The Signs That You Need Heating And AC Repair And The Consequences Of Neglecting HVAC Maintenance | Azle, TX
The heating and air conditioning systems at your Azle, TX home are constantly running. Unfortunately, this causes a lot of strain on the unit, exposing it to wear and tear. However, the HVAC system must keep running to ensure your home is comfortable. Whenever you notice that your air HVAC system is straining, you should enlist a heating and AC repair technician to inspect the unit and fix any underlying issues. When they come for an inspection, the professionals will advise you on why your HVAC system is straining and provide some recommendations to avoid the same.
Unfortunately, some homeowners feel they can use their DIY skills to fix the HVAC system. This is an outrightly dangerous thing to even consider for various reasons. First, the HVAC system is an electrical appliance, meaning that by attempting to fix the underlying issue yourself, you expose yourself and your family to the risks of electrical fires and electrocution. Second, the HVAC system is an expensive investment in your comfort. You might end up worsening the problem by trying to repair it yourself.
The third issue pertains to warranty and home insurance claims. Because they are a sizable investment, it makes sense to have a home insurance policy against them or for the manufacturer to extend a warranty. However, if you repair yourself, you’ll be voiding the warranty, and the insurance policy might not honor your claim. Therefore, leave the heating and AC repairs to a professional. But how can you know it is time to repair your HVAC system? Below are some of the signs;
Vibrations and Loud Noises
The furnace or air conditioner is supposed to operate silently. If it produces a sound, you should only hear a lowly-humming one. However, should you attend a persistently clicking or a loud banging sound, then you’re advised to have it checked up by a technician. This is caused by faulty fan motors or an issue with the compressor. It should also be a cause for concern whenever you hear rattling sounds from the furnace.
The sound usually comes from the heat exchanger, which might cause carbon monoxide leaks when it is faulty. Is your carbon monoxide detector repeatedly warning you? Or have you suspected that you might be having a carbon monoxide leak at your home? You should close the HVAC system and call a heating and AC repair technician.
Strange Smells
Your HVAC system should only produce colorless, odorless, and clean air that’s cooled or heated to your desired temperatures as per thermostat settings. Whenever you notice the air throwing an uncharacteristic smell, that should be a cause for concern. It’s normal for the furnace to sometimes smell like burnt dust, though only for a short period. This will usually happen if you are using the HVAC system for the first time after a long period.
However, should you continue smelling the burnt dust odor for over an hour, immediately turn off the HVAC system and call a heating and AC repair technician in Azle, TX. Does your air conditioner also produce a burning smell? That could indicate a problem with the wiring within the system or the compressor. However, if you notice other smells, such as a dead animal or rotten eggs, you might need the help of a licensed technician to clean the air ducts and use antimicrobial foggers to remove any mold.
Rising Electricity Bills
When the components of your HVAC system aren’t properly functioning, the unit uses more power to produce enough cooled or heated air for your indoor spaces and at a comfortable temperature. You even might notice that the energy utility bills are slowly increasing as time passes. At worst, you might even notice a sudden spike in electrical power usage. Whenever you notice that the electricity bills have suddenly increased or are different from normal, it is time to call a professional for a heating and AC repair.
This is the only way of ensuring that your HVAC system correctly functions and the electricity bills will lower. If you’ve had this issue for long, the HVAC system might be damaged beyond repair, and the only option that makes economic sense is to replace it. However, if you are sure that the HVAC system will not fail you in the hour of utmost need, you can have it repaired.
Incorrect Thermostat Readings
Is there a discrepancy between what your thermostat is reading and the accurate temperatures at your Azle, TX home? Then you should enlist a heating and AC repair technician to perform a further inspection. At times, this problem is caused by misconfigured or even faulty components. In other cases, the issue might be narrowed down to how you’ve placed the thermostat. An incorrectly placed thermostat will always give the wrong temperature readings. Typically, the thermostat should always be placed centrally within your house. It should be away from windows, air vents, sunlight, doors, areas of high traffic like hallways, and from the kitchen.
Water Pooling
You might notice water pooling if something is out of place with your HVAC system. However, this sign can be brought about by various issues. Frozen evaporator coils might cause it, clogged condensate drains, or a severely corroded drain pan. If this issue is left for long, you might experience water damage in various parts of your home, resulting in expensive repairs. Is the leaking liquid yellow or bright green? That is the sign of a refrigerant leak. Whenever you notice this, you should turn off the HVAC system and immediately call a reliable technician for a heating and AC repair service. This is because the refrigerants are usually toxic if inhaled.
Main Reasons Why You Might Need a Heating and Air Conditioning Repair
Unprofessional Servicing
Have you had your HVAC system repaired recently? Or do you have an HVAC inspection and maintenance plan? It is critical to have your HVAC system regularly inspected by an experienced, professional, and licensed heating and AC repair technician. Never hire quacks or DIY enthusiasts to work on your HVAC system.
The professionals are trained and qualified, meaning they will do a fine job. On the other hand, hiring unqualified and non-trained people will result in low-quality repairs. Further, your HVAC system might even sustain more damage, prompting a need for more costly repairs down the line. If the DIY enthusiast or quack skips critical steps in your HVAC maintenance, the heating and cooling system might even suffer more damage. This makes its various components weaker.
