It’s completely understandable; homeowners with no experience in the trade dread some of the most common HVAC issues. These systems are complex, expensive, and the last thing anyone wants is to break the A/C unit trying to maintain it while it’s a sweltering 90℉+ outside.
So, what’s an attractive alternative?
Avoid HVAC problems entirely.
It’s amazing what you can do with basic maintenance routines and a keen eye for catching issues before they become serious. One of the best cost-saving tools in everyone’s kit is preventative maintenance.
Still, like any tool, it doesn’t do any good if it just sits there. The most reliable HVAC system is the one you actually care for and maintain, and it’s usually the cheapest to run as well. So let’s walk through some common HVAC problems and what you can do to steer clear of them.
Why HVAC Problems Occur
The majority of HVAC repair issues are the direct result of neglect and time, both taking a toll on the system. As the parts age, dust builds up, airflow is restricted, and breakdowns become more frequent and costly.
1. Aging and Heavy Use
Motors, capacitors, wiring, and compressors all have a lifespan, naturally wearing out over time. That doesn’t mean that an HVAC system’s lifespan is absolute. The goal is to maximize its age, especially in climates where the HVAC runs almost non-stop, such as South Florida, desert climates, and regions with extremely long and intense winters.
Older units tend to struggle with modern comfort demands, cycling more and running longer, accelerating wear, and the chance of failures.
2. Lack of Maintenance
It’s easy to get caught up in routines and avoid HVAC maintenance. Not because of neglect, but because of forgetfulness amidst all of life’s other challenges. Skipped tune-ups, missed filter changes, and neglected inspections add up over time.
Eventually, these will develop into exponentially more problematic system failures or malfunctions.
3. Poor Airflow and Dirty Components
If the A/C is not cooling or the heat isn’t warming, it can feel like a disastrous and immediate problem. However, it’s typically due to dirty filters, unchecked clogged ducts, dirty evaporator coils, blocked vents, and malfunctioning blower wheels.
4. Age and Heavy Use
There’s no getting around this. Time is the ultimate, unavoidable trap for all systems, biological or synthetic. Heavy use makes it worse, living in southern, sub-tropical, and desert climates or northern tundras where winter goes on and on.
Proper maintenance, routine checks, and a system of regular cleanings can extend the overall timeframe, costing you less in the short and the long-run.
1. A/C Not Cooling Properly
Air conditioning problems are the worst and most common HVAC issues. When the A/C is not cooling, nobody is happy. Worse, the culprit is usually a lack of cleaning, resulting in dirty coils or filthy air filters.
The latter is easily the most common. The operation of the cooling mechanism aside, everything begins at the air filter. Your unit has to draw in air, and something has to filter the dust, hair, debris, and everything else out. That filtration process compiles material, building up on the surface of the filter.
Further in, dirt and grime slowly build up and coat the coil’s fins, blocking contact between the warm indoor air and the cold refrigerant. This results in an overworked system, with the telltale signs of ice forming on refrigerant lines.
A/C Maintenance Options
- Change/clean filters every 1 to 3 months in the cooling season
- Keep supply and return vents open and free of furniture, rugs, and curtains
- Have your ducts inspected and cleaned if needed
- Clear leaves, grass, and debris from around the outdoor unit (2-feet of clearance)
- Periodically clean evaporator and condenser coils
- Flush/clear the condensate drain line
- Use a programmable or smart thermostat to reduce short cycling and runtimes
- Seal/insulate around windows, doors, and ducts
- Use ceiling fans and close your blinds during peak heat
- Schedule yearly or seasonal HVAC turn-ups
- Ask for health checks on older systems or plan repairs
2. Dirty or Clogged HVAC Air Filters
We touched on this a bit above, but it’s worth covering in depth. Air filters may be surface-level, but the level of damage dirty or clogged filters can cause runs deep. If your A/C is not cooling, this is the first place to check.
As surface material builds up on the air filter, the air intake lowers, forcing the fan motor to run longer and work harder to maintain a consistent, nominal air flow. The harder it has to work, the higher the chance of overheating or wearing down becomes.
This also results in higher energy bills and a less-than-comfortable interior climate.
HVAC Air Filters Maintenance Options
- Check filters monthly, especially during peak heating or cooling seasons
- Follow general timing guidelines (replace every 30 days for basic fiberglass, 60-90 days for pleated filters, and more often if you have pets or an otherwise dusty environment.
- Make sure the filter is installed correctly
- Keep your home reasonably clean and control dust/pet hair throughout
- Avoid using high-MERV filters, typically 12 to 16, unless your system is specifically designed for them
- Be careful with bargain filters, especially flimsy, collapsible options
- For most homes, a MERV 8-11 is sufficient
- Regular filter changes are one of the simplest HVAC preventative maintenance tasks
- Keeping filters clean maintains efficiency, protects coils/fans, and extends your system’s life
3. Refrigerant Leaks and Low Refrigerant Levels
Refrigerant leaks and low refrigerant levels are common HVAC issues, as well, usually requiring professional HVAC system repair or thorough A/C maintenance. Low or leaking refrigerant prevents the evaporator coil from absorbing enough heat, dropping the cooling capacity.
It also causes the system to run harder, increasing the wear and tear as it struggles to reach the thermostat set point. Overheating, burnout, and costly failures are usually the result if it’s not addressed quickly and efficiently.
The signs are fairly evident, including poor cooling, ice buildup on the coil or refrigerant lines, and longer run times than usual.
Importance of Professional HVAC Repair
- Only certified technicians are legally allowed to handle, recover, and recharge refrigerants
- Refrigerants are regulated due to environmental and safety concerns
- Professionals utilize special tools to find and fix leaks, verify refrigerant levels, and reset system pressures
- Proper, professional repair restores the system’s efficiency and helps avoid major repairs or complete system replacement
4. Thermostat and Electrical Issues
The thermostat may seem like nothing more than the face and hub of an HVAC system, but it’s far more integral than that. A lot of HVAC troubleshooting and HVAC preventative maintenance begins and ends here.
Think about it: miscalibrated or malfunctioning thermostats may “assume/think” the set temperature is at the correct level, even when it’s not, shutting the system down prematurely or well past the set point. Poor thermostat placement is problematic as well, especially near drafts or heat sources.
Common HVAC electrical issues include failing capacitors, burnt contactors, damaged wiring, or low-voltage problems. Not to mention high-voltage faults or overloaded circuits, any of which can start electrical fires, especially with improper grounding.
Thermostat and Electrical Issues Maintenance Options
- Check settings and modes, verifying the thermostat is in the correct heating/cooling mode and at a realistic set point
- Clean and inspect by gently dusting the thermostat, ensuring the cover is correctly placed
- Avoid poor thermostat placement, like drafty areas or excessively warm spots in the home
- Test and calibrate, contacting professionals if necessary, or replace if necessary
- Installing a smart thermostat can improve comfort and efficiency
- Confirm your breakers and disconnect switches are on
- Replace air filters regularly
- During scheduled maintenance, technicians tighten electrical connections, inspect wiring, check relays, and check capacitors, measuring voltage and current to prevent failures and fire risks
- Contact a professional if you experience repeated breaker trips, smell burning, see exposed or damaged wiring, or your system won’t run, despite basic procedures.
5. Lack of Regular HVAC Maintenance
If you skip basic, preventative maintenance, you’re basically betting your comfort on luck, and HVAC systems aren’t always kind to gamblers. The little things, here and there, that many ignore, like changing filters, cleaning coils, and visually inspecting, are the primary causes behind the most common HVAC issues.
HVAC preventative maintenance avoids troubleshooting and HVAC system repair, which can get expensive in a hurry. Proper maintenance helps these systems last the 12 to 15 years most modern HVAC systems are expected to last.
Regular tune-ups keep coils clean, the airflow balanced, the motors lubricated, and refrigerant levels at the appropriate range. A lighter workload keeps money in your pocket with lower energy costs, even throughout the worst of the seasons.
Routine inspections might require you to go out of your way, perhaps miss a day at work, but it ensures you’re not stuck in a sweltering or freezing home, waiting for the weekend to end so a professional can come out.
How HVAC Preventative Maintenance Avoids Problems
The key term here is “preventative,” or “preventive,” if you prefer. A whole host of A/C and heating repairs can be avoided by detecting worn or failing components before they reach their respective ends.
Also, it’s difficult to convey the money savings homeowners can enjoy by running an efficient system. Preventative maintenance, at the very least, maintains or improves current efficiency, bolstering system performance and saving money in the long run, even if it’s just a little each month.
Eliminating long-term repair costs is an obvious factor as well. Those unexpected breakdowns, while terribly inconvenient most of the time, are also costly and not always solved quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the most common HVAC problems?
The most common HVAC problems include a handful of repeat offenders, like airflow and clean filtration, dirt evaporator and condenser coils, blocked or leaky ducts, clogged condensate drain lines, malfunctioning thermostats, poorly placed thermostats, refrigerant leaks, and electrical issues.
Why is my A/C not cooling properly?
Your A/C usually stops cooling properly because of simple issues, like dirty air filters, thermostat problems, low refrigerant, airflow restrictions, and blocked or dirty coils.
How often should I schedule HVAC maintenance?
You should schedule HVAC maintenance at least once per year, but twice a year is even better, once in the spring and once in the fall, to prepare for the summer and winter months.
Can HVAC problems increase energy bills?
Yes, HVAC problems can excessively increase energy bills by causing your system to work harder just to maintain nominal temperatures, driving up gas or electric consumption.
When should I call for professional HVAC repair?
You should call for professional HVAC repair anytime you discover a refrigerant leak or suspect refrigerant is low. You should also do so for complete system failures, extensive and repeated warning signs, noises and smells, breaker trips, and sudden increases in power bills.
The Key Takeaways
Routine and preventative maintenance will eliminate most of the common HVAC issues out there, without having to spend exorbitant amounts of money and time. It’s not just a matter of cost and patience, either, but also of comfort and efficiency.
Who doesn’t want a cool home in the summer and a warm one in the winter?
Early HVAC troubleshooting will save you from all of that in most cases, and it doesn’t take much to ensure your system is functioning safely and properly.
Unfortunately, some issues are beyond even the most emphatic preventative maintenance standards.
If you think there is something wrong with your HVAC and it’s beyond your capabilities, don’t hesitate to contact American Air Cares, a family-owned business, for expert HVAC maintenance and repair services.
