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People rely heavily on their heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units to get through a hot summer day or a cold winter night. Without them, surviving the annoying weather patterns and extreme temperature changes can be challenging. Thus, you may want to ensure that your unit is always running in tip-top shape.

To do that, look for the four most common HVAC issues and learn how to fix them, which you can read about in this article.

Clogged Drain Lines

Aside from cooling or removing heat from the air, HVACs also reduce humidity. Whenever humid air goes through the fins of HVAC, the moisture condenses and accumulates inside the unit. Of course, people don’t want water to sputter out from their HVAC. Hence, these units come with condensate drain lines.

One of the most common HVAC issues you may encounter is a clogged drain line. It often happens to HVACs after some time because, aside from water, dirt and debris can get inside an HVAC unit. They can form a clump inside the line, leading to a clog.

Condensate water can’t flow out when the line gets blocked. Instead, it may pool inside the unit and potentially damage your HVAC’s motor and electric systems. They may also incur water damage in your home if left alone for a long time.

Thankfully, it’s simple to remove the clog. The first step is to empty the drain pan. Then, use a water hose or compressed air to blow through the drain line to push the clog outside. Ensure you do the unclogging from your HVAC’s end.

Blocked Condenser Coils

An HVAC unit cools your home by taking the heat out of the air. It does that through the evaporator and condenser. These contain refrigerants that travel through the coils, absorb the heat from the air from the evaporator coil, and release the heat through the condenser coil.

A fan blows through the condenser coil to let the heat dissipate outside. This fan ensures that heat escapes from the condenser coil, making the HVAC run as efficiently as possible. However, after some time, dirt and debris can block the coils and make it difficult for the condenser to dissipate heat. When this happens, your unit will take a lot of time to cool your room and even start to incur higher electric bills.

To remedy that, you can clean the condenser coil yourself. You can do this using water and mild detergent. Spray some soapy water on the coil and leave it for a few minutes to loosen up the dirt. Then, you can either spray more water or use a soft brush to remove the gunk buildup on the coils. Ensure you apply a little pressure as the fins in these coils can easily bend, effectively blocking the air.

Blower Or Fan Motor Runs Nonstop

You may have heard occasional whirring noises from your HVAC. After a few minutes, it would slowly fade away and disappear. That’s the unit’s blower motor you’re hearing.

Unfortunately, if the blower fan continuously runs for hours, it might indicate that your HVAC is working too hard. This can be distracting if you’re working or doing anything that requires quietness. However, it doesn’t mean there’s a problem with the unit. Nonetheless, you may try to look at it if it continues to bother you.

To turn off the fan, check your thermostat. If the fan is on, turn it off to stop the blower from running. If it continues to operate even if the thermostat is off, the fan relay may be already bad, or the thermostat is starting to fail.

You can try to power-cycle your HVAC using the circuit breaker and see if it will reset the system. You can try to turn it off for an hour and turn it back on. If the problem persists, you may want to call an HVAC technician.

Airflow Suddenly Weakens

Whenever you come home after a hot day, you would often go to the vent of your HVAC to savor the cool breeze it produces. If you notice that it isn’t releasing enough air to cool you down or it’s blowing warm air, there might be a lack of airflow.

A lack of airflow in your HVAC can cause you a few headaches. This issue forces the unit to work harder, resulting in higher electric bills. It also prevents the maintenance of a stable temperature in the room. Furthermore, it may result in some foul odor coming from the unit.

The usual culprit for this problem is a dirty air filter. If the filter is relatively new or less than three months of age, you may want to clean it using a brush. Yet if the filter has been with you for a long time, consider replacing it.

Conclusion

These are the four most common HVAC problems you may encounter with your unit. Thankfully, most of them are easy to fix and may not require calling a technician to help you. However, if the simple fixes here won’t work, never hesitate to refer your problem to them.

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Although many people have heating and cooling in their homes, they may not know how they operate. Adding their lack of knowledge to the many myths surrounding HVAC systems, homeowners become more confused.

While it’s easy to believe in myths, especially when they are said to improve efficiency and save energy bills, it would be better to learn about the best maintenance and efficiency choices to ensure your system’s functionality and longevity. This can help you get the most out of your HVAC system. Below are common HVAC myths debunked.

1. Filters can only be replaced once a year

If you decide to wait for a whole year to replace your HVAC’s filters, they can get very dirty. Airborne particles such as debris, grime, and dust can accumulate in your filters every day. Dirty filters limit airflow and cause your system to work harder, increasing utility bills.

To ensure your cooling and heating system’s energy efficiency and keep your indoor air clean, consider changing your filters every few months. Research on the best HVAC filter, to boost indoor air quality and increase the system’s efficiency.

