What We’d Check First If This Were Our Own House

HVAC Troubleshooting – What Do Technicians Check First?

It’s a 90-degree day in Farmers Branch, Texas. The humidity is stifling. The flowers at the Rose Garden are on the verge of wilting. Thankfully, you have air conditioning. At least you would, that is, if the AC was working. It ran for a few minutes this morning, then just stopped. You need an HVAC technician to come see what’s wrong with it.

Before scheduling an HVAC inspection, you should try some troubleshooting of your own first. You might be able to solve the problem yourself. Even if you can’t, though, you’ll have a bit more data to share with the heating and cooling company.

In this article, we’ll look at how technicians diagnose HVAC problems. With this information, you’ll be better equipped to troubleshoot your heating and cooling equipment.

Start By Shifting Into a Contractor’s Mindset

First, it helps to think about the problem the way an HVAC contractor would during a heating and cooling inspection. This means analyzing the situation practically. Think of it as detective work. You look for clues, test ideas, and draw conclusions from the evidence you find.

Our Farmers Branch HVAC contractors try to rule out the simplest and least expensive solutions first. You don’t want to jump to the most drastic fix off the bat. If you can solve a problem by changing a filter or turning the system off and on again, that's preferred over replacing an expensive component. For this reason, HVAC checklists will usually move from simple to complex.

Finally, it’s worth seeing your HVAC system as a whole. If you change something in one piece of equipment, it could affect the whole system in dramatic ways.

Use Your Senses to Get an Idea of Where to Start

HVAC troubleshooting often starts with your senses. When you get started, pay attention to sounds, smells, and visual clues. In particular, pay attention to where they’re coming from. For instance, a rattling noise from the air conditioner condenser won’t be the same problem as a similar noise from your furnace or air vents. Follow your eyes, ears, and nose to isolate the problem. From there, you can follow these simple HVAC troubleshooting steps for homeowners.

Is the System Receiving Power?

Has your air conditioner or heating system suddenly quit? Many of the heating and cooling failures we see in Farmers Branch come down to power issues. As such, that’s what we would check first in our own home.

Do a quick circuit breaker check. You’ll likely find your circuit breakers behind a panel in a utility room, basement, or hallway. The switches should be labeled by system and/or area. Find the one that pertains to your air conditioner or heater and see if it’s on. If it has switched off, turn it back on and see if that fixes the issue. If it does, great! If not (or if the switch keeps turning off), there’s some other problem.

Have You Checked the Thermostat?

The next thing an HVAC technician would check is the thermostat. During the thermostat check, look at the display. If it’s completely blank, you may need to change the batteries. If the display is on, your thermostat should be set to “on” or “auto.” Auto is usually preferred for efficient operation. If your thermostat is running but the system isn’t, try adjusting the temperature to see whether that does anything. If your system still doesn’t respond, it’s time to call an HVAC professional.

Is Air Moving Properly?

Common air conditioners and furnaces move 400 cubic feet of air per ton every minute, meaning the 2-ton systems common throughout Farmers Branch produce 800 cubic feet per minute! At that level, you should be able to feel that from the vents. If the airflow is weak or if you have dead spots, you likely have a ventilation problem. The most common culprit is the air filter.

Dirty filters affect HVAC systems in a number of ways, one of which is airflow. They can also result in ice buildup in air conditioners, system shutoff, and increased wear. If your air filter check shows that it’s dirty, change it. Often, the system will self-correct after that. If not, there may be a blockage somewhere in your ductwork.

Is the Equipment Dirty?

In Farmers Branch’s humid climate, dirt and grime tend to get caked onto HVAC equipment. Often, this coincides with airflow issues since they can cause dust and debris to accumulate in the system. Dust often settles into different mechanical components, clogging them up and increasing wear and tear. Eventually, moving parts may bind up and stop working altogether. If you notice dirt buildup, you probably need to fix a ventilation issue and clean the unit.

Are There Signs of a Major Failure?

If your system has quit working and cannot be resuscitated by flipping the breaker switch, that’s a clear sign of a major failure. At that point, you’ll need to call 214.261.0034 for our Dallas County HVAC services. However, there are other signs to watch for as well. Those include the following:

What to Check By Problem

To sum everything up, there are some very basic checks you can do when something goes wrong with your heating and cooling system. Some checks may even save you a service call. Here’s a rundown of some HVAC checks homeowners can do before calling a professional.

You’ll notice a lot of these involve checking the filter. That’s because your HVAC systems need to move air efficiently to function. Restricted airflow makes the HVAC system work harder to move conditioned air through the home. A dirty filter is one possible cause, but blocked ducts, blower problems, coil restrictions, and other issues can also affect airflow.

HVAC Troubleshooting and When to Call a Pro in Farmers Branch

It helps to know what to check when your HVAC system is not working. Sometimes, you might even save yourself from having to call a professional! However, not all heating and cooling problems can be solved by flipping a switch or changing a filter. In those situations, you’ll need a professional.

Whether you have an AC that won’t start or need some heat pump troubleshooting, Air Patrol Air Conditioning is your best choice for tackling HVAC problems in Farmers Branch. We have 23 years in the industry, a resoundingly positive reputation, and certifications from NATE and BPI. To get your system running again, call 214.261.0034 today.

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