HVAC Issues That Require A Call To An Emergency Heating And AC Repair Service | Fort Worth, TX
You rely on your air conditioner during the summer to keep your home cool and comfortable. In the winter, you rely on the heating system to keep your house warm and toasty. If any part of the HVAC system fails or stops working correctly, it will affect your home’s temperature. Some HVAC problems can put your home and family at risk, and it’s essential to recognize the signs of a problem so that you can call an emergency heating and AC repair service in Fort Worth, TX.
Trying to fix the problem yourself may seem like a good idea because you won’t have to pay for HVAC tech and won’t have to take time from your day for the service call, but a DIY repair is a huge mistake. Your HVAC system is complex, and one simple mistake could worsen the problem and cause further issues. Also, you should never work with electricity and fuel without the proper training. Finally, if the unit is still under warranty, a DIY repair will void it, and you’ll need to pay for the repair yourself.
Although some issues can wait until you can get an appointment with an HVAC tech, some problems must be addressed immediately, and you’ll need to call an emergency heating and AC repair service in Fort Worth, TX.
#1 The Furnace Produces Cool Air
Winter days in Fort Worth, TX, are relatively mild, but when a cold snap hits, it gets very cold. Also, it isn’t uncommon for the temperature to drop below freezing at night, and you need your furnace to heat your house. If your furnace produces cool air, it will get very cold inside, and dressing in layers and using blankets won’t do much to keep you warm. The problem is considered an emergency and may require a call to an emergency heating and AC repair service in Fort Worth, TX.
Before making the call, you should check a few things to avoid an unnecessary service call for something you could have handled yourself.
- First, check the air filter. If it’s been a while since it’s been replaced, the dirt, grime, and soot on the filter will prevent adequate airflow in the unit, causing it to stop creating heat, and you’ll feel cool air coming from the vents.
- Next, check the thermostat. If it isn’t set correctly, the furnace won’t get the correct command, and it won’t work properly. The thermostat should be set to the heating mode, and it must be cooler in the house than the setting on the thermostat for the furnace to kick on. Also, check the fan setting. If it’s set to “On,” it will continue running between cycles, and you’ll feel cool air from the vents, and it should always be set to “Auto.”
- Finally, if your furnace runs on oil or propane, check the tank to ensure there’s enough fuel. If you have a natural gas-fueled furnace, check another gas appliance to ensure your service hasn’t been disconnected and to rule out an outage.
If everything checks out, it’s time to call an emergency heating and AC repair service. A few issues can cause this problem, and you’ll need an HVAC to diagnose the problem correctly.
- Pilot issues: The pilot light is designed to ignite the burners, start the heating process, and keep the furnace running until you turn it off. If the pilot isn’t working, the unit won’t produce warm air, and you’ll feel cool air coming from the vents.
An HVAC service can send a tech to your home to check the pilot and make the necessary repair. - Dirty flame detector: Newer furnaces don’t have pilots and have a flame detector to complete the heating cycle. If the flame detector is covered in dust, dirt, and grime, the furnace will lose heat quickly and won’t be able to heat your house.
An emergency heating and AC repair service can send an HVAC tech to your home to clean the flame detector, which will solve the problem. They can also sanitize it, so the problem doesn’t happen again. - Clogged condensate lines: Newer furnaces have condensate lines to remove moisture from the unit. If the line clogs, the burners will deactivate and blow cold air into your house. You’ll need to call an emergency heating and AC repair service to send a tech to unclog the line so the furnace can produce heat.
It isn’t safe to stay in your home when it’s freezing outside because it can get just as cold inside, and you should call an emergency heating and AC repair service as soon as the furnace stops working.
#2 The Air Conditioner Produces Warm Air
It gets very hot in Fort Worth, TX, during the summer, and the temperature can reach 96 degrees on an average day. If your air conditioner isn’t working correctly, the temperature in your house can reach 120 degrees, putting your family at risk for heat-related conditions, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. This is considered an emergency, and you may need to call an emergency heating and AC repair service in Fort Worth, TX. Before making the call, you should check the air filter and thermostat first, the same way you would if your furnace isn’t working. The thermostat must be set to the cooling mode, the fan should be set to “Auto,” and it must be warmer in the house than the thermostat setting. Next, ensure the filter doesn’t need to be replaced because a dirty filter will prevent airflow in the unit, causing it to overheat and produce warm air.
If everything checks out on your end, it’s time to call an emergency heating and AC repair service. A few issues can prevent the unit from creating cool air, and you’ll need an HVAC professional to make a correct diagnosis.
- Broken compressor: The outdoor compressor works with the indoor unit to produce cold air; if the compressor isn’t working, you’ll feel warm air coming from the vents.
