5 Common Problems Your HVAC Could Be Suffering From
While some common problems with HVAC systems are easy to fix yourself, such as changing a dirty filter, others require help from a local technician. To help you distinguish which problem your HVAC is experiencing, and what you need to do to get it fixed, here is a list of the 5 most common HVAC complaints:
- Grubby filters
The filters in your HVAC should be changed at least twice a year; some households may need to change them more often. They can get pretty grubby over time, and dirty filters are one of the primary causes of allergy symptoms, such as itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose and coughing. Not only that, but they can prevent humidifiers from being able to do their job properly, which in turn, can cause a spike in your energy bills.
To help keep your home allergen free and your energy bills lower, remember to regularly change your HVAC filters.
- A malfunctioning thermostat
This can be a minor problem, and one of the first things to check for if your furnace isn’t working properly, is the thermostat. It may be a simple case of replacing the batteries, or you may need to call a HVAC technician to come out and repair it for you.
- Odd noises
All HVAC systems will make a certain amount of noise, but if yours is making a rattling, hissing, bubbling or clanking sound that it wasn’t making before, it could indicate that something is very wrong, and you’ll need to get a HVAC technician out to look at it, right away. The sounds could be the result of a refrigerant leak, or a misbalanced part, but you won’t know for sure until you have it professionally inspected.
- Grubby coils
Ever heard of ‘dirty sock syndrome’? If you haven’t heard of it, you might well have smelt it! If your home starts to develop a certain unpleasant aroma that resembles smelly socks, it could be that the coils, pipes and/or ducts in your HVAC are to blame. If you live in a household with pets, for example, dander and pet hair may have caused the coils, pipes and ducts to become dirty and clogged, and you’ll need a professional duct cleaning team to come in and spruce them up.
Regular duct cleaning can help ensure that your home always smells fresh, and that you never have to face the dreaded ‘dirty sock syndrome’!
- A leak
The condensate produced by all HVAC systems is usually drained away, but when the pipes are clogged up, they can start to leak water. Fortunately, a leak like this is easy to resolve, and your local HVAC technician will be able to fix it in next to no time.
Having your HVAC ducts and vents regularly cleaned can help keep the entire system functioning at its optimum all the time, and help you avoid costly call outs for repairs.
