How To Protect Your HVAC And Minimize the Need For Emergency Heating And AC Repair Service | Dallas, TX
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People like to say that there are two things guaranteed in life: death and taxes. We think that there should be one more thing added to the list: HVAC repair and/or replacement. That is because even the best HVAC system will eventually break down, and depending on how well you keep up with your regular maintenance may even require emergency heating and AC repair service. With that in mind, if you want to protect the Dallas, TX HVAC system in your home, it may be time to learn a few things about the benefits of proactive service, signs you need emergency heating and AC repair service, and what to expect during a repair service.
While even the best HVAC system will eventually die, your goal as a homeowner should be to keep it running as long as possible and to identify when it is starting to experience issues so that you can book emergency heating and AC repair service. Learning when to act actually plays a large role in preserving the lifespan of your HVAC system so you can keep it running and not worry about future repairs. Most of the time when a system starts to fail other components start to fail too like a domino effect.
Your goal should be to stop the domino effect before it creates irreparable damage. Usually, this can be done by either catching a problem before it has the chance to spiral out of control or by booking a regular service so that a trained HVAC technician can diagnose an issue before it becomes a large issue. If you have never had an HVAC service this is a great place to start, because regular maintenance is actually one of the best ways to elongate the lifespan of your unit and prevent any late-night emergency heating and AC repair service on an extremely hot and humid Dallas, TX night.
What Is an HVAC Tune-up?
It may be easier to schedule an HVAC tune-up if you understand the value of regular HVAC maintenance and the role it plays in preventing the need for emergency heating and AC repair service. There are three main objectives of the average HVAC tune-up: to inspect, clean, and lubricate. This involves both the AC and the heating components.
The first step is the inspection. Before doing anything the HVAC technician will thoroughly examine your HVAC system from the outdoor unit to the indoor unit. They will be looking for parts that are worn down or anything that is actually damaged and flying under the radar. Parts can be wearing down or close to breaking without giving off obvious signs sometimes. These parts are best proactively repaired, but this can only happen once they are identified.
At the end of the HVAC tune-up, your technician will hand you a written report (this could take a day or two sometimes depending on what is found) of what they recommend in terms of repairs. This serves two purposes. One, it lets you know about future repairs or parts that are wearing down so that you can get them fixed before they break and leave you in the position of requiring emergency heating and AC repair service. The second is to give you time to budget and plan for future repairs. The report will detail the level of wear and/or if a part is already broken or compromised. We understand that not everyone can complete four repairs at once, but knowing you need them is the first step in making sure that they happen.
Keep in mind also that even if we wanted to we can’t always make repairs during the HVAC tune-up. If there are just minor issues and we have the parts on hand we may offer a quick repair, but a lot of times the components and replacement parts need to be ordered so we can’t fix them at that moment anyhow. There are dozens of different HVAC manufacturers, so it is impossible to have all parts and components on hand at all times. However, it is better to wait a few weeks for a part while your system is still functioning than waiting a few weeks for a new part after you call for emergency heating and AC repair service and have to deal with a system that is not functioning.
The second part of the HVAC tune-up is cleaning. While the HVAC technician is carefully working his way through the units inspecting them carefully for problems, he or she will also be cleaning out the system. They will remove all dust and debris that they see which will help increase the overall efficiency of your HVAC system. Most people don’t realize how quickly dust, dirt, and debris build up inside of the units, but an incredible amount can reduce the quality of your indoor air and also hurt your overall efficiency.
In fact, the average homeowner saves about 15-25% in heating and cooling costs in Dallas, TX when they book regular HVAC maintenance. That’s a pretty high amount of savings, and this isn’t even taking into account the improvement in indoor air quality. After all, the last thing you want to do is circulate dusty or dirty air throughout your home, which is exactly what you are doing if you don’t have your system cleaned on a regular basis.
Consider how dirty your HVAC filter gets three to five months and you will get a pretty good idea of why you need to have your system cleaned out. A lot of people who suffer from allergies find that regular HVAC service actually helps them stay ahead of their allergies each year. Given the fact that most Dallas, TX homes are locked up tightly during the hot heat of summer, it is vital that the air you breathe inside of your home is clean. While poor air quality most likely won’t lead to emergency heating and AC repair, it can lead to emergency health situations and that isn’t worth it either.
