Minneapolis, MN, weather can run to extremes, from hot summer days to frigid, snowy winters and even blizzards, having your home or business’s HVAC working properly can make a huge difference in your enjoyment of your home, and the experience that your customers and clients have in your establishment.
Booking heating and air conditioning repair through Blue Ox Heating & Air, can keep your home toasty in the winter and cool in the summer. Preventative maintenance is important to reduce the chances of an emergencyHVAC repair when it’s least convenient.
Do I Need Heating and Air Conditioning Repair?
If your unit won’t turn on, or if it’s failing to adequately heat or cool your home, then it’s pretty obvious that you need HVAC repair. Catching problems during a preventative maintenance appointment or when you first notice something amiss can often prevent the need for emergency calls or a more expensive repair or replacement.
There are a few indicators that you’ll need to have heating and air conditioning repair, so if you notice any of these signs, give us a call. We’ll tell you about what each indicator means, and the process that we use to repair it, so you know what to expect.
Strange noises
A rattling or clanging noise in your HVAC unit often signals the need for a heating and air conditioning repair. Or, if you notice that either unit makes a roaring sound when it starts up, it could indicate that the motor is going. Rattles, groans, and buzzes are other unusual noises indicating a broken furnace, water heater, or air conditioning unit.
A whistling or screaming noise in the air conditioner usually means that there’s excess pressure or a refrigerant leak. These can be dangerous, so an immediate heating and air conditioner repair is needed, to prevent the unit from exploding.
When you book a heating and air conditioner repair service from Blue Ox, our techs will ask you to describe the noise. Then, we’ll turn on the HVAC unit and listen for the noise ourselves, determining where it’s coming from. Often, strange noises can indicate loose parts, although occasionally, such as a whistling air conditioner, the noise indicates something specific.
Squealing in the air conditioner means that either there’s a problem with the fan belt (for older units) or with the compressor (newer units). Both of these can lead to a more costly heating and air conditioning repair if you don’t nip it in the bud.
When we’ve established what’s causing noise, we’ll take apart the unit and repair or replace the loose parts. This may include checking the wiring of the unit or any ducts or pipes leading from it to your home.
Low heat or cooling levels
A furnace or radiator that isn’t producing adequate heat or an AC that doesn’t cool your home means that you need to schedule routine heating and air conditioner repair. For heaters, it may mean that your motor needs repair or that your ductwork needs cleaning.
Or, instead, you may notice that your house has hot and cold spots. This may indicate that your ductwork is loose, which is simple heating and air conditioner repair. A more serious issue that results in uneven heating and cooling can indicate that the appliance’s motor is wearing out or that a damaged fan is causing uneven air transfer. Professional heating and air conditioner repair is needed regardless of the cause, and an inspection of the unit can help avoid a complete motor replacement.
You’ll be asked about the age of your unit and any heating and air conditioning repair you’ve needed with it before. Sometimes, especially in older homes, the team at Blue Ox simply can’t do a heating and air conditioner repair, meaning that you’ll have to replace a unit that’s just too worn out to safely fix.
However, for many units, we’ll recommend getting a new filter and cleaning your ducts. Or, you may need the fan replaced, to help circulate air in both a heater and AC unit. For air conditioners, not producing enough cold air may mean that you need more coolant or that one of your vents is blocking the intake, which doesn’t allow the air conditioner to produce cool air. These are fairly simple heating and air conditioning repair fixes and should be part of regular preventative maintenance.
Lower airflow
A blockage in the system or a problem with the fan in an HVAC unit results in lower airflow. This can be a simple heating and air conditioner repair, but one that should be taken care of quickly. If the blockage is allowed to persist, it makes the motor and all of the parts of the unit work harder, which can cause parts to break.
Dirty filters in the furnace create friction in the unit that restricts airflow. A dirty filter is thicker, which makes the furnace work harder to pull the correct amount of air. Over time, things like pollen, textile and carpet fibers, dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, bacteria, and tobacco smoke can clog the filter. Regular cleaning helps with the airflow but neglecting it causes the motor to work harder. This can damage the motor and the fan, which results in a complete shutdown of the unit. If this happens, you’ll need an emergency heating and air conditioning repair.
When you notice low airflow, call us right away. The longer you delay heating and air conditioner repair, the greater the chance that your entire unit will break. The techs at Blue Ox in Minneapolis, MN, will advise the correct course of action, from simply cleaning and removing the blockages in the ducts to a lengthier heating and air conditioning repair.
Short-cycling
Every HVAC unit runs in cycles to maintain the temperature you sent in your house and prevent the unit from running 24-7 and wearing out too soon. However, shorter cycling periods can overtax your motor and pieces of your furnace or air conditioner, as starting and stopping uses more energy. Excessive fits and starts with your unit wearing it out faster.
