DIY Home HVAC Repairs

Nearly everyone runs into HVAC problems from time to time, but it is important to know which problems you can handle yourself and which ones need to be handled by a professional. There are many things that can go wrong that are easily fixable and doing it yourself could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, depending on your repair company. Make sure that you find the root of your problem before calling a repair person for your HVAC system.

The most common problem is a blown fuse. This usually occurs when the unit starts to heat up. While the heating of the unit could be due to another issue, a blown fuse can be fixed easily. Whenever the repair person comes to your home because of a problem with a motor, he or she will check the fuses first because it is an easy fix.

Contactors are what make the electrical connection between the motor and the compressors, so the system will not work if one of them is worn. There are three of them in an HVAC system, so check all three before calling for repairs. Basically, your system cannot get an electrical charge if they are worn out, so it will not work properly.

The capacitor makes the motor run as the same speed throughout the process, which stops it from overheating and burning out. Once the capacitor breaks, you might hear some strange noises coming from your HVAC system, since it will not have this regulating device. Luckily, it is much cheaper to replace the capacitor than the entire engine.

If your system runs on gas, the gas valve could be a problem. In most cases, this will only affect the heating portion of your unit. If your heater is not working properly, check the gas valve to see if it has worn down.

One thing that many people forget to check is the filter. There are filters all over an HVAC system, as they purify the air before it enters your home. Once the filter gets dirty, it must be replaced for the system as a whole to work properly.

To check the filter, hold up a light to it and determine if you can see through it. If you cannot see through it, you should replace it immediately. A dirty filter reduced the amount of air that gets through, which could lead to the unit as a whole stopping.

Most HVAC professionals recommend that you replace the air filter once a month for optimum performance.

Your thermostat is what controls your HVAC system as whole. A common problem is that people do not know how to work it properly. Make sure that the thermostat has been turned on properly before bringing someone in to help. This might sound silly, but a thermostat that has been accidentally shut off or accidentally preprogrammed to shut off at a certain time could be the cause of your problem.

The compressor is what runs the air conditioning portion of your unit. You will find this right by the condenser coil and if it does not receive the right charge, it will overheat and stop working. It could also stop the air conditioner from receiving the right amount of refrigerant, which causes it to stop working.

As was mentioned before, the condenser coil is right beside the compressor in an air conditioner. These coils are outside of the compressor, so they get dirty from the outside elements. You must keep this coil clean to ensure that it runs properly, although an annual cleaning should do the trick. All you have to do is spray it down with a hose, but make sure that you have turned it off beforehand.

The evaporator coil can be found either in the attic or with the rest of the outdoor unit, depending on the type of system. If it is located outside, you can clean it with a hose. You only have to do so every couple of years, since it is not directly exposed to the elements.

If you have had problems with your HVAC system, try out these solutions before calling a professional. If you see that something is cracked or completely broken, it is probably time to have some of your equipment replaced. If not, you can fix the issue yourself and save a great deal of money.