An emergency heating and AC repair service will send a tech to inspect the compressor to determine why it isn’t working correctly and make the necessary repair. - Refrigerant leak: Your AC needs refrigerant to produce cold air. Over time, acid can eat away at the metal where the refrigerant is stored, creating tiny pinholes that allow it to leak. If you installed the air conditioner before 2010, an emergency heating and AC repair service can send a tech to fix the leak and refill the refrigerant, restoring the cold air. However, if you installed the unit before 2010, you must replace it. Units built before 2010 can only be filled with R-22 refrigerant, which is toxic and depletes the ozone layer, and was banned in the United States on January 1, 2020. The HVAC tech won’t waste time fixing the leak because they won’t have R-22 to refill the unit, and the only option is to replace the air conditioner.
- Frozen evaporator coils: The unit’s evaporator coils are essential in keeping your house cool. They extract the heat and humidity from the house to start the cooling process. If the coils have frozen, they can’t do their job, and the unit won’t produce cold air.
An emergency heating and AC repair service in Fort Worth, TX, will send a tech to thaw the coils to allow the cooling process to begin. They will also determine why the coils froze to prevent it from happening again. The possible causes include:- Dirty evaporator coils
- Dirty air filter
- Poor airflow in the unit
- The AC ran when it was too cold outside.
It’s not safe to stay in your house on a very hot day without air conditioning, and it’s best to call an emergency heating and AC repair service as soon as the problem starts.
#3 Foul Odors
Your HVAC system should produce clean, odorless warm, or cool air, and the unit shouldn’t emit a smell. It’s not uncommon to smell dust when using the furnace for the first time during the warming season and when you use the air conditioner for the first time during the cooling season, but the smell will dissipate within a few minutes.
If you smell any other foul smells when the HVAC system runs, it’s best to call an emergency heating and AC repair service immediately. Foul odors indicate a severe problem that could put your home and family at risk, and the odor in your house will give you an idea of what’s wrong and what to do next.
- Burning: A burning smell indicates a wiring issue, and the smell is from burning wire insulation. Wiring issues can start an electrical fire that can destroy your house in minutes. You should turn off the HVAC system immediately to eliminate the fire risk. Next, call an emergency heating and AC repair service. You’ll need a technician to get to your house as quickly as possible to fix the problem so you can turn the HVAC system back on.
- Rotten eggs: This smell indicates a gas leak, and you must turn the heat off immediately and get your family out of the house as quickly as possible. When everyone is safe outside, call 911. The fire department will cut the gas to your home and air it out so it’s safe to go back inside, and then call an emergency heating and AC repair service. The tech will fix the leak so the gas can be restored, and your home will be warm and toasty again.
- Mold: A moldy smell will do more than make your home smell terrible; it can be harmful to your family’s health. The most common cause of the odor is mold in the air ducts. The ducts are dark, and when it gets humid in the house, condensation will form in the ducts, creating the perfect environment for mold growth.
When the HVAC system runs, the mold spores from the ducts will circulate in the home, exposing your family to mold, which can cause several health problems, including:- Allergy symptoms
- Skin rashes
- Burning eyes, nose, and throat
- Chronic headaches
- Respiratory issues
- Weakened immune system
- Worsens chronic lung and respiratory conditions
- Because mold exposure is hazardous, you should call an emergency heating and AC repair service immediately. They will send a tech to your home to inspect the ducts for mold, which can be eradicated with an antimicrobial fogger. If the air ducts are clean, the mold could be in the air conditioner. This can happen if you neglect annual maintenance and will expose your family to mold. The tech will try to eliminate the mold; however, if they can’t, you’ll need to replace the unit to keep your family safe. Whether the tech can eliminate the mold or you replace the unit, consider installing a UV lamp in the unit to prevent the problem from happening again.
Call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth Today
If you need help from an emergency heating and AC repair service; look no further than One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth. We’re a full-service HVAC company, serving customers in the area since 1988, and many of our customers have been working with us for over 30 years.
Our highly trained, licensed, and certified techs have the knowledge and skill to handle any HVAC job. We want you to feel safe when you allow our techs into your home and so they had to pass a drug test and background before they were hired.
HVAC technology is constantly evolving, and our techs receive ongoing education, allowing them to install, maintain and repair the latest HVAC models.
HVAC issues can arise anytime, and some must be fixed immediately, so we provide emergency service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When you call for emergency service, we’ll get a tech to your house as quickly as possible to resolve the issue, even if the problem happens during the weekend or a holiday.
To schedule an appointment for emergency heating and AC repair service, or a standard service call, get in touch with One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth.