and your home will be comfortable again.
- Leaky ducts: The air ducts allow warm or cool air to travel from the unit to the vents. If there’s a break in the ducts or the seal fails, the warm or cold air will escape before reaching the vents, resulting in poor airflow.
- A heating and AC repair company will send a tech to inspect the ducts for damage so they can fix it, restoring the airflow from the vents.
- Clogged air ducts: Clogged air ducts are the most common cause of restricted airflow and can be the most dangerous. The dirt, dust, and debris in the house will get into the ducts, regardless of how clean you keep your home. Up to five pounds of debris can accumulate in the ducts in one year and build up over time, clogging the ducts and preventing adequate airflow. When the air conditioner or furnace runs, the debris in the ducts will circulate in the air, affecting your home’s air quality and can cause your family to develop allergy symptoms.
- A heating and AC repair company will send a tech to clean the ducts to restore the airflow and improve your home’s air quality.
Minimal airflow affects your home’s temperature, the lifespan of the heater and air conditioner, and your bank account, so it’s best to call a professional immediately.
#2 Foul Smells When the Heater or Air Conditioner Run
Your heater and air conditioner are designed to produce warm or cool, clean, odorless air. If either unit emits a foul odor when it runs, the smell indicates an issue that must be checked by a professional immediately. If you detect any of the following odors, call a heating and AC repair company immediately.
- Mold: A moldy smell indicates mold somewhere in the HVAC system, and the air ducts are the most common location. The ducts are hidden, so they’re very dark, and humidity can cause condensation to form in the ducts, creating the perfect environment for mold growth. When the heat or air conditioner runs, mold spores will circulate in the air, putting your family’s health at risk. Mold exposure causes various health issues, such as chronic headaches, burning eyes, skin rashes, respiratory issues, and a weakened immune system. Also, exposure can worsen chronic lung and respiratory problems and the symptoms. Because mold exposure is dangerous, it’s best to turn the unit off immediately and call a professional.
- A heating and AC repair company will send a tech to inspect the ducts for mold, which can be quickly eradicated using an antimicrobial fogger. If the air ducts are clear, the mold is likely in the air conditioner or furnace and can be more challenging to eliminate. If the tech cannot eliminate every spore, replacing the unit is the only way to ensure your family stays healthy. If they can eliminate the mold, consider installing a UV lamp in the units to prevent future mold growth.
- Burning; A burning smell in your house should never be ignored, and if you smell something burning when the heat or air conditioner runs, you should turn off the unit immediately and call a heating and AC repair company. The smell indicates a wiring issue, and you smell the wire insulation burning. Waiting to make the call can result in an electrical fire that can destroy your house in minutes.
- A heating and AC repair company will send a tech to inspect the wiring and replace the faulty wire, preventing a disaster.
- Rotten eggs: If you smell rotten eggs in your house when the furnace runs, it indicates a gas leak that can result in an explosion. You should turn off the furnace immediately, get everyone out of the house, and call 911. The fire department will come to cut the gas service to your home and air it out so it’s safe to go back inside. When the fire department allows you back into the house, call a heating and AC repair company. The gas service will be restored once the leak is fixed, and your home will be very cold.
- An HVAC tech can fix the gas leak and let the gas company know that restoring your service is safe and your house will be warm again.
Foul odors indicate issues that can put your home and family at risk, so it’s best to call a heating and AC repair company when you notice the smell.
#3 The Furnace Isn’t Producing Warm Air
Your furnace is designed to produce warm air to keep your home comfortable in the winter. You may need to hire a heating and AC repair company if you feel cool air from the vents when the unit runs. You should check a few things before making the call to avoid an unnecessary service call. First, check the air filter. If it’s been a while since the filter was replaced and it’s covered in dirt and grime, air won’t flow freely in the unit, causing it to overheat and shut down. Next, check the thermostat. It must be set to the heating mode, and the temperature inside must be cooler than the thermostat setting. Also, the fan must be set to AUTO, and if it’s set to ON, the fan will continue running between cycles, and you’ll feel cool air from the vents. If everything checks out on your end, it’s time to call a heating and AC repair company. Several issues can prevent the unit from producing warm air, and you’ll need an HVAC tech to determine which of the following problems is the cause.
- A problem with the pilot light: The pilot light is designed to ignite the burners and allows the unit to produce heat. If an issue prevents the pilot light from staying on, the burners won’t ignite, and the unit will produce cool air.
- An HVAC tech can inspect the unit to determine why the pilot won’t stay lit so they can resolve the problem, restoring the heat in your house.
- Dirty flame detector: If your furnace is new and doesn’t have a pilot light, it has a flame sensor designed to start the heating process. If the component is covered in dirt and grime, the furnace will lose heat quickly, causing it to produce cool air. An HVAC tech can sanitize the flame detector to restore the heating process, and your home will be warm and comfortable again.
- A clog in the condensate line: Your furnace has a condensate line designed to eliminate moisture from the unit. If the line gets clogged, the burners will deactivate, causing the unit to produce cool air.
- A licensed tech can eliminate the clog from the line, allowing the burners to activate and produce heat, ensuring your house stays warm.
If your furnace fails to produce warm air, your house will get very cold quickly, and you should hire a professional immediately to restore the heat.
#4 The Air Conditioner Produces Warm Air
You rely on your air conditioner to keep your house cool. When it reaches 90 degrees or higher outside, the temperature inside can reach 120 degrees or higher, making it impossible to remain comfortable while putting your family at risk for heat-related conditions. If your unit produces warm air, you may need to call a heating and AC repair service, and it’s best to check a few things first.
First, check the air filter. If you last replaced it a while ago and it’s covered in dirt and grime, air flow in the unit will be restricted, causing it to produce warm air. Next, check the thermostat. It must be set to the cooling mode, it has to be warmer in the house than the thermostat setting, and the fan must be set to AUTO. If everything checks out on your end, it’s time to call a professional. A few problems can prevent the unit from doing its job, and you’ll need a licensed HVAC tech to determine which of the following issues is the cause.
- Frozen evaporator coils: These are designed to extract heat and humidity from the air to begin the cooling process. The coils can freeze due to insufficient airflow in the unit, a backup in the drain, low fan speed, or a dirty evaporator coil. They can also freeze if you run the unit when it’s too cold outside.
- A heating and AC repair company will send a licensed HVAC tech to thaw the coils and determine why they froze to prevent this from happening again.
- Broken compressor: The indoor unit and outdoor compressor work together to produce cold air. If the compressor isn’t working correctly, the indoor unit cannot function independently, causing the unit to produce warm air.
- A heating and AC repair company will send a tech to fix the compressor and restore the cold air in your house.
- Refrigerant leak: Refrigerant leaks occur when formic acid eats away at the metal, causing tiny holes that allow the refrigerant to leak. The unit relies on refrigerant to produce cold air, so it’s best to call a heating and AC repair company immediately. They will send a tech to fix the leak and refill the refrigerant; however, it must be replaced if the unit was installed before 2010. Older units use R-22, which was banned in the US, and the only option is to replace the unit.
Call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth Today
If you need help from a heating and AC repair company, look no further than One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth. We’ve been serving customers in the area since 1988, and our techs are highly trained and skilled. We provide emergency service if you have a problem that must be addressed immediately. You can be sure the job will be done right the first time when you work with us, and your satisfaction is guaranteed.
To schedule an appointment for HVAC service, call us today.
See our previous blog on this topic here.