Why 24/7 Emergency Heating And AC Repair Is Important | Richardson, TX
There is no better way to ruin a wonderful evening at home in Richardson, TX, than having to sit in a sweltering or freezing house, especially when only minutes before your HVAC system was working just fine, or at least that’s what you thought. That’s when you realize that your air conditioning has been acting weird lately, but you are so used to it working well, that you chose to ignore the problem and now you have an emergency on your hands. To make matters even worse, it’s Saturday on a holiday weekend. Waiting until Monday is not going to be possible, not with temperatures rising and nowhere to go. What do you do now?
In this article we will make mention of all possible HVAC situations in which calling an emergency heating and AC repair service in Richardson, TX is warranted, so you don’t have to spend the rest of your weekend in a house that is less than comfortable. Keep in mind that some HVAC emergencies can be more urgent than others because they could put your family’s health and your property at risk. Regardless of the severity of the emergency, it goes without saying that you should never attempt to fix the issue yourself, unless you have HVAC training, or you may end up with a more expensive problem to fix. Always call a professional emergency heating and AC repair service in Richardson, TX so you can quickly return to enjoying your evening once more.
Figuring Out If It Really Is an Emergency Situation
Imagine the following scenario: It’s a cold winter evening, the thermometer is showing the temperature outside is close to freezing. You see a flurry of snowflakes starting to fall, as ice patterns start forming on your windows. You have been looking forward to this night all week, and, as you sit in your favorite recliner, holding a nice cup of hot cocoa, when you start shivering. Wait a minute. What’s going on? Your house feels just as cold as it is outside! What’s going on with your heater?
You jump out of your recliner, almost spilling hot cocoa all over yourself on the way, and stare at the thermostat on the wall. The temperature it shows seems about right. You put your hand over the vent and nothing comes out. You stand there, in shock, wondering what is going on. Suddenly, a voice on the TV knocks you out of your stupor. The weatherman is saying something about it getting even colder, and the worst winter storm in over a decade is heading your way. You realize your toddler is sleeping upstairs and your elderly grandmother will be spending the night with you. You are in trouble and need help now. But, do you?
Before you grab your phone and start dialing every emergency heating and AC repair company in Richardson, TX, take a breath and give yourself a minute to calm down. Then use the following checklist which details a few common reasons why your HVAC system may have stopped working. If, after going through these steps, you are still having trouble, we will tell you what to do so you can warm up your house again.
Check Your Thermostat
When your HVAC system stops working, and before you can an emergency heating and AC repair service, take a second to check your thermostat. The digital panel will show you two different numbers. One will be the temperature inside the room, and the other is the temperature to which you originally set the thermostat. Make sure that the temperature setting on the thermostat is lower (for summer) or higher (for winter) than the room temperature it is showing.
It often happens that the temperature outside is too hot or too cold for the temperature you set on your thermostat. It can be because the day got hotter or colder as the day wore on. In this case just set the correct temperature as described above and wait a few minutes to see if that solved your problem.
One more thing to check is whether the thermostat is set to “cool” or “warm” as required by the weather, and that it hasn’t been turned off. Because it’s true, one of the most common reasons why people call for emergency heating and AC repair is because the thermostat was turned off, and they didn’t realize it until the tech arrived.
Take a Look at Your Unit’s Air Filter
Let’s admit it, you can’t remember when you changed your HVAC’s air filter. An air filter’s job is to catch all the dust and particles that come into your home from the outside, which is why they tend to become clogged every so often. This is why it’s important to clean or replace them as part of your HVAC’s maintenance routine, and preferably every three months, or sooner if necessary.
An air filter that can get so dirty and clogged that no air will get through it. If you can still hear your HVAC system working but no warm or cool air is coming out of the vents, check your air filter, and if necessary clean or replace it. Wait a few minutes to see if warm or cool air has started flowing again. If not, it’s time to call for emergency heating and AC repair.
Check Your Home’s Vents
Very often the air vents located in your home can get closed accidentally, restricting the flow of air into your house. Take a walk around your house and check if all the vents on the walls, floor, and ceiling are open. If they are, and no cool or warm air comes out of them, give your local emergency heating and AC repair service in Richardson, TX a call.
Verify That Your Unit Is Still Turned On
Sometimes the power to your HVAC system might get turned off accidentally. Check that it’s still on and that it hasn’t tripped a breaker. If nothing seems to be off or tripped, you might have an electrical problem and need emergency heating and AC repair right away.
