Three Questions That Professionals From Your Local Heating And AC Repair Company Can Answer | Fort Worth, TX
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As a new homeowner in Fort Worth, TX, you have to learn how to stay on top of problems with your household appliances, even if you’ve never had to do so before. Whether it’s troubleshooting minor issues affecting your kitchen appliances or finding pest control, roofing, flooring, and landscaping solutions, being a new homeowner can be pretty arduous. You may quickly feel overwhelmed if you add maintaining your home’s HVAC unit to your to-do list.
Although the US Department of Energy claims that approximately 75 percent of all American homes have HVAC systems, very few residential property owners comprehensively understand how these units manage to keep indoor conditions bearable. As a result, most homeowners rarely pay attention to the units until they’ve suddenly stopped working, raising the need to schedule a repair or replacement service with a local heating and AC repair company.
Even though the HVAC experts may help, learning a few basics about your home’s HVAC unit can help you feel more prepared the next time you need the services of a reliable heating and AC repair company. Therefore, below are some of the common questions that professionals from your preferred company can provide authoritative answers for.
How Do Residential HVAC Systems Work?
After your preferred heating and AC repair company finished installing your home’s HVAC unit, it may be possible that the only interaction you’ve had with it since has been turning it on or off. As predetermined, only a few individuals know or have the interest to understand how their home’s HVAC units manage to keep indoors comfortable during adverse weather conditions. Luckily, your local HVAC contractor can shed more light on this matter to make it easier for you to troubleshoot heating and AC issues or maintain the system.
Your residential HVAC unit comprises three main components, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. They collaboratively work together to maintain favorable indoor temperatures and indoor air quality. To effectively perform these functions, the unit relies on the compressor, refrigerant lines, furnace, condensing unit, thermostat, evaporator coil, and vents. Below is a detailed account from your local heating and AC repair company of how each of the three main components works.
How a Residential Air Conditioner Works
Your home’s AC relies on the refrigerant to change warm air into cold air. The gaseous refrigerant moves from the condenser coil, which is often located outside your home, to the evaporator coil found inside the house. Once the AC is on, the cooling cycle begins from the condenser coil, where the low-pressure refrigerant gas is compressed to become a hot, pressurized liquid. During this instance, a condenser fan blows over the coil to release excess heat into the air.
Afterward, the hot, pressurized liquid then passes through the expansion valve, which lowers the pressure. The low-pressure liquid then flows into the evaporator coil where it changes into a low-pressure vaporized gas. During this time, the evaporator coil will absorb heat from the indoor air, leaving the cool air that will be directed back into your home. The absorbed heat will then move back to the compressor, where it will be expelled outdoors, prompting the cycle to start again.
Heating Component or Furnace
During HVAC installation, your trusted heating and AC repair company may ask you to choose between a gas, electric, or oil furnace. However, most homes in Fort Worth, TX, use gas furnaces, which are connected to the local natural gas supply lines. Gas furnaces have a gas valve that’s connected to the control board linked to your home’s thermostat. Once the furnace is on, the thermostat sends signals to the control board, prompting the activation of the gas valve. The valve then opens just wide enough to release enough gas to ignite the burner.
As the thermostat continually monitors temperature fluctuations in the house, it persistently signals the valve to open and close accordingly. The valve then narrows to reduce the heat as your home gradually warms up, and if it begins to cool down again, the valve will widen. Thereafter, the flame produced by the burner moves to the heat exchanger, where the heat is transferred to the cool air pulled from the rooms of your home. Blowers and fans then blow the heated air through the ductwork and into the residence via the vents.
Ventilation Components
The V in HVAC systems represents the ventilation components. Although most homeowners focus on the heating and AC units, ventilation also plays a major role in maintaining acceptable levels of indoor comfort and air quality. Without proper ventilation, experts from a reputable heating and AC repair company may warn that your home may begin to feel stuffy. Additionally, poor ventilation may lead to an influx in the concentration of allergens, dust, and bacteria, heightening the risk of allergic reactions or respiratory problems. You can allow fresh air into your residence by simply opening the windows. However, as a long-term solution, your preferred heating and AC repair company can install a modern residential HVAC system, which is inherently designed to heat, cool, dehumidify, ventilate, and humidify your premises.
Which Are the Common HVAC Problems?
Your residential HVAC system accounts for approximately 50 percent of your household’s energy consumption. When it’s damaged, you may notice an inexplicable rise in your monthly energy utility bill.
Therefore, understanding some common HVAC problems can help you know when to contact your heating and AC repair company for professional solutions. That way, you can avoid wasting your hard-earned cash.
Lack of Maintenance
Most HVAC issues can be linked to a lack of proper maintenance. To work efficiently, you need to have a regular maintenance plan with your local heating and AC repair company. Many residential property owners often neglect routine HVAC maintenance, citing cost implications.
Eventually, minor issues that professionals from a reputable heating and AC repair company near Fort Worth, TX, can quickly fix end up festering for too long, ultimately giving rise to more severe problems throughout the year. HVAC experts recommend scheduling a maintenance service during the spring season since, during this time, most homes have minimal to no heating or cooling needs.
