Photo By IndyEdge at istock

It’s important to make sure you’re taking care of your furnace and AC if you want to keep the temperature in your home comfortable all the time. This starts with having somebody help out with maintenance every six months or so, but that’s not all you need to do. In addition to that, you need to keep up with heating and AC repairs to make sure you don’t have any major problems that leave you without heating and cooling. If you want to make sure you’re keeping an eye out for furnace and AC problems, here’s what you should watch for.

Lack of Maintenance

The first thing you need to do, if you want to lessen the need for expensive heating and AC repairs, is to make sure you’re keeping up with maintenance. It’s best to have seasonal maintenance done twice a year, but there are other things you need to keep up on as well.

Whether you’re not having seasonal maintenance done or you haven’t had your ducts cleaned for a decade, a lot of problems can be caused by a lack of maintenance. This is why heating and AC repair experts recommend having maintenance done every six months at the very least. However, you should also schedule things like duct cleaning and more involved maintenance every once in a while if you want to prevent problems.

Dirty Air Filters

One of the most important parts of your entire HVAC system is the air filter. All the air that comes through your HVAC system ends up going through this air filter. Not only is the air filter responsible for making sure you have clean air coming into your home, but it also helps promote good airflow to make sure your HVAC system is working right.

You need to replace your air filter at least once every six months if you want to prevent HVAC problems. However, that’s only how often you should replace an air filter if you live alone with no pets. If you have pets or live with other people, you should replace your air filter every three months. If you live with a large family and have pets in your household, you might want to change your air filter every month to prevent expensive heating and AC repairs.

No Ignition

When you turn a gas furnace on, you need to have an ignition system to get things started. This ignition system can have problems, however, which will leave you unable to get your furnace started and get heat to your home. If you can’t even get your furnace started, there’s a good chance you’ve got an ignition problem.

Sometimes a pilot light problem is as simple as cleaning your furnace a bit, but that’s not always the case. If you’ve kept up with routine maintenance but you’re still having problems with your pilot light, a heating and AC repair professional can replace some parts in your furnace to get it fixed.

Refrigerant Leaks

If you notice a puddle of liquid around your AC unit that definitely isn’t water, there’s a good chance that you’ve got a refrigerant leak. The problem with refrigerant leaks is that you shouldn’t handle them on your own since refrigerant is a toxic substance. Instead, you should call a heating and AC repair company as soon as you notice liquid that could indicate a refrigerant leak.

If your AC is very old, it’s even more dangerous to deal with a refrigerant leak. Older AC units use a different type of refrigerant called R-22 which is even more harmful than the other refrigerants that are used today. If you have an older air conditioner and you’re not sure whether you’ve got a water leak or a refrigerant leak, call a heating and AC repair expert.

Clogged Condensate Drain Line or Pan

When your refrigerant creates cool air, it also creates a lot of condensation that has to be dealt with. Normally, this condensation is collected in the condensate drain pan at the bottom of an AC unit, where it then goes through the condensate drain line and out of the unit.

When there’s a clog somewhere in your condensate drain line or pan, that moisture won’t be able to drain out of your AC and will pool up inside. While this isn’t the biggest problem you can have in terms of AC performance, it creates the perfect breeding ground for mold, so you want to avoid excess moisture.

Thermostat Problems

If you’re having trouble heating or cooling your Richardson, TX, to a comfortable temperature, it might not be a problem with your heating or cooling system at all. Oftentimes, a lack of heating or cooling power is a result of a thermostat that isn’t calibrated correctly or isn’t causing the furnace or AC to turn on.

When you call a heating and AC repair company to take a look at your furnace and AC, make sure they take a look at the thermostat as well. Whether your thermostat is poorly calibrated or it’s not connected right, your furnace and AC won’t kick on at the right time which means your home won’t stay at a comfortable temperature.

Here to Help

There are a lot of things that can go wrong with your furnace or AC, so you need to keep an eye out for problems and get help when you need it. The good news is, you don’t have to do it alone as long as you have the help of a reliable expert.

If you’re in need of heating and AC repair in Richardson, TX, look no further than K&S Heating & Air. Whether you need maintenance, repairs, installation or consultation, we’re more than happy to help. Next time you’ve got a heating or cooling problem, just call K&S Heating & Air.