7 Signs That You Need An HVAC Professional

If you live in a moderate climate, you may not have a full appreciation for your HVAC unit. But those of us that live in Indiana know how important a functioning HVAC system is.

Your AC not working is a horrible thing to experience during the hottest and most humid time of the year. On the flip side, furnace troubles during the winter aren’t so pleasant either.

Your system will often give you signs of trouble before it gets to be too dramatic. Keep an eye out for these 7 signs so you’ll know when you call an HVAC professional.

1. Excessive Dust

Did your home always get that dusty so quickly? You may be noticing that you have to dust more often to keep your home clean. Unless you live on a dirt road and started leaving your windows open, your HVAC system could be to blame.

Over time, the HVAC components and air ducts get dirty. As air flows through the system, it picks up dirt and dust particles and blows them out into your home.

Not only is this annoying for keeping your trophy collection shiny, but also its bad for the system. A dirty system has to work harder to keep up the proper amount of airflow. Call an HVAC professional to clean the system out and service it.

2. Something Smells Fishy

Have you started noticing odd smells around your house? It could be that your cat dragged in a dead rat and left it somewhere for you to find. Or there could be a problem with your HVAC system. This is especially true if you seem to notice the smell everywhere.

There are several reasons that your HVAC system could be emitting a nasty odor. It is difficult to pinpoint the problem without examining the system. But to give you an idea what could be causing it, here are a couple ideas.

The system could have problems with some of the electrical components. Another possible cause is that a leak has allowed water to get in and mold has started growing. A third, rather unpleasant cause, is that an animal somehow made it into one of the ducts and died.

An HVAC professional will be able to determine the cause and know how to fix the problem.

3. Drafts

An HVAC system that is working properly will evenly heat or cool your house as is appropriate for the season. If you start to notice hot or cold drafts in certain spots, that can indicate an airflow problem.

There are several things that can inhibit airflow. A dirty system or a dead animal are both reasons that we’ve already talked about. Regardless, you’ll need the help of an HVAC professional to get your system in tiptop working condition.

4. Humidity Indoors

Your AC unit does more than keep the interior of your home cool during the summer months. It also cuts down on the amount of water in the air so you don’t get that constantly sticky sensation.

Sometimes you may notice that it seems to be humid indoors anyway. That’s a good indication that your outdoor AC unit is not working properly. This usually happens when the evaporator coils are not getting cold enough to condense the moisture out of the air.

5. Strange Noises

As you can imagine, when we say strange noises we don’t mean things that go bump in the night. …or do we?

Your HVAC system has always made a bit of noise. Most machines do. But if you start to notice loud or unusual sounds that could be an indication that it’s time to call an HVAC professional.

Strangely enough, these sounds will probably be easiest to notice at night. That’s because the normal hubbub of your home dies down after everyone goes to sleep.

If you notice a rattling or buzzing sound it could just be a loose part. A whistling or grinding sound may indicate something more serious. Regardless, these issues won’t disappear on their own so help is needed.

6. You Find Yourself Adjusting The Thermostat Often

For the most part, you should be able to pick a comfortable temperature on the thermostat and leave it there. But if you find yourself constantly adjusting it, something could be wrong.

First, check if anybody else is messing with it. Maybe another person in your home keeps turning it up and you keep turning it down or vice versa.

If that’s not the case, it could be that your thermostat is malfunctioning. A faulty thermostat can put excessive strain on your system. It’s best to call an HVAC professional to investigate as soon as possible.

7. Your Bill Has Gone Up

In general, any problem with your HVAC system will cause your energy bill to go up. This is because the system is having to work harder to perform its job and therefore use up more energy. This is bad for your wallet and the environment.

Any of the things we’ve already mentioned could be the culprit. The bill may be the first thing you notice. If that’s the case, walk through and see if you notice any of the other signs. This will help your HVAC professional diagnose the cause faster.

Don’t worry if you don’t notice any of the other signs, though. Your repairman will know what to do. They’ll figure it out for you!

Find An HVAC Professional

What should you do if you do notice one of these 7 signs? You should call an HVAC professional immediately to figure out what the problem is.

You don’t know how long your HVAC system may continue limping along. The problem could even cause more damage the longer you wait.

What if you don’t already have a good HVAC repair professional on hand? That’s okay. Just contact us here at Master’s Heating and Cooling. We can inspect your system and get it up and running at full capacity again in no time!