Third and finally, during an HVAC service visit the technician will lubricate all moving components of your system to ensure that your system continues to work for the next year without requiring an emergency heating and AC repair service. The science behind this is actually quite simple. In the same way you need to change the oil in your car every three months so that your car engine stays lubricated, you need to lubricate moving parts to reduce friction inside of your HVAC system.
There are a lot of moving parts and even some belts inside of your HVAC system. If the parts are not lubricated they will eventually start to wear down as a result of continual friction. The more wear, the shorter the lifespan of your unit, and the greater the chances you will need emergency heating and AC repair service. All it takes is a professional with the right quality lubricants to keep your system working properly until next year’s service. The addition of lubrication every year is enough to help improve the efficiency of your unit, but when combined with the other two steps, the entire process helps lengthen the lifespan of your unit.
Signs That You Need Emergency Heating and AC Repair Service
While an HVAC tune-up can go a long way towards ensuring that your HVAC system always works correctly, it can’t predict every single scenario. Our techs pride themselves on being experts within the field, but machines are machines and sometimes they behave erratically or things happen in the year that passes between tune-ups. For that reason, it is possible that an emergency heating and AC repair service may be required. The trick is recognizing that you need repair, and getting prompt help.
As mentioned earlier, a prompt repair can mean the difference between needing emergency heating and AC repair service and needing a complete replacement. The quicker you act to save your furnace or AC with proper repair the better. Some things can wait, such as if you notice that your thermostat is acting up and your temperature is a degree higher or lower sometimes. Other things need to be addressed right away to prevent further damage, such as electrical burning smells coming out of your air vents. To help make sure you book timely emergency heating and AC repair service, here are a few red alarm situations.
Cold or Hot Air During the Wrong Season
If your AC is blowing hot air during the thick of a Dallas, TX summer or your furnace is blowing room temperature air that is not heated, then you have a problem on your hand that can’t wait for a solution. In fact, sometimes it can become a health hazard as improper heating and cooling can be dangerous in high temperatures. For this reason, if your system is turning on but not blowing temperature-controlled air you need to call for our help right away.
Ice on Your Outdoor AC Unit
While you expect your AC to blow cold air, you should not expect it to blow ice-cold air. If it does, then this is a sign you have a big issue on your hands. Believe it or not, ice on your outdoor unit outside of seeming unnatural can actually ruin your system. You should call an HVAC technician and turn off your AC until you talk to them.
Rapid Cycling
Known as rapid cycling, this is when you notice your AC kicks on and off frequently. Your AC should cycle throughout the day to keep the temperature controlled, but it should not cycle repeatedly. If it has to, this is a sign that it is struggling to retain the temperature inside of your home. It can also lead to intense wear and tear and a breakdown so you need to call for emergency heating and AC repair service.
High Indoor Humidity
Humidity has a lot to do with how comfortable you feel. Even if the temperature is correct in your home, it will feel hot and miserable if the humidity is also high. High humidity is a sign that your AC is not working correctly and can lead to mold growth so it needs to be quickly addressed.
Breakers Tripping
Every so once in a while, a breaker in your home may trip, but if you notice the breaker tripping multiple times every day when the AC kicks on you have a major issue that needs to be looked at right away. This can lead to an electrical fire and is not something that should be taken lightly. An emergency heating and AC repair service can help you get to the root of the problem quickly.
What to Expect During Emergency Heating and AC Repair Service
If you have never had to call for emergency heating and AC repair service before you may be nervous about what to expect. One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas, TX tries to make the process as simple as possible for you as a homeowner. We keep techs on reserve at all times and days so that someone is available to you if an emergency arises. 365 days a year we are here to help you if something happens.
Once you make the phone call, we will arrive as soon as possible and assess the situation. Our goal is always to fix the situation in one emergency heating and AC repair service, but if you need a part ordered or the system is too far gone, we will do our best to find a remedy for you while you wait for a new unit or part to be delivered. Our techs offer ultimate customer service and will talk to you in detail to ensure you are comfortable with all recommendations.
If you have experienced one of the signs mentioned above, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas to schedule your emergency heating and AC repair service.