Winter is around the corner, which makes this the opportune time to improve upon your HVAC system. This is an important task because an HVAC system can easily account for 50% of your total energy needs.
You might be wondering how you will go about searching, identifying, and resolving existing issues with your HVAC system. If you are in this predicament, then take heart because this article will provide information on some common HVAC problems and then discuss ways in which to carry out HVAC maintenance.
The vast majority of heating system problems discussed below can be avoided with proper HVAC maintenance. It would, therefore, be prudent to secure the services of a reputable company that deals with air conditioning installation and preventative HVAC maintenance.
However, if you do not yet have an existing relationship with a heating services provider, then this article will be most beneficial. Some of the more common HVAC issues that you are likely to encounter include:
Thermostat Failure
Most modern HVAC installations make use of electronic thermostats that are easy to program and maintain your desired range of temperatures. These thermostats are usually installed in various rooms within the house, apartment building, or commercial property. The fact that thermostats tend to be stand-alone units makes it easy to determine which thermostats are malfunctioning in most HVAC systems.
The most straightforward detection approach involves synchronizing the setting on all the thermostats that are part of your heating and air conditioning system. Moving from one room to the next should allow you to pinpoint which rooms have faulty thermostats. However, replacing the malfunctioning thermostats should be a task that you assign to a professional HVAC service provider.
Clogged Air Filters
Apart from malfunctioning thermostats, clogged air filters can also hinder the proper functioning of your HVAC system. Air filters are typically made from loosely woven material and employ static charge to trap minuscule particles in the air moving through them.
As a direct consequence, this trapped particulate matter tends to build up on the air filter. With time, the buildup does cause the air filter to stop functioning. Rather than trying to fiddle with the HVAC system, it is best to leave the detection and replacement of clogged air filters to heating services professionals.
Tripped and Defective Circuit Breakers
A standard air conditioning installation tends to have multiple blowers at integral points in the system. The purpose of the blowers is to create a moving air current within the conduits that make up the HVAC system. Blowers are composed of large fans that need the main power supply to function. If an air filter in a particular section of your HVAC system gets clogged, the blowers nearest to the air filter end up drawing more power to sustain airflow. The higher current needs of the fans ultimately cause the circuit breakers connected to the blowers to trip.
Circuit breakers can also trip as a result of manufacturing defects. The outcome is total air conditioning failure in rooms nearest the fans with tripped circuit breakers. The technical nature of circuit breaker resetting and replacement may necessitate the hiring of a professional heating service provider.
Leaking Pipes
Some heating and air conditioning systems have a boiler as the central heat source of the system. In such HVAC installations, the furnace is usually connected to pipes that convey heated steam to various rooms within the home, apartment building, or commercial premises.
Due to the effects of high temperature and moisture in the piping, the integrity of the pipe is compromised over time, primarily from rust and corrosion. This may result in leaks hidden within the walls of the building. Fixing such leaks requires a heating services professional.
While the above list is not exhaustive concerning possible HVAC problems, it does discuss the most common ones. For any HVAC problem, hiring professional HVAC maintenance is the only guaranteed way to avoid costly issues.