HVAC Frequently Asked Questions

Do You Need HVAC service?

Questions to Ask Yourself

Please read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to see if any pertain to your situation. The information contained in each cause and/or solution is for informational purposes only. Do not use FAQ information as an instructional guide or training aid.

Does my house need surge protection for the HVAC system?
When the HVAC did not have any PC boards the surge protection was not needed, but when manufacturers started using electronics, this requires protection against lightning. Most manufacturers use some form of electronics on modern HVAC equipment.

I moved into a new home and the HVAC does not work right, What should I do?
Most new construction warranties only have 1 year, so don?t put off complaints. If the builder does not respond within a timely manner, then be firm and tell him you will initiate a law suit against poor workmanship. This will usually get his attention. If you file in a small claims court, it may take several years, but unless the contractor is almost out of business, he will not want to waste time in court. If you wish to advertize his short commings, get legal help first. If you slander his reputation, you could cause other problems. Ask for completion documents signed by the various contractors, to insure you don?t pay twice for the same work. This is where many people make mistakes in self contractiog. It will eliminate problems if you hire proper supervision in construction projects. Most contracts that contractors use are not very good for the customer. I regularly used open ended statements and vague terms to prevent lawsuits.

I was told that I need to replace my evaporator coil because it has a leak, Is this normal
For lazy technician's maybe, but to say replace the coil, when the leak is on a fitting, is sloppy work. Most coils can be repaired. If multiple leaks or advisories to replace are known, the reasons may offer a solution to replace the coil. If under warrantee, then replace. If replacing the coil, try to match the coil to get the best SEER available. Most technicians will not want to do this, because they don?t know how to do the SEER comparison.

My air-conditioning stopped cooling, what can I do?
A lot of problems with air conditioning are caused by dirt. Dirty outside coil can cause the head pressure to go high. On a hot day the Freon can burst a hole in the system, cause a compressor to fail, cause an electrical breaker to trip then fail. Keep the outside coils as clean as possible. Keep plants from growing against the finned area, keep the exhaust pathway free of obstructions. The inside coil is another story. A dirty inside coil can cause the coil to Ice over and the flow of air is reduced. When this happens the ice gets thicker and the air eventually stops completely. The major cause of dirty inside coils is not changing the filter often enough. To clean an inside coil is a dirty time consuming job. I have heard of cleaning jobs that cost more than the labor for new installation of equipment. Even for the most diligent customer, the coils will need cleaning occasionally. In my home for example, we cleaned the coils after 15 years. The coils were dirty. I re-examined them 7 years later and they were clean. The system is 33 years old now and I should probably examine the coils again, even though I am careful to change the filters on a regular schedule.