Discover Solutions To These Common HVAC Issues

For most people, they rely on their HVAC systems each and every day, and when something goes wrong, they call someone in to fix it.  This is fine in most cases, you just might be faced with no heating or air conditioning for a little while.

There are however some occasions where HVAC problems cannot be left until the last minute.  Heating and cooling systems are made as safe as possible, but they are not 100% risk free.  Here are 4 serious HVAC problems you should know about, and never ignore:

1. Natural Gas – Rotten Egg Smell

If you heat your home with gas, a rotten egg smell can be a sign of a leak. If you notice a smell that hangs around, with no known cause, don’t attempt to investigate it, call a professional if you are concerned.

2. Furnace – Dusty Smell That Doesn’t Go

Furnaces normally produce a dusty smell when they are first switched on, however, if this odor persists it could be indicative or components burning out.  This can be very dangerous.  Call a professional ASAP.

3. Furnace exhaust – Poor Venting (due to snow, contaminants etc..)

If blocked or damaged fumes can flood back into the furnace it can put pressure on the system, potentially leading to fire/danger of explosion. Dangerous chemicals including carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide can seep into the home and linger. 

It’s important to note that most systems will have a shutoff feature, so it should not get to such a problem, however, if the vent is still blocked the furnace will not be able to operate.

This is most likely to happen due to heavy snowfall which blocks the vent, however, it can also become blocked by birds and other animals.  Your furnace vent flue may either go out of your roof or be pushed out the side of your home through a fan.   Be aware of where your vent is and if heavy snowfall occurs and blocks the event, attempt to remove it.

4. Air conditioner – Leaks

If leaks build up in your air conditioner you could have mold buildup, being breathed in by you and your family members, let alone the problems that may be going on with you’re a/c unit.

If the coolant is allowed to leak into your home for some time, it can evaporate into a gas and lead to headaches, dizziness, nausea and in rare cases asphyxiation.

Leaks may be indicated by pools of fluid beneath your unit. However sometimes it is not possible to locate the source, you may only know that there’s a problem with you’re a/c unit not working as it should.  If you have a leak and continue to use your air conditioner it can keep putting undue stress on the system.  This can cause irreversible damage to the compressor, the longer the problem is left, the more damage that is done.

This Article was written by Superior Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, HVAC contractors serving New Haven County, Connecticut in the USA.