The HVAC system in your Sterling, VA, home is designed to provide you with comfortable and conditioned air throughout the four seasons. Unfortunately, occasional issues can interrupt the function of this system. How do you know when you’re experiencing an HVAC emergency? Let’s discuss the situations that warrant an emergency call to our team of HVAC technicians.
HVAC Emergency Basics
You’re experiencing an HVAC emergency if a situation in your home warrants immediate attention from an experienced professional. There may be an interruption in the function of your equipment, but it also may pose a danger to your safety or comfort. These emergencies can occur at any time. They can occur because of normal wear and tear of your equipment, a malfunction of your system, or a defect in your heating or cooling equipment or related components.
What Is Considered an HVAC Emergency?
There are several indications that you’re experiencing an HVAC emergency. They include the following.
Lack of Warm or Cool Air
If your furnace is no longer producing warm air or your air conditioning system isn’t cooling your home, this is an HVAC emergency, especially in the middle of extremely cold or hot weather. It’s important for your safety that you can maintain a safe temperature inside your home. Extremely cold or hot temperatures in your home can put your health at risk.
Not maintaining a safe indoor temperature can also impact your home’s structure, plumbing, and electrical systems. Cold interior temperatures can cause pipes to freeze and burst, causing extensive damage. This situation can even result in mold growth.
Odd Noises
While your HVAC system may still run normally and produce conditioned air, odd sounds should have been looked at immediately. Grinding, banging, or squeaking sounds indicate an interior component issue. If you ignore the problem, you could experience a system shutdown soon.
Bad Smells
The only smell you should ever notice from your heating or cooling equipment is a slightly dusty, stale odor when you change from heating to cooling or cooling to heating. This smell usually only lasts a few minutes, but if it doesn’t go away, there is a problem. If you notice the smell of gas or a burning smell, turn off your system and call a professional immediately.
Decreased Airflow
Your home may feel comfortable, but have you noticed less air flowing out of your vents? Your heating and cooling equipment may be keeping up with your set temperature, but it may be running more to do so. You may not realize the increase in runtime, though it’s likely raising your energy bill each month.
The first place to check is your air filter(s) to see if it needs to be changed. However, another common reason is that cracks or gaps in your ductwork have allowed conditioned air to escape. A damaged ductwork system isn’t an emergency but a service you can schedule. Another possibility is an interior issue with your blower motor. It is an emergency, and we can repair or replace it.
Hot or Cold Spots
Your airflow may remain the same, but some rooms of your home might feel hotter or colder than others. There’s a reason that your heating and cooling equipment is not providing consistent temperatures. This may be an emergency. However, non-emergency issues, like inadequate ductwork design or a dirty air filter, may also be causing the problem.
Water Pooling or Leaking
Do you have water pooling near the base of your HVAC system? You may have a clogged condensate drain. Condensation is a normal process of cooling your home, but this moisture is efficiently removed. Ignoring this water issue can lead to a damaged HVAC system, mold growth, electrical damage, and more.
Steps To Take During an HVAC Emergency
The following steps should be followed when you experience any signs of an HVAC emergency.
Switch off Your System
Regardless of the potential problem, you should turn off your HVAC system when you first notice something is wrong. This will prevent further damage and emergencies like fires or carbon monoxide leaks.
Contact a Professional for Assistance
Once your system is turned off, contact our team to schedule an emergency appointment. We will get to your home as quickly as possible, diagnose the issue, and come up with a fix. When you work with an experienced and knowledgeable team like ours, you can rest assured that your HVAC system will be back up and running.
Take Safety Precautions
This can mean several things during an HVAC emergency. If you suspect a gas or carbon monoxide leak, immediately open a few windows and leave your home. Don’t attempt to go back inside until a professional tells you that it’s safe to do so. You should never try to fix the problem yourself.
Retain Documentation of the Event
Depending on the scenario, you may want to retain documentation that states what happened and what needed to be fixed. If your homeowner’s insurance will cover the cost of the repairs, you’ll need to provide proof.
False Alarms
A few situations can impede the normal function of your HVAC system. However, these situations may not actually be emergencies.
Thermostat Issues
Check your thermostat to see if your system is on and programmed to perform the appropriate function. For example, if your thermostat is set to fan only, your heating and cooling equipment will not turn on.
Check Your Filter
Check to see if your air filter needs to be changed. A clogged and dirty air filter can impede airflow, decreasing airflow throughout your home.
Minor Repair Needs
If lucky, your HVAC issue may be repaired quickly by replacing a small part. With so many different components, one slight issue can affect your entire system. We don’t recommend homeowners check for cracks or gaps in ductwork because some attics can be dangerous if you don’t know where to step. That is a job for one of our HVAC technicians.
Routine maintenance is a great way to spot problems before they become an emergency. We recommend that you schedule this service annually before the start of using your furnace or air conditioner for the first time that year. Routine maintenance includes inspecting, cleaning, and maintaining various interior components in your heating and cooling equipment.
We also check your refrigerant levels, which can impact the efficiency of your air conditioning system.
Meade’s Heating and Air Will Be There When You Need Us
If you are experiencing an HVAC system emergency, contact the team at Meade’s Heating and Air. We can come to your home in a timely manner and diagnose any emergency issues. We can install, repair, and replace different heating and cooling equipment, including furnaces, air conditioners, boilers, heat pumps, and ductless mini-splits.
We provide indoor air quality assistance, such as an indoor air quality assessment, whole-house filtration, whole-house dehumidification and humidification, and improved ventilation options. We also work on gas lines and ductwork. Contact Meade’s Heating and Air in Sterling to schedule an appointment today.
