Your furnace is easy to ignore until you notice things starting to go wrong. A loud noise or a funny smell quickly reminds you that your comfort at home or the office is dependant on your HVAC system working efficiently.
Sometimes a strange smell is easy to resolve by yourself, but other HVAC issues require the support of a licensed HVAC contractor. We’re highlighting the 3 most common HVAC issues and suggesting a few ways to troubleshoot a potential problem as well as when to call an expert.
Your HVAC filter is the barrier that keeps dirt and debris from entering your home. It is a part of your furnace that requires frequent replacement. Once your filter is full of dirt the additional debris will pile up in other areas of your HVAC system. As the dirt collects, it will eventually clog other furnace parts.
A clogged HVAC system will stop heating or cooling your home or office efficiently. In extreme cases, clogged parts will cause air flow to redirect. Too much air pressure in one area of your furnace can damage parts throughout the system and vents.
Before things get out of hand and you have to call a professional to clean and repair your HVAC system, take the time to check your air filter on a regular basis and replace it when it’s full. Each filter is different, but most suggest replacement every three months or more frequently.
The pilot light ignites your furnace’s burners causing the air to heat up before warming your home or office. Your pilot light can stop working if a draft blows it out. A blockage from dirt build up, or a poorly placed object too close to the furnace can reduce the ability of the oxygen to feed the pilot light’s flame. Look at the areas around your furnace and see if you can determine why the flame isn’t burning as efficiently as it should. If nothing looks to be blocking the area, it’s time to call your HVAC technician.
A pilot light can also stop working from age. In this case, you should call your HVAC contractor to replace the parts that have worn out. A licensed contractor has the necessary training to deal with the gas and electrical aspects of your HVAC system.
Your thermostat registers the air temperature in your home and communicates with the system to keep the temperature regulated. Many thermostats run on batteries so before you call a pro, start with replacing the batteries. If the thermostat still isn’t running well gently dust it to see if build-up has prevented the sensors from taking accurate readings.
The electrical wiring connected to a thermostat can come loose or go bad, but more often than not the wiring is fine and you need to replace the thermostat instead. If you are going to replace the thermostat you might also consider an upgrade to a smart system. The investment could help reduce your utility costs significantly.
The best way to avoid surprise HVAC issues on your commercial or residential system is with consistent preventative maintenance. At Ball Building Services our technicians will keep your entire HVAC system running efficiently for as long as possible. We will identify small issues before they become large problems. In the Tampa Bay, FL area contact us today to schedule your furnace tune-up or to learn more about our preventative maintenance plans.