HVAC Troubleshooting - Signs to Call in the Experts
Call now for HVAC experts technicians face a number of challenges in their day-to-day work. They work with heavy machinery, in confined spaces, and have to deal with harsh weather conditions.
It is important to get a regular HVAC maintenance checkup, which will catch many problems before they take a turn for the worse. However, when something does go wrong, it is time to call in the experts.
Loud banging or knocking sounds
Today’s modern air conditioners should produce little to no noise at all. So, any banging or knocking sounds coming from your system are usually a sign that something is amiss and needs to be fixed.
If you hear clanking noises coming from your walls and ceilings, it could mean that the ductwork has expanded and is rubbing against the drywall. Alternatively, the sound might be caused by loose or misaligned pipes. In this case, you’ll need to call a professional to fix the problem by opening up your walls and adding padding to the piping.
Many HVAC technicians work with a wide variety of hand tools, including screwdrivers in various sizes and flashlights to illuminate hard-to-see areas. Because they often work in confined spaces and other challenging conditions, this type of equipment is very important to the success of their jobs. This type of tool can help them quickly and accurately diagnose problems with your home’s ductwork, pipes, or other faulty systems.
Excess liquid dripping from your vents
If water spots are appearing on the ceiling around your air conditioning vents, it’s time to call in a professional. This is often caused by condensation that forms inside the air ducts and leaks into your home. The most common cause of this is that your air ducts aren’t properly insulated. This means that outside air can easily pass through them and cause excessive condensation.
You can check if this is the problem by removing the vent grate and looking at the state of the drip pan, which is usually located under the evaporator coils in your AC unit. If it’s full or overflowing, that’s a sign that the drain line is clogged.
If you suspect this is the problem, you can try unclogging it by attaching a wet/dry vacuum to the drainage pump and attempting to pull out any accumulated debris that might be stuck in it. For more serious problems, however, you’ll need to call in a professional.
A tripped circuit breaker
A breaker trip can be caused by using too many electrical devices on the same circuit or by a sudden increase in energy use. If the problem persists, it may be time to talk to a pro about moving appliances and devices to other circuits or upgrading your home’s electrical service. Another potential reason for a tripped breaker is a short circuit. This occurs when an active or hot wire contacts a neutral wire, causing a large amount of current to flow and potentially heating the circuit’s wires to dangerous levels.
A tripped breaker can leave your whole room or house in the dark, but figuring out what’s causing it is usually fairly simple. Start by ensuring that the electrical panel or fuse box is fully open. Then, run your hand along the centerline of the breakers to find which one feels springy when you press on it. This is the tripped breaker. Continue working down the line until you find what’s causing the issue.
Foul odors
A foul smell coming from your HVAC system isn’t just unpleasant, it can also be dangerous to your health. Knowing which smells you should call an AC professional about can save you time and money while keeping your home safe.
A musty or moldy odor from your vents indicates there’s a fungus or other bacteria growing in your unit and/or ductwork. A professional can inspect the unit, identify the source of the odor, and clean your ductwork to eliminate the smell.
If you detect a rotten egg smell, it could be caused by a natural gas leak. All utility companies add an odor-producing additive to natural gas to help homeowners alert them to leaks. If you suspect this is the problem, call your utility company and then a HVAC expert right away. A gas leak is a serious issue and can be hazardous to your family’s health. A professional will determine the cause and fix it quickly.