5 Troubleshooting Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

Whether you are a new homeowner or aren’t sure what to look for when your unit stops, don’t worry, we have you covered. The most common reason an HVAC unit stops running is lack of maintenance, so let’s go through our five troubleshooting tips for every homeowner show know, but when all else fails, give Pronto Service Pros a call.

Is your thermostat blinking ‘Cool,’ but nothing is happening?

HVAC units usually take 5-10 minutes to cycle the Freon and start pushing cool air into your home. That is the signal that is telling your condenser to turn on. If the condenser is not kicking on, it may be an activated float switch. Your float switch activates when there is water in your condensate line, and it will turn off the power to your condenser so you don’t have any more condensation building up in your condensate line, which can cause water damage to your home.

Occasionally, these float switches can malfunction, which shut off your condenser even though there is no water present in your condensate line. The vibration may have triggered it. On the other hand, it may have gone bad over time and will not trigger when there is water in the line and cause it to overflow and cause a water leak. This is why routine maintenance is vital for detecting early signs of parts reaching their expiration.

My system is not coming on, and my thermostat is blank (no power)?

First, check your breaker box. The lighting may have tripped the breaker because we are in Florida, and storms are frequent during the summer. If the breaker is tripped, it will turn off power to the entire system, including your thermostat.

Does your thermostat require batteries? Occasionally with older systems, your thermostat may require batteries. It’s effortless to pop off the thermostat from the wall and check the back to see if that is the case. The thermostat is wired directly to a power source with newer systems, not requiring batteries.

My unit is running, but it seems like it’s not cooling during the day as it does at night?

Two components can cause this. First is sometimes, you will not realize that your condenser is actually turning off even though your air handler is running. Right before your condensate line is about to be clogged, the condensation will fill that line and activate the float switch. It will continue to drain until the float switch deactivates but like before, once the unit starts running and the condensation builds again, your float switch will activate mid-cycle and stop the cooling process. Because there is less heat entering the home at night, your unit is not running as frequently, so your float switch may not activate. Maintenance will ensure this line is clear year-round.

Second, it could be your attic insulation. Over time, it can deflate and cause the warm air to sneak into the home, and the ductwork exposed to the heat can cause air temperatures to fluctuate between rooms. Keeping your attic R-Value high will not only keep the heat out of your home but protect your ductwork from the extreme heat in your attic.

My home and surfaces are getting dusty quickly?

The rule of thumb is to replace your air filter monthly. If this is prolonged, it can cause dust buildup on your air handler coil and be costly to clean if untreated. It can cause more dust, germs, and pollen to circulate in your home, which is not ideal for allergies.

Another cause can be an air duct issue. If you have any leaks or damage in your ductwork, you could be letting dust and debris from the attic be blown into your home. This can also cause condensation on the duct to build up and develop a mold. We can find these leaks early on during routine maintenance and fix them before it becomes a major problem.

Know when to call in the Service Pros.

Troubleshooting problems with your HVAC system can sometimes be simple, but often it is better to leave it up to the professionals. If the cause of a problem is unclear or the fix is complicated, it’s time to call in the Service Pros. Many problems with furnaces, AC units, and heat pumps require extensive training to fix, and trying to do it yourself could lead to damage and even voided warranties.

We hope that these 5 HVAC troubleshooting tips for homeowners help you. Pronto voids the service call fee with any repair. Day or night, if you need a repair or maintenance to get it back up and running, we will void the service call. This ensures you know that you are in good hands, saves you money and time.

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