Troubleshooting Your HVAC System

When your air conditioning or heating system begins to struggle in Harrisburg, PA, there’s a few checks to go through that may be able to restore comfort before you need to worry about scheduling professional service for your HVAC.

Basic Checks for Your HVAC in Harrisburg, PA

Check the Thermostat

Make sure your thermostat display isn’t blank or dim; if it is, try just installing new batteries. Then, confirm that the mode is set to heat or cool according to the season. Once that’s done, adjust the temperature at least three degrees beyond the current room reading and change the fan setting from continuous on to auto. After you make these adjustments, give the equipment five minutes to respond and listen for the blower or outdoor unit to start.

Is It Plugged In?

This question’s not just for computers! Open the main breaker panel in your house and find the switches marked for the furnace, air handler, or outdoor condenser. If any lever is in the middle or off position, push it fully to the off side and then back to on. Also locate the dedicated disconnect switch, which is often mounted on or near the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. These switches can get bumped during cleaning or yard work. Once power is restored, return to the thermostat and try the system again. A tripped breaker is actually one of the most common reasons a unit refuses to start, and resetting it takes only a moment.

Look at the Air Filter

Find the return air grille in a hallway or ceiling, or open the access door on the side of the furnace or air handler. Slide the existing filter out and hold it up to a bright light. If you can’t see any light passing through the media, or if the surface looks really gray, dusty, and packed, replace it with a new filter. A clogged filter restricts the volume of air the system can move, which causes the blower to work harder, which raises energy use, and finally often triggers safety switches that shut the equipment down. 

Check the Condenser Unit

This is the part of the system that sits outside, and sometimes yard work and weather can cause issues. Remove any leaves, grass clippings, or twigs that have collected around the base and sides and make sure there’s at least two feet of clear space on all sides so outdoor air can move freely across the coil. If the fins look dusty, rinse them gently with a garden hose on a low setting; never use a pressure washer.

Is There Any Ice?

Look for ice forming on the indoor coil or along the refrigerant lines. If you see some, switch the equipment off at the thermostat and allow any ice to melt completely before restarting it. Restricted airflow from a dirty filter is the most frequent cause of freezing, so the filter change you already performed will likely stop that from happening again. If it doesn’t, or the filter was clean, call for help as there’s a more serious issue that needs attention.  

If these steps don’t fix things, call W.C. Eshenaur & Son, Inc. right now at 717-236-5031 to request service. We proudly serve all the towns of Central PA.

Tags: hvac repair, hvac troubleshooting
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