Emergency home repairs are a fact of life. Over half of Americans have a need for such services every year. Around 20% of these emergencies had to do with the HVAC system.
Your HVAC system has many complicated parts that could fail, resulting in an emergency situation. It’s imperative to know how to identify these situations before they put you and your family at risk.
Read on to learn how to spot an HVAC emergency.
What Is an HVAC Emergency?
An HVAC emergency is a situation that puts the safety of your household in question. Not all HVAC breakdowns are emergencies, but certain issues put you in immediate danger. If you fear for your safety, call an emergency HVAC service.
The outside temperature plays a large role in determining the severity of an HVAC breakdown. If the weather is mild and your comfort level isn’t affected by a lack of HVAC service, it may be prudent to wait.
Another factor that determines an emergency is the time of day. If your breakdown occurs close to regular business hours, emergency service may not be necessary. However, if you experience issues in the middle of the night or over the weekend, emergency service may be your only option.
Most Common Signs of HVAC Emergencies
These common emergency situations put you in danger. If you identify these, you need to call an HVAC company right away.
Gas Leaks
Around half of American homes rely on natural gas for heating. If your heater runs on natural gas, you may develop a gas leak.
You’ll know you have a gas leak by recognizing the smell. Natural gas leaks smell sulfuric, similar to rotten eggs. Natural gas itself has no odor, so a chemical called mercaptan is added so leaks can be detected.
Gas leaks are an HVAC emergency because prolonged exposure to natural gas can cause poisoning. Its symptoms include headache, fatigue, loss of concentration, and even suffocation. Natural gas leaks can also cause explosions.
If you notice the signs of a gas leak, call an emergency HVAC company immediately.
Air Conditioning Won’t Turn On
An AC unit failure is considered an emergency during the hot summer months. You rely on air conditioning to keep the temperatures in your home moderate, and a broken AC unit can cause inside temperatures to reach unsafe levels.
This is especially true if you live with elderly individuals, small children, or pets. When it’s hot outside, their safety depends on air conditioning.
Unsettling Noises
You know what sounds your HVAC system makes when it’s running, so an uncommon sound could be a cause for alarm. If you hear screeching or grinding, it’s a sure sign that you’re looking at an emergency situation.
A screeching sound is most commonly caused by a blockage in your AC unit’s compressor. Due to this blockage, pressure continues to build inside the unit, creating the unsettling sound you’re hearing.
Popping sounds may indicate an electrical issue with your HVAC unit. The popping you hear could be a result of sparking. This may be accompanied by a burning smell.
If you notice any of these odd sounds, turn off your HVAC unit immediately and reach out to an emergency HVAC service.
No Air Coming Out of Vents
If air isn’t coming out of your vents, your HVAC system isn’t doing its job. This could be the side-effect of blockages in your ductwork or a blower motor issue.
Of these two possibilities, a failed blower motor represents the more pressing emergency. Your HVAC system relies on this motor to distribute air around your home. If your blower motor has failed, you may notice a faint burning smell.
Air duct blockages might not be an emergency. Sometimes, the issue is as simple as a piece of furniture blocking an intake vent. You may have caused this by accident.
Check to see if there are any obvious issues contributing to your air duct blockage. If you suspect an issue with the interior of your ducts and your home is becoming an uncomfortable environment, make the call to an emergency service.
Refrigerant Leaks
Your air conditioner relies on refrigerant lines to cool the air in your home. Occasionally, these lines leak.
When a leak occurs, your AC unit won’t be able to cool your home. This causes the system to continue to run, as it never senses the appropriate temperature to trigger the shut-off mechanism. Your compressor may overheat or burn itself out this way.
HVAC Troubleshooting
Emergency HVAC service is usually much more expensive than typical service. If you and your family aren’t in immediate danger, you’ll want to troubleshoot your HVAC problem before calling an emergency service.
Check Air Filters
When an air conditioning unit isn’t working properly, the most common culprit is the air filter. Different filters have different lifespans, so it’s possible you just forgot to change yours.
Check the Circuit Breakers
Sometimes, HVAC failure is the result of a tripped or switched-off circuit breaker. This can happen when you attempt to run too many electrical appliances at once.
Flip the circuit breaker back on and try to restart your HVAC system. If it trips again, you likely have a larger issue.
Check Thermostat
Sometimes the solution to your HVAC issues is as simple as checking the thermostat. You or someone in your family may have accidentally turned off your HVAC unit.
Trusted HVAC Emergency Response
An HVAC emergency is a situation that puts the safety of your and your family at risk. This could be due to the outside temperature or something incredibly dangerous like a gas leak from your furnace.
Learn to recognize the signs of an HVAC emergency so you can respond quickly to dangerous situations and troubleshoot issues that don’t require an immediate response.
Should you need emergency HVAC service, San Francisco Heating and Air is standing by to help. Their 24-hour emergency service hotline is always open. For all other kinds of service, reach out to schedule an appointment.
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