Does My HVAC Issue Require A Call To An Emergency Heating And AC Repair Service? | Dallas, TX
As a Texas homeowner, you rely on your HVAC system most of the year because summers are very hot and winters are cold. Your air conditioner is essential to keep your home cool and comfortable during the summer, and the furnace is necessary during the winter to keep your home warm and toasty. Because your HVAC system is so essential, the last thing you want is for the unit to develop issues that prevent you from using it.
All HVAC issues seem like emergencies when they occur; however, some problems can wait until you can get an appointment with an HVAC tech. Issues that affect your home’s temperature or could put your home and family at risk are considered emergencies. The following problems require a call to an emergency heating and AC repair service in Dallas, TX.
#1 The Furnace Produces Cool Air
Winter days in Dallas are relatively mild, with the average temperature in the mid-50s and drops significantly overnight, so you need heat. If the furnace produces cold air, your house won’t be warm and will get just as cold inside as outside; therefore, you’ll need to call an emergency heating and AC repair service in Dallas, TX. A few issues can prevent the furnace from producing heat, and you’ll need a licensed HVAC tech to find the cause and resolve the issue.
Before hiring a professional, check the thermostat. This is one of the most common causes of this problem, and the last thing you want is to waste time on an unnecessary service call for something you could fix yourself. The thermostat must be set to the heating mode, the fan must be set to auto, and it has to be cooler in the house than the setting on the thermostat. If the thermostat isn’t set correctly, adjusting it should solve the problem.
Next, check the air filter. If it’s been a while since you replaced it, the dirt and grime will restrict airflow in the unit, causing it to overheat and shut down, causing cool air to flow from the vents.
If everything checks out on your end, it’s time to call a professional.
- Damaged pilot light: The pilot light is designed to ignite the burners to begin the heating process. If something is wrong with the pilot and it doesn’t stay lit, the heating process won’t start, and you’ll feel cold air from the vents throughout your home.
An emergency heating and AC repair service can send a tech to your home to check the pilot and make the necessary repair to get the heat up and running again. - Flame detector issue: Some furnaces don’t have pilots and have flame detectors instead. The component detects whether the unit is producing a flame and burning gas. If the flame detector is faulty or covered in dirt and grime, the unit will lose heat quickly, and you’ll feel cool air from the vents.
A call to an emergency heating and AC repair service will ensure the problem is resolved and the furnace produces warm air. - Clogged condensate lines: Newer furnaces have condensate lines designed to remove moisture from the unit. If there’s a clog in the line, it can deactivate the burners, and the unit won’t produce warm air.
A faulty furnace will prevent your house from getting warm, so it’s best to call an HVAC tech immediately.
#2 The Air Conditioner Produces Warm Air
Air conditioners are essential to keep your house cool and comfortable during the summer. When it’s 90 degrees outside, most people want to spend more time in their air-conditioned homes, but this isn’t possible if your unit produces warm air. The temperature inside can reach 120 degrees without a functional air conditioner, so a call to an emergency heating and AC repair service in Dallas, TX may be necessary.
Before making the call, check the thermostat and the air filter first. The thermostat must be set to the cooling mode, the fan must be set to auto, and it has to be warmer in the house than the thermostat setting. In addition, the air filter must be clean for air to flow through the unit to prevent the unit from overheating.
If the thermostat and air filters are acceptable, it’s time to call an emergency heating and AC repair service. A few issues can prevent the unit from producing cold air, and you’ll need an HVAC tech to diagnose and fix the problem.
- Faulty compressor: The indoor unit and outdoor compressor work together to produce cold air. If the compressor isn’t working, the indoor unit cannot function independently, preventing the air conditioner from making cold air.
An emergency heating and AC repair service in Dallas, TX will send a tech to your home to inspect the compressor, determine why it isn’t working, and resolve the problem. You won’t have heat until you make the call, so it’s best to do so right away. - Frozen evaporator coils: The evaporator coils begin the cooling cycle by extracting the heat and humidity in the air. The coils cannot start the cooling process if they freeze; several possible issues cause this problem.
- A lack of airflow due to a broken blower or damaged air ducts.
- A dirty air filter
- Dirty evaporator coils
- Low refrigerant issues
- Clogged drainpipe
- The outdoor temperature is too low to run the AC
- An emergency heating and AC repair service will send a tech to thaw the coils and figure out why they froze so you can prevent it from happening again.
- Refrigerant leak: Air conditioners rely on refrigerant to create cold air; if the refrigerant leaks, there won’t be enough to complete a cooling cycle. An emergency heating and AC repair service can send a tech to fix the leak and refill the refrigerant, allowing the unit to function correctly.
