5 DIY HVAC Solutions for Everyday Cooling and Heating Problems
You can quickly find yourself in a costly and confusing situation if your HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and cooling) system malfunctions. Save yourself a potential headache and unexpected expenses by knowing how to take care of a few DIY HVAC solutions before you decide it’s time to call in a professional.
Today we share five of the most common HVAC issues that can usually be fixed by you with minimal expense.
1. Thermostat Won’t Work
Is your thermostat not responsive? Is there a total blank screen? There could be something wrong with the thermostat, but start with batteries first. Often overlooked, this could be the solution. Try this first before you spend money on a service visit.
If you have a programmable thermostat, the problem could be that the program is not set properly or a power outage or bad fuses caused it to turn off.
2. Reduced Air Quality or Extreme Energy Bills
Does your unit seem like it’s having to work extra hard, resulting in an obvious reduction in air quality? Are you paying a higher amount per month for energy? If you so, the fix may be as easy as changing your air filters.
When your filters are dirty or clogged, your unit has to work extra hard to circulate air. Regardless of the season, keep an eye on your filters to notice when they start to get dirty. As a rule of thumb, you can bet on replacing them about every two or three months, depending on your specific system and how many pets you have in your home.
3. Persistent Air Flow Issues
If you’ve already checked your air filter and your indoor air quality is still poor or you notice rooms aren’t heating or cooling consistently, you may need to increase air flow to your condenser unit. Locate the condensing unit outside and clear any debris that could be blocking air flow. You may need to remove weeds or vegetation that are too close to the condenser and keep a wide berth clear around the unit.
4. Signs of Mold
Living in North Texas, we deal with our fair share of humidity. And with humidity comes mold. Check for mold in your bathroom, ductwork, registers, evaporator coils, and drip pans. When you can’t see mold, you can often smell it: the strong mildew scent gives it away. If you have mold, that can spell trouble for indoor air quality, allergies, and other respiratory issues.
Tackle mild mold issues yourself with an effective mold cleaning solution or one made at home with household detergent, baking soda, borax, and bleach. Suit up with protective gear, turn off your unit, and scrub away. You’ll also want to apply a mold inhibitor once you’re done cleaning. For moldy areas greater than ten square feet, hire a professional.
We’ve shared a list of basic DIY HVAC solutions for everyday problems. If you feel your HVAC issues require more than these simple fixes, please call an HVAC professional as soon as possible. For more information on HVAC issues or to schedule a consultation, contact us today.
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Gorman Mechanical is interested in complete customer satisfaction and delivers on promises made. I have been completely satisfied with their integrity, honesty, customer loyalty, thoroughness and continued to follow up. I feel fortunate to have located their outstanding company among the many in the industry.
- Mark
Gorman Mechanical installed a brand new cooling and heating system in my home. The replacement unit was larger and more energy-efficient. Our house has never been cooler and our energy bill even went down…. I highly recommend them and their services.
- Thomas
I had an issue with my A/C unit not cooling properly. The technician, Stacy, arrived during the time frame I was given, and I received a phone call about 30 minutes prior to his arrival, letting me know he was on his way. He was very professional and conscientious in figuring out and explaining the issue to me. He work was complete in a little over an hour and my house is cool once again! I will definitely refer Gorman Mechanical to others.
- S.M.
A Gorman technician came over to set us up with a new A/C unit and he did a phenomenal job. He was very up front with any cost and got our install scheduled in one day. He did a great job at getting me the unit needed without running the price through the roof.
- Allen
I met with Gorman Mechanical’s Sales Manager. When he came out I had a bad taste in my mouth due to some misrepresentations made by another company that happened to be A rated on Angie’s List. Because of this I’m certain I was on the defensive and asked a million questions. He was very patient and took plenty of time answering all my questions. He was very knowledgeable and helped educate me on my options and the advantages/shortfalls of each. When I came to the actual bid, I felt it was very competitive compared to other bids I’d received. I felt so well informed and confident at that point I cancelled two other appointments I’d made for that day and signed up with Gorman Mechanical. He was able to promptly arrange a great deal on financing the bulk of the cost, leaving me to pay out of pocket for a couple last minute additions (extended warranty/Reme Halo). They did not want this until installation was complete. A couple days later they installed my new system and I’ve been very happy with it. Shortly after installation I had several other questions about maintenance and a small amount that was overcharged upon installation. He was very responsive answering my questions and arranging for a prompt refund check to be sent. Fortunately, it isn’t often that I need to spend so much money on an important purchase like this, but I felt very confident with my decision and going through the process with him and Gorman Mechanical made it painless. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Gorman Mechanical to friends and family.
- Rick
The repairman, Tim H., was prompt and courteous. I explained that he was a second opinion for our 21-year-old AC. The first company said that I would need 2 parts totaling $600 plus a coil that they would have to send a salesman out to quote me a price. Also first company was suggesting that I really needed whole new system. After inspection, Tim showed me how a part was wired the wrong way and he replaced a compactor and repaired a burnt wire. 2 lbs Freon were added. Total cost was retail: $217.75. I had a warranty so I paid less but what a difference in $600.00+ and $217.75! AC is working fine now. And we didn’t have to buy a new system. Thanks, Gorman Mechanical and Tim H.! The world needs more honest repairmen like you!
- Jeannie
