Your HVAC equipment is a complex arrangement of electronic, electrical and mechanical components that need to work together harmoniously to be effective. When the system is not acting normally or even fails to work at all, it can be tricky for homeowners to diagnose the problem. Many people reach for the phone and call an HVAC contractor to deal with the problem, but sometimes this may not be necessary. In this article, we will examine three top tips that you can follow to evaluate if you need a repair.
- The System Will Not Turn On
When a heat pump, furnace or air conditioner does not turn on it is usually because the system is either not powered on or not receiving a signal from the thermostat. There are a couple of methods to troubleshoot what is going wrong. First, check the thermostat, make sure that it’s receiving power and check the settings to ensure that the correct mode has been selected. Second, check the power, the system may have flipped a breaker or blown a fuse. Check any external switches that should be located near the outdoor condenser unit and the indoor air handler to ensure that they are not turned off.
- No Warm/Cool Air or Lower Airflow
These issues are commonly caused by an air leak or a blockage in your ducts. First, check the air filter and make sure that it’s not clogged with dirt and/or debris. When the air filter is blocked, the fresh air cannot pass into your home, and the air flow will be compromised. If the air filter is dirty, clean or replace it according to the instructions in your owner’s manual. If this doesn’t fix the problem, check the ducts to make sure that they are not blocked or disconnected somewhere. When the ducts are blocked or interrupted they cannot serve the indoor areas in your home with adequate airflow.
- Know When to Stop
It’s important to recognize when these troubleshooting tips have not worked and take the appropriate action to correct the issue. First, turn off the HVAC system and then call a local professional HVAC contractor for help with the repair. Don’t try to carry out complex repairs yourself unless you have professional and relevant HVAC repair experience. Repairing and maintaining HVAC equipment is quite specialized and even experienced DIY experts should take care to avoid injury and causing more damage. As we mentioned earlier HVAC equipment contains many types of systems, and it’s easy to damage something if you don’t understand what you’re doing. This could result in a more expensive repair and in extreme cases even a total replacement.
Before you hire an HVAC contractor make sure that they are certified and check that they have a good reputation. Many HVAC manufacturers have qualified or certified programs for installation or servicing. This will prove that the contractor has received some specialized training to work on that brand of HVAC equipment.