If something is failing or going amiss with your HVAC unit, chances are, your HVAC unit is letting you know something is not quite right. However, most of the cues come in the form of sounds that many of us may overlook. If you hear your HVAC unit grinding, squealing, screeching or squeaking, it is letting you know it needs help. I was unaware of these cues and overlooked them. It ended up costing me a lot of money in repairs. I want to make sure that does not happen to other people, so I made this website. I hope you learn how to interpret the noises your HVAC unit is making so you can get it the repairs it needs before you incur a costly repair, or worse, permanently ruin your unit for good.
HVAC systems are composed of complex equipment that needs professional care to maintain and repair. Fortunately, there isn't much you need to do personally to maintain your HVAC other than clean it and call for professional help when something goes wrong. Whether the furnace and air conditioner you have now are new or close to the end of their lives, you want to take good care of them to prevent a premature breakdown and to control your utility bills. Here's a look at some things involved in the care of HVAC systems.
Maintain Burners For Efficient Heating
An electric furnace has electric heating coils and a gas furnace has gas burners. The burners have to work properly so the furnace can create heat to blow through your house. Electric coils should be checked once a year. If a coil goes bad, the HVAC repair technician might want to replace all of them at the same time.
The gas burners are not only checked, these have to be cleaned as well. Soot and dust build up in the combustion area of a gas furnace, and these acidic byproducts can damage the burners over time. In addition to cleaning the burners, the technician also has to inspect the burners and heat exchanger well to make sure there are no cracks that could allow carbon monoxide to escape.
Test Refrigerant For Efficient Cooling
Refrigerant leaks are possible with a central air conditioner, and the sooner you find them, the better. A slow leak can gradually reduce the energy efficiency of your AC as the refrigerant leaks out. An HVAC technician tests the pressure of the refrigerant when doing a tune-up of your AC so refrigerant loss can be detected. Otherwise, you might pay more for your power bills and not know why. A refrigerant leak can be repaired and refrigerant can be added to boost the performance of your AC.
Check The Air Distribution System For Dust And Leaks
The ducts, registers, grilles, and vents don't get a lot of attention, but they are important parts of your HVAC system. Dust can collect in these parts and cause your system to clog up. Occasional duct cleaning can help this problem, but you may also need to clean the registers and ducts a few times a year. The HVAC filter is an important part of the airflow system in your HVAC. The filter should be changed on schedule or dust will build up and cause problems with your HVAC.
The ducts should be checked for leaks as well as for dust. A duct leak can be a serious issue if it's a big one. You could lose a lot of heated or cooled air through a duct leak. That can drive up your power bill and affect how well your home cools down or warms up.
To learn more about HVAC systems, consult with a professional in your area.
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