An HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system is what keeps your home or business’s climate ideal throughout the year. In the Miami area, most people have air conditioners and aren’t as worried about heat, but many efficient HVAC systems are fully capable of heat and cooling.

Southern Florida has extremely warm, humid weather for the majority of the year, so a central AC system gets used excessively. This typically shortens the average lifespan of a system to around 10 years. You might get 15 years if you’re extremely lucky, but it’s not as common. It all comes down to how well your system is maintained and whether you can identify common issues in their earliest stages and get repairs made before serious damage occurs.

Nine Common HVAC Issues

Our expert technicians at All Year Cooling spend each week troubleshooting common HVAC issues. These nine culprits are the most likely to be to blame, and some of them are easy DIY projects.

1. Blower Motor Keeps Running

If your blower motor won’t stop running, it’s going to drive up electricity bills. This problem can be an issue with the thermostat, but it can also be a problem with the fan limit switch. 

One thing you can check is to make sure the fan setting on your HVAC system is on auto and not on. If it’s on “on,” it will continually run. If that setting is fine, you need to call an AC specialist to see if there’s a problem with the thermostat or if the fan limit switch is faulty.

2. Coolant Leaks

Are you noticing your system seems to be running, but it’s not cooling your home effectively? Have you noticed visible leaks of coolant inside or outside your home? Coolant leaks can happen and they need to be addressed. 

You might hear your AC making hissing noises, or your evaporator coils keep freezing up. If humidity levels inside your home are increasing, it’s another key sign of a coolant leak. 

Generally, the coolant within your AC system should last the lifespan of your AC system, but it’s not a certainty. Make sure you hire a professional HVAC technician to address coolant leaks. Coolant is a health hazard, and it can harm the environment. A professional is trained to address coolant leaks, clean the area, and fix the problem.

3. Dirty Coils

You should be using a hose to clean your outside coils of dirt, dust, pollen, grass, and other plant clippings a couple of times a year. If coils get too dirty, they’re not going to be able to properly release the heat being drawn from your interior air. 

This is a DIY project that won’t take you too much time. Remove the exterior case, spray off the coils, and put the case back on.

4. Duct Leaks

The ducts go throughout your home to bring cool or warm air from the HVAC system to the rest of your home. If there are holes or cracks in ducts, the conditioned air escapes into wall spaces, basements, crawlspaces, or attics. Your home’s climate isn’t going to be comfortable, and you’re wasting money on electricity.

Another concern with duct leaks is that rodents can get into the ducts. As air flows through them, you end up with the smell of rodent urine and feces particles traveling through your ducts and into your home. If the rodent dies in your ducts, it’s going to reek. 

Have your system cleaned each year and make sure duct inspections are part of the maintenance program. Check visible ducts yourself, and note when there are potential issues. If you’re seeing major problems, it may be time for duct cleaning and restoration. 

5. Electrical Issues

Several electrical issues can cause problems with an HVAC system. If your circuit breaker keeps tripping, something in your heating and cooling system is causing the circuit to overload. A tripped circuit breaker is a safety feature to prevent an electrical fire. Faulty wiring and faulty wiring are also common electrical issues.

While a tripped circuit breaker helps prevent fire, which is a good thing, the fact that something is overloading the circuit isn’t. Have an HVAC professional look into the situation and make the necessary repairs.

6. Old Air Filter

Of all of the problems you’ll encounter with an AC system, this one is the easiest to fix. Remove the air filter from your HVAC system and see if it’s dirty. If there is too much dirt, pet hair, and other allergens, air cannot flow through the ducts effectively. That means your system isn’t going to move warm or cool air around as well as it should.

Replacing an air filter is easy and doesn’t take much time at all. Keep a few extra filters on hand and replace them every couple of months or so. If you’re not sure what size is needed, look it up in your HVAC system’s owner’s manual.

7. Pilot/Ignition Issues

A pilot light issue is something to check if your heat isn’t working. It can be as simple as the thermocouple needs replacing, but it can also be low gas flow. Either way, a professional HVAC technician needs to address it. 

When a technician handles repairs to a pilot light or gas line, a test is performed to make sure there’s no gas leak and that carbon monoxide isn’t building up. These tests are essential to your safety, so don’t try to DIY pilot and ignition issues with your HVAC system.

8. Plugged Condensate Lines

A central AC system needs to release condensation from the drain pan to areas outside the home. A condensate line does this. But, if that line gets clogged with algae or dirt, it is going to allow water in the pan to build up and leak into your home. It’s not ideal and puts you at risk of indoor mold growth.

You can flush a condensate line yourself with a plunger or wet vac. After the blockage is clear and the line is draining, flush it with distilled vinegar. Do this every month or two to keep algae from building up. 

9. Thermostat Issue

A thermostat is a key component that tells your HVAC system when to turn on and when to shut off. You set the temperature and the thermostat and HVAC system work in tandem to keep your home at the desired temperature. If your home isn’t too hot or cold, it could be your thermostat. 

Check the setting first. If it’s not set right, you need to adjust it. If it is and it’s not the right temperature in your home, call a Florida HVAC technician.

Stop Stressing Out and Hire an Expert in AC Diagnostics and Repairs

An HVAC system is an investment, and it’s one you should protect. All Year Cooling has decades of expertise in maintaining, cleaning, and installing central AC systems. It’s our goal to make sure you’re cool and comfortable throughout the year. 

Ask us about our extended warranty coverage that provides you with peace of mind if something goes wrong. There’s no limit on the number of service calls you can request with the extended warranty. Ask us about it when you have us repair or install a new AC system.