HVAC Repair Issues That Only Professionals Should Handle

Man working on air conditioning unit[/caption]To keep your HVAC system in solid working condition, it’s essential to have timely repairs and maintenance from a skilled professional. Armed with the right tools and preventative measures, you can often troubleshoot a wide range of issues yourself. Based on this, there are some problems with your HVAC system that only trained experts must handle. Here are the four common HVAC repair issues that require professional attention in your Bay Area home or business.

Pilot Light Goes Out

A pilot light is a small flame that constantly burns in the gas control valve on a gas furnace. This flame provides the ignition source for the main burner to ignite. It also acts as a safety feature by preventing the burner from creating an open flame when it's not supposed to be on.

The most common cause of a pilot light going out is when it runs out of fuel, but there are other reasons that this could happen, including fuel interruption and gas supply interruption. When this happens, the burner may cycle (turn on and off) repeatedly without igniting or maintaining ignition.

If you attempt to relight your pilot light yourself, you risk causing damage to your HVAC system. You could make things worse if you don't know what you're doing and there's more than one possible thing wrong with your system. Based on this, it's dangerous. Once ignited, a natural gas flame can reach temperatures up to 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit—if the gas is turned on while you're trying to fix things yourself and it's not working properly, it could cause a fire or explosion.

Out-of-Balance Blower Fan

Out-of-balance blower fans can be an annoying problem. Not only do they make noises that can be heard throughout your home, but the noise is actually a symptom of a more significant issue: the blower fan itself can become out-of-balance, causing it to wobble and vibrate as it runs.

This can cause the fan to wear down faster than normal, and if left unaddressed for too long, it could severely damage your HVAC system. While you may be tempted to save some money by trying to fix this problem yourself, the issue is more complex than you might think.

A skilled HVAC professional should be consulted to solve this issue, as an out-of-balance fan can cause damage to your unit and will likely cause you to spend more on your energy bills.

A Tripped Breaker

Tripped breakers are usually the result of inadequate wiring in the home or faulty HVAC components. Either way, the circuit breaker protects homeowners from electrical shocks—a common and very dangerous occurrence in homes with tripped breakers.

When a breaker trips, there is an overload on the circuit which has more current than it can safely handle. Overloading a circuit can cause a fire, so when a breaker trips, it's usually a safety mechanism to stop potential fires from starting in your home.

The last thing you want to do is just flip the breaker back on and hope for the best. Turning the breaker back on without addressing the underlying issue could result in another tripped breaker. This may lead to severe injury if you're not careful.

No Cold Air Blowing

Cold air can mean the difference between a comfortable indoor environment and one that's downright stifling. If you're experiencing poor airflow through your HVAC, it could be a sign of an issue with any number of components.

For example, if your air conditioning system is running but isn't cold, the most likely problem is that the condenser unit is clogged with dust or debris. If there's no air blowing through your vents, the problem could be with the wiring or ducting outside your house. These issues should be handled by professionals who've been properly trained in HVAC repair and maintenance.