When To Call For Emergency Heating And AC Repair | Dallas, TX
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It would be great if your HVAC system only broke down during normal business hours. Unfortunately, most home HVAC systems don’t know the difference between after-hours and weekends, and for some reason, it seems like this is the time that all problems arise. If you are sitting at home wondering if your HVAC issue requires emergency heating and AC repair you are not alone. Many people have been in the same spot, and if you are not an HVAC technician you are probably pretty unsure about what to do. The good news is there are a few factors that can help you decide if it’s time to call for emergency heating and AC repair.
The following list dives into the reasons why you may need emergency heating and AC repair by breaking down emergency AC conditions and emergency furnace situations. Of course, it is not a comprehensive list as there are dozens of things that can go wrong with your HVAC system, but it does hit some of the most common situations that our customers experience. If you see your problem on the list, that is a pretty good sign that you should give us a call for emergency heating and AC repair.
If you don’t see your problem on the list, but you feel uncomfortable waiting until the morning or the end of the weekend, go ahead and give us a call anyhow. Our HVAC technicians would be happy to talk about what you are noticing and offer you some informal advice about whether you should wait or not. While we can’t offer you any true professional advice without seeing the issue for ourselves, we can at least talk through it with you and offer our best opinion so that nothing gets missed in the process.
Top Signs You Need Emergency AC Repair in Dallas, TX
Summers in Dallas, TX is not fun, but just because you are uncomfortable does not mean that you need emergency heating and AC repair. If the AC goes out on a fairly mild evening then you may be just fine waiting until the morning, dependent on other issues that may be occurring after it went out on you. Believe it or not, there was a time when people did not have AC so roughing it for one night or for the weekend is not out of the question if it’s not the peak of the hot summer and you want to avoid the emergency heating and AC repair bill.
You Hear Grinding Noises
Hearing noises coming from your AC system can be unsettling, but not all noises require emergency heating and AC repair. However, some noises do so you need to know what you are listening for. Mechanical grinding noises are a big flag that needs to be promptly taken care of unless you want to replace your AC this summer. Grinding noises near the outdoor compressor signal that something is wrong with the motor and/or the compressor is starting to die on you. These repairs need to be addressed and made quickly or the malfunctioning component will tear up your entire system leaving you no choice but to replace your entire outdoor unit.
You See Ice on the Indoor Unit
It’s normal for your air conditioning unit to feel cold to the touch, after all, its job is to actually cool down your home. However, it should never get so cold that you can visibly see ice forming on the indoor unit. If you do see ice on it or near the evaporator coil this is a sign that you need to turn off your home AC and then call for emergency heating and AC repair. The presence of ice means that the evaporator is not working right for a variety of potential reasons including a build-up of grime, clogged filter, or leaking refrigerant. Regardless of the reasons, if you don’t address it right away the damage will spread affecting other parts of your AC until the entire system shuts off. At this point, you might be in the market for a new AC system, and you will really be wishing you had called for emergency heating and AC repair at the first sign of trouble.
Your AC Is Hissing At You
Grinding is not the only noise that you should worry about – you also don’t want to hear your AC hissing at you. There are very few reasons that explain why your AC may be hissing at you, and none of them are good. If you start to hear a hissing noise there is a good chance that your refrigerant is leaking which becomes both a health issue and a major functional issue. If left unchecked, eventually your entire AC unit can be damaged so this is high on the list of times when you need to call for emergency heating and AC repair. In addition, leaking refrigerant can be very dangerous for animals and small children who don’t know better, and the toxic material news to be properly contained and cleaned. For this reason, the task should only b
Outdoor Temperatures Are Extremely High
It is no secret that Dallas, TX summers get very hot. Unlike other areas where you may be able to tough it out a bit if it is the middle of summer in Dallas, you need to call for emergency heating and AC repair. Typically technicians will suggest you call if temperatures are over 90, which is actually considered cool for June, July, and August in Texas. Warm homes can increase the risk of heatstroke and be harmful to occupants and pets. Families with senior citizens and children have heightened risk factors that should make their homeowners consider the loss of AC an emergency.
