No one wants to deal with HVAC issues while the temperature outside is soaring. However, during the summer months, or the coldest months of the year, it can be difficult to get a technician to your home without a service agreement in effect. Although an HVAC service agreement is always a good idea, you may not have one due to the age of the unit, or another unit specific reason.
It may be helpful to you to try to troubleshoot the problem prior to calling a service technician. However, keep in mind, you need a basic mechanical knowledge in order to be able to adequately troubleshoot. If you don’t even know where the unit is located, you would probably fare better to just call a service company and take their earliest possible appointment.
Before spending money on a repair, see whether you can fix the problem yourself with these suggestions.
HVAC Troubleshooting Tips
Filters should be changed as needed.
Do you know how to change the filters on your air conditioner? The procedure is easy to understand and implement. It’s smart to have a spare set of filters on hand just in case. You can find it at any home improvement store, and it won’t break the bank to get it.
Locate the filter’s installation location and remove it. Clogged filters restrict the device’s exhaust air from flowing through them. This will prevent your home’s HVAC system from functioning as effectively as possible. Take out the dirty filter, put in a new one, and observe the temperature in the home to see if the problem remains.
Look at the thermostat in particular:
If the problem persists, check to see whether the thermostat is at fault. Make necessary adjustments to the thermostat and keep an eye out for any HVAC system quirks. Otherwise, it’s time to get a new thermostat or check the batteries. You should try changing the batteries in the thermostat first, to verify if they are dead.
Verify the vents’ airflow holes:
Air that has been cooled or heated is let out through vents in the floor or ceiling. These may get obstructed from time to time, which can lead to poor air circulation in your home. The vents in your house may be inspected for blockage and cleaned out in a matter of minutes.
Get rid of all the junk you can discover on the device:
Debris like dead leaves, branches, and snow may prevent your HVAC system from receiving the adequate airflow it needs to function properly. It is suggested that once per week you take a few minutes to inspect the gadget while outside.
With this simple procedure, a potential problem may be discovered before it escalates into a major one. Using a brush to remove dust and debris from within the fan can keep it running smoothly and prevent the motor from overheating.
Make sure the gadget is receiving power:
Although it can be evident that your home’s cooling or heating systems have broken, many people don’t recognize this until it’s already too late. If the home’s HVAC isn’t working properly, it’s probably due to a tripped circuit breaker in the electrical panel. It’s possible that this is a simple answer that won’t break the bank.
Problems with the HVAC system may be fixed in a straightforward manner. Taking mental note of the suggestions given in this article is the key to ensuring that the environment inside of your home stays comfortable throughout the year.
What Occurs When You Ignore Cleaning Your Ducts?
What happens if you don’t clean the air ducts like clockwork? Ducts and vents do a lot of work in any structure, whether it’s an office or a house. Because of this, dust, grime, and mold are prone to build up quickly. Where might anything like this lead?
Mold may develop and spread, unfortunately
Untreated ducts and vents are breeding grounds for mold. Insulated vents are more likely to have this issue. If there is any kind of leakage or accumulation in your vents, condensation is certain to form. If the ducts aren’t regularly cleaned and maintained, mold and mildew will begin to grow on the wet surfaces.
The ducts eventually get obstructed
Air ducts will eventually get obstructed due to dust and other debris buildup. Over time, dust accumulates in filters, vents, outlets, and ducts. This decreases ventilation, which in turn diminishes the efficiency of the air conditioner and heater and causes them to work more than required. The ducts might become fully dysfunctional if left alone for long enough.
Possible Infestation by Rats and Mice
Dust, trash, and any moisture present provide bugs with the perfect breeding habitat. Uncleaned air ducts may provide a breeding ground for a variety of unwanted pests, including cockroaches, crickets, rodents, and mice. The longer you let your air ducts get clogged, the more likely it is that insects or other pests may make a home in your house.
Cause of several medical issues
Inside a building, air ducts provide filtered air for human consumption. A filtration system removes dust and other airborne diseases from the air before it is recirculated throughout the facility. Air ducts acquire a lot of impurities if they aren’t cleaned every six months. This polluted air is then pumped into every room of the house. There is a risk that you or a member of your family will experience serious health problems as a result of breathing this air.
Health issues that might be caused by dirty vents
Airborne microorganisms may cause a wide variety of diseases, and breathing in dust can exacerbate allergic reactions and produce severe nasal blockages. Reducing the danger of airborne virus transmission may also be accomplished by cleaning air ducts.
Problems with the system
When used, unclean air ducts may get clogged with debris such as dust and grime. As a result of the obstruction, the HVAC system may have to work harder to maintain the desired temperature and humidity levels.
As a result of the stress, HVAC systems as a whole might fail, leaving your home without a way to circulate fresh air. And it’s not uncommon for dust to build up in the HVAC system, preventing it from doing its job.
However, if there’s a problem with the HVAC system, it could be a long wait time before it’s fixed, leaving your building without working air conditioning or ventilation. Hence, having your air ducts professionally maintained on an ongoing basis will reduce the likelihood of a breakdown and the associated costs of fixing it.
Not cleaning your ducts might put your home at danger of catching fire.
It’s hard to fathom, but a lack of maintenance on your air ducts might lead to a devastating blaze. Most issues in home ventilation systems start in the dryer vents, but other components may potentially be a source of ignition. As time passes, a layer of dirt and dust forms, and it’s possible that some of that dust and dirt contains flammable particles.
A fire might break out as a consequence of the accumulation of combustible debris in the ducts and the presence of insects. Cleaning up air ducts by a Chesapeake HVAC company may prevent a tragic ending in which a fire isn’t seen in time to be extinguished.
Cost of operations increases
When air ducts aren’t cleaned often, it’s more likely that utility bills will be greater. Maintaining airflow is harder due to dirt and dust clogging air intakes and exhausts. It also requires more effort to keep the temperatures stable since the sensors aren’t working as well.
The accumulated effect may disrupt existing patterns. Dirty air ducts may have disastrous effects on your health, and you may be feeling the effects now.
Dirt and dust particles being reused
As stated, blowing around recycled dust and grime might do a lot more damage than you’d think. It’s obvious that this might exacerbate allergy symptoms and potentially dramatically aggravate respiratory diseases, but there’s a far bigger worry.
Dust may be found everywhere, even within your equipment and in the air. A buildup of dust on the inside components of delicate electrical equipment may result in failure and malfunction. It will also be necessary to clean the whole house more often since dust will be floating freely. Nothing in the house is safe from the dust’s contamination.
The costs associated with filthy air ducts are significant.
If you think it’s pricey to have your air ducts cleaned, you’ll be shocked to hear how much more it costs to let dust collect in your air ducts. Air duct (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duct_(flow)) cleaning by a professional might cost as much as $400 each year. However, the cost of energy bills can actually double over time as a result of air ducts which have accumulated dirt and dust over time.
It can take several years, so many homeowners don’t notice the higher energy bills until it’s become excessive, typically in the cooler months of the year when the bill should be dropping. This is typically when a homeowner will call for an inspection and find out that their ducts are clogged or they have an infestation. At the worst, an infestation of animals can result in holes chewed through ductwork, and requiring replacement.
That can be a very expensive job. Stay on top of the condition of your ductwork with regular inspection and cleanings. In light of the rising expense of your monthly electricity bills, that sum will appear little.
Also read: What are The 3 Main Types of AC Systems?