2. Decreasing or increasing thermostat temperature can quickly cool or heat your home

Whether you decrease and increase your thermostat’s set temperature, it takes the same amount of time to cool or heat your home. However, dramatic increases or decreases of thermostat temperature increases energy consumption and, consequently, utility bills.

3. If your HVAC is okay, you don’t need to call a professional

HVAC systems are made up of many parts, including coils, belts, p-traps, and motors which should always be in good shape for high efficiency. Keeping up with regular maintenance helps you identify an issue before it can cause a breakdown or lead to expensive repairs. Additionally, regular HVAC maintenance enables your system to last longer while ensuring energy efficiency.

4. The bigger the HVAC system, the better

You may be tempted to get the largest HVAC system possible, but if your space is too small for it, the system will cycle it on and off too fast and too often, costing you more money and causing the system to wear out more quickly. In addition, a large system can leave your home feeling more damp because the heating and cooling system cannot run long enough to remove moisture from the air. To get the size that best suits your home, consult an HVAC specialist. When buying an AC system, consider your home’s age, the number of people living in your home, climate zone, and square footage.

5. Your thermostat’s placement isn’t important

A thermostat acts as the HVAC’s brain. It tells the system when to turn on and off. This is why your thermostat’s placement is essential if you want to get your home’s overall accurate temperature readings. Placing them in direct sunlight, near vents, adjacent to windows, or near kitchen appliances isn’t a good idea because the temperatures aren’t a representation of the entire home’s temperature.

6. Endnote

With the help of the above debunked myths and continuous learning, your HVAC can last longer, become more energy-efficient, and reduce your utility bills.

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One of the most important aspect of a home is the HVAC system. Homeowners are trying their best to maintain it because the cost of getting it repaired can be pricey. Also, finding a good contractor who will fix it on the time you want and within the budget you have might not be easy to find. For these reasons, taking proper care of them is crucial. Regular maintenance increases the life span of your machine. It also helps lower the overall energy consumptions so you end up spending less on electric bills. Luckily, there are several HVAC maintenance tips designed to help you keep your unit in shape. You can see this link for some information too intownhvac.com. With that said, here are some of the tips you need to look at to properly maintain your unit.

Check the Filter

Air filters filter out dust and dirt in the household and can get clogged easily if left unchecked. This may lead to system failure. The more people your HVAC system serves including pets the more often your filters get clogged. This is why you need to check your filters monthly and ensure to replace them every 30 to 90 days. Changing the filters often enhances the efficiency of the unit, reduces electric costs, and the chances of repairs too. On the other hand, it prevents AC filters from freezing and thawing if too dirty causing water damage. You can also opt for reusable filters to minimize replacement cost, but clean it often with soapy water.

Annual Professional Check-ups

This type of checkup is done annually by an HVAC technician on top of the regularly scheduled maintenance. The technician examines the various parts of the system and ensures that they are working properly. The inspection includes cleaning of the coils, checking the refrigerant level, cleaning the drain pipes, checking and replacing the air filters, and ensuring the fan is working accordingly. However, this kind of inspection varies from one technician to another. Getting your machine serviced by a professional means that all the gears will be inspected, cleaned, and repaired when need be. It also ensures the system does not break down unexpectedly when you need it the most.

Control the Thermostat

Controlling your thermostat is one of the most significant ways of cutting your heating expenses. In this case, a programmed thermostat will be the best option since you can adjust it to your home requirements. For instance, you can program it to automatically increase the room temperature during winter and lower it when it’s hot. A programmed thermostat is normally pre-programmed to suit a standard household, so you should look at the settings keenly and adjust them as per the temperature you need. If by any chance you notice that the thermostat does not work as programed, then it could be faulty. You can consider a speedy remedy to avoid high repair expenses on the entire HVAC components.

Schedule a Ductwork Inspection

Ducts are meant to enhance the quality of air flowing into your home. However, over time they may accumulate huge layers of dirt which may block the free-flow of conditioned air. This may burden and also reduce the longevity of your unit. Similarly, ducts can harbor several allergens like dust mites, dander, dust, and even pet hairs which could be a nuisance especially to those suffering from respiratory diseases. This is why duct inspection should be done annually to keep your system healthy and to enhance the equality of the indoor air.

Get a Smart AC Controller & Thermostat

Technology offers various apps like Google Home and Alexa which can be used to operate and control the AC. All you need is to connect the AC and the thermostat controller to the App. This smart controller can detect a problem in the HVAC for instance, if the temperature is not right or when there is poor quality air. Furthermore, unlike programmed thermostat, this smart controller can automatically activate and deactivate the system depending on the current needs.

