All appliances in the house eventually break. That is why they need to be handled with lots of love and care. One of the essential appliances in the house is the air conditioning. There is nothing as bad as turning the HVAC on to warm or cool your home, and it does not work. It would help if you learned how to troubleshoot the HVAC to help you in ensuring that you can avoid being in an awkward situation.
You have HVAC in your home blowing warm or chilly air; do you know what it is? HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air – Conditioning. which means that your heat pump furnace is part of the HVAC system. Some issues may need you to hire a professional; however, there are some problems that you can DIY. And here is a guide that you can use to help you DIY troubleshooting.
Check If the HVAC Has Power
It is common for you to turn on your HVAC, and no air blows. You often get that the air conditioning unit is not receiving power. Check if the unit is turned on from the mains when you turn the HVAC, and the LED is not turning on. If other electrical appliances in the home are on, but the HVAC is off, you need to check the breaker. When you check the breaker and find it is off, turn it on, and the HVAC will work.
Resetting the HVAC Unit.
When most electronics hang, it is common for you to reset them, just like computers. The air conditioner at times will switch off for one reason or another; hence it is vital to ensure that you reset it for it to work perfectly. When resetting the HVAC, ensure that you follow the user manual’s steps. The reason to follow the steps in the user’s manual is to make sure you do not damage the unit. Different HVAC units have different steps to follow when resetting.
Check If Furnace Door Is Closed
If your system uses a furnace, you need to check if the door is closed. There are types of furnaces that cannot operate when the door is open. You need to ensure that the door is closed then check if the furnace is working. You need to check if the machine automatically turns off or switches working.
Thermostat Issues
Thermostat failures cause most problems with air conditioner units. A failure in a thermostat is likely to give you headaches until you call an expert. But before you call a professional, there are ways that you can check on your own.
Many times, you get that the HVAC turns on at the wrong time or it does not turn on completely. You need to check if there is sufficient power to the thermostat. If a battery powers the thermostat, you can charge the batteries or charge the batteries.
If the thermostat receives power, ensure that the temperature settings are correct and not changed. Temperature settings can be changed by kids, guests, or the buttons being pressed by accident. Hence you need to ensure that all the settings are okay.
Check the Filter
There are HVAC problems that are attributed to filter issues. You need to know the problems that affect your HVAC related to the filter. Signs that you can look for include; when the air is blown from the HVAC unit is humid or dusty. That shows that it has been a long time since you last serviced your filters. You can opt to clean the filters or purchase new ones.
To replace the filters, you need to check the user manual and ensure that the filters you purchase are compatible with the HVAC unit. However, you should consult a professional to help you get the best filter and help you in the installation.
Check the Vents If They Are Obstructed
In a scenario where some rooms in your home are not getting the required heat or frigid air, you need to check if the vents have obstructions. During winter, when the vents are warm, they become a breeding ground for rodents escaping from the wintry weather outside. The rodents will carry dirt into the vents and even make it their breeding ground. The result of the rodent infestation is that air will flow in the vents.
Switch of the HVAC
When you run your HVAC nonstop during summer, the components will freeze. When the components freeze, you need to ensure that you switch off your unit. After turning off the HVAC unit, turn on the fan and give the unit time. If the system still malfunctions after doing the above, you need to call a professional.
You Need to Check the Wiring
Loose or damaged wirings cause some HVAC problems. Rodents are attracted to the electromagnetic effect of electrical wires. On the other hand, the outdoor units can be affected by debris, pets, or landscaping. To avoid damage, you need to ensure that the electrical wiring is well secured in air-tight ducts.
Is It Time to Call the Experts?
Call an expert after running all the above steps and trying to diagnose your HVAC, but you have not achieved any positive results. You can do as much on your own; however, you need to know when to give up and call the professionals. At times DIY causes more harm than good. Hence you need to call an expert to fix your air conditioner.
When you call in the experts, you are covered. When experts come and work on your system, they are responsible for any damage that they will cause. On the other hand, you will sit back and relax as they work on the unit. You must make sure that you check if the HVAC unit still has a warranty. When the unit has a warranty, you need not worry about DIY in that the company you bought it from will come and service the unit for free. All said and done, you need to service your HVAC unit regularly. When you service your HVAC unit, it will take time to fail.