HVAC Service Companies: When You Should Call Them
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Posted May 6, 2021
When it comes to the heating and cooling of a home or business, there’s no better company to call than an HVAC service company. These companies are well-versed in the installation, maintenance, and repair of heating and cooling systems, and know just what to do to ensure that homes and businesses are heated and cooled properly.
The question is: when are the services of an HVAC service company necessary? And even further: why should you utilize them? We’ll answer those questions and more below!
When You’re Looking to Install a New HVAC Unit
Maybe you’re building a new home? Perhaps you’re making changes to your existing home? In any case, you need to install a new HVAC unit.
If so, you would be wise to call up your local HVAC services company. HVAC companies are well-versed in the installation of all kinds of HVAC systems, from furnaces to air conditioners and more. Some of the different types of systems that can be installed by HVAC companies include the following.
Central Air Conditioners
Central air conditioners are whole-home cooling devices that work in tandem with ducts as a means of transferring air to every room in their corresponding homes. Consisting of a single condenser and a single blower, these offer a great deal of bang for their buck.
If you’re interested in installing a central air conditioner, give a call to your local HVAC company. They’ll measure your home, find a central AC unit that’s compatible with it, and install it in the correct manner.
Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioners
Maybe you only want to cool a few rooms in your home? Perhaps you want some temperature variation from room to room? If so, you might consider opting for ductless mini-split air conditioning units.
These units are designed to accommodate one room only. Working without the help of ducts, they mount to walls and spread manufactured air to their direct surroundings. Many ductless mini-split systems provide heat as well as cold.
Looking to install a ductless mini-split system? Don’t risk botching the setup. Call up your local HVAC company and have the job done correctly.
Furnaces
Looking for a reliable heating option? Look no further than the furnace, the most popular home heating option there is. Available in both gas and electric models, these machines work in tandem with duct systems to spread heat to entire residences.
Note, though, that the installation of a furnace can be a complex process. This is particularly true if there’s no duct system yet installed in the home. So, if you’re interested in installing such a system, make sure to bring in a licensed and professional HVAC specialist.
Boilers
Another way to provide heating to a whole home is to install a boiler. Boiler systems heat water to high temperatures and then send that water through a series of radiators. These radiators then radiate heat throughout the different rooms in the home, providing balanced and thorough warmth.
Installing a boiler system is no simple task. In fact, it can be incredibly complicated. As such, if you’re going to do it, you’re advised to bring in a seasoned HVAC company.
When You Need HVAC Repair
HVAC systems are fairly resilient. However, they still take on damage from time to time. Fortunately, a good deal of this damage can be repaired, allowing HVAC systems to live long and prosperous lives.
Curious as to the signs that a heating and air repair is needed? Here are some of the most common.
Signs You Need Air Conditioner Repair
We’ll begin with signs that indicate the need for air conditioner repair. The most prominent of these include:
1. Short Cycling
Your air conditioner turns on for 10 seconds. Then it turns off for 5 seconds. Then it turns on for 10 more seconds and turns on and off again in perpetuity.
The trouble is that it never reaches the temperature that it’s supposed to reach. Why? Because it’s short cycling and requires repair.
This problem can be caused by a number of factors, the most common of which include an incorrectly sized air conditioning unit and frozen evaporator coils. Regardless of what the cause may be, call up your local HVAC company. They’ll assess the unit and have it fixed in no time.
2. Leakage By the Air Conditioner Condenser
Another sign that you require air conditioner repair is that there is fluid leaking next to your air conditioner condenser. This fluid is almost certainly refrigerant, the fluid that powers the entire air conditioning process. Without it, your air conditioner will cease to function entirely.
Fortunately, it can be fairly easily replenished. Just bring in an HVAC technician to refill your system with refrigerant. He or she will do so, and then patch up the hole that allowed the refrigerant to leak out in the first place.
3. Strange Noises
Air conditioners are designed to make some noises. Primarily, these noises will be whirring noises caused by the propeller in the condenser. These are normal and expected.
But if you start hearing noises aside from these noises, you have only reason to believe that your air conditioner is suffering from a problem of some kind. What this problem might be is dependent on the sound that you’re hearing.
Squeaking noises are often indicative of loose or worn down belts. Grinding or banging noises are often indicative of damage within the condenser.
Regardless, the second you hear a strange noise from your air conditioner, you need to call up your local HVAC services company. They’ll take a look at your unit, identify the problem, and work to fix it.
4. Lack of Cold Air
The whole point of an air conditioner is to produce cold air. If it’s failing to do this, there’s no doubt about it: it’s broken.
Note, however, that it can very likely be fixed. The key is to bring in a professional HVAC specialist. He or she will take a look at the unit and determine what it is that’s causing the problem. He or she will then take action to fix it.
Signs You Need Furnace Repair
Now, we’ll talk about the most common signs that indicate a need for furnace repair. These include:
1. Short Cycling
Short cycling doesn’t just occur in air conditioners. It occurs in furnaces as well. And when it does, it needs to be fixed as soon as possible.
Allowing short cycling to continue will result not only in undue energy expenditure but in undue wear and tear as well. This could very well shorten the lifespan of the unit, causing you to pay a great deal of money over time.
Short cycling in a furnace is most often caused by an overheated heat exchanger. Note, though, that other factors can cause it as well. As such, you should bring in a professional HVAC specialist to assess the problem and make the proper fix.
2. A Yellow Flame
Many furnaces enable you to see the flames that burn inside of them. This is beneficial, as it enables you to determine whether there’s anything wrong with the furnace.
Ideally, the flame within your furnace will burn blue. If it’s burning yellow, there is undoubtedly a problem at hand. Odds are, there’s dirt in the burner. This dirt is preventing gas and air from combusting properly, leading to a less-than-desirable flame and nowhere near enough heat.
This problem will only get worse if you let it. As such, you need to bring in a professional HVAC specialist. He or she will clean out your furnace and make any other necessary repairs.
3. Unusual Noises
Just as there are strange noises that you might hear from an air conditioner, there are also strange noises that you might hear from a furnace. If you hear such noises, you need to call up an HVAC specialist as soon as possible.
Whereas grinding and rattling noises are often indicative of mechanical problems, squeaking noises are often indicative of bad motor bearings. You might also hear a banging or knocking noise. This usually comes from the combustion chamber and occurs due to inconsistency during the combustion process.
4. Strange Smells
Furnaces can produce all types of strange smells, many of which are more concerning than others. Regardless, if you smell something strange from your furnace, you need to call up your HVAC company pronto!
The most concerning smell would be a gas smell. This would indicate gas leakage, which could turn into an explosion out of nowhere. Don’t mess around with a gas leakage; get out of the house, call 911, and then bring in an HVAC specialist after the system has been shut off.
Other smells to keep in mind include burning smells and metallic smells. Burning smells can indicate everything from a dirty air filter to a dirty heat exchanger and more. Metallic smells indicate that your system is overeating; regardless of why that is, you need to have it checked out by a professional.
When Your HVAC Needs Maintenance
If you want to get the most out of your HVAC system, you need to maintain it. A good deal of HVAC maintenance can be facilitated by you, the owner of the HVAC system. However, when it comes to more complex maintenance measures, your local HVAC company
HVAC Filter Changes
In order to help keep dirt and debris out of your HVAC system, it should be equipped with an HVAC filter. This is a paper and wire mechanism that catches dust particles in the air, preventing them from entering the HVAC system.
The problem with HVAC filters is that, due to what they do, they get dirty very quickly. As such, they need to be replaced every 2 to 3 months.
Now, you might be able to change your HVAC filter on your own. But if you’re having trouble, there’s no shame in calling up an HVAC specialist to do it for you.
Duct Cleaning
Unfortunately, air filters don’t catch everything, however, better filters will catch more and keep the ductwork cleaner for a longer time. As such, over time, HVAC duct systems take on a great deal of dust and debris. Given enough time, this dust and debris can clog the duct system, leading to reduced airflow and temperature inconsistencies from room to room.
This is why, every 10 years, it’s recommended that you have your duct system cleaned. Who do you call when you need this cleaning? An HVAC services company, of course.
An HVAC specialist will come to your home, disconnect your ducts, clean them out thoroughly, and then reassemble them for further use.
System Cleaning
HVAC systems take on a great deal of residue over time. Whether it’s grime on the coils, buildup within the combustion chamber, or otherwise, it needs to be cleaned. If it’s not, the systems will struggle to function, costing you more money than they would otherwise and dying out before their time.
If you need help cleaning your HVAC system, bring in your local HVAC company. They’ll clean out your systems entirely, ensuring that they’re operating at max capacity and giving you the most bang for your buck.
Looking for a local HVAC Service Company Near You?
Are you dealing with an HVAC problem? Looking for a local HVAC service company near you? If so, you needn’t look any further. Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, & Electrical has you covered.
We provide a range of HVAC services, from installation to maintenance to repair and more. Offering both commercial and residential services, we’ll do everything we can to ensure that your systems are running properly.
Contact us now to discuss your needs or schedule an appointment!
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