Clean the Vents

Cleaning the vents regularly prevents dirt and dust from building up and blocking airflow. When air is blocked from flowing freely in and out of the HVAC system, it may cause the system to heat up which can damage the equipment. Cleaning the vents is an important task that should be carried out monthly to make sure that the airflow is not weak.

Clean the Outside Unit

This is one of the tips that most people tend to ignore. Cleaning up the inside of the unit is as important as cleaning the inside. This prevents dirt from covering the system which can weaken it with time. You can wash it off using a gentle garden hose and wipe it dry with a clean cloth. You can also do a weekly inspection of the unit to ensure that it is free from twigs, leaves, or cut back shrubs that are at least three feet tall.

Have a Maintenance Plan

Having a well-outlined maintenance plan ensures you service the unit promptly. You can do this by creating a remainder on your E-calendar or pin the schedule somewhere that you can easily access it. With this, you will never miss out on the advantages of having your machine services which include reduced maintenance cost. Click here to see a few more maintenance tips.

Conclusion

There are several straightforward reasons why HVAC maintenance is important. The main one being the elimination of the unnecessary cost of repair. Regular checkups guarantee you the continuous operation of your machines throughout the year. To make sure that everything is properly maintained, consider hiring a professional periodically to handle the inspection. Plus, incorporate smart devices to lessen the burden on your unit.

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A heating system is very important to keep your family warm during the extremely cold winter season. It’s also important to improve your home’s air quality. You should prioritize to install one during the fall because the temperature is about to go down and you want to stay comfortable. But before you call your HVAC professional to install one for you, there are things you should consider first. Why? If you are not able to install the right heating system for you, it will result in future problems, but you don’t have to worry because HVAC repair doesn’t cause that much as you expected. The list below will help you prevent future dilemma.

Here are 7 factors you should think about before installing an HVAC at your home.

1. Installation Costs

Of course, you should always think about how much money you are willing to spend to have an HVAC system installed at your home. You should also consider the importance to maintain your HVAC maintenance. Typically, it will cost you around $1,000 to $3,000. Additionally, if you have extra budget to allocate for the installation, it is advisable to be prepared to spend another $500 to $1000 for a higher efficiency unit. Although you will have to spend more up front, you will be able to save money in the long run because of its energy saving capabilities. Before settling on anything, shop around and see what is available online and locally. I recently called up the Cylinder Guys and was surprised at how affordable maintenance and installation costs actually were! Don’t settle for the first company you come across, do some research and shop around in order to make the best possible decision.

2. Home Heating Costs

Observe how much is your current HVAC system bill annually. You can do that by subtracting your summer heating costs to your winter heating costs. Add the difference throughout the year to determine your cost for the whole year. To have a better understanding, assume that you have spent $1000 for the whole year, and the one you are looking forward to replacing your unit has an AFUE rating of 80%, it means that you will be able to save $250 per year. Moreover, if you choose a 93% AFUE rating, you can save $350 annually.

3. Heating Efficiency

As stated above, heating efficiency is very important. And you can easily know the unit’s efficiency because every unit is rated by percentages, called AFUE or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratings. The higher the ratings, the more efficient the unit is. According to Federal Appliance Energy Standards of 1993, HVAC systems should have at least 80%. Fortunately, because of modern technology, there are units that have a rating as high as 96% but they come with higher purchasing costs.

4. Heating System Size

The size of your heating system depends on the actual size of your house. If you installed a wrong-sized system, you will encounter a lot of problems and headaches along the way. For instance, you will have higher energy bills if you have a small heating system for your house because it has to exert extra work to heat all the spaces. It will also reduce the useful years of the unit. To make sure you got the just the right size, have a heating technician check your place before acquiring an HVAC unit.

5. Heating Fuel

The majority of HVAC systems use gas boiler but there are also alternatives out there that you can choose from. You can select from oil boiler, liquid petroleum gas or LPG Boiler, Biomass or wood burning stove fitted with a back boiler. Additionally, it is always wise to look for renewable energy because they are more affordable and environmental friendly at the same time.

6. Product Ratings & Recalls

Because there are a lot of brands and choices out there for a heating system, you should always be alert on any product recall news so you know which brand to avoid. You don’t want to return your newly purchased unit in the middle of the cold winter so you should always rely on trusted brands. A little research on the internet will go a long way in knowing which brands are really reliable and which are not.

7. Maintenance Schedule

Maintaining your unit may be different from brand to brand. Before deciding to buy one, you should be familiar with the amount of effort it will take to maintain your system and how often will you be needing to seek a professional help to do it. Knowing this will help you understand how much you should allocate to the cost of maintenance expense to keep your new HVAC system efficiency and always at its optimal performance.