HVAC unit performance is one item many people notice while staying at home

As the COVID-19 outbreak has spread across the country, many Tennesseans have been spending more time at home due to self-quarantining or stay at home orders.

Many people have likely spent more time at home in the past couple of months than ever before.

All that time in your house has probably given you a pretty good indicator of how well your HVAC unit is working.

Urgent needs

There are several problems that could exist with your HVAC that would warrant you calling us immediately. These issues could include:

HVAC Unit not working at all. If your HVAC is not blowing hot or cold air at all, there could be a few problems we will need to examine in person. You may have blown a fuse or tripped a breaker or there could be an issue with your ductwork. One of our technicians can tell you exactly what the problem is.

HVAC Unit not turning off. The opposite of a unit not working at all, this problem can be just as frustrating. And there are also a number of reasons why this could be happening. We would need to inspect the unit to know for sure.

- Ignition issues. If your unit is not igniting, it could be because of a pilot problem or complete outage. There may also be a gas supply problem or a component that needs to be replaced. Because gas and electricity are involved, it’s best to have a technician inspect the issue.
- Bad thermostat. Sometimes we get calls from customers who think there’s an issue with the HVAC when it’s actually an issue with the thermostat. If you continue to have trouble setting or programming your thermostat, start by changing the batteries. If that doesn’t solve the problem, it’s probably time to give us a call.
- Noisy HVAC. If you’re hearing loud or odd noises coming from your HVAC unit, the squeals and rattles could be letting you know there’s a problem with the motor. We may need to fix or replace parts of the unit, and by doing so, we could extend its life. Waiting for repairs like these could lead to needing to replace the entire unit.

Water leaks. Depending on where your unit is located, this could be a minor annoyance or a major repair waiting to happen. In either case, water leaks should be addressed quickly. We can diagnose where they’re coming from and what’s causing them.

It’s important to note that our trained technicians are “essential employees.”

Critical trades such as construction workers, plumbers, electricians, exterminators, cleaning and janitorial staff, security staff, painters, movers, and any other employee who is providing services that are necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operation of residences are considered “essential.”

Our employees have always taken precautions to keep you and your family safe and we’re taking extra measures during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Seasons changing

Many people have commented about losing track of time while staying at home during COVID-19.

But do you realize we’ve even changed seasons since the beginning of the outbreak?

On March 21, about a week before Governor Bill Lee’s stay at home order, we officially shifted from winter to spring. As the sun has popped out and temperatures have increased in the past couple of weeks, many Tennesseans may have started turning on their air conditioning for the first time in 2020.

In years past, issues with air conditioning may not have been detected as early if you were at work during the day and coming home at night after the sun had set and the temperature had dropped.

But this year, if you’re having trouble making your home cooler, it’s going to be more noticeable if you’re home all day during the day. Customers who have been working from home during COVID-19 – especially ones piled into the house with spouses and children – are going to feel the heat. If that’s the case at your house, we’re here to help.

Spring cleaning

This is the time of year when folks normally do spring cleaning.

But if you’ve been stuck at home for the past two months and your house is a mess, we’re not judging. However, we do recommend that you do some spring cleaning for your HVAC unit.

Our air conditioning tune-up consists of a filter check, compressor performance, freon charge, all safety controls, test crankcase heater, operating pressure. We will also inspect condenser coil, evaporator coil, evaporator drain pan, condensate drain, blower, and clean if necessary. We’ll record superheat. We’ll lubricate all necessary parts. And, finally, we’ll clean and calibrate the thermostat.

While you’re at it, why not go ahead and sign up for our twice-annual system tune-ups so you’ll get another one when temperatures start to drop again and your turn on the heat?

Twice-annual system tune-ups:

Improve efficiency and reduce your energy bills by keeping your equipment running at optimum performance.

Extend the life of your equipment four to six years, or 25%, saving you money over the long run.

Result in your experiencing fewer costly repairs by diagnosing problems early, and giving you a chance to make less-costly interim repairs to keep your current system working.

Keep your unit under the manufacturer’s warranty terms.

In these uncertain times, you want to be sure you can count on your HVAC unit to keep you comfortable at home for months ahead.