Pilot or Ignition Problems
If your home can’t seem to get heated up, ignition problems may be to blame. They’re usually caused by faulty burners or a dirty pilot that collectively or individually result in a pilot outage. In some scenarios, the problem may be associated with gas supply problems or any ignition component’s standard wear and tear.
These problems can be challenging to remedy, regardless of how DIY-savvy you may be. Under such scenarios, prompt and effective solutions can only be offered by reliable heating and AC repair companies.
Thermostat Issues
HVAC service experts also recognize thermostat malfunctions as one of the significant HVAC issues you may encounter in your home. Considered the heart of your residential heating and cooling infrastructure, any thermal changes made by the unit are courtesy of the settings fed into the thermostat.
Modern thermostats feature replaceable batteries. Therefore, replacing the batteries can be your first course of action if you begin to experience thermostat problems. However, if you can’t seem to determine what’s wrong with the thermostat, it may be time to contact your preferred heating and AC repair company for practical solutions.
Dirty Condenser and Evaporator Coils
If it’s been a few years since you scheduled an HVAC maintenance service, then your unit’s condenser and evaporator coils must be filthy by now. Dirt and debris that may collect around these components as they strive to keep your indoors comfortable may seriously affect the operational efficiency of your residential heating and cooling system.
Even though you can turn off the unit and hose down dirty condenser coils easily, you may need professional help from your local heating and AC repair company to clean the evaporator coils.
Blown Fuses and Tripped Breakers
Home electrical service providers mount circuit breakers and fuses in every home to prevent electrical surges that can destroy your electrical appliances. When tripped, the breakers help protect your equipment by cutting off the flow of electric currents. To turn it back on, all you need to do is flip the switch to restore the electrical connection. However, if a fuse manages to contain a power surge, it may need replacing since, in most cases, it blows up.
If the fuses and breakers blow and trip frequently, your residential HVAC system may be the main culprit. Dirty or clogged air filters can also cause a current overflow since they force the system to work harder to maintain favorable indoor conditions. With that in mind, ensuring that they’re clean could help reduce the frequency of blown fuses or breaker trips. However, if the filters are clean and the situation remains constant, technicians from your reliable heating and AC repair company near Fort Worth, TX, can provide informed solutions.
What Are the Telltale Signs that You May Need to Contact a Reliable Heating and AC Repair Company?
Most of the above-described HVAC problems can be hard to identify. However, your unit may display any of the following signs to inform you that it may be time to contact your preferred heating and AC repair company.
Unpleasant Smells
An unpleasant smell emanating from your home’s heating and air conditioning unit is among the telltale signs that a repair or replacement service may be needed. Specific smells can pinpoint the exact issue at hand. For instance, the smell of rotten eggs is often indicative of a natural gas leak, which can pose serious health risks to you and your family.
On the other hand, a burning odor that can be observed when you turn on your home’s heating system shows that dust may have built up inside the unit, causing it to burn away gradually. A burning smell can also be a sign of underlying electrical problems. Regardless of the circumstances, you should immediately contact your HVAC professional to keep your home from potentially going up in flames.
Strange Noises
If your residential HVAC unit produces loud noises that include whining, thumping, screeching, banging, or clunking, it may be damaged. These noises typically occur due to the presence of a loose or broken mechanical component inside the unit. The most common culprits include loose screws, debris, and broken belts within the external HVAC component.
Less obvious sounds such as whistling and moaning often point towards a different set of problems. In some cases, windy noises may indicate leaks in the ductwork that could allow air to escape. Regardless of the sound you hear, you should immediately contact a reliable heating and AC repair company to prevent further damage to the system.
Uneven Temperature
If you notice hot or cold spots within your residence or your indoors getting stuffier even though the HVAC system is on, it could mean that the unit is damaged, which has led to it losing functional efficiency. In most scenarios, uneven temperatures can be linked to ductwork leaks or overburdening of the heating and cooling unit. Leaks in the ductwork and the lack of a proper air filtration system can lead to dust buildup, reducing the unit’s efficiency.
Also, suppose your heating and AC repair company in Fort Worth, TX, installed an improperly sized unit in your home. In that case, you may have to endure inconsistent temperatures and high energy bills until you find a replacement.
Condensation and Puddles
As aforementioned, modern HVAC systems are designed to heat, cool, humidify, and dehumidify your home. This means that they should never have condensation or puddles on or around the components therein.
If the components show signs of moisture accumulation, it could be due to leaks caused by the degradation and corrosion of the pipes and coils. Such issues should always be left for professionals from a reliable heating and AC repair company near you. DIY fixes could potentially cause more serious problems, and in some cases, the invalidation of the system’s warranty.
Where Can I Find a Reliable Heating and AC Repair Company in Fort Worth, TX?
Although this information can help you understand when to contact a heating and AC repair company and describe various HVAC problems, servicing heating and cooling units is not a DIY job.
Your residential HVAC system is a significant investment, which is why you should protect it by contacting the professionals at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth when in need of informed heating and AC solutions. We can help you install, repair, and maintain your unit. Contact us today to find out how our specialists can assist with your project.