How Does Your Air Conditioning Service Diagnose Why Your AC Unit Is Acting Up? | Richardson, TX
Summers are the most unbearable season of the year, particularly so in Richardson, TX. They can get very hot on an average day in June. July and August have highs of 94 to 98 degrees. Although the nights are cooler, with average high temperatures reaching 76 degrees, the humidity alone can make you feel like the temperatures are higher. Therefore, summer is not only very bright, but also it is difficult to enjoy time indoors, primarily if your air conditioning system is not functioning properly.
Since the last thing you want is your air conditioner breaking down during one of these hot summer days and leaving you stranded, it is crucial to master the signs that your system might use as warnings and have a basic knowledge of what might cause the malfunction. They will help schedule heating and air conditioning services for a smooth, cool summer.
Recognizing the signs early also helps prevent minor avoidable issues from developing into major ones that are expensive to repair. Regular servicing and maintenance are a great addition to keeping your system functional. However, for some signs, it is essential to switch off the air conditioner until the heating and air conditioner technician arrives at your home. If your air conditioner is malfunctioning or giving off a new sign, below are some of the reasons why;
Faulty Ignition Control
The modern HVAC systems have been equipped with a hot surface ignition that glows every time you switch on the machine or when it is working. However, if you use a gas-heated HVAC system, your appliance is equipped with a pilot light instead. Depending on the type you have, surface ignition or pilot light, you should be able to see the hot glowing light. However, if the light is not visible on the system or is not as bright, then the ignition control may have a problem.
Apart from not seeing the glowing hot light, the other sign that indicates your system’s ignition control has a problem is if your HVAC unit goes on but does not produce heat, or if it does, the heat production is intermittent. Therefore, if you notice your Richardson, TX HVAC system having this behavior or your ignition control is not ablaze, contact a heating and air conditioning service company to schedule a visit from their technician. A professional heating and air conditioning service technician will investigate the issue adequately, fix it, and leave your family enjoying a cozy ambiance in summer.
Broken Thermostat
The first item that might cause your air conditioning system to malfunction is a broken thermostat. When the thermostat of your home breaks, it leads to a fan that is not effective, which later affects the comfort of your home. However, it is essential to note that this might happen regardless of using the traditional or smart thermostat. Many factors could lead to a broken thermostat. For starters, it could be as simple as a faulty flat battery or an incorrect setting on the thermostat.
Conversely, it could be a more severe problem in the system. Regardless of the cause, a broken thermostat should always be repaired by a professional heating and air conditioning service expert. It ensures the safety of your HVAC system and your Richardson, TX home. To know if the underlying problem with your malfunctioning HVAC system is a broken thermostat, you can perform simple investigations such as checking whether the display is responsive.
Another procedure that might help is checking if the HVAC system is turning on and manages to stay on until it attains the set temperature. If there is an issue with any of the two procedures, it indicates that your thermostat might be broken. On this realization, it is vital to contact a heating and air conditioning service company and schedule an appointment.
No or Low Fuel
Your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system’s furnace requires fuel to work efficiently. Therefore, when the amount of fuel reduces, your system does not operate at the optimum level. Low fuel may cause your system to overwork to cover your household temperature requirements, resulting in high energy bills. Low fuel might cause cold air from your unit and a foul odor.
Although your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system still runs on low fuel, the system will stop working if it entirely runs out. Therefore, it is not advisable to let the fuel quantity get too low since it might leave you stranded when you need it the most in case it runs out. Notably, impurities and sediments usually settle at the base of the fuel tank.
Therefore, when you let your system run with the fuel found at the bottom, these impurities and sediments feed into the line. This poses dangers such as clogging the nozzle and interfering with the system’s effective operation. Thus, if you notice that your system is not producing heat, or even if it does, the heat is not enough, it might be an issue with your fuel levels. A heating and air conditioning service expert will help you check your oil level and replenish the tank.
Daily Wear and Tear
Unfortunately, your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit is open to daily wear and tear like any other system. This mostly depends on the type of system you have in your Richardson, TX home, how long it has been in operation, and the initial lifespan of the system. In addition, regular service and maintenance help withstand daily wear and tear for a long while.
However, apart from keeping it at bay, age will catch up with your system through daily wear and tear. General wear and tear lead to faulty heating systems and damage to bearings and belts. Although it is not possible to avoid wear and tear, it is possible to avoid a holistic breakdown by attaining a heating and air conditioning service professional to replace one part at a time, especially when it fails. Consequently, this will help you avoid a total system breakdown, leaving you stranded and large, expensive replacements. During summer, you will use your HVAC system throughout the day, thus increasing its wear and tear and its chances of damage.
