When To Call A Heating And AC Repair Company | Azle, TX
Photo By Dean Drobot at Shuttestock
Being a new homeowner can be almost as stressful as the home buying process because suddenly there are dozens of things that you are responsible for and you have no idea where to start. Suddenly in addition to managing the mortgage, you are managing your plumbing system, electrical system, and HVAC system while desperately hoping that nothing fails anytime soon. Eventually, most home management tasks start to feel routine, but until you get their certain things may confuse you such as when to call a heating and AC repair company in Azle, TX.
Can I Do My Own HVAC Repairs?
The first inclination of many homeowners, especially those who are the DIY type is to try to fix HVAC problems on their own. However, this is a very costly misconception so if there is one piece of advice that you glean from this entire article, it is simply not to try it. If you notice an issue, call the heating and AC repair company and let them handle it. As a local Azle, TX HVAC company we have seen it all, and most of it is not great.
Usually, when people try to fix their own HVAC systems they end up seriously damaging additional components, breaking or damaging key components like the condenser coils, or compromising the electrical wiring. The thermostat is also an area that tends to get correctly installed. After all the new damage is done, they are forced to call a heating and AC repair company to clean up their mess. At this point, we have to charge to clean up the mistakes you made and also fix the actual problem that inspired the DIY project in the first place.
The bottom line is no matter how tempting it is to try something on your own, don’t do it. It is never as easy as it looks on YouTube and it always ends in a disaster. Unless you want to be the subject of our next blog about an unbelievable mess we walked into, it’s best to just let a HVAC repair company handle the task.
How Do I Know When to Call an Azle, TX Heating and AC Repair Company
With that in mind, there are really only two times that you need to call an Azel, TX heating and AC repair company: for your annual cleaning and inspection and for a service call if you notice your furnace or AC is not working correctly. That’s it. We don’t expect to become your best friends, but if you call us at the first sign of danger and keep up with your annual maintenance then you probably won’t have to call us much at all.
Annual Maintenance Call
While your HVAC system sits inside of your home, it is essentially just one large piece of machinery, and like any piece of machinery, it needs to be fine-tuned from time to time if you want to keep it in good shape. If you don’t already have a good idea, google the costs of an HVAC system real quick and you will learn the importance of extending the lifespan of your unit. It is recommended by most manufacturers that you service your HVAC system at least once a year if you want it to reach its full potential.
This service call actually accomplishes multiple goals at once, which is another reason why it is so important. First of all, it keeps your warranty valid, which is very important if you have a newer model. A lot of homeowners with a newer HVAC system think that they can get away with skipping the first few years of service, but if you do this there is a good chance that you will void your warranty. Therefore, if something goes wrong with your very expensive home appliance, you will be responsible for footing the entire bill. Paying a small amount each year one time is worth avoiding that devastating scenario.
Second, the service call helps you proactively troubleshoot any problems before they appear. The goal of a heating and AC repair company tech during an annual maintenance visit is to clean your entire system from top to bottom while checking the components for any issues. They clean both the outdoor and indoor components and remove all build-up dust, grime, or mold. Mold hiding in your HVAC system out of sight, in particular, can cause problems in homes, but if you annually have your system cleaned you don’t need to be concerned about it. This includes the outdoor condenser unit which can also easily be hurt by falling debris, leaves, and dust. While cleaning your system the tech will also be on the lookout for rust or corrosion which can indicate moisture is present or your system is aging.
As just mentioned, they are also looking actively at all components, wiring, and inner mechanisms to ensure that everything is working as it should be. If they see a part that looks weak or damaged they will suggest you exchange it now before it breaks down. Oftentimes when one part breaks it leads to damage in neighboring components when the system stops functioning smoothly. Therefore, it is in your best interests to proactively change anything the heating and AC repair company recommends.
Sometimes they can do the repair while there, and other times the heating and AC repair company may need to come back out to your home. It depends on whether or not they have the part in stock. There are a lot of HVAC systems produced yearly in Azle, TX, so there is a good chance that they will have to order the part which means they will have to come back in three to five days, but that is the advantage of proactively making the repair. If you wait until the part breaks, you will probably also end up needing to wait for it to come in which means you will bake in your hot Azle, TX home in the middle of summer. If you can avoid that scenario it is definitely advantageous to do so.
