6 Obvious Signs That Your HVAC Unit Is Faulty
Home heating and cooling systems are the lifeblood of every home. Without them, we’d be living in caves or igloos or something. They keep us warm when it’s cold outside and cool when it’s hot outside. They do this without making a sound, which is just one more reason to appreciate all that HVAC units do for us! But what happens if your system goes on the fritz? You might need to replace the filters, call an expert for maintenance, or worse yet...replace the entire unit altogether! That's why you should always pay attention to these 6 signs that your HVAC unit may not be working properly.
Lack of heating or ventilation
It's not until our heating or cooling system goes out that we realize how much we took for granted the ability to regulate our indoor temperature. We often don't think about heating or ventilation in our HVAC unit until it's too late. By then, the lack of airflow can create all sorts of other problems like a bad smell or poor air quality. Using a website like Filter Buy can be a great tool for prevention with buying spare parts when they are on sale. It's important to be proactive and keep an eye on your system so that you can address any issues before they become too serious.
If you normally enjoy the benefits of cooling or warming when it comes to your HVAC unit but suddenly find that there's a little-to-no effect, then the problem may lie in your system rather than lack of use. Sometimes, older units will lose their ability to maintain desired temperatures and might need to be replaced.
Strange Sounds
If your HVAC unit is making strange noises, then it's time to call in a professional for maintenance. Problems like humming noise can often be fixed with simple cleaning or replacement of the filters. But if the problem is more serious, then the coils or motor may need to be replaced.
A Bad Smell
If your HVAC unit is giving off a bad smell, then it's time to call in a professional. This could mean that there's something seriously wrong with the system and could result in extensive damage if not fixed right away. Oftentimes, a bad smell is caused by an accumulation of dirt and dust inside the unit. By replacing filters and coils regularly, you can keep your HVAC unit in tip-top shape and avoid having to pay outrageous prices for repairs down the road.
All of these could mean different things in regards to your HVAC unit. The best thing for you to do in this situation is to ask a professional for advice. In the meantime, you can take simple measures such as cleaning out your filters and coils or replacing them until you know what the problem is.
Poor air quality
Are you feeling stuffy-headed? Are your allergies acting up? Is there an overall odor in your home that you can't seem to escape? If you're noticing any of these things, the air quality may be bad. You'll want to call an expert right away! However, if you don't notice this problem until after you've already called a professional, ask them if there could be something wrong with the air ducts or other components in your HVAC system.
Your utility bill is increasing dramatically
This might sound strange because we all know that using our heating and cooling systems costs us money. But what we don't think about is how much more we pay if those same systems aren't functioning properly. Make sure to take into consideration that any new changes in your daily routine or life have not contributed to this before you suspect a faulty HVAC. You may be using the same amount of energy as usual, but now your bill is much higher than it was before. This could be a sign of poor airflow and ventilation throughout your home and is something you should look into!
You can see a draft
It's not uncommon for people to feel drafts around their windows and doors and even in random places inside their homes. What we don't think about is how this might be affecting our HVAC systems! We may have gaps or openings that aren't allowing the system to do its job properly, which can cause overheating or overheating inside certain rooms while other rooms are kept at lower temperatures. Either way, getting these areas sealed up will help minimize these issues.
If you're noticing any of these signs in your HVAC unit, it may be time to call a professional. It's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to heating and air systems. You may have small issues that can be fixed easily enough with simple steps, but if you notice that your HVAC system isn't working properly, then there could be something much more serious going on. Call in a specialist right away before things get worse!