Getting To Know Your HVAC System From A Heating And AC Repair Company | Frisco, TX
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HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. This amazing technology is responsible for providing homeowners with a heated home during winter and a cooler home in the warmer months. Every home needs to have an HVAC and it will be better for homeowners to learn how this technology works. In this article, you’ll learn the different components of your HVAC and why you need to maintain it.
Contact a heating and AC repair company in Frisco, TX if you need assistance with your HVAC system.
Essential Components of Your HVAC
Below are the most important components of your HVAC system. All of them work together to give you your desired room temperature.
Thermostat – The most visible component of your HVAC system is the thermostat. You can either set this manually or program this in advance for your preferred temperature at home. The thermostat triggers the heat exchange or condensing unit so it begins to circulate either warm or cool water for your entire home.
You can upgrade a manual thermostat to a Smart device so you can take advantage of more features. One of them is the WiFi capability that will allow you to set your thermostat albeit you’re away from home. You can conveniently do this in the comfort of your office or wherever you are. Other features include zoning systems and automatic software updates.
If you want to install a Smart HVAC for your home, do not hesitate to contact a heating and AC repair company in Frisco, TX for assistance.
Furnace – Installed typically in the basement, attic, closet or cellar, the furnace is one of the key components of your HVAC system. It is also the largest part of your HVAC. Your furnace is responsible for providing you with warm air during winter. This warm air is then distributed throughout the various areas in your home. The heating process comes from four possible sources such as electricity, natural gas, solar energy or heat pump.
It’s essential that a homeowner hires a heating and AC repair company for regular maintenance of the furnace. With maintenance, you can avoid calling a heating and AC repair company again for costly repairs or replacement. You need to also have your furnace checked before winter to ensure that it’s going to run efficiently in the colder months. Calling for a heating and AC repair company during winter may be more costly, so it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Evaporator Coil – The evaporator coil is responsible for providing you with cooled air that is distributed throughout your home. You will find this in a metal enclosure on the top side of the furnace’s exterior. Always call for a heating and AC repair company if you think your evaporator coil is broken.
Heat Exchanger – You will find this in your furnace unit’s housing. When the furnace is activated via a thermostat, the heat exchanger will begin to produce warm hair. What it does is to pull the cooler air, heat it and then circulate the already heated air in the ducts, out to the vents and then finally to your rooms.
Condensing Unit – Connected to your evaporator coil is the condensing unit which is situated outside your home and is filled with refrigerant gas. You cannot install the condensing unit on your own. It’s important that you hire a heating and AC repair company to help you with the installation. A professional will ensure that you won’t experience any issues with your condensing unit or your HVAC system.
Ductwork – The ductwork is responsible for transporting either heated or cooled air into the various areas of your home. They are usually made of aluminum, steel flexible plastic or fiberglass.
Homeowners need to do regular maintenance of their HVAC system to avoid calling for a heating and AC repair company in Frisco, TX for repairs. Another reason is to ensure that the HVAC system runs efficiently. For the ductwork, you need to clean it only when there is a build-up of debris or insect infestation. For the installation of the ductwork, always hire a heating and AC repair company for the proper installation.
Refrigerant Lines – They carry a refrigerant substance to the HVAC’s condensing unit and convert it into gas and then to the evaporator coil already in liquid form.
Vents – The rectangular outlets that transfer either heated or cooled air from the ductwork to your rooms are called vents. They are usually installed in the ceiling and can be manually controlled.
These are the essential components of your HVAC. They are responsible for giving you enough warm or cooled air in the summer or winter. Do not attempt to install any of these components by yourself; always hire a heating and AC repair company to ensure that they are properly installed and to make sure that your HVAC system will run efficiently.
Maintaining Your HVAC
To extend the life of your HVAC, it’s important to perform regular maintenance. Regular maintenance of your HVAC also ensures maximum efficiency. It avoids costly repairs and replacements. For maintenance, hire only licensed heating and AC repair companies in Frisco, TX.
HVAC maintenance tips:
- Before performing any maintenance or repairs, make sure that you turn off the main power first. Turning it off protects your equipment and yourself. You don’t want to get electrocuted because you forgot to turn off your HVAC. We would recommend though that you do not perform maintenance by yourself. Always hire a qualified and licensed heating and AC repair company to perform maintenance properly.
- Once every year, the condenser unit needs to be cleaned. A clean condenser unit can improve the efficiency of your HVAC system. It’s important that you clean this properly. We would recommend hiring a heating and AC repair company in Frisco, TX to help you clean the unit.
