18 Common HVAC Problems Homeowners Experience

Homeowners who have a problem with their HVAC system may not be able to get in touch with the air conditioning contractor that installed it or they are unsatisfied with the company’s response. If the HVAC system is not working properly, homeowners may need to HVAC service right away and they want someone who can respond quickly.

Troubleshooting can be quite a headache when you have no idea what to do or where to begin. Hiring a contractor is often seen as an expensive option but it is not actually the case. Hiring one of the best HVAC companies in your area can prove to be cost-effective in the long run.

HVAC contractors can find and service your HVAC problems within a very short time. They use various tools during the troubleshooting process and emergency repair, which saves you both time and money in the long run.

Tripped Circuit Breaker

The HVAC unit (heating, air conditioner, furnace, air handler) will automatically shut off if there is a problem with it or if something goes wrong in your home’s air conditioning unit to prevent further damage and overheating.

Refrigerant Leaks

This happens when the refrigerant either escapes from the AC system or it can be released from leaking connections and fittings. In order to resolve this, you need to replace any tubing and couplings that may be damaged before recharging the HVAC system with R-410A refrigerant.

Sticking Contact Switch

The contacts corrode over time and they might need replacement in such cases. If there is oil contamination, there would be corrosion. HVAC contractors can clean existing system manually to get rid of the corrosion problem.

Malfunction Thermostat

Malfunctioning thermostat is one of the most common problem homeowners face. Thermostats that are not working properly can cause the heating and cooling system to work harder than usual, resulting in inconsistent temperatures, reduced energy efficiency, equipment failure, or system damage. Most HVAC contractors can easily detect HVAC problems like malfunctioning HVAC thermostat.

Weird Smells

Drafty or poorly ventilated homes are home to all sorts of bacteria, viruses, allergens and other contaminants which may cause several health problems to people living inside it.

Dirty Filters

A dust-clogged furnace blower motor may cause a strange odor emanating from the HVAC vents as well. The best way to deal with this problem is with regular maintenance and to change your filter regularly depending on the type of filter you have installed in your home’s HVAC system.

Coil Freezing up/Frosting Up

Freezing HVAC systems are usually the result of improperly set HVAC system air-temperature settings. When coils are left unprotected for too long, water moisture will form on them, which is what causes systems to freeze up. The best way to avoid this is by checking your systems air temperature settings and making sure that it is set correctly.

Unusual Noises

Sounds such as gurgling, squeaking or squealing may seem unimportant but actually indicate some major AC problems or even leaks in ducts.

Unit Cycles One and Off Frequently

A unit that frequently turns on and off is typically the result of a coil freezing up. The HVAC unit works by moving heat around, but if the evaporator coil fails to thaw it will cycle on continuously until it does so.

If your existing system has been turning on an off repeatedly, you should check your thermostat settings. If the AC continues to turn on and off even after testing thermostats then this may be a defect in the AC system which may require a quick fix from HVAC technicians.

Unit Keeps Shutting Off

A dirty filter is often the culprit if your unit keeps shutting off. Make sure you are changing filters regularly so that air flow does not get obstructed. If you use a disposable air filter, then replace it every month. Otherwise, you should be able to see when dirt begins building up on your permanent filters and that’s when you know it’s time for a replacement. If the little door that protects your cooling and heating system unit coils from getting dusty is broken or warped, then this can also cause HVAC failure as well as low from the coils themselves which will make HVAC failure to turn back on.

A dirty coil can cause HVAC failure, too. This is especially true if you have pets that shed a lot of hair or live in an area where there’s a lot of dust. The coils are located outside the house and are difficult to get to once it has been installed, but this doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be cleaned every year at the very least.

Clogged Drain Holes

The drain holes in systems have a very small diameter, which means that any dirt or cooling coils will result in clogged holes that prevent proper drainage of condensate water. Have this issue resolved by calling your HVAC contractor immediately.

Leaking Air Ducts

If there’s one problem you don’t want to ignore, it would probably be leaking ducts. Air ducts are not made to hold water, so leaking ducts will ultimately cause mold growth.

Water Leaks

When an air conditioner fails or becomes too old to work efficiently, it might start leaking water from some of the exposed vents. A leak is typically caused by a malfunction in the AC system’s evaporator coil . This coil draws heated air from inside your house and passes it through a series of copper tubes which contain refrigerant to reduce its temperature. Once the water has been converted to hot, humid outdoor air, an exterior fan pushes it outside through high-pressure coils located on the side of your air conditioning unit’s housing or condenser . If anything goes wrong with this process, water will start leaking into your air conditioning system and cause corrosion.

Dirty Ductwork

When AC systems are dirty or obstructed just doesn’t circulate air efficiently and they simply don’t work as intended. This means that the air inside of your house just won’t feel cool. Many HVAC contractors suggest that one should have their air conditioning system’s ductwork cleaned at least once a year to ensure optimal performance and energy efficiency.

Weird Smells

If you notice an unpleasant smell, such as an old book or a musty odor, it could mean that mold is growing inside your climate control systems. Mold and bacteria grow quickly in warm, moist environments like those created inside your heating and cooling system when water condenses on cold coils and moves through the ducts. When the evaporator coil on your AC begins to feel wet or slick, there’s typically a problem with moisture build-up that needs immediate attention.

Dirty Coils

Dirty coils prevent the air conditioning system from removing heat from the air in your HVAC unit which can also cause humidity levels in your home to skyrocket. Dirty coils can be a result of poor maintenance or infrequent filter changes. In order to fix the dirty coil problem you need to find out why it is dirty and clean it if necessary. If it’s not dirty, then the issue may lie in refrigerant leakage that needs to be fixed.

Motor Constantly Running

There are several reasons why your current system may not turn on or off. One reason is an issue with the thermostat, which could be fixed by changing batteries. If you have tried replacing batteries with no success, there may be an issue with the wiring behind the thermostat.

Blows Warm Air

If your AC always blows warm air when it should be cooling down your home, you likely have dirty coils. Low refrigerant levels may also cause AC systems to run inefficiently or constantly blow warm air.

We hope you found this AC problems blog post helpful. HVAC problems can be common in homes, but they are usually easy to fix if they are dealt with when the first signs of an issue begin to appear. Hire a HVAC contractor when faced with HVAC issues that you cannot resolve on your own.