Common Issues With Your HVAC Heating System During Winter

As the days get colder winter brings its own set of challenges for homeowners using HVAC systems. The last thing a homeowner wants is to have an HVAC system that is malfunctioning, heating unevenly, leaking heat, or not heating at all in freezing temperatures, which can not only be unconvertable or inconvenient, but can lead to potentially dangerous cold temperatures in your home. In this article we’ll explore some reasons your heating system is failing to work properly and how to fix it. 

Clogged Filters: If your filters are clogged and dirty there could be a blocking of airflow coming from the vent into the space. Some rooms may feel warmer than others, because the heat is being distributed to areas where airflow can actually pass through. In order to avoid this issue from occurring make sure you are changing/cleaning your filters regularly.

Ventilation: If there is a blockage/leakage anywhere in your ventilation system it could be limiting airflow to some spaces versus others. This also includes open and closed vents, leaking ductwork, or blocked ducts. To make sure air is flowing into each space check to see that each room has its air vents open letting heat in. If the problem persists there could be something wrong with the ventilation and ductwork itself. In this case contact your HVAC representatives to troubleshoot the problem and get heat running in each space again. 

Damaged Controls on Thermostat: In this case there could be bad readings on your thermostat. Your thermostat may be reading that the temperature is warmer than it actually is heating some areas less than others. Have your HVAC representative troubleshoot what the problem is to make sure there are accurate readings on your thermostat. 

System Short-Cycling: When your system is short-cycling that means that it is turning on and off too often before the heating cycle can actually be completed. This could be a sign that either there is something wrong with your HVAC system or there is a clog or leak somewhere within the system. If this persists even after checking your filters and ventilation then it may be time to contact your HVAC professional. The problem could be something mechanical or within the system that they can fix. 

No Heat: If your HVAC system isn’t heating at all this is cause for immediate concern. First, make sure that you’ve changed the temperature on your thermostat. Try lower and higher temperatures to see if it works. If not, the next step would be to check your circuit breaker. A simple fix could be resetting the circuit breaker, but make sure you turn off the system fully before doing so. If neither of those solutions work you