Whether it is the heat of the summer or the chill of winter, it is crucial that your HVAC system is working. This will keep you and your family comfortable throughout the seasons. If you have a central, ducted system, then there are two distinct units. One cools and one heats your home. Often, your air conditioning unit is outside, whereas the furnace may be in the garage.
Unfortunately, as with any appliance, things can go wrong with your HVAC. Your best option when this happens is to turn to a specialist in furnace repair. Specialized technicians can not only diagnose your problem, but also can give you an estimate and help you fix it. Even when you have someone to help you handle it, it might help to know why your HVAC system isn’t working properly.
In some cases, you may have your system blowing warm air instead of cold. In other instances, it may not blow air at all. Here are some of the reasons your HVAC system might not work. In addition, you may learn what to do about it in Ballwin, MO.
Dirty Condensers and Evaporator Coils
The most likely cause of problems with an HVAC system is lack of maintenance. If you don’t have regular maintenance scheduled, then dirt and debris might clog the coils. This reduces how efficiently your system runs. This leads to your system aging faster and your system running down quicker than you thought it would. On your own, you may hose off the outdoor coil once you shut the power down. If the indoor evaporator becomes dirty, you may need a technician to clean it.
Leaky Water
Furnaces and air conditioners produce condensation. There are drainpipes that guarantee water drainage. Furnaces might leak if the lines are cracked or clogged. You can keep the lines clean if you pour bleach down the drain. Other leak sources might be the heat exchanger, collector box or evaporator drain pan. You may need a furnace repair technician to determine what the source of the leaky water is.
Tripped Breakers and Blown Fuses
Has your furnace tripped a circuit breaker? If this happens, it usually means that the blower is overworking. This tends to happen if there is something blocking the airflow. Your blower has to work extra hard to compensate. Dirty air filters are usually the biggest culprit. If the blower uses more energy, it can trip a breaker. It’s important to check the filter and then replace it as needed. If this doesn’t solve the problem, it could be due to duct leaks, dirty coils or blocked-off air registers.
Blower Runs Continuously
Furnace blowers can run continuously. If this happens to you, first you want to check the fan switch on the thermostat. If the fan is in the on position then the fan will run continuously. Sometimes, homeowners will accidentally switch the fan on. If that isn’t the case, there are other reasons that the blower might run.
A fan relay turns on the blower when there is a call for heat. Sometimes, the relay sticks so that the blower will not shut off. Furnaces have a number of safeties and limits. If activated, the circuit board will turn the furnace on to cool it down. If the safety does not reset, the blower stays on.
Furnace Makes Unusual Noises
You may expect to hear some noise from your furnace. This is due to normal operation. Unfortunately, some noises aren’t as normal. These sounds may be an indication of a bigger problem. Sometimes you can blame it on a mechanical issue. If your motor is squealing or whining then it might mean that the bearings in the inducer motor or blower motor is failing. Furnace repair technicians may replace a motor to avoid furnace failure. Some noises might be a sign of dirty burners or airflow issues. Either way, it’s important to have the noises checked out.
Mechanical Degradation
There are so many mechanical components as a part of your heating and cooling system. The whole system relies on these components. Over time, normal wear and tear affects your unit. This could simply be because of age or it might be because of lack of maintenance. Either way, mechanical degradation is a problem in every HVAC unit over time.
The bearings or belts might wear down and lead to overheating or airflow issues. Furnace repair technicians will check out your worn or stretched belts to find out what’s wrong. In addition, they may motors and other components.
Malfunctions With Thermostat
There are many different types of thermostats. Some are non-programmable while others are programmable. When a homeowner thinks that his or her furnace isn’t operating properly, it might really be the thermostat. You may be able to fix it by looking to your owner’s manual or by checking the operating instructions.
This won’t always work. In some cases, the programmable thermostat batteries fail and you have to replace them. If nothing works, then there may be a different problem with the thermostat. If you continue to have issues, it’s better to have a furnace technician look at the issue. This is the best way to get it fixed.