Your Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
Finally, if your circuit breaker trips every time your AC cycles you have an issue that needs to be addressed right away. While it is a signal that your circuit breaker is effectively doing its job, it is also a sign that something is wrong with your AC system. Sometimes this is caused by faulty wiring in the outdoor unit or an issue with the compressor itself. This can be tricky because it can be both an HVAC and electrical issue, but it is one that you don’t want to mess around with. This could potentially lead to an electrocution risk or a fire risk, so don’t delay getting help.
Top Signs You Need Emergency Heating Repair
The other side of your HVAC system is your heating system. While people don’t rely on their furnaces as heavily in Dallas, TX as they do the AC, there are plenty of winter months where the winter nights cool off to an uncomfortable temperature. On these nights you will heavily rely on your heater, and if it isn’t there you will instantly miss it. Here are a few signs that you need to call for emergency heating and AC repair during the cooler months.
You Smell Rotten Eggs
The smell of rotten eggs is never a good sign unless you happen to have a dozen eggs rotting on the counter. Rotten gas is usually associated with a gas leak within your home, and since gas furnaces run on natural gas there is always the possibility that your furnace will have a leak. While natural gas is odorless by nature, an additive is placed in the gas so that homeowners can identify a gas leak. If you walk into your home and smell the foul odor of rotten eggs then you need to immediately get out of your house and call the gas company. The gas company can ascertain whether or not there really is a leak and then safely shut off the gas to your home. At this point, you can call for emergency heating and AC repair to address the leak and get things back to proper working order at your home.
There Are Puddles or Steam Around the Boiler
Every home has a different home system. If yours includes a boiler then you should keep your eye on it to make sure that it isn’t leaking. Puddles or steam that is escaping around your boiler is a clear sign that the boiler has a broken valve somewhere or that it is leaking. A small leak can quickly widen and turn into a large leak that causes a large amount of water damage within a very short timeframe. Don’t wait to find out just how fast a boiler can explode. Instead, at the first indication of a leak in your home call for emergency heating and AC repair.
Your Furnace Has a Yellow Flame
Flames can tell a lot about how well gas is burning within your furnace. Therefore, you should treat your pilot light as a good glimpse into the health of your HVAC system. Blue flames are much hotter than yellow flames, which is why you should always see a blue flame when you peak at your pilot light. If you happen to look and notice that the flame is yellow this is a sign that something is happening and your furnace is not burning at a high enough temperature.
Short-term this means that your home may not be heating properly, but more concerning is the fact this may indicate that there is a carbon monoxide leak in your home. Carbon monoxide is not something that you want to take lightly. It is called the silent killer for this very reason, it only takes a small amount of exposure to immediately affect your health and continued exposure will result in death. Therefore, if you notice that your flame is burning yellow you need to turn off your HVAC system, open a few windows or leave your home and then call for emergency heating and AC repair.
Is It Frigid Outside of Your Home?
The same way that unsafe temperatures can be a good reason to seek out emergency heating and AC repair in Dallas, TX, they can also be a good reason to get help with your furnace. Most of the year the temperatures don’t dip too low in Dallas, but there are times when it gets very cold, and if your furnace happens to die during those times, then you need to call for emergency help. Keep in mind that this past season a cold snap paralyzed Texas quickly, so you may need your furnace more than you think and it pays to keep it in working order.
The best way to avoid finding yourself in an emergency heating or cooling situation is by booking an annual HVAC system servicing visit. Having your system serviced every year gives you the chance to see how well the system is still functioning and whether or not there are parts wearing out within your system. During a maintenance visit, the technician will let you know if any components are showing signs of wear so that you can replace them before your entire system shuts down.
In addition, an annual HVAC service also helps improve the energy efficiency of your HVAC system which usually means that you will save money on your monthly utility bills. Therefore, if you are looking at a way to make your heating or cooling bills more affordable than you may want to consider booking a maintenance call. The bonus perk will be hopefully avoiding an emergency heating and AC repair in the future.
Whether you are ready to book an annual servicing or have an actual emergency heating and AC repair that needs to be taken care of now, One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas is here for you.