What Does A HVAC System Do For You?
The HVAC system in a building is not only used for maintaining the temperature consistently and keeping the tenants happy and comfortable. It also impacts the units’ level of productivity, safety, and energy consumption bills. Adopting a maintenance program for the system will ensure that the systems are functioning properly and as efficiently as possible.
However, it cannot be denied that the most well-kept and maintained unit too at times will need to be repaired. You need to know that HVAC system issues can be anywhere from bad odor from air units, strange sounds, inconsistent airflow, or expected rise in cost from energy bills. If you are noticing such signs then it is recommended to call in a professional technician to take a look at it. This is because such issues need proper technical knowledge and experience to deal with. By trying to fix it yourself to save costs can lead to bigger malfunction which will result in having to replace the system completely.
By having some basic understanding of these issues, you will be able to make an educated and confident decision when facing a similar problem. Below we have put together a list of some of the most common HVAC elements that you need to check. If these elements suffer a problem and are detected at an early stage and fixed immediately, you can prevent yourself from the risk of a more costly system failure.
Refrigerant
This is a substance that helps transfer heat from one area to another and is almost used in every system that provides cooling. In your air conditioning unit, a refrigerant is used to remove the heat and humidity from the air in your property. If there is a leakage in the refrigerant line then there will not be enough of it to cool the air. In this case, it is not only about replacing the refrigerant but also you need to find a technician who can help you look for the leak. This leak needs to be repaired and can be something as small as holes in the lines. This can be a lengthy process especially if there are multiple leaks.
Evaporator Coils
These coils are filled with refrigerants. They are responsible for properly absorbing the heat from the air. They act like sponges. These coils require hot air circulating through them to be able to function properly. If the evaporator air gets too cold, you will know that something is wrong with the airflow. A common way of sighting this is when you see a thin layer of ice formed on the outside of the system. This can result in the release of warm air instead of cold air or other cases no air at all from the air conditioner.
Condenser Coils
The condenser coils are a part of the outdoor unit of your HVAC. They are responsible for getting rid of heat from the air by expelling it outside the building. Proper care during installation on the outdoor unit ensures that this part doesn’t go through wear and tear or accumulates dirt over time. If this happens, then the condenser will not be able to perform well as it will get clogged with dirt. In locations where there is a lot of pollution and soot, this is a common issue that arises often. The heat gets impeded and the unit has to work harder than usual to perform its functions properly. This over-stresses the parts of the HVAC unit and can lead to a complete system failure if not detected and corrected promptly.
Fan
If you look into the system properly, you will notice a fan that blows the indoor air over the evaporator coil to cool the air and another one that blows over the outdoor unit to expel the absorbed heat outside the property. When either of these fans malfunction, your will end up with low airflow and eventually have problems in your air conditioner units.
Debris Accumulation
Many parts of the unit can be affected by the collection of debris other than factors like faulty motors, lack of lubricants, etc. It can also suffer from regular and expected wear with constant usage. This could lead to a complete halt of the air conditioning unit. Regularly cleaning and checking this part can avoid major problems in the future, which can only be sorted by replacing the whole system.
Thermostat
Your air conditioner needs to receive the right instructions from the control panel which is the thermostat. If you are using the old dial thermostat you can easily replace it with a new and more technologically advanced one. Though these can at times be tricky to program, once you have the correct knowledge you can make sure the system works efficiently for a very long time. You can even reduce the energy used for the system to work and thereby decrease your electricity bills.
Hiring Professionals Instead Of Rookies
By making sure your system is working properly, you can provide a comfortable facility for your family at home or your employees and customers in your workplace. An efficient system is vital for the smooth operations of businesses for example malls in hot countries, etc. Depending on the geographical location and the number of hours needed to operate, the HVAC units can bear a lot of wear and tear. You can hire a team of professionals to take care of and perform maintenance checks regularly to make sure the systems are running smoothly and at their maximum efficiency. Such checks may spot any inefficiencies and give quick advice on how to repair them cost-effectively right when the problem starts to surface. This prevents bigger malfunctions in the long term.
Though some common problems of the HVAC can simply be rectified by regularly cleaning it and following up with maintenance checks, there are still some bigger problems you can face. To avoid such cases, you will need to assure that you start with buying quality HVAC units that come with a warranty. Also from time to time, getting your system checked by a professional can help prevent any bigger concerns which cannot be easily detected.