Apart from the condenser unit, the evaporator coil has to be cleaned too because they are important in giving you cooled air in the summer. The condenser unit has to be cleaned regularly because it easily collects dirt and dust.
- You can either hire a heating and AC repair company to help you replace your filters or you can do it yourself. Depending on the type of filter that you use, it is either cleaned or completely replaced. The best time to replace the filter is every 2 to 3 months, or when necessary. Make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions when cleaning HVAC air filters.
- The ductwork has to be inspected for leaks that may result in heat loss. You need to pay close attention to the attics and the basement and make sure that the ductworks are properly insulated and sealed. Hire only licensed heating and AC repair company in Frisco, TX to help you maintain your ductwork.
- While there is a need to hire a heating and AC repair company in Frisco, TX for the maintenance of your HVAC system, you need to also periodically check the components of your system. Check the electrical components and make sure that there is nothing wrong with it. Clean the outdoor unit and make sure it’s free from debris and other dirt. If you notice that something is wrong, always contact a heating and AC repair company right away to avoid costly repairs.
- Your HVAC system provides you with enough heated air during winter and cooled air during summer. However, it’s important that you do not overuse your HVAC system. Why? It will only reduce the efficiency of your system and its lifespan too. During the day, you can turn off the heater and open the windows instead to let sunlight in. In the evening, close all the curtains to retain the warm heat inside. Heat loss can result in high energy bills but you can avoid this by properly insulating your home.
- Do not attempt to DIY any repairs. You will not be able to save money if you do it incorrectly. Always call a heating and AC repair company for any HVAC repairs in your home. Avoid calling a handyman either as they may not have enough experience in doing HVAC repairs.
- For installation, call a licensed heating and AC repair company in Frisco, TX to ensure the proper installation of your system. A professional will make sure that you do not encounter any problems down the road.
Common HVAC Problems
You will likely have a problem with your system if you fail to perform regular maintenance. When you think your HVAC has issues, contact a professional right away to avoid costly repairs and replacements. Below are common HVAC problems and what a homeowner needs to do to rectify them.
Dirty Filters
One of the easiest things you can do to maintain the efficiency of your HVAC is to replace the air filters every 2 to 3 months. If the filters are dirty, the airflow is restricted. When this happens, your HVAC will have to work harder to give you enough heated air. This will strain your furnace. If this continues, your furnace or your entire system might break. You can avoid this if you set a schedule every 2 to 3 months to always clean or replace your air filters.
Thermostat Problems
There are three types of thermostats: manual, programmable and then the Smart thermostat. You are able to do a lot more with a Smart thermostat like setting the temperature while you are away from home. When a homeowner thinks the furnace is broken, the problem could be the thermostat. What you can do is to make sure that you are using the thermostat correctly. Always refer to the manufacturer’s manual to make sure that you are doing it right. You can avoid costly service calls if you take the time to find out what the problem is. If the problem persists after checking the manual, then call for a professional to assist you.
Strange Furnace Noises
You may likely hear furnace noises if your HVAC is several years old. That could be a part of its normal operation. Some noises could be an indication of a problem. When you hear a whining sound, the blower motor may be broken or failing. To remedy this, you will need to call a technician to help you replace the motor. Other noises could be due to dirty burners or airflow issues. If the noises persist, consider calling a licensed technician so they can fully inspect your system.
Dirty Evaporator Coils and Condensers
This problem is likely due to neglect. If you don’t perform maintenance, debris and dirt will build up in your evaporator coils and condensers. This will lead to reduced efficiency of your HVAC or an unexpected shutdown. If you want to avoid major problems down the road, do not neglect the maintenance of your HVAC system. You don’t even have to do it yourself; a professional would be able to assist you with it.
Water Leaks
If your drain lines are either cracked or clogged, your furnace will leak water. You can keep your drain lines clean by periodically pouring a bleach solution down the drain. The leak could also come from the evaporator drain pan or the heat exchanger. The best thing to do is to call a technician right away so they can inspect the system for you. A good technician can determine the source of the leak and remedy that for you in a timely manner.
Hire a Technician at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas
Do you need a heating and AC repair company to help you with either repairs or installations? Do not hesitate to give us a call at your earliest convenience. We have been helping out residents in Frisco, TX with their HVAC issues. All our technicians are competent and experienced to ensure that the problem is resolved on the first visit. Contact us today for an appointment.