Homeownership comes with a lot of responsibility. Of course, you need to pay your mortgage every month, but you also need to make sure everything is functioning properly. This includes things like HVAC maintenance.
HVAC, which stands for “heating, ventilation, and air conditioning,” is the system responsible for helping you maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. It is also partially responsible for maintaining optimal air quality and energy efficiency.
Most of the HVAC maintenance that you undertake as a homeowner is proactive and preventative, meaning you are doing maintenance work that will help future problems from occurring. You may be wondering what HVAC service is and what do HVAC technicians do when they service your HVAC equipment.
So, if you are looking for answers on HVAC service, keep reading our detailed guide below to get answers to all of your questions!
Common HVAC Problems
There are a lot of problems that can occur with your HVAC system—some of them more common than others. And it helps to know what these problems are.
Here are three HVAC problems to keep top of mind as you work out your maintenance schedule and options.
1. Leaks
A lot of care goes into maintaining an optimally functioning AC system. Small issues such as HVAC leaks are easy to miss and can cause a host of problems if not attended to. Refrigerant is not the only thing you may notice leaking from an HVAC system. A little oil/bearing grease from the fans is normal, but any major oil leak could indicate a faulty compressor, and it would be wise to call an expert.
2. Corrosion
Corrosion is a common problem in a number of metal devices and appliances. A result of long-term moisture exposure, it can develop quickly along evaporator and condenser coils and potentially lead to the failure of the air conditioning system.
3. Dirt and debris
All components of your HVAC system—from filters to the electric panel, and everything in between—need to be free of debris. In addition to causing your system to work inefficiently, things like dirty air filters will pump dust and allergens into your home, reducing the air quality and flow and potentially clogging the system.
What is HVAC Service and Maintenance?
To function efficiently with minimal failures throughout their lifespan, all HVAC units need routine maintenance. Regular HVAC maintenance includes a few important things. To maintain the system, you have to change the air filter every few months, clean the unit, tighten electrical connections and inspect the air conditioner’s condensate drain. For best performance, you also want to make sure you are lubricating the moving parts of any systems, cleaning the air conditioner’s blower, checking the air conditioner for refrigerant leaks and inspecting the heater’s fuel lines for faulty gas or oil connections.
But the type of service and maintenance required varies by the type of HVAC equipment in your home. In general, all kinds of HVAC systems need service at least once per year. HVAC service providers like Aire-Tech offer maintenance plans or service contracts that offer some or all of these services as a bundle. Paying for a package rather than on an individual or as-needed basis may save you money. Plus, hiring a professional HVAC contractor to detect any problems early on may prevent you from having to pay up for a major repair down the line.
If issues are discovered during your standard HVAC service, it might require some repairs. Below are some of the most common HVAC services and repairs our technicians deal with.
- Air Conditioners
Regular HVAC maintenance is key to keeping your system working well for as long as possible. Repairing or replacing a part now could save you a lot of money and hassle in the long-term. Do not forget to schedule an HVAC checkup at least once per year. Our certified Aire-Tech technicians will check refrigerant levels and test the airflow and output of the system. They will tighten all the main electrical connections and hoses. Plus, the tech will look for signs of wear on key components, including the compressor, tubing, fan and motor blades.
When an HVAC technician services your cooling system, they will thoroughly inspect both the indoor and outdoor unit. They will open up the condenser (outside unit) and check the compressor, condenser coils, fan, relay, capacitor, and other electrical components for proper function.
They will also check the refrigerant levels, repair any leaks, and recharge the AC system with new refrigerant if necessary. The HVAC technician will also check the air filter, evaporator coils, condensate drain pan, condensate drain line, and the blower on the indoor unit. Plus, they’ll inspect the ductwork for leaks and gaps and repair them to reduce efficiency loss.
An HVAC contractor should also check for proper thermostat control and adequate airflow in the home. All of these steps will ensure that your AC unit is ready to keep your home cool, even on the hottest days of the year.
- Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are essentially two-way air conditioners. In the summertime, they work like any other air conditioning unit, removing heat from the air inside and pushing cooled air back into the home. In the cooler months, they do the opposite by drawing heat energy from the air outside and moving it into your home to warm things up. The process is especially efficient, using half as much energy on average than other electric home-heating sources.