Ignition or Pilot Problems
Dirty burners, flame sensors or a dirty pilot might lead to a pilot outage, furnace lockout, short cycling or delayed ignition. In addition, it might lead to a gas supply issue and wear and tear on the ignition components. When this happens, it’s important to have professional furnace repair on your side. Trained service technicians can deal with high voltage and natural gas.
Leaky Ductwork
You feel the air circulating but the temperature is off. You know that it means the system isn’t running efficiently, but you can’t be sure why. One of the main causes is leaky ductwork. Warm air escapes through leaks instead. You may be able to check the ductwork for leaks. These may come from general wear and tear, improper installation or pests.
Dirty Filters
In order for your HVAC system to run property, you have to replace the filter regularly. It’s common that homeowners forget about the filters from time to time. The problem with forgetting is that it can wear down on your HVAC unit.
When your filter is dirty, it restricts airflow. This makes it more difficult to circulate air. If this is the case, your furnace undergoes unnecessary strain and may damage your furnace even more. Then, a dirty filter may also cause the furnace to overheat. When a heating and air conditioning unit overheats, it will shut off.
Refrigerant Leaking
Refrigerants make air conditioning possible. The refrigerant is contained within the coils of the HVAC system. These refrigerants cool and dehumidify the air inside your home. If your unit is low on refrigeration, then it can’t do its job very well. Sometimes, there may be leaks that lead to losing refrigerant. In addition to not cooling your home, it will cause the condenser to work overtime. This shortens the longevity of your unit.
Lack of Maintenance
One of the most common reasons that an HVAC system doesn’t work is because of lack of maintenance. To avoid costly furnace repair, you have to have maintenance performed regularly by a licensed contractor in Ballwin. Maintenance will ultimately help you save money on costly repairs in the future. Neglecting upkeep leads to costly breakdowns and poor performance down the line.
Improper Air Balance
The heated and cooled air travels through vents and through a variety of ducts before it gets to the room. The idea is that all of the rooms should heat or cool at about the same rate. Dampers help control the amount of airflow to each room. The damper will reduce air in one line and then allow more air in other areas. If one room is cooling faster than another is, then you may not have balanced dampers.
No Warm Air Delivery
In the winter, the last thing that you want to happen is for there to be no warm delivery at all. You rely on your furnace to keep your home comfortable. When the temperatures are freezing outside, it’s crucial to keep your home warm.
There are a lot of different problems that could be responsible. It might be a breaker issue, it may be a problem with your wiring or it might be the unit broke down completely. It’s difficult to narrow down what’s wrong with the unit on your own. Using a technician in HVAC repair is the only way to know for sure.
When it comes down to it, you want to keep your furnace maintained. Most of the time, problems can be avoided just through regular maintenance. Issues may be small at first. However, if you ignore the issues, they will continue to grow until the equipment shuts down. While furnace repair is affordable, not everyone has the money on hand to replace the entire system. It’s crucial to keep up with maintenance and utilize professional technicians to tell you what’s wrong with your system.
Keep your home warm and toasty with professional furnace repair in Ballwin MO. Whether you’re tired of a high utility bill or your furnace has failed completely, learn more about the signs of a damaged furnace, the benefits of a professional service call and why you can trust Advantage Air in Ballwin, MO.
Signs You Need Furnace Repair Services
Compromised furnaces and heat pumps can be a serious issue in your home. Minor issues can affect your indoor air quality and heating bill, while major issues can increase the risk of a fire or completely prevent your furnace from heating your home. Here are common signs that it’s time to call a professional:
From the thermostat to the air ducts, there are many complex systems working together to keep your home warm. A number of electrical and mechanical systems could be damaged, or it may simply be a clogged air duct. Work with a friendly, dependable technician to carefully inspect your entire system and spot the source of the damage.