Dirty Filters
The other major purpose of your HVAC system is cleansing your air supply. Regardless of how hard you try to keep your house clean, materials such as dirt, debris, and dust will have a way of getting into your home. Therefore, these materials get into the air conditioning system over time and get trapped by the filters. Therefore, if you do not have a heating and air conditioning service technician to change your filters regularly, the materials accumulate, eventually clogging the filter.
Clogged filters will restrict the airflow in your air conditioning system, which results in reduced indoor air supply and air quality of your home. Unfortunately, when these materials successfully clog the air filters, they are recirculated to your home’s air supply as the HVAC system operates. It compromises the quality of the air you and your family breathe. Hence, it exposes them to hazardous health issues such as allergies, respiratory issues, and the possibility of developing asthma.
In addition, reduced airflow causes the system to overwork to cover the temperature needs of your household. This, in turn, causes the system to work longer and harder, reducing its efficiency. Reduced efficiency negatively affects the system’s life span and increases your energy consumption. Apart from general dust, debris, and dirt, the number of people living on your property affects how fast your air filters will get dirty.
In addition, having pets with furs, such as cats and dogs, increases the rate at which your air filters get dirty. Therefore, to ensure your machine works at optimum efficiency, it is imperative to have a heating and air conditioning service expert change your air filters regularly to prevent dirt build-up and air filter clogging.
Leaking Ductwork
The other major cause of a malfunctioning HVAC system is leaking duct works. Unfortunately, the heating and air conditioning service in Richardson, TX, installed the ductwork away from the walls and thus your eyesight. Therefore, when your ductwork starts to leak, it might go unnoticed for a long time. Like dirty filters, leaking ductworks reduce the effectiveness of your HVAC system. Repairing leaky ducts might be extremely expensive, especially if not attended to by a heating and air conditioning service for a long time.
To check for a leak in your ductwork, move along the ductwork as you feel for blowing air in your attic. There should not be any blowing air. Therefore, it is best to call a heating and air conditioning service technician to fix your ductwork if you can feel a breeze. Although it might seem like much, repairing leaking ductwork will save you much money that would have been spent on paying for unrealistic energy bills. In addition, it increases backdraft protection, improving indoor air quality and the overall efficiency of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.
Moldy Furnace
Mold is one of the common underlying factors contributing to many Richardson, TX homeowners having malfunctioning heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Unfortunately, getting rid of mold is not as simple as wiping it once it enters your house. It requires extensive heating and air conditioning service to eradicate it effectively. In addition, mold, when extensively spread, has extensive effects on both your house and those living in it.
In some extreme cases, mold can compromise the structural integrity of your home by eating away at the wall. Additionally, exposure to mold spores in your home’s air supply can cause dire health effects such as breathing problems, allergies, and some extreme cases of asthma development. Generally, dark, moist, unventilated spaces, such as your ductwork, facilitate a conducive environment for mold to grow and thrive.
Therefore, mold grown in your HVAC system due to lack of adequate ductwork or insulation and moisture from leaking ductwork can enhance the process. Conversely, dusty AC coils from your HVAC system can also contribute to mold growth. Therefore, it is advisable to have regular heating and air conditioning service for your house to clean and dry your Ac coils and ductwork.
Additionally, heating and air conditioning service professionals offer regular checks for moisture build-up and mold once or twice a year. The other major causes of mold growth include clogged drain line, which causes moist environments, and if your AC system is old. When mold grows and establishes in your ductwork, it oozes a musty odor throughout your home, especially when the system is switched on. This smell can be extremely unpleasant and uncomfortable for your family. Apart from the smell, mold in your ductwork negatively impacts the indoor air quality of your home. You should seek a heating and air conditioning service to help you eradicate mold presence in your home.
Lack of Regular Maintenance
The lack of maintenance by a certified heating and air conditioning service expert is arguably the primary cause of all problems of HVAC malfunctions and breakdowns. This is because regular maintenance eradicated the chance of things such as dirty air filters, dusty ductworks, and low fuel levels. Although it is impossible to fully protect your Richardson, TX AC system from system failures, regular maintenance is the best way to foretell if there is a looming problem and deal with it before it escalates. In addition, a heating and air conditioning service ensures your system is in top-notch condition, thus continuously giving you effective services.
Heating and AC Service
Your family members depend on the uninterrupted operation of your HVAC system, especially during summer. Therefore, if you constantly worry that your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system will give in and leave you stranded in the summer heat, contact our technicians at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas. Our heating and air conditioning service experts are skilled and regularly trained to handle any HVAC issue.