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Top 5 Warning Signs Your HVAC System May Be Failing

Americans love their HVAC system, around 87% of homes in the US have some form of air conditioning system, and it is more common to find air conditioning units than dining rooms in most American homes.

HVAC systems are excellent for keeping everyone comfortable and ensuring the indoor air quality is good, but what happens if they break? HVAC units need regular maintenance to stay at their very best, and a broken HVAC system can cause a lot of issues.

Many people don’t know what to look out for when seeing if their system is in dire need of repair. Here are five warning signs that your HVAC system could be failing.

1. Humidity Indoors

Part of the job of your HVAC system is to lower the levels of humidity in the air. This makes your home more comfortable and helps you to avoid any respiratory health problems that high humidity can cause.

One of the first things you may notice when your air conditioning units break is an increased level of humidity inside the building. If the problem occurs in winter, it’s self-evident that the cause is the HVAC system, but many people write off increased humidity in the summer as just the local climate.

If the air inside your building feels sticky and muggy, then it’s most likely to be your HVAC system. You should get this checked out straight away as high humidity has the potential to cause health problems.

2. Strange Odors

Have you ever noticed that heating units can give off a bit of a smell? While this is just part of the system, you should always make sure to keep a keen nose out for any strange or unusual smells that seem to be appearing from nowhere.

It could be a burning smell or a moldy or dank smell. If you can, try and follow the scent back to the source. If you end up tracking the smell back to your HVAC vents, then it’s likely that you have a problem.

You should also be extra vigilant of any smells that seem chemical in nature, as this can be a sign of a potentially dangerous system leak.

3. Faulty Thermostat

The thermostat is a crucial component of any HVAC system. It is the interface between the user and the system, and it is responsible for telling the system what temperature to set the room to and for how long.

If you take a look at your thermostat and it’s showing a wildly different temperature in the room to what you can feel, then there’s likely an issue somewhere.

You can start by taking the thermostat apart and seeing if the problem lies there. Take a good look at all the components of the thermostat and see if anything appears to be obviously broken.

If you troubleshoot the thermostat and can’t find the issue, then it’s likely that the problem is somewhere deeper in the whole system.

4. Temperature Inconsistencies

Some HVAC systems are multi-zone, meaning that you can set different rooms to different temperatures. Most systems, however, are not, and they should be warming or cooling the entire building to a consistent temperature in every room.

If you’ve walked from a room that’s toasty and warm to one that is suddenly frigid and chilly, then it’s a sign that your heating unit is not working correctly. Even if you have a multi-zone system, you should be wary of any significant temperature inconsistencies inside your building that have not been set up to be that way.

If you’re using your system for multi-story houses or commercial buildings, then you should pay attention to whether or not the temperature is consistent across all the floors in your building.

You should also be wary of any inconsistencies in airflow. If the airflow starts and stops for seemingly no reason at all, then it’s an indication that you need to get your system looked at.

5. Fluctuations in Power

Finally, you should be wary of any HVAC system that turns on and off seemingly at random. This problem is called “short-cycling,” and it can affect the power supply to the whole building if left untreated.

There are a few possible causes for this. The first is that the system may not be getting enough power to keep it running as you’d like it. The second is that the system could be overheating.

You’ll be able to tell if your system is overheating because it will turn on and off in fairly consistent cycles, and it shuts down when too hot and boots back up again once it has had a chance to call down.

If you leave this problem for too long then the system will eventually shut off completely, not to mention your increased power bill.

Don’t Ignore These Signs

You should never ignore any of these signs that your HVAC system is in need of repair. These systems require regular maintenance to keep them running at their full capacity, and ignoring warning signs is a sure-fire way to end up with a damaged system and expensive repair work.

It’s especially important for commercial building owners to regularly maintain their systems with the help of professionals like kahnmechanical.com. Heading off any major issues with your HVAC units early will save you both time and money.

HVAC Systems Need Regular Maintenance

Now that you’ve read this article, you’ll know exactly how to easily spot a faulty HVAC system. Knowing this information can save you a lot of time, hassle, and money further down the line. The last thing you want is to have to repair your entire system because you ignored the warning signs your system was giving you.

If you enjoyed this article, be sure to check out more of our business services articles today.

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