What to Know Before Scheduling HVAC Repair

Uh oh! Your air conditioner or heater is having problems or has stopped working completely. Before you call for HVAC repair, there are a few things you should know.

Know the Signs

An issue with your A/C or heater might not be as obvious as a drastic change in temperature; there are several possible signs that your HVAC is in need of repair.

Is there a strange smell in the air? A burnt toast smell when you turn your heater on for the first time in a while might be completely normal, but should disappear within a few hours.  A lingering burnt toast smell, an electric burning smell, a stale or musty odor or the smell of rotting trash are all potential signs of an A/C problem.

Remember – most utility providers add a rotten egg or sulfur smell to natural gas to alert you in the case of a leak. If you think you smell rotten egg, open all of the windows, get out of the house and call the gas company immediately.

Are you hearing strange noises? Banging, clanking, clicking, buzzing, humming, chattering or rattling sounds could all be indicators that something is wrong with your unit. A high-pitched whistling or screaming sound could be a sign of issues dangerous to your health, such as a refrigerant leak or high internal pressure. If you hear this sound, turn your unit off immediately and call for HVAC repair service. Do not attempt to turn it back on.

Is your unit leaking? During the warm summer months, it’s normal for a good bit of condensation to build up around your drain pipe. If there’s an excessive amount of water, especially if it’s during the colder winter months, your unit might be leaking. There are several reasons why this might be happening, but several of them are easily repaired by an HVAC technician.

Whatever the symptoms, make note of them so you can get your service provider up to speed.

Check the Basics

According to Angie’s List, there are a few basic things you can check on yourself before calling an HVAC repair technician. It might sound obvious, but check that the power is connected. Has a fuse blown? Has the circuit breaker been tripped? Maybe the thermostat needs batteries. Here’s a helpful list of things to check out before making a service call, including dirty air filters, blocked or closed registers and thermostat settings.

Know Your Unit

Now that you’ve assessed the situation and determined that you have a real issue, what do you need to report to your technician? There are several important things to note before you call. This will both save you time and help the technician diagnose the problem. According to North American Technician Excellence, these are a few things you should be prepared to describe to your technician:

• The brand and/or model number of your unit.
• The age of your unit.
• Date when was it last serviced and who last serviced it.
• When the filters were last changed.
• When you first noticed that it seemed to not be working properly.

Also consider the symptoms noted earlier. Unusual sounds, smells or leaks are all important in helping your technician accurately diagnose the issue.

At Barineau Heating and Air Conditioning, we can’t always prevent a heating and air emergency but we can promise to work as quickly and diligently as possible to get you back to being comfortable. In addition to our regular hours, we also offer emergency services on nights and weekends to help keep you comfortable 24 hours a day, seven days a weeks, 365 days a year. If you’re having an issue with your heater or A/C unit, make an appointment online or call 850-580-4029.