At the end of your service call, the heating and AC repair company will give you a full list of what they saw and what they suggest doing. You don’t have to make up your mind that minute, but it is worth it to mull over what they recommend and make the repairs before they pile up and cost you a lot more including cool air during the hottest months in Azle, TX.
Third, regular service will keep your machine running smoothly which means lower energy bills. This alone can pay for the service call on its own making it well worth your time. Natural wear and tear on your machine will wear it down over time, and that becomes even more dramatic if you are not annually having your HVAC system serviced by a heating and AC repair company. That means that your machine will start running less efficiently and will need to cycle more to cool your home. Every time your machine cycles it consumes a large amount of energy which means your electricity bills will skyrocket. Annual cleaning and maintenance can save you anywhere from 25-40% on your energy bills over the course of the life of your HVAC system. It is well worth it to pay a minimal amount once a year to cut down your energy bills for the lifetime of your machine.
Fourth, a service call is a great way to learn to change your air filters if you don’t already know. A lot of first-time homeowners are not familiar with how to change their air filters, but if you ask the heating and AC repair company technician while he or she is at your home they shouldn’t have a problem demonstrating the process to you. Changing your air filters is the most important thing that you can do as a homeowner outside of booking the annual maintenance visit. In the same way, you wouldn’t dream of driving your car endlessly without having the oil changed, you can’t continue to run your HVAC system and not change the air filters.
What happens is that they get so dirty that your HVAC system will just be blowing dust back into your home that you will then breathe. Eventually, if you don’t do anything about the situation the air filters will clog and decrease the amount of airflow from your vents causing your system to overheat and components to either break or the entire system to shut down. All of this can be avoided by remembering to change your air filters every three to four months. Unless you want to get a lecture from your local heating and AC repair company, ask for help, learn how to do it, and then make sure you do.
Call at Signs of Trouble
Now that you fully understand just how important it is to call a heating and AC repair company for yearly servicing, you also need to make sure that you call an HVAC company if you see or hear any signs of trouble. There are situations that immediately indicate an issue such as a loud banging noise coming from the outdoor condenser or warm air coming out of your vents when the AC is on, but there are also quieter problems that still indicate you need to call a heating and AC repair company.
As a general rule of thumb, the sooner you notice there is a problem with the HVAC system and call the heating and AC repair company the cheaper the repair will be. Cost is the number one reason that people put off calling a heating and AC repair company in Azle, TX for help, but the longer you wait the more you will pay. This is because HVAC systems rarely break down spontaneously.
They usually offer a variety of signs of impending trouble before they break down. Each sign gets more and more noticeable because the damage is compounding. If you notice anything abnormal about your HVAC system it is in your best interests to call and run it by us. Even if you aren’t sure if it indicates a problem, we are happy to offer you an opinion and then we can schedule an appointment if it sounds like a warning sign.
Of course, there are some common warning signs that every new homeowner needs to learn. First up, your HVAC system should never make any noise outside of a gentle hum. Any other noise indicates that trouble is brewing and you should call right away. Your HVAC system should also never smell, so if you notice musty, moldy, electrical, burning, or sulfurous smells coming from your air vents you need to call a local heating and AC repair company.
Other common signs include decreased airflow around your air vents or air that is blowing hot when it should be blowing cold and vice versa. Short cycling is another common issue and usually occurs when the thermostat is not working properly. Your thermostat itself can be a reason to call for heating and AC repair if it seems that your home is not consistently heating or is never able to reach an ideal temperature. Sometimes your thermostat needs to be recalibrated which is a simple process that can increase your comfort level and reduce your energy bills dramatically.
Are you concerned about one of the signs mentioned in the last few paragraphs? Or are you thinking that it is time to schedule an annual maintenance visit? Spring is actually an excellent time to have your AC looked at before the smoldering summer months arrive. One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating or Fort Worth is a great heating and AC repair company that serves the Azle, TX region. Give us a call today and we will set up a time to come take a look.