Experience frequent HVAC issues? Discover the 6 common HVAC problems and learn practical ways to fix them with our expert tips! Stay comfortable year-round.
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Time and time again we hear homeowners complaining about having to do repairs on their HVAC systems or even full replacements. Unfortunately, that’s having a house for you. The maintenance is never-ending and if you leave it for too long, it just turns into one expensive mess. So, what is the solution to all this then?
Well, consistent maintenance is probably your best bet, especially when it comes to your air conditioning system. In this article, we’ll cover some common HVAC problems, particularly aircon, and how you can approach fixing them.
1. Your AC won’t turn on
Imagine it’s the hottest day of the year in Australia and you rush indoors to turn on your AC and nothing happens. It’s plugged in, but there’s no power. What would you do? This is a common issue that you might experience with an AC. It could be due to a faulty power supply or the thermostat might be broken.
The first thing we’d suggest you do is to check the thermostat settings. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget to set your thermostat correctly. It should be set to cool, and if that doesn’t solve the issue, then it’s time to check your circuit breakers to see if something has tripped. Should none of these solve the issue, you’ll need to call a technician to help.
2. Your AC won’t turn off
If your AC isn’t turning off, you’re in for one heavy electrical bill at the end of the month. Usually, when an appliance, like an AC, doesn't turn off, it’s a sign of an electrical issue. Some ACs have an auto-off feature that allows them to cool the room to an optimal temperature and shut off to conserve energy. However, when this feature malfunctions, it might run consistently. Again, this could be due to a system fault on the onboard computer, an issue with the thermostat or the sensor, or because the AC is too dirty.
When it comes to problems with an electrical root, we always recommend that people contact a professional in the industry like Sun City Air Conditioning. You best nip these issues in the bud before they get worse.
3. Your AC is not cooling
Maybe your AC has stopped cooling as it should. This is a common issue and could have several reasons. For instance, it could have a coolant leak or a blocked condensate drain. To solve this problem, check the air filter and change it if necessary. If there’s a blockage, you’ll need to find the blocked area to unblock it. Check that the AC has enough coolant and look for signs of a leak. Inspect pipe fittings and connections. Alternatively, turn it off if the coil has frozen.
4. The fan is broken
When your AC is on but does not blow air, the fan is broken or stuck. There are multiple reasons for a fan to get stuck. Firstly, there might be a fault in the motor that spins the fan. This fault could be due to it getting power to spin the fan's blade or an issue with its ability to turn the fan. To solve this, you’d usually just replace the motor or fan. Another issue is dirt or debris blocking the fan from moving well. You just need to clean the debris away for it to work again.
5. The AC gives off a bad smell
When an AC sits unused for a long time, dust, moisture, and dirt can build up in it, which can cause it to give off a bad smell when it’s turned on again, particularly if it has any other issues like a leak that allows water to sit in its housing instead of the pipes. Stagnant water can allow mould or fungus to grow, creating a bad smell when you use the AC. Over time, the same can happen, too, if you don’t clean your air filters.
6. Your AC only blows hot air
Sometimes, you’ll find that your AC only blows hot or warm air, even when it is set to blow out cold air. To solve this issue, you might need to recalibrate or replace the thermostat. There could also be an obstruction that isn’t allowing the cold air to be released. To solve this issue, your AC might just need a good clean. Also, check if the coils are working and that there's enough coolant in the AC.
When in doubt, contact a professional
While certain maintenance tasks you can do yourself, others must be handled by a professional to avoid turning a small problem into something more serious. In saying this, generally, it’s best to contact a certified professional to diagnose and address any issues as they’ll ensure that your AC is fixed properly.
Final Thoughts on common HVAC problems
We’d suggest familiarising yourself with these issues so you know exactly how to respond if any of them were to happen. An aircon is extremely convenient to have when the weather isn’t on your side, but if not maintained well, it might be more of a headache than anything else. So, stay on top of your maintenance, and your AC will work like a breeze.
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