Common HVAC Problems and How to Prevent Them

08 Apr Common HVAC Problems and How to Prevent Them

Kingsport, TN

In our busy lives, regular maintenance to home appliances is an easy thing to overlook. That is, of course, until we find ourselves in the heart of summer, on a particularly sweltering day outside, and find that we’re not exactly feeling the soothing, arctic love indoors from our usually dependable AC unit.

There could be a number of reasons that your HVAC unit is not performing at its peak efficiency, and you’ll be glad to know that most solutions are actually quick fixes. Your HVAC maintenance professionals at Thompson Electrical Service can provide all of those solutions and take care of the regular preventive maintenance needs you’d been neglecting.

1. The air conditioner is not functioning at all. Your AC breaking down often comes with little to no warning. Before calling an HVAC technician, check the batteries in your thermostat. Changing batteries could be the sneaky culprit that got neglected, especially given the placement of many thermostats in homes. Make sure no one accidentally nudged your thermostat off its “cooling” setting. If all seems right with the thermostat, you might have to reset the circuit breaker on the air conditioner.
2. Your air conditioner Is blowing warm air. If your thermostat settings pass muster, replace your air filter. Old, blocked air filters cause much of the cool air to freeze your unit’s coils and never make it out into the room. New filters eradicate that issue. Check your refrigerant level. If your unit is low on refrigerant, the air that flows out of the unit into the room will lack the frigid cool you need. You should call an HVAC specialist to refill or repair your refrigerant reservoir.
3. Your unit is leaking. HVAC units can leak some fluid and condensate. Often, the condensate line has a clog when this happens. Unclogging it can be done pretty easily, as a DIY repair. Simply follow the owner manual’s guidelines. If you don’t consider yourself to be “handy”, or if you prefer to not take any chances, reach out to one of our trained HVAC professionals at Thompson Electrical Service to pinpoint the leak and prevent it from becoming something more serious.
4. Uneven temperature distribution. Have you experienced parts of your house being cooler or warmer than others? An imbalanced air system might be the issue. Several things impact the attention each room gets from your HVAC unit, including the size of your rooms, the air vents, windows, and the outside temperature. Make sure to cover big windows with sun-blocking drapes or blinds. Also, inspect each room’s insulation. Adding dampers to regulate your HVAC system is a big help as well. This will help to even out the airflow throughout the house, room to room.
5. Your AC unit Is louder than usual. If your air conditioner sounds like it’s working hard to keep you cool, it probably is. Failing units often give some subtle audible indications that something is wrong. A HVAC pro can easily recognize them. Squealing and screeching can be signs of a defective belt. Rattling noises could indicate an issue with the motor, fans, or compressors. This is definitely not a DIY repair project. Leave this one to the AC technicians at Thompson Electrical Service to diagnose and take care of the issue for you.

HVAC Repair in Johnson City, Bristol, and Kingsport, Tennessee

Even the smallest problem with an HVAC unit can become far more serious if left untreated. Thompson Electrical Service can take care of all issues impacting your unit, and we offer regular maintenance plans to keep your system functioning like new. We also make our expert HVAC technicians available for 24-hour emergency services if needed. Find out more or schedule an appointment by calling our office at (423) 343-5726.