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There are a few things you can do yourself when it comes to your HVAC system. They include changing the air filter regularly, vacuuming the intake vent in your home, cleaning the other registers regularly, and making sure the outdoor unit is free of debris. Most things regarding HVAC, however, require the assistance of a professional HVAC technician. Here are five common HVAC ailments that need a pro’s touch.
Table of Contents
1. Refrigerant Issues
If your home has a heat pump for heating during the winter, then it needs a full load of refrigerant in it to provide you heat. The refrigerant acts as a heat exchanger, which captures heat energy from outside and shunts it into your home. If the refrigerant leaks, then the heat pump will be inefficient, which will result in both a higher energy bill and a reduction in your comfort level. In addition to checking for refrigerant leaks, a technician will also top up your system once the leak is fixed.
2. Faulty Compressor
The compressor is your system’s heart. It’s what circulates the refrigerant through the system. If it’s on the fritz, then the refrigerant won’t circulate properly. This creates the same kind of situation that results from a leak: inefficient air heating and incorrect temperature control in your home. When this happens, it’s possible that you could need a compressor repair. You also, however, may need to have either the compressor or even the whole system replaced.
3. Bad Capacitor
Your system’s capacitor is there to help your system start up when it’s been off for a while. A capacitor is like a battery in an electrical circuit. It stores power for use at some later point. By collecting power, the capacitor in your system eventually has enough to start the system automatically. Your heating system, be it a furnace of some kind or a heat pump, isn’t designed to run constantly. It’s supposed to stop when the temperature in your home reaches the desired setting. After that, the heating system is powered but not running. It needs the jolt from the capacitor to start going again. If the capacitor is bad, then it won’t store the necessary power to start your heating system.
4. Clogged Drain Line or Pan
HVAC systems collect water from the air. Usually, the system has a pipe or hose that either leads directly outside or into a sink or other receptacle. The water flows through the pipe or hose and out of your system. Sometimes, the water drops into a pan that then connects to a pipe or hose that goes outside. In any case, if any part of the water-shunting system gets clogged with something, then the water will flow backward or otherwise wind up on the floor of the room where the system is.
5. Bad Thermostat
This could be something as simple as dead batteries or a loose wire. Or, the thermostat could need replacement for any one of a number of reasons. A professional technician will be able to advise you.
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