HVAC: What It Is And What It Does For Your House

HVAC is an acronym that is short for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. We have all heard the term but most of us really have no idea what it means; in short, we would be miserable without it, so keeping it running smoothly is of vital importance. Find out more information if you need repairs done.

If you suddenly find your home is cold when it should be warm or hot when it should be cool, you may have a problem with your HVAC system. Before you pick up the phone to call a repairperson; however, there are a few things you can try to do yourself. First, check to see if the thermostat is set to cool and the degree it is set on is low enough to cause the system to run. If the thermostat is a battery-operated one, make sure the batteries have not run out. You should also check the air conditioning filters to make sure they are not dirty or clogged; if no air can get through the filters, then you run the risk of damaging the coil and the compressor. Make sure to replace the filters in your home every month, especially if you have pets in the home or you have family members with allergies or lung disease.

Another thing you can check yourself is the circuit breakers, as these can sometimes be tripped which would stop the system from running. You should also check the drain pan and the drain line, as a clogged line causes the condensate drain to back up, which could damage your home. If the drain pan fills up with condensate water, the air conditioner will shut off due to an emergency shut off switch that all systems are required to have to prevent costly damage. If you see water in the pan, you can attempt to clean the condensate line and then drain the pan to see if the system will run. However, do not reset the shut off switch without cleaning all of the drains first.

If your above efforts to fix your system were not successful, you need to find a reputable HVAC repair company. You can try the old tried-and-true method of looking in the phone book for one, but with many companies to choose from, you may be overwhelmed by the number of firms advertising. You could try asking relatives or neighbors who they have used before and whether they were happy with the results. You can also go online and check with one of the websites that reviews various companies in your area, although some of these require a fee to view the results. Whomever you decide to hire, make sure that they are licensed, insured, and bonded; it is also a good idea to try to find a local company, as they are often more amenable to quickly correcting any problems you might have in the future.

As you can imagine, any problems with your HVAC unit can leave you feeling quite uncomfortable. After just a few minutes of research, you will find an experienced technician who can fix this appliance quickly and expertly with as little suffering as possible.