If all of the above actions fail to produce any warm or cool air, you could definitely have an emergency situation to deal with. Before you try to find a DIY video online, take a step back and ignore the temptation. Trying to fix your HVAC system yourself, without the proper training can result in injuries, further damage, and costly repairs. So, pick up your phone and call us at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas for the fastest emergency heating and AC repair.
We understand the urgency of your situation and will be with you as fast as we can, but while you wait, there are a few things you should and shouldn’t do to keep yourself warm or cool during the emergency. We will touch on those below, so keep reading to find out how you can help yourself during this harrowing time.
What to Do During An HVAC Emergency
When you are forced to deal with an HVAC emergency and while you wait for the arrival of our emergency heating and AC repair crew, there are a few simple things you should do in order to keep you family as comfortable as possible. Smart thinking and acting can ensure your family is exposed to extreme temperatures that could affect their health and well-being.
Keep the Windows Closed
Opening your windows even just an inch will let in the extremely hot or cold air from outside, worsening the already uncomfortable environment inside your home. Make sure you maintain what little cool or warm air you have inside for as long as you possibly can while your emergency heating and AC repair techs arrive. If you have to open your door to go in or out of your house, do so as fast as you can and don’t leave any door open.
Keep Your Curtains Closed
Closing your curtains will ensure the warm or cool air stays that way for a bit longer than just closing your windows. If your air conditioner is not producing cool air on a hot day, the sun’s radiation can turn your home into a hot box. If it’s not producing warm air on a cold day, closing the curtains will prevent any warm air from cooling due to contact with cold windows. Once the emergency heating and AC repair team arrives, you can open them again to let in the light of the sun.
Turn On Your Fans or Get a Few More Blankets
Because of the nature of the emergency, you should always do whatever possible to keep yourself comfortable while you wait for the emergency heating and AC repair service. If it’s hot outside, bring out your fans and turn them on full blast to circulate and maintain the cool air trapped inside your home. If it’s freezing cold outdoors, put on sweaters, jackets, and add extra blankets to the beds at night. Do not use your stove as a heat source or you could end up in more trouble than you already have.
Other Signals 0f an HVAC Emergency
The loss of air flow from your HVAC unit is not the only emergency you could face. There are several other reasons why you will have to call an emergency heating and AC repair company for help, including the following:
- Loud noises coming from your HVAC unit, including knocking, banging, sizzling, or crackling.
- Foul smells coming out of your vents. The air coming out of you vents should not smell at all, so if you get a whiff of something burning, rotting, mold, or anything else, you should turn off your HVAC and call an emergency heating and AC repair service.
- Smoke coming from your unit or vents. This is considered a dire emergency, because it could signify that you have a possible electrical fire on your hands. Turn off your HVAC system and call for emergency heating and AC repair immediately. Vacate your home as quickly as you can and wait outside. DO NOT try to find the source of the electrical problem yourself, and DO NOT attempt to fix it on your own.
- Your HVAC system is completely dead. If nothing is running, turning, or producing the air you need. If there’s no sound at all coming from your unit to indicate that it’s working. If it keeps tripping your breaker every time you try to turn it on again, turn it off and call for emergency heating and AC repair right away.
One of the most important things you can do during an HVAC emergency, no matter how severe it may be, is to stay calm. We understand that it can be a tremendously stressful situation, but keeping you calm is essential to your well-being and your family’s health. More and more, people are becoming dependent on their HVAC systems working correctly at all times, which is why a good maintenance schedule can prevent emergency scenarios and the potential loss of property. A good HVAC maintenance program should be performed at least twice a year in order to keep your system working properly. In the end investing in maintenance will set you back much less than having to spend money on costly emergency repairs or having to replace your HVAC system completely.
Do You Need Emergency Heating and AC Repair?
Finding yourself in the middle of an HVAC emergency can put you under a lot of stress. Always make sure that any children, and elderly or sick people in your Richardson, TX, home are comfortable and then call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas for emergency heating and AC repair services in Richardson, TX. Make sure you always let us know during your call how bad the emergency is and let us know about any strange smells, sounds, or smoke coming out of your system right away, so we can give you any necessary instructions and head your way as fast as we can. So, never hesitate, in the midst of an HVAC emergency, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas right away!