HVAC Troubleshooting Tips For Homeowners

Understand The Basics

Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is a complex set of components that regulates your home’s temperature and air quality. Identifying and locating each unit is the first step to troubleshooting.

Heater Unit

Modern systems employ a furnace burning a fuel such as natural gas or oil or an electric heat pump that extracts heat energy from the outdoor air using a coil.

Cooling Unit

Also known as the condenser, this system removes indoor heat using a refrigerant-filled coil and transfers it to the outdoor air.

Air Handler

This unit contains your HVAC system’s blower fan, filters, and evaporator coils. It’s responsible for circulating the conditioned air evenly throughout your home’s ductwork.

Thermostat

The thermostat is the central controller for your heating & air conditioner. Here, you’ll set desired operation modes and temperature levels. Modern units also offer programmable startup & shutdown features for energy efficiency and convenience.

Common HVAC Problems and Symptoms

Diminished Heating or Cooling

Performance degradation usually stems from refrigerant leaks, clogged filters, faulty compressors or blower motors, dirt buildup, or electrical issues.

Poor Airflow

Uneven heat or cooling distribution results from blocked vents, dirty and clogged air filters, ductwork leaks, or blower motor issues. If an area or room feels uncomfortable or the air seems stale, an airflow problem may be the culprit.

Peculiar Noises, Leaks, or Odors

A healthy HVAC system should not produce loud or unusual noises such as rattles, clanking, or squeaking. You shouldn't notice musty or burning type odors. Moisture buildup or puddles near ductwork, condenser lines, or the unit itself isn't normal.

These symptoms, which can vary depending on the underlying cause, should immediately alert you to system trouble, and further investigation is needed.

Phoenix HVAC Troubleshooting Tips

Air Filters

Inspect for excessive dirt and debris buildups and replace every one to three months, depending on usage levels.

Thermostat Info Screen

Modern thermostat controls have indicator lights and LCD information screens that can alert you to malfunctions by showing various error codes or messages. Also, verify the unit is receiving power and that the batteries (if applicable) are fresh. Recalibrate the thermostat to factory settings according to the user's manual if needed.

Ductwork Blocks and Leaks

Disrupted heated and cooled air distribution results from ductwork gaps and dirt buildups. Inspect your air vents and registers to ensure they aren’t blocked by carpets, furniture, curtains, or foreign debris.

Clean the vents with a broom, brush, or portable vacuum. Visually inspect ductwork for holes, gaps, or disconnected sectional pieces. Seal easily reachable leaks with metal tape or duct sealant.

Outdoor Equipment Issues

Inspect your outdoor HVAC condenser unit for foreign debris and worn parts. Remove obstructions such as trash, branches, and leaves that may have fallen atop the unit or inside the fans. Avoid injury by powering off the unit before reaching inside.

Phoenix’s Leading HVAC and Plumbing Service Provider

If you aren’t comfortable inspecting or troubleshooting your home’s heating & cooling system, contact your friends at Oh No Plumbing & Air Conditioning.

Our skilled Phoenix HVAC repair technicians will pinpoint the problem and explain each issue transparently.

Our valued customers can enroll in our Family Maintenance Plan for competitive pricing on every air conditioning service we offer, including repairs, ductwork installation & cleaning, and air insulation & purification.

We guarantee customer satisfaction and quality workmanship with every service appointment.