Save Yourself A Service Call - Troubleshooting Tips
Estimated Reading time: 3.5 minutes
Occasionally customers call to request a service for a simple fix. These troubleshooting HVAC pro tips apply to the HVAC system's air conditioning problems or heating issues.
Try the following troubleshooting steps before paying for a service call ~ if you need help give us a call and one of our receptionists can explain these steps to you over the phone. If the following steps didn’t help you, you might be facing a larger problem and a service technician is necessary.
1. Check The Thermostat
Make sure your settings are correct and what it’s set at. If your thermostat is digital and is not working, try changing the batteries.
2. Change Your Furnace Filter
If your furnace air filter is dirty it can cause obstruction and blockage. This makes your furnace and air conditioner work much harder than it needs to for circulating the air and maintaining temperature. A regularly changed furnace filter won’t cause restriction; typically you should change your filter every 3 months, however for maximum effectiveness, consider changing it every month.
If you own a permanent furnace filter (usually plastic and tough in quality), vacuum thoroughly and/or wash. If washed, make sure you dry the filter as much as possible ~ inserting a wet filter could lead to mold growth (especially during A/C season).
3. Check The Electrical Breaker Panel & Furnace Switch
Sometimes our electricity breaker may have surged and caused a breaker trip causing it to turn off, or maybe the furnace switch was accidentally turned off. Check your circuit breaker panel and make sure the breaker switch for the furnace or air conditioner is set on. Also be sure to check the furnace switch, typically located in the furnace room as a light switch labeled furnace.
4. Check The Furnace Panel
If you were recently doing things near your furnace, it’s possible the furnace door could have somehow been opened by being knocked. Ensure the furnace panel is secure and that your furnace indicator light is on through the panel (usually an orange light, but could be various colors as mentioned in your furnace manual, such as red or green). If the furnace panel door is not on properly, your furnace will not operate as a safety feature.
If the temperature is inconsistent throughout the home, or the furnace or air conditioner is not heating and cooling enough:
Check if all vents are open, making sure there are no obstructions on the air flow of the vents. While checking the vents inside the home, try to feel if cold air or warm air (as your temperature is set) is blowing out your vents, is it a neutral fan-like temperature, or is it even blowing at all?
Check the in-take and exhaust vent pipes outside your home make sure there are no obstructions on the inside and outdoor unit and that they remain unblocked from things like leaves or snow. If all your vents are open as they should be, and there are no vent obstructions; try Step 1 & 2. If the air is not blowing at all and you don’t hear the furnace or air conditioner attempting to run, try Step 3 & 4.
The Furnace or Air Conditioner is not turning on:
If you notice your furnace or air conditioner has not turned on in awhile and temperatures are starting to go to an uncomfortable level, sometimes it’s as easy as checking the thermostat (Step 1). If that didn’t work make sure the furnace switch is on, and/or the electrical breaker panel switch is on (Step 3).
Do you smell gas, or a strong odor near the furnace? — If this is the case, a gas leak could be possible. You and your family should leave the home immediately and contact Platinum Air Care, or any reputable gas company of your choice.