If your unit was installed before 2010, it must be replaced. Older units use R-22 refrigerant, which was banned because it’s toxic and depletes the ozone layer. The tech won’t have R-22 to refill the unit, so a replacement is the only option.
Any issue preventing your air conditioner from producing cold air is an emergency because your home can get dangerously hot, putting your family at risk for heat exhaustion or heatstroke. So, it’s best to call an emergency heating and AC repair service when the problem starts.
#3 Foul Smells
Your HVAC system is designed to produce clean, odorless air. The unit should never emit foul odors, and if you smell something when the heat or air conditioner runs, a call to an emergency heating and AC repair service in Dallas, TX is necessary. Toe odor in the home can help the tech determine the cause.
- Mold: A moldy smell in your house is a significant cause for concern because the presence of mold can cause you and your family can develop health issues due to mold exposure, including:
- Chronic headaches
- Burning eyes, nose, and throat
- Skin rashes
- Allergy symptoms
- Respiratory issues
- Weakened immune system
- Worsens chronic lung or respiratory conditions
If you smell mold when the heat or air conditioner runs, it’s best to call an emergency heating and AC repair service immediately. The most common cause of this smell is mold in the air ducts. The ducts are hidden and dark, and when it gets humid in the house, condensation will accumulate in the ducts creating mold growth. When the furnace or air conditioner runs, mold spores in the ducts will circulate and make your family sick, and you’ll need a licensed professional to resolve the problem immediately. A licensed tech can quickly eliminate the mold using an antimicrobial fogger, preventing future mold growth.
- Rotten eggs: If you smell rotten eggs in your house, it indicates a gas leak, and you must get everyone out of the house immediately and call 911. The fire department will cut the gas service to your home to prevent an explosion and open the windows and doors to air out the house so it[‘s safe to go back inside. Call an emergency heating and AC repair service in Dallas, TX when the gas is cut, and you can go back inside. The gas cannot be restored until the leak is repaired, and your house will be very cold until you make the call.
- Burning: A burning smell when the furnace or air conditioner runs indicates a wiring issue that can start an electrical fire that will destroy your house in minutes. If you smell something burning, call an emergency heating and AC repair service as soon as you detect the smell. They will send a tech to your home to examine the wiring to find and fix the problem before a disaster strikes.
Foul odors from the HVAC system indicate issues that can put your home and family at significant risk; therefore, it’s best to hire an emergency heating and AC repair service immediately.
#4 Restricted Airflow
If you don’t feel an intense rush of warm or cold air from the vents when the HVAC system runs, it’s considered an emergency for a few reasons. First, restricted airflow will affect your home’s temperature. Also, the HVAC system must work harder to keep the house comfortable, resulting in high electric bills and will reduce the unit’s lifespan.
If the airflow from the vents is poor, it’s best to hire an emergency heating and AC repair service in Dallas, TX to find the cause and make the necessary repair. A few issues can prevent sufficient airflow, including:
- Damaged air ducts: The air ducts deliver the heated or cool air from the unit to the vents. If there’s a crack in the ducts or the seal has failed, the treated air will escape before reaching the vents. An HVAC tech can find the damaged area and make the necessary repair to restore the airflow.
- Broken blower: The blower forces the treated air to the vents; if it isn’t working correctly, you’ll feel minimal airflow. An HVAC tech can repair or replace the blower, restoring sufficient airflow.
- Clogged air ducts: Dirt, dust, and debris from the house will accumulate in the air ducts, and when too much debris has accumulated, it will prevent adequate airflow. In addition, when the heat or AC runs, the debris will circulate in the air, affecting the air quality.
An emergency heating and AC repair service will send a tech to your house to clean the debris from the ducts, restoring adequate airflow. They will also recommend performing a duct cleaning service every three to five years.
Restricted airflow can affect your home’s comfort and air quality, so it’s best to call an emergency heating and AC repair service when you notice the problem.
Call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas Today
If there’s a severe problem with your HVAC system and you need to call an emergency heating and AC repair service, One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas can help. We’re a full-service HVAC company, serving customers in the area since 1988.
Our HVAC techs are professionally trained, certified, and have the knowledge and experience to handle any job, big or small. We want you to feel safe when you allow our techs to enter your home, so they must pass a drug test and a background check and register with the state of Texas before they’re hired.
HVAC technology is constantly evolving, so our techs receive ongoing training. We want to be sure they can install, maintain and repair the latest HVAC models.
When you call for service, our techs will arrive at your house on time in a fully-stocked truck. This allows them to make most repairs on the same day, making your life more convenient because you won’t need to schedule a second service call.
To schedule an appointment for HVAC service, give One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas a call today.