Your HVAC unit is one of the most important appliances in your home. It’s your best friend during the summer, because it keeps you cool in the heat. During the winter, it’s the snuggle buddy that warms up icy nights. What happens when your HVAC unit malfunctions, though? Here are four HVAC fixes a homeowner can make.
Change the Air Filter
Image via Flickr by DaynaT
The problem with repairing an HVAC system is that you’re not a repair technician. You don’t have the skill to fix any serious problems with your HVAC unit. That’s OK! All of the fixes listed here are easy ones that an amateur can do. If you have anything more serious, you will need a professional to do maintenance on your HVAC system, though.
The simplest attempt at fixing your HVAC unit is to change your filter. In some instances, a bad filter will cause serious problems. Your home won’t ventilate air correctly. The good news is that changing a filter is basically plug-and-play. You remove one rectangular filter from its home in the unit. Then, you put a new filter in its place. If you’re not sure how to do this, you can find many how-to videos online.
Replace Thermostat Batteries
Your thermostat is the device that sets the temperature in your home. When it fails, your HVAC unit never receives an activation request. You’re stuck with the same temperature, which means you’re either too cool in the winter or too hot in the summer.
What’s the most likely culprit for a faulty thermostat? Surprisingly, it’s the batteries. Your thermostat runs on this charge, and you can replace it as easily as batteries in a remote control. You simply detach the front facing of your thermostat. This is usually where the batteries are. Swap out old, dead ones for fresh ones and then snap the facing back into place. It’s one of the easiest fixes. Of course, if a battery change doesn’t work, you have a serious problem and need to call a professional.
Check for Damage
When something breaks in your ventilation system, you can’t exactly fix it. You can find the problem, though. Walk the length of your HVAC system, inspecting each location for damage. If you see anything that doesn’t look right, you’ve probably found the source of the problem. Your HVAC system’s ductwork won’t work properly if it’s suffered damage. Now that you know the cause or the problem, notify a service technician. This person can repair it quickly since it’s basically just a new duct installation replacing a broken one.
Check for Electricity
Like thermostats, your HVAC unit needs a power source. If your device isn’t working correctly, it may not have power. Check the electrical outlet to verify that your unit connects properly. If it does, make sure that the outlet is active in your electrical panel. You may need to reset it. If everything looks right but the device still lacks power, you must contact a service repair professional.
All four situations listed here are HVAC repairs that you can do on your own. If none of them works, cut your losses and call a maintenance technician.
