I’ve been in situations where I have lost my HVAC in the middle of a terrible heatwave. The air would flow out of the vents but it would come out very weak. It wasn’t strong enough to cool down my bedroom or the rest of the house. It was a horrible summer.
Now, had I learned a few troubleshooting techniques before I spent all summer saving up money to get my HVAC repaired or replaced, I might’ve been able to save time and money. My goal is to help you make sure that you’re not spending weeks waiting for a repairman to come out when you may be able to fix the problem yourself.
Plus, by taking the initiative, you can give your HVAC repairman from https://www.jerryair.com as much information as you possibly can. It’ll make their job easier, and if they suspect that it’s an easy fix, they might be able to schedule you sooner rather than later. You never know!
Let’s take a look at some ways you can troubleshoot your HVAC ventilation issues!
Change your filters
AC units draw on air from the great outdoors so they can bring it to the perfect temperature and cool your home down. While this is a great way from keeping your home from smelling stale or stuffy, it also brings in things like bugs, dirt, dust, and mold spurs right into the air duct. Luckily these contaminate are stopped from entering your home by the filter.
This can cause significant buildup over time. The result will be poor airflow which decreases the productivity of the unit and can charge you far more money on your electricity bill.
If you notice your AC has stopped working the way it should you should check the filter first. It may just need to be replaced. If you need help changing your filter, click here.
Low Refrigerant levels
Refrigerant is an important ingredient for the AC to be able to cool the air. If your AC unit is running on low refrigerant there could be two reasons why. The first, and hopefully the only reason, is that you’ve simply run out of the refrigerant and it needs to be replaced. The second is that there is a leak somewhere that is causing you to have lower levels.
If your AC unit isn’t producing cold air through your ventilation system, then that could be an indication that your unit is running low on refrigerant. If you look at your refrigerant levels and see that they’re low, fill it up so it’s full. In a few days, check on your levels again. If it looks low again, then you might be looking at a leak. In which case, it’s best to call your repairman to have it looked at for better inspection.
Look for Damages
This should be your next check. While you’re already looking at the unit, check it over to see if you can see any damages. Since HVACs have outdoor units, outside elements can cause unwanted damage to the outdoor portion of your unit. If your AC stops working properly, and you notice a few dents or broken fins on your exterior unit, then that may be the cause.
You’ll also want to check the ductwork too since this is the part of the AC that spreads cold air around your home. Dented, bent or punctured air ducts can start leaking and won’t flow the cold air around your home as well as it’s supposed to. In this case, you’ll want to call your repairman to replace or fix any broken parts of the machine.
Ask yourself how old your unit is
If your HVAC is over 15 years old, it may be on its last leg. Most AC units last this long, so if you notice your AC not working properly, it might just be the fact that it’s too old and its components are outdated and starting to wear down. You may need to replace your HVAC system completely.
AC systems can be expensive, often ranging between $3,000 to $7000. However, once summer comes, you’ll be wishing you invested in that AC unit before those heatwaves hit your town.
Check your vents for clogs and your thermostat
Once you’re done inspecting the unit itself, it’s time to check on other potential causes. For example, you may come to find out that your air vents are clogged out of control. Maybe you have pets whose hair accumulated in your vent or ductwork that’s keeping the cold air from escaping. It may just need a good cleaning.
Another possible problem is your thermostat. If it’s not working properly, it may not be telling your system to turn on or off when it’s supposed to. Check the settings on your thermostat. If they haven’t changed, call a repairman out to come and inspect it to make sure it’s working correctly.
