There have been complaints from your relatives about the HVAC. Evidently, people are experiencing discomfort and headaches, and one family member’s asthma has been acting up of late. The air is stuffy, and it’s not cooling enough, they say. System adjustments may be imminent.
Yet, before you start changing the settings, you ought to figure out first where the problem lies.
Signs of dysfunction
Some homeowners think of repairs and fixes as costly and bothersome. You must not join this bandwagon. A modern HVAC system that is giving you a headache is singling that there is something wrong with its parts.
You must not delay an examination of the system since poor indoor air quality could lead to illness. Moreover, if one part of the system is not working right, the other components might work harder and be subjected to tensions and pressures it is not accustomed.
Consequently, you could be looking at a higher repair bill, or worse a recommendation to replace a costly part.
The usual suspects
Most of the time, a unit that spews out warm air in summer and freezes during winter might be suffering from a typical case of obstruction. The condenser unit is one of the most common culprits. It’s usually installed outside the house and can be congested with falling leaves or a bird’s nest.
When the condenser unit is not working optimally, the airflow would be compromised. If the condenser unit is located indoors check that it is not overheating or being weighed down by something. If the condenser unit is cleared out of debris and cooled off, you still could be experiencing problems if there is a blockage in the vents.
This is not a common issue at home, but furniture might be blocking a vent or register. For your peace of mind, check that the vents are open before moving on to the next suspect. The most notorious perpetrator on the list is a clogged filter.
Since it removes debris directly from the air, the filter could be overwhelmed as time passes. Stuffy air is usually the first sign of a neglected filter. How often a filter should be changed depends on your household usage and the specifications of its manufacturer.
Control valve issues
Sometimes, a lingering problem with HVAC flow arises from control valve dysfunction. If the HVAC system is working correctly, it will provide the appropriate energy output to specific locations in your house. This is a delicate balancing act performed by balancing valve in HVAC.
The system may be static or dynamic depending on need. With poor hydronic balancing comes inadequate flow conditions. Essentially, when there is imbalance, the cooling load will not be met, and you’d feel the effects immediately.
There are instances when what seems to be a massive HVAC issue is mainly a case of a poorly advised set-up. System settings may be inappropriate for the needs of your household. If you have not read the comprehensive manual of operations, it would be relevant now.
Or perhaps certain parts of the HVAC are not working properly and needs professional care.
