When the HVAC system in your home isn’t working properly, it’ll start showing some warning signs. Without regular HVAC maintenance, you’re likely to see signs of issues more often. Here are five signs you need professional HVAC maintenance in your Charleston, South Carolina, home:
Slow Responsiveness
If you feel uncomfortably warm or cold in your home, you’ll typically adjust the thermostat so the heating or cooling system will kick on and change the indoor temperature. When you take this action, the system should start running right away. However, if your system has a lag between when you alter the indoor temperature setting on the thermostat and when the air starts flowing, you may need HVAC maintenance.
Over time, excess wear and tear on an HVAC system can cause to respond to your commands slower. A tune-up by a service technician can resolve the lag. As a result, you won’t have to worry about slow system responsiveness impacting your comfort.
Higher Energy Bills
Although heating and cooling bills fluctuate between the seasons, they shouldn’t dramatically rise from one year to the next when the weather is similar outside. If you notice a sharp increase in costs, the HVAC system may be using excess energy.
During HVAC maintenance, your service technician will assess how efficiently your unit is operating and determine what may be causing the excess energy use to occur. You may need a new HVAC filter to allow for more efficient airflow. Or you might need a replacement part.
Trouble Achieving the Set Temperature
As a heating and cooling system ages and its components become less efficient, the other parts have to work harder to maintain the settings you put in place. As a result, it may have trouble reaching the temperature you set on the thermostat.
If your home constantly feels cold or warm or never gets to the setting you want, contact our team to schedule a tune-up on your equipment. We can assess the condition of the system and determine why it’s struggling to keep up with your desired comfort settings.
Odors in the Air
Odors in your air supply can also indicate a problem that you should never ignore. A musty odor may mean that moisture is present in the system and causing biological growth, which can make you sick. An electrical odor is concerning because your system may have a wiring issue. The smell of rotten eggs usually indicates a possible natural gas leak, which can create a dangerous situation that needs resolving. When you catch a whiff of something unpleasant in your air that doesn’t go away, don’t wait. Contact an HVAC professional to schedule an inspection.
Excess Dust
The quality of the air you breathe in your home can impact your overall health and well-being. When you have too much dust in the air, this can indicate that the air quality is suffering. Your HVAC system is responsible for maintaining a certain level of air quality. Failing to perform HVAC maintenance, including regularly changing the air filter, can cause poor IAQ. As a result, it’ll increase allergens in your home.
As part of a tune-up, a service technician will look at the components within the system to make sure they ‘e functioning correctly. This includes looking at the filter, which helps prevent contaminants from entering. If your filter clogs with dirt and debris, it can no longer work correctly, causing the indoor air quality to decrease. A dirty filter can also lessen the system’s efficiency, causing higher bills and discomfort.
Are you experiencing any of these issues with your heating and cooling system? Contact Berkeley Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule an HVAC maintenance service with our experienced service technicians by calling (843) 277-6030.
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