Do you know how old your HVAC system is? If you’ve owned your home for some time, you likely have an older system. There are some common warning signs that your HVAC system requires repair or maintenance.
If you see any of the following signs, then you need to schedule an HVAC repair appointment right away. Especially before the cold winter or hot summer weather gets here first. Keep reading to learn more.
1. Bad Smells
If you have noticed a bad smell every time your heating and air system comes on, this could be an early warning sign that there is an issue. This could smell like there is something burning, moldy, or rotten. If you can follow the smell back to your air compressor or the air vents in your home, it is definitely your HVAC system.
Various things could cause this smell. It could mean that dust has collected and is burning off every time your heater starts up.
A moldy smell could be due to moisture gathering and not being able to dry well. Or, a rotten smell could be a sign that a small animal has made its way into your ventilation system and passed away.
If you notice any smells coming from your system, you should schedule an appointment with your local HVAC repair company.
2. Thermostat Not Working
If your thermostat stops working, it will be hard to maintain the temperature inside your home. You can try and troubleshoot the thermostat by reducing the thermostat temperature and waiting to see if the HVAC system comes on.
If that doesn’t work, then there is a good chance that the unit isn’t working right, and you should make a repair appointment.
3. Weird Noises
The HVAC unit should make a whirring sound when it is operating correctly. If you notice it start to make any grinding, clanking, or rattling sounds, then that is a sign of an issue. These sounds could indicate a loose part, a belt that’s worn out, or the fan isn’t working.
These types of issues can lead to a much bigger repair job or even a full replacement of the unit if left too long. As soon as you notice any weird sounds coming from your unit, it would be best if you got a professional out right away to perform a service check.
4. Varying Temperatures
Your home temperature should be consistent from one room to another unless you have a multi-zone system. If you notice that one room is much warmer than another, or your second floor is hotter than the first, there is an issue.
If one room is warmer than another, it could mean that something is blocking the airflow to that room. Your system is designed to provide consistent airflow and temperature to every room. If it fails to do so, HVAC repair services should be called to figure out the problem.
5. Humidity Inside
One of your HVAC system functions is drawing the humidity out of the air in your home. It then collects this humidity and expels it outside, usually through a PVC pipe near the main unit.
If you notice your home is beginning to feel stuffy or damp, this indicates that the system is not drawing moisture out of the air correctly.
If you notice that the PVC pipe outside of your home isn’t expelling the water correctly, then the pipe may have a clog. Sometimes the pipe can develop algae which will turn into sludge and block the pipe from releasing the water.
You can remove the clog yourself by using a wet/dry vac to suck the algae out. If that doesn’t work, you will need to schedule an appointment to have your system repaired. Once fixed, they may recommend pouring bleach into the drain line once or twice a year to prevent additional algae growth.
6. High Utility Bill
If you have lived in your home for a while, you have a general idea of how much your electric bill will be in the summer and winter months. If you notice a sudden increase in your bill, then this is another sign there is an issue with your HVAC unit, especially if you have any other signs.
You can request an energy audit from your utility company to see where the unexpected difference is coming from. If the surge is tracked back to your HVAC system, then it is likely your unit is having a difficult time regulating the temperature in your home.
The system is working overtime to keep up and is causing a drain on your energy and putting stress on it. If your HVAC system is constantly running, it is putting extra wear and tear on the unit, and it may fail sooner than it should.
7. Fluctuations in Power
If your heating and cooling system turn on and off randomly throughout the day, this is known as “short-cycling.” Short-cycling means that your unit is probably not getting enough power to run properly and can become a dangerous situation.
These power surges could damage your home’s breakers or power supply. It could also indicate that the unit is overheating during its cycle, and once it has cooled down enough, it tries to kick back on. If it continues to do this, it will become a fire hazard, and you should schedule a repair appointment right away.
Learn More About HVAC Repair Warning Signs Today
These are some of the most common HVAC repair warning signs that you should know. If you notice any bad smells or moisture in the air, the thermostat not working, or varying temperatures from room to room, you need to schedule a repair.
Major issues such as weird noises, high utility bills, or fluctuating power going to the unit should not be ignored. These are indicators that there is a major issue with you need an emergency HVAC repair.
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