Many Minneapolis, MN, homeowners may not understand how long the cycling lasts for their unit. Your professional technician can educate you about what to expect from your particular HVAC brand. Or, you may suddenly notice that the unit is turning off and on a lot more than usual.
There are a few things that can contribute to an air conditioner or furnace short cycling. At Blue Ox, we’ll examine each of these components to make sure that we can fix the problem in your home, and to ensure that we haven’t overlooked two or more things contributing to your problems.
A faulty thermostat may cause your HVAC unit to short cycle, turning off prematurely because the thermostat is inaccurate. The thermostat itself may be broken, and therefore incorrectly reading the temperatures in the home. Other times, the thermostat may be positioned incorrectly in the home, somewhere that is drafty or direct sunlight, and therefore giving an inaccurate reading. Repairing or moving the thermostat is a fairly straightforward heating and air conditioner repair.
Another reason for short cycling is refrigerant leaks. Preventative maintenance can usually catch issues with the coolant before it becomes an emergency heating and air conditioner repair. However, low refrigerant levels are an immediate threat to the compressor itself, which can turn into an emergency heating and air conditioning repair.
Finally, a clogged air filter reduces the amount of airflow to the AC unit itself. This, in turn, means that the evaporator coil won’t absorb the proper amount of heat and will shut down early. Air filters should be cleaned once a month in the summer.
Your tech will check each of these things to ensure that your home is heating and cooling to the proper temperature.
Unit not starting
Nothing ruins a hot summer day in Minneapolis, MN, like an air conditioner that won’t turn on. Or worse, a heater that won’t start on a cold winter’s day. Causes for these can vary from the simple to the need for an emergency heating and air conditioner repair. However, common causes don’t always mean a fast fix. If your AC unit or furnace won’t turn on at all, it’s important to have a heating and air conditioning repair right away, both for your comfort and to ensure that the unit doesn’t cause damage to the house or have to be replaced completely.
Wiring issues are one of the most common heating and air conditioning repair issues, especially for older homes. Restarting an appliance that won’t turn on may be as simple as checking your breaker box and then scheduling a follow-up with an electrician or Blue Ox tech. However, don’t try to fix an electrical problem yourself. A certified repair professional will be able to determine whether the issue lies with the unit’s wiring or the wiring in your home, and make the correct recommendations.
Icy buildup on the AC unit’s condenser coils keeps the unit from turning on. In these cases, the unit needs to be thawed and all ice and extra condensation removed before it can be safely turned back on. While it may be tempting to simply unplug the unit yourself, it’s better to call for a heating and air conditioner repair in order to protect the safety of yourself and your home.
The motor itself may be worn out and in need of replacement or a heating and air conditioning repair. The repairman will check the motor and all the parts and will either fix it or recommend you replace the entire motor or the unit. For older HVAC appliances, often replacing them may be more cost-efficient, both in terms of saving energy costs and reducing the need for additional service calls as the unit continues to wear out.
Keeping the compressor clean can prolong the life of your HVAC unit and reduce the need for emergency heating and air conditioning repair. Cleaning the compressor is part of the preventative maintenance packages from Blue Ox Heating & Air of Minneapolis, MN, and can help ensure that you don’t have emergency repairs from a faulty compressor. But, simply cleaning the compressor won’t make it last forever, and if it wears out, it needs to be replaced.
We’ve talked about how low levels of refrigerant can cause a variety of problems with your AC unit, and here’s yet another one: your unit will stop working entirely. Checking coolant levels in the spring is essential, and for hot Minneapolis, MN summers, having a midsummer check and top-off helps you keep your home cool throughout the season.
Finally, the unit may not turn on due to a faulty thermostat. If you think this is the issue, you can test it yourself by turning on the air conditioner from the main unit itself. If it manually turns on, then you’ll need to call a professional repair or replace it.
The Importance of Preventative Maintenance For HVAC
You can avoid many costly repairs by scheduling regular preventative maintenance for your heating unit and air conditioner. Preventative maintenance and tune-ups, including winterizing your applicants and ensuring that you get your lines flushed and coolant refilled can help keep your unit running smoothly.
Preventative maintenance also reduces the chances of an expensive heating and air conditioning repair. Small repairs can be easily fixed, and your tech can tell you when larger parts, including the motor, show signs of wear, allowing you to place for replacing the unit or budgeting for a more costly repair. However, preventative maintenance helps you plan for these contingencies, instead of facing an immediate need for heating and air conditioning repair.
Book Your Service Today!
The team at Blue Ox Heating & Air in the Minneapolis, MN area is available around the clock for emergency heating and air conditioning repair, so if you’re in a pinch, call our emergency line. We’re also certified to work on all major brands for general fixes, with professional, certified technicians that are licensed and bonded. Visit us online for more information.