As your furnace ages, it can require cleaning and repairs. Cleaning your air filter is a key maintenance step to reducing the risk of major damage. Be sure to replace your furnace filter every three months or as often as recommended on your chosen filter.
Some furnace repair issues don’t offer any warning signs. If you notice your indoor temperatures dropping, check your thermostat. Your furnace may need to be repaired or replaced if it isn’t turning on properly to heat your home.
Benefits of Professional Furnace Repairs
Even routine maintenance steps can’t completely prevent a furnace breakdown. When you need a new belt, a replacement igniter or wiring repair services, turn to Advantage Air. Our team of professionals can offer the HVAC services you need to keep your home safe. Here are some benefits of choosing a professional repair service:
Consider scheduling a yearly inspection to keep your furnace maintained and ready for heating your home all winter. If your furnace has stopped working unexpectedly, work with our emergency service team for immediate repairs and restored warmth throughout your home.
When you work with a reliable HVAC team, you can be confident that you’re receiving the best services for your home. Most furnace issues can be successfully repaired. If the issue is severe or your furnace is particularly old, we may recommend a new installation. Installing a new furnace can dramatically increase the energy efficiency of your home and, over time, pay for itself.
Request a Quote From Advantage Air
From minor repairs to a complete furnace installation service, choose Advantage Air as your local heating and cooling service provider. Contact us today to learn more about your furnace needs and to schedule a prompt repair service. Don’t wait until you wake up chilly with a damaged furnace, but keep the heat flowing consistently and comfortably throughout the winter.
With summer winding down, winter is only months away. Advantage Air wants to help you and your family remain comfortable in your home, which is why we recommend handling furnace maintenance and furnace repair in Ballwin, MO, during the autumn months. Here are several reasons why now is the most wonderful time of the year to tend to your furnace.
Stay Comfortable This Winter
You do not want to learn of a problem with your furnace during a cold snap. By taking care of maintenance and repairs now, you better ensure that you do not have to deal with an inconvenient breakdown. Emergency repairs often cost more, and you may have to wait longer than you would like for a technician to come out to your home, leaving you freezing in your home in the meantime.
Better Air Quality
By neglecting to take proper care of your HVAC vents, dirt and debris can gather on them, negatively impacting your indoor air quality. If anyone in your household has allergies, dust blowing through the vents can turn into a potential health hazard. Even without allergies, you want your indoor air to be clean and clear, especially during the colder months of the year when you spend more time inside.
Sidestep Avoidable Repairs
Major furnace repairs can prove rather expensive, but breakdowns and repairs are not inevitable. Regular maintenance and servicing keep your furnace in great shape, helping you avoid severe repairs by tending to minor repairs. Also, regular maintenance extends the overall life of your furnace, allowing you to get more use out of the appliance before you have to buy a new one, which can put a serious hole in your bank account if you do not have a chance to save up for a new unit.
Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning often strikes during the winter season, mainly because of poor fuel combustion in malfunctioning furnaces. While CO2 poisoning does not always have to be fatal, it can lead to such symptoms as headache, chest pains, dizziness and nausea. Besides servicing your furnace, you should also install a carbon monoxide detector in your home to keep yourself and your family safe.
Lower Energy Bills
Just because your furnace works does not mean it works efficiently. Dirty vents, minor mechanical issues and even overgrown bushes around your unit can compromise its performance. When HVAC units do not work efficiently, they often use more electricity than necessary, inflating your utility bills. You may think that your energy bills are higher because you are using your furnace and think nothing of the increased cost, but the reality may be that you are still paying too much for your winter heating bills if your furnace operates inefficiently. Allow a technician to service your furnace to keep your energy bills low all year long.
With help from a technician from Advantage Air, you can stay nice and toasty warm this winter. Schedule furnace maintenance this fall to enjoy the many benefits touched on above. We look forward to taking great care of you.