Does Your HVAC System Need Heating And AC Repair Service? | Dallas, TX
Summer and winter are the two most harsh weather seasons of the year for your Dallas, TX home. During summer, it is not uncommon for temperatures to hit unprecedented highs of over 90 degrees. These temperatures can get dangerous and unbearable, especially on days with scorching sun and no wind to cool you down. In addition, extreme heat temperatures like this can cause things such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Therefore, it is advisable not to spend too much time outside.
On the other side, the winter season can be equally as torturous. With temperatures dropping below the freezing point at night, you need a good source of heat to keep you and your family warm during these chilly nights. Therefore, a reliable HVAC system is best to ensure your family is warm during those freezing winter nights or cool enough on the scorching summer days.
However, having an HVAC system installed in your home is not enough. You need to utilize the best heating and AC repair company around your home to keep your home cozy. In addition, you need to keep an eye out for signs that your HVAC system might portray to indicate something is amiss. Some of the signs that your HVAC system can use to indicate the need for a heating and air conditioning repair service include:
Restricted Air Flow
When operating normally, your HVAC system should release a powerful rush of warm or cold air from the vents. However, when this airflow is restricted, it causes the air conditioner or furnace to work harder to attain the needed temperatures to keep your home comfortable. When the system works harder than it should achieve the temperature, it drives your energy bills through the roof.
Additionally, when the HVAC system overworks, the extra load strains the system, thereby reducing the system’s lifespan. Therefore, this pushes you to change your system sooner than you should have, putting additional strain on your finances. Therefore, you should call a heating and AC repair professional if you notice restricted airflow in your HVAC system.
A few factors can cause restricted airflow in an HVAC system. Some of them are;
Clogged Air Ducts
The air ducts of an HVAC system play a significant role. They allow the cooled or heated air to travel to the vents from the system through your home. No matter how clean you try to keep your house, items such as debris, dirt, and dust can end up finding their way into the air ducts and clogging them. However, this should not worry you; qualified heating and AC repair personnel can clean the air ducts and restore proper airflow.
Damaged Air Ducts
The other major cause of restricted airflow in an HVAC system is damaged air ducts. Since the air ducts in your Dallas, TX home are hidden, it is challenging to see when they are damaged. Therefore, the only tell sign you can use is when you notice restricted or reduced airflow. When these air ducts are damaged, the heated or cooled air from the HVAC system will escape through the damaged sections, and the air outside the ducts will sip in through these same sections. Consequently, this counteracts the working of the air conditioner and reduces airflow; therefore, once you notice reduced airflow, contact a heating and AC repair expert to inspect and fix your air ducts.
Faulty Blower
An HVAC system is designed with a blower that forces heated or cooled air from the AC unit to your home’s vents. Therefore, if the blower is faulty, the air will not get the push it needs to get through the vents, which results in poor airflow. When you call upon a heating and AC repair service, the technician will inspect the blower to determine its damage, advising if a repair or replacement is best.
When the bower is fixed, your home will have proper airflow restored and temperatures back to normal. Restricted airflow is one of the things that can affect the comfort of your home by affecting the temperature and cost you money in the long run. Therefore, it is advisable to call a heating and AC repair service as soon as you notice the changes to counteract the problem before it worsens.
Your Furnace Is Producing Cold Air
The purpose of a furnace in your Dallas, TX home is to heat the air when you need it to; thus, when you turn it on, you expect it to warm up your space. However, there are times when it will produce cold air instead. When this happens, several issues could be preventing it from operating correctly. That is why you need to call a heating and AC repair technician to figure out the problem and make the needed repair or replacement. Some of the issues that could interrupt the functionality of a furnace include;
The Pilot Light Is Off
The older HVAC system versions of furnaces have a pilot light. The pilot light must be lit for the furnace in this system to produce warm air. However, the pilot light is susceptible to failing and going out, which can be triggered by issues with the thermocouple. The thermocouple is a sensor that assists the pilot light by measuring temperature and allowing the furnace to run.
Therefore, when dust and dirt collect on the thermocouple, it blocks the sensing part; thus, the pilot light will not stay on when the temperature is right. A heating and AC repair technician is skilled and equipped to clean the thermocouple and relight the pilot light. Additionally, the technician can replace the part needed to keep it lit if the problem lies with the pilot light.
The Flame Detector Has Grime and Dirt
The pilot light was replaced by a flame detector in the newer HVAC system models. Thus, if your Dallas, TX home has the new HVAC system, it is made up of the flame detector rather than the pilot light. In this case, the flame detector identifies and responds to the flame. However, if the flame detector fails, there will be no response; thus, the furnace will not work. Consequently, your furnace will produce cold air indicated by a rush of cold air in the vents. Although this might seem like a complicated issue, a heating and AC repair expert can efficiently clean your flame detector and get your furnace to full functionality.
Clogged Condensate Lines
The newer HVAC system model furnaces have condensate lines that help remove moisture from the AC unit. However, if the condensate line is blocked, it deactivates the burners; thus, the air is not heated. Hence, the AC unit produces cold air and circulates it throughout your home’s vents, which can be fixed by scheduling an appointment with a heating and AC repair technician. As seen above, several reasons can cause your furnace to produce cold air. Therefore, it is best to call a heating and AC repair company to outline the underlying problem and fix it for your home to be warm and cozy again.
Foul Smell
Is your Dallas, TX AC unit producing a foul and irritating smell when running? This could indicate something is wrong with your HVAC system and the need for a heating and AC repair technician. In a typical setting, your air conditioning unit should circulate clean and odorless air throughout your home. Therefore, when you notice any smell in your house, it is crucial to investigate further, outlining the cause of the smell and getting it eradicated.
Apart from smells indicating deeply sighted issues with your HVAC system, they can also be an alarm for underlying issues that could put you and your family at risk. Each smell has a special meaning, and they all indicate different things. Therefore, the smells to be cautious about around your house include;
Rotten Egg Smell
A rotten egg smell in your home is one of the most dangerous smells you can encounter. This smell indicates a gas leak, and continuous use of the furnace could cause an explosion. It indicates imminent danger to you and your family, so swift action is crucial. Therefore, when you notice the smell of rotten eggs, immediately turn off your furnace, get everyone out of the house and call a heating and AC repair service provider.
Burning Smell
A burning smell at any given time indicates an electrical issue. The burning of a wire insulator primarily causes this smell. Therefore, since you cannot immediately outline which part of the electrical system has a problem, it is advisable to avoid using all the electrical systems in the house, including the AC unit. Continued use of these systems could start an electrical fire that puts you and your family in imminent danger.
Moldy Smell
Smelling mold in your home indicates mold in your air ducts. Since the air ducts are dark, they create a conducive environment for mold growth when they are humid. Therefore, when you turn on the HVAC system, old spores circulate throughout the system, causing contamination of the air. Unfortunately, when your family is exposed to mold, they are exposed to health issues such as;
- Allergy symptoms
- Chronic headaches
- Skin rashes
- Respiratory issues
- Weakened immune system
- A burning feeling in the nose, eyes, and throat
On the other hand, if you have infants in the house, breathing in mold spores significantly increases the chances of having asthma. In addition, mold exposure worsens the symptoms and condition of those with pre-existing chronic respiratory conduction.
Your Air Conditioner Is Producing Warm Air
Is your air conditioner producing warm air on those scorching hot days you wish for a whiff of cool, relaxing air? Without a functional air conditioner, hot summer days when temperatures exceed 90 degrees can feel like torture. Therefore, you need to call a heating and AC repair service to help maintain your house at comfortable temperatures. However, before making that urgent heating and AC repair technician call, there are simple steps you can take to check where the problem lies.
For starters, check the air filter. You should change your Dallas, TX home’s air filter at least once every 60 days. In addition, if you keep pets or have a family member with allergies, this duration should change to once every 30 days. Therefore, if it has been longer than this since you change your air filters, you should first check it before calling the heating and AC repair service provider. When the air filter is not changed in time, air movement in the filter reduces, causing it to overheat and dispense warm air. Hence, the problem will be solved once you replace the air filter.
Secondly, check your thermostat setting. You should ensure that you have set the thermostat in the correct position. Therefore, start by confirming it is in cooling mode. Then, ensure the fan is set on auto and, finally, counter-check the temperature settings, so it is cooler than the house’s temperature.
If all these things check out and the AC unit is still not working as required, then it is time to call a heating and AC repair technician. The few issues that could prevent an AC unit from producing cold air include:
A Failing Outdoor Condenser
The AC unit is designed such that, for efficient working, it incorporates the working of the outdoor and indoor units. Therefore, if the outdoor condenser isn’t working due to power or other issues, the whole system will not work. Hence, no provision for cold air. Therefore, for this to be checked and fixed, you will need a qualified heating and AC repair technician.
Frozen Evaporator Coils
An evaporator coil in an AC unit extracts heat and humidity from the system for the cooling process to start. Therefore, when this coil freezes, it cannot work as it should, leaving you with warm air-producing AC.
Your Go-To Heating and Air Conditioning Repair Company
If your HVAC system continuously leaves you stranded on days when it is much needed, you need reliable heating and AC repair service provider. At One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas, we have a proven track record of solving all HVAC problems adequately and efficiently. We provide round-the-clock emergency services for all those in the Dallas, TX area and its environs. Visit our website or call our technicians today for all your HVAC system needs.
