Are you having problems with your heating system? Larry Cook Heating and Cooling is the best HVAC repair company to call if you are located in the Wichita, Kansas metro area, including the cities of Andover, Bel Aire, Cheney, Derby, Goddard, Haysville, Kechi, Maize, Park City, Rose Hill, and Valley Center. In this article, we provide an extensive overview to help you troubleshoot your hvac problems in the event your heater stops working.
Most Common Issues with HVAC Systems
The majority of the HVAC problems that we see at Larry Cook Heating and Cooling can be avoided by customers scheduling regular furnace and air conditioner maintenance. For instance, a dirty coil or filter may seem harmless, but over time can wreak havoc on a heating and cooling system ultimately requiring significant HVAC repair or HVAC replacement. It is in your best interest to contact a reputable heating and cooling company to schedule regular HVAC maintenance to avoid small concerns turning into problems necessitating expensive repairs or replacements.
Below is a list of common HVAC problems and issues:
- Dirty air filters
- Faulty thermostats
- Pilot light or ignition issues
- Dirty condenser or evaporator coils
- Unusual noises coming from your HVAC system signaling furnace blower problems
- Mechanical wear and tear
- Water leaks
- Missing regular HVAC maintenance
Troubleshooting HVAC Problems
While we never recommend attempting to repair your HVAC system by yourself, we have created a list of common HVAC troubleshooting tips to help you identify the issue that your furnace may be having and easy tips that you can try before contacting Larry Cook Heating and Cooling.
Verify your HVAC System has Power
If your HVAC system is not supplying any heat to your home, start by verifying that your HVAC system is being supplied with power. It sounds obvious, but be sure your circuit breaker is on. If your heater stops working, it is possible that your breaker has flipped.
Install a New Filter in Your Furnace or Air Conditioner
Many people underestimate the importance of regularly changing HVAC air filters. Be sure to install a new filter to replace a dirty air filter in your furnace as part of your troubleshooting actions. Dirty air filters significantly impair airflow from a system’s vents. Additionally, dirty air filters contribute to poor air quality and inefficient HVAC systems.
Keep in mind that while you may be able to change the air filter on your HVAC system yourself, it is always best to hire a licensed professional to perform maintenance on your HVAC unit. An HVAC licensed professional will be able to spot potential issues during an air filter change and will know how to properly maintain an HVAC system to ensure it has the longest life-span possible.
Reset Your HVAC System
Nearly every HVAC system (furnace, air conditioner, ductless mini split, heat pump, etc.) can be reset easily. If your furnace is less than 30 years old, then the following steps explain how to reset your furnace. (Note: Different furnaces may require other steps to be properly reset. Always consult the manual associated with your furnace).
- Locate your furnace switch and turn the power to your furnace off. The furnace switch is typically located on the furnace itself. If your furnace switch is nowhere to be found, alternatively, you may turn off the circuit breaker associated with your furnace.
- Wait 30 seconds. Once your furnace has been turned off, wait approximately 30 seconds.
- Turn the furnace back on. After following the above steps, it’s time to turn your furnace back on. Locate your furnace switch again and turn the power on. If you turned off the power through the circuit breaker box, then switch the breaker back on.
Make Sure Your Furnace Door is Closed
If your heater stops working, take the time to check if your furnace door is open. The majority of furnaces have safety features that prevent a furnace fan from running when the furnace door is open. If your HVAC system isn’t producing any heat, try this tip: open up the furnace service door and then firmly shut the door. Ensure that the furnace door is shut tightly, and then try to turn on the furnace again.
Check Vents for Obstructions
If your heater stops working, check your vents for obstructions. While this tip may sound too easy, it’s important. It is possible that a vent in your home was shut accidently or covered by furniture inadvertently. We also recommend using a vacuum hose to clean off any dust, dirt, or lint that may have accumulated atop of your HVAC vents that could be obstructing air flow throughout your home.
Check for Thermostat Problems
While you are troubleshooting what the issue could be with your heater, make sure that your thermostat is working. The thermostat gauges the air temperature and tells the furnace whether or not to turn on. It’s an important piece of equipment! The first step in checking if your thermostat is operating properly is to ensure the thermostat has power. If your thermostat is battery operated, try changing the batteries.
Once you ensure that your thermostat is powered-up, the next step is to check your thermostat’s settings. It’s not uncommon to find a customer’s thermostat settings had been modified resulting in their furnace not turning on or simply turning on at the wrong time. Additionally, another tip that our customers find helpful when trying to determine whether their thermostat is faulty, is raising the thermostat’s temperature to a high-heat temperature to see if it causes the furnace to turn on. Keep in mind that there are many reasons a thermostat could be having problems, such as, but not limited to, loose wires, faulty anticipator, and dirt buildup.
If you think your thermostat may broken, you’ll be happy to hear that replacing a thermostat is a relatively inexpensive fix. Most thermostats cost less than $300.00 and allow incredible customization options to operate your HVAC system in an efficient manner.
Contact a Trustworthy HVAC Repair Company
HVAC installation, repair, troubleshooting, and maintenance is best performed by a professional licensed HVAC company. Hiring a reliable and trustworthy company will keep you safe, save you money, and give you peace of mind. Larry Cook Heating and Cooling is certified, with over 45 years of experience, and is able to service equipment of all makes and models. Our technicians receive on-going training and have the skills to troubleshoot and repair HVAC problems quickly and efficiently.
Also, hiring a licensed professional HVAC company like Larry Cook Heating and Cooling is the best option to ensure your own safety when your heater stops working. This is because systems contain complex electrical components and wires. If the electrical components and wires are not installed correctly, it could result in a dangerous fire. Don’t risk your safety if you aren’t trained to repair your HVAC system.
Hiring a licensed professional HVAC company will likely save you money in the long run. It’s important to contact a reputable HVAC company because hiring someone who isn’t competent to fix your furnace or air conditioner could result in safety issues as discussed above, or an HVAC system operating improperly and inefficiently, leading to higher energy bills.
Larry Cook Heating and Cooling is a licensed professional HVAC repair company, who can help you with all your HVAC troubleshooting. Additionally, Larry Cook Heating and Cooling is experienced in residential HVAC and commercial HVAC system repair.
24 Hour Emergency HVAC Repair
Larry Cook Heating and Cooling offers 24 hour HVAC repair. We understand how frustrating and scary it can be to have a furnace or air conditioner break down during extreme weather. You don’t need to wait until Monday to contact Larry Cook Heating and Cooling. The cost for our 24-hour hvac repair services will vary based the particular problem that you are having with your furnace or air conditioner. Larry Cook Heating and Cooling prides itself on high quality customer service and excellent work. Contact us to discuss your HVAC repair and installation needs. We look forward to serving you!