Additionally, stay away from DIY HVAC repairs. Hiring an unlicensed person or performing the repairs yourself will effectively void the warranty and blow up any chance of making an insurance claim. Hiring a professional HVAC repair technician is more convenient and safer.
Old Systems
Is your heating or air conditioning system closing in on the end of its service life? If it does, then you might start experiencing a need for frequent repairs. If this is the case, consult your heating and AC repair technician in Azle, TX, on the possibility of installing a new AC unit or furnace. This will go a long way in increasing energy efficiency and reducing repair frequency. The technician is also better positioned to guide you through the entire process of upgrading the HVAC system to ensure that you make the right and best possible decisions.
Inappropriate Maintenance
If the heating and air conditioning system is regularly and properly maintained by a professional and licensed heating and AC repair technician, it could last for over 15 years. On the other hand, if it isn’t regularly maintained by a professional, you could be staring at serious future repairs. Most professionals recommend that the unit be maintained at least once every year. Further, your electrical bills will skyrocket since the HVAC system is under further strain.
What Are the Risks Associated with Neglecting Heating and Air Conditioning Repairs?
Poor Performance of Your HVAC System
There are various reasons why your HVAC system might not perform at its peak, most of which can be solved by regular HVAC system maintenance. Unfortunately, neglecting this will undoubtedly result in various issues such as poor performance. The heating and AC repair technician can resolve any issue, even the smallest one. Simple tune-ups can help your HVAC system.
Shorter HVAC System Service Life
Purchasing and installing an HVAC system is a significant investment. However, it isn’t all in vain because regular HVAC system maintenance can prolong its service life. The general wearing out can result in issues for any Azle, TX homeowner that doesn’t have a regular maintenance plan with a heating and AC repair technician.
Safety Concerns
Whenever you neglect the HVAC unit and don’t have a regular maintenance plan, it poses a danger to the safety and wellbeing of your family. The safety concerns of neglecting air conditioning maintenance include fire hazards posed by leaks in gas leaks, faulty connections, or wiring issues. The other safety issue is carbon monoxide leaks. This odorless and tasteless gas might go unnoticed, though highly dangerous.
Carbon monoxide poisoning poses severe health and, to an extent, is deadly. Last, water leakage is the other safety concern that you should be worried about. The condensate and frozen water on the evaporator coils might cause flooding. To ensure your family’s safety, have the HVAC system inspected and maintained by a heating and AC repair technician.
Lower Comfort Levels
A well-maintained HVAC system ensures the comfort level of your home. Whenever some rooms feel more relaxed or warmer compared to others, that signifies a dirty or clogged vent. The dirty vents also make it hard to cool or distribute hot air throughout your home effectively and thoroughly. Hiring a heating and AC repair technician for timely and regular maintenance ensures that your home is comfortable.
Too Much Humidity
The HVAC system not only cools your home but also manages the humidity levels and ensures they are under control. This is essential, especially for the hot summers in Texas. Without seasonal maintenance, the system might become faulty, letting the humidity into your Azle, TX home.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
The gas furnaces rely on the heat exchanger to remove harmful gasses like carbon monoxide. Such gasses are produced in the heat after the combustion process. As the temperature changes, the heat exchanger contracts and expands repeatedly. After some time, it might develop cracks that result in leakage of the deadly gasses into your home. Carbon monoxide is both odorless and colorless, meaning it can go undetected quickly.
Burst and Frozen Condensate Drains
During winter, the neglected HVAC unit is always at a risk of having the condensate drains breaking down completely. Other than the weathering of the severe cold indoors and outdoors, what else does the broken furnace during winter point to? The answer is frozen condensate drains. If your home isn’t heated effectively in winter, the water in the pipes might freeze within hours. The condensate in these drains might freeze and expand. by expanding beyond capacity, the condensate drains might burst, resulting in water damage. You can avert this issue by hiring a heating and AC repair technician to winterize the condensate drains.
System Breakdown
A total breakdown typically arises in your heating and air conditioning system if it has been neglected. This also might arise if the HVAC system is pushed to its maximum capacity, and this happens mostly during winter or summer. Whether you are chattering teeth or sweating bullets, either time is convenient for you to remain stranded without cooling or heating that awaits the replacement or installation of an HVAC system. Instead, regularly conduct routine maintenance and inspection by a heating and AC repair technician.
Costly Cooling and Heating Repairs
Some homeowners choose to forgo HVAC system maintenance to save a few dollars. However, though your HVAC system might seem to be efficiently functioning, the minor issues add stress to your entire heating and cooling system if they aren’t repaired. Running an HVAC system under such stress results in more costly repairs down the line. This isn’t proportional to the amount you would have used to pay a heating and AC repair technician in Azle, TX, for routine maintenance.
A Reputable Heating and Air Conditioning Repair Company
How often do you have a maintenance service for your HVAC system? Regular maintenance might help avert some of the issues explained above. However, it should be done by a reliable, licensed, experienced, and professional heating and AC repair technician like those at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth. Call us at any time for heating and AC repair service.