Everything You Need to Know About Residential HVAC Repair and Maintenance
Over the past few years, residential HVAC systems have evolved to include critical components that help them function more efficiently. A high-quality HVAC system will be able to eliminate hostile and unfavorable conditions in your home, giving you and your family a comfortable and cozy living space. It also ensures that your indoor air is clean, healthy, and allergy-free.
Unfortunately, residential HVAC units are still vulnerable to normal wear and tear even with these significant upgrades. This means that your HVAC unit may require regular maintenance and repairs when it breaks down. However, most homeowners don’t know much about residential HVAC repair and maintenance.
If you’re in this group, you’re in luck because this article will help you understand more about your HVAC system’s repairs and maintenance requirements.
Common HVAC Unit Problems
Your home’s heating and cooling systems are susceptible to a lot of problems. Fortunately, regular maintenance can help you prevent most of these issues before they occur.
When a trained professional checks out your system, they are likely to identify any minor flaws that may develop into significant problems requiring expensive repairs in the future. Some of these issues include:
Overheating
Thermostat malfunction
Damaged heat exchanger
Short cycling
Water leaks
Blown internal fuses
Ignition system issues due to a dirty burner
Tripped breakers
If you notice any of the above problems, it’s essential to call an HVAC repair expert. Attempting to repair the unit yourself could result in secondary damages. It can also be dangerous to handle electric repairs, especially if you’re not an expert.
Solutions for Common Residential HVAC Unit Problems
Did you know that over 70% of HVAC units are performing below standard? While the HVAC system is one of the most important components of any home, most people often ignore their HVAC units.
Below is a simple repair and maintenance guide to help you troubleshoot your HVAC unit:
1. Check the Thermostat
When performing your inspection, the thermostat should be your starting point. It is the central control point of your HVAC unit’s functionality. While most people are scared of inspecting their heating and cooling units, the thermostat is one of the easiest components to inspect.
Start by checking the battery if you have a battery-powered thermostat. Check whether the battery has reached the end of its lifespan. Most thermostat batteries have a lifespan of two years based on the device model and usage.
Ensure you also clean the debris and dust that has accumulated on the thermostat. Sometimes, the thermostat could malfunction because of the amount of dust and debris on it. Additionally, ensure that it’s not wrongly set. A wrongly set thermostat could be the reason your HVAC unit isn’t working.
2. Clear Leaves Near Your Outdoor Unit
This is another significantly overlooked maintenance tip that could save you hundreds of dollars in the future. Leaves, tree branches, and bushes growing near your outdoor unit could potentially damage it, resulting in thousands of dollars in repairs.
Start by removing dust and debris on the unit, sweeping any dirt near it, and trimming overgrown branches and bushes near the equipment. It’s advisable to ensure you clear vegetation two to three feet on each side of the unit.
You should also ensure that the fun cage is clear of dust, debris, and insect nesting grounds. For any further maintenance or repairs of your outdoor unit, contact your HVAC contractor. They will be better positioned to handle the repairs.
3. Check Whether the Power Switch Is on
Is your HVAC unit not working when you turn it on? Have you checked whether the power switch is on? While this might seem like a simple and obvious solution, most people don’t check the power switch. This switch is a small component of your HVAC unit that looks similar to a regular light switch.
You can find your unit’s switch in the basement or attic. Therefore, if someone has been in your attic or basement lately and you notice your AC won’t turn on, you should check whether the switch is off. Some people may turn it off unknowingly by accident.
Once you turn on the power switch, you will notice that the HVAC unit will start working. However, if it’s still not working, you could have a malfunction or a breakdown that needs to be checked by a professional. Contact them as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.
Also Read: 7 Common Residential HVAC Repair Mistakes And How To Avoid Them
What You Should Leave to the Technicians
While it’s okay to do basic maintenance and repairs on your HVAC unit, you are not equipped for more technical jobs. For this reason, it’s advisable to leave the more technical part of the work to experienced technicians to avoid further damaging your unit.
Your HVAC unit will help you maintain comfortable indoor conditions. Therefore, it’s essential to call the technicians as soon as you notice something is wrong with your unit. Below are key AC units issues you should leave to HVAC technicians:
Electrical issues with the compressor
Fan issues
Coolant and refrigerant problems
Electronic control and sensor problems
Issues with the Ductwork
HVAC units are complex and technical and require an expert to handle any repairs. Unfortunately, most people think they can save a lot of money by handling the repair work themselves. While you can handle some easy maintenance and repair jobs, not everything falls under the DIY category.
Trying to handle the repair of your AC and heating units can lead to additional complications and secondary damage. This may result in more expensive issues that require extensive repair. Before purchasing tools to handle your HVAC unit repairs, ensure you contact your HVAC unit service provider for advice. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Residential HVAC Repair and Maintenance Costs
Your HVAC unit won’t cost you too much money if you ensure it’s well maintained and an expert checks it out regularly. During preventative maintenance, you should budget for high-quality air filters that cost around $20 per piece and approximately $5 for a bottle of bleach to clean your drain pipes.
On the other hand, you can spend up to $100 if you hire an HVAC technician to handle the maintenance. If you prefer getting a pro, ensure you ask them about any discounts they may have currently. Alternatively, you can consider a maintenance contract where you pay the company to have an expert come to your home to check out the unit at least once per year.
HVAC repair costs are quite high compared to the cost of maintenance. For instance, repairing a blower motor may cost you up to $150, while replacing a heat exchanger could cost you around $500 to $1,200. Sometimes, the components are too damaged to be repaired, which means you need a replacement which is often more costly than repairs.
However, the repair and component replacement cost will vary depending on your unit’s age, type, and extent of the damage.
Also Read: 8 Common HVAC Problems And How To Get Them Fixed Fast
Signs That You Need Residential HVAC Repair
HVAC maintenance is essential to keep your unit functioning efficiently. However, your HVAC unit is still vulnerable to daily wear and tear that may result in breakdowns. Additionally, each component in your unit has a limited lifespan.
This means that your unit is bound to break down and require repairs. But how do you know when you need to call an expert? Check out below tell-tale signs that you need residential HVAC repair immediately:
The unit is only blowing warm air instead of cold and vice versa
Your energy bills are significantly higher than usual
The HVAC unit is making weird noises, or it’s producing louder noises than normal
There is poor airflow
There is an imbalanced air temperature around the house
The system intermittently turns itself on and off without warning
The unit is leaking
Do you know that your HVAC unit takes up over 50% of your utility bills? Increased electric bills are a tell-tale sign of an inefficient and malfunctioning HVAC unit.
If you notice any of the above issues, it might be time to call a technician to check out your unit. Unless you’re an expert or have experience repairing HVAC systems, you shouldn’t attempt to solve the above issues alone.
The good news is that keeping up with regular checks and preventative maintenance will keep your unit operating in tip-top condition. During maintenance, the expert will check the unit for any potential breakdowns and perform preventative repairs before they develop into major issues.
Do You Need Residential HVAC Repair Services?
No matter how well you maintain your HVAC unit, it may still require repairs every once in a while. Do you need residential HVAC repair services? Contact us today at G&S Mechanical, and our highly qualified technicians will ensure you receive high-quality HVAC repair and maintenance services.
No matter what it takes, we will ensure that your HVAC unit functions as efficiently as possible.
