Top 5 Warning Signs That You Are in Need of HVAC Repair

Energy bills soaring? Climate control not working? Like all mechanical systems, HVAC repair is a necessity from time to time. Here are the top five warning signs that your HVAC system may need repair, tune-up, or replacement.

Weird Smells

HVAC systems do not produce any odors when they are functioning properly. If something smells “off” in your home or business, there’s a good chance your HVAC system is to blame. HVAC repair near me may be needed. In particular, HVAC systems are known for emitting four strange smells when they are not functioning properly:

Spoiled Egg. Most commonly, this smell indicates a natural gas leak but may point to a different problem if your home or business is not outfitted with natural gas. 

Electric Heat Smell. This smell indicates that your system is overheating. An overheated HVAC system is far more prone to breakage.

Musty/Moldy Smell. When moisture is not expelled from an HVAC system properly, mold and mildew have the chance to grow.

Burnt Smell. In this case, your motor is likely malfunctioning. If your motor breaks, you may need to replace your HVAC system entirely. Turn the HVAC system off immediately until a technician arrives.

Air Flow Problems

If less air is coming out of your ducts than usual, that points to an issue with the overall functioning of your HVAC system. Regardless of the temperature outside, airflow should be steady and consistent at all times.

If you are experiencing airflow problems, there is some good news. Oftentimes, this problem points to a small HVAC repair regarding one or more of the many filters inside of any HVAC system, not a need for replacement of your entire system. But if the problem is left unattended, more serious issues may sprout up. Don’t settle for decreased airflow and don’t risk a more serious repair down the line. HVAC systems are durable, but only with proper and consistent maintenance.

Leaks (Water or Other)

Any unexpected water from your HVAC system points to issues with an internal component, such as the evaporator coil or condensation pump. In many cases, you may be able to continue heating and cooling your home or business property, even with the damaged component. But doing so is not a smart long-term strategy. 

HVAC systems are made to have every component functioning properly. Over time, if one component is broken, the chances of larger components breaking increase exponentially. In fact, ignoring water leaks from your HVAC system is nearly a guarantee that the system will need to be replaced at some point down the line.

Water leaks can also lead to water damage, which is a far more expensive repair than even replacing your entire HVAC system is (and HVAC installation isn’t particularly cheap). In the meantime, mold will have the perfect breeding ground inside of your home or business, which may lead to serious respiratory ailments.

Long story short? Don’t ignore water leaks. If you notice puddles inside or outside your home or business, be proactive and tend to the problem immediately. You’ll be glad you did.

Too Much Humidity

HVAC systems, when functioning properly, completely control the humidity levels within a home or business. Even if it’s a particularly humid day outside, the inside of your home or business should not feel the effects of the weather outside. Humidity problems are often linked to water leaks, making the problem a serious one that should not be ignored, or else new HVAC installation may be required. If you feel like the air is particularly moist, fix the root of the problem instead of implementing a stopgap solution like running a dehumidifier.

Thermostat Malfunction

Thermostats should be accurate. In other words, if you set the temperature to 72, it should feel like 72 degrees inside of your home or business. If you have to turn the temperature higher or lower than usual to achieve your desired temperature, there is likely an issue that needs to be resolved.

Note that regardless of the HVAC system’s ability to cool or heat, if your thermostat is malfunctioning, you always have a problem. Many home and business owners ignore this repair for this reason, but putting it off is never a good idea. The longer you go with a faulty thermostat, the more likely it is a more expensive component in your HVAC system breaks, possibly resulting in the need for HVAC installation of a new system.

Based on what you learned, is something wrong? If you’re experiencing a problem, click here or give us a call at (469) 720-4539 to talk with one of our trained technicians and get started on fixing the problem now.