The biggest difference between heat pumps and traditional heating and cooling systems is that they are designed to be ultra-energy efficient. This is because heat pumps only move heat, instead of generating it by combusting a fuel source. The system requires an outdoor and an indoor unit (unless using the less common geothermal system), which work together to suck up hot air and introduce it to an inside space or expel it outside.
Heat pumps and air conditioners both use the vapor compression refrigeration cycle as their basis of operation. As such, servicing an air-source heat pump is the same as servicing a central air conditioner. One additional service on air-source heat pumps is checking the reversing valve for proper function.
Since air-source heat pumps function year-round, providing cooling in the summer and heating in the winter, most HVAC technicians recommend servicing heat pumps twice per year.
- Natural Gas Furnaces
The most common type of furnace in homes today is the natural gas furnace, which requires a connection to a municipal gas line and operates through central air ducts. Gas jets along a burner ignite to create the hot combustion gas that raises the temperature of air, which fans then circulate through the ducts. When compared to other types of furnaces, gas heating tends to be the most affordable, because natural gas is generally cheaper than oil and electricity.
During a service visit on a gas furnace, the HVAC technician will inspect and test the following:
- Burner
- Heat exchanger
- Blower motor
- Check for adequate heat
- Look for proper flames
- Measure outlet gas pressure
- Measure airflow
- Test pressure switches
- Inspect the humidifier (if one the furnace includes one)
- Electric Furnace
If you do not have a natural gas line coming into your house, an electric-powered furnace can be an excellent option. These systems use electric heating elements that warm the air and distribute it through the home’s ductwork. Electric furnaces are usually inexpensive to purchase up front and are smaller than other furnaces, making them easy to fit into most spaces. Like oil furnaces, electric furnaces tend to be a lot less efficient, but they can be the right choice if your options are limited.
Electric furnaces make heat in a very different way than natural gas furnaces do. Instead of combustion, they run electricity through a filament to produce heat. Therefore, most of the maintenance done on electric furnaces involves inspecting the heating elements, blower, and air filters.
- Boilers
Boilers are a less common type of heating system and can be either heated by the combustion of gas or by electricity. In either case, your HVAC technician will inspect those elements much like they would with gas and electric furnaces. Additional service on boilers involves checking the system pressure, water temperature, and distribution of the heated water to the radiators around the home.
Aire-Tech HVAC Club Membership
Year-Round, Worry-Free Protection.
Just like your car, your home requires regular maintenance and checkups to keep you and your family comfortable. Don’t wait until something goes wrong to check up on your home’s comfort systems. AireTech’s monthly membership ensures your peace of mind, knowing many problems can be diagnosed and taken care of early on while they are still small and easy to fix. Better yet, many emergency situations can be prevented with regular tune-ups on your home’s essential systems.
Membership benefits include:
- Inspection and cleaning of your system during service visits (air filters included)
- Same day scheduling
- 10% discount on parts
- 5% discount on additional system installation
Inspections include:
COOLING INSPECTIONS
- Lubricate motors
- Check fan belts
- Change filters, standard pleated filters included.
- Check evaporator air temperatures
- Check wiring & connections
- Check refrigerant charge
- Check operating pressures
- Check voltage and AMP draw
- Clean condensate line
- Check performance of system
- Check contactor points
- Check pressure switches
- Clean condenser coil
- Check temperature differential
HEATING INSPECTIONS
- Lubricate Motors
- Adjust controls if needed
- Adjust combustion air to burners
- Check fan belts
- Change filters, standard pleated filters included.
- Check air temperature rise
- Check wiring & connections
- Clean burners
- Check for gas leaks in furnace
- Check heat exchanger for cracks
- Check performance of system
- Check heat strips
- Check heat pump in heating mode
- Check heat pump in defrost
- Clean heat exchanger
Our HVAC Membership Plan provides you with year-round, worry-free protection for only $14.85 per month. Sign up here
Final Thoughts
As cold weather approaches, it is important to take a few preventative measures to protect your home through the chilly months. Whether your pilot light will not stay lit or you think your furnace may not be running optimally, you can always count on the Aire-Tech to keep your home warm. Perhaps you need repairs, new furnace installation, or preventative maintenance—whatever the HVAC issue is, Aire-Tech is ready to help.
If your system needs repair or inspection before winter, call us on 951-926-1002. You can also visit our Contact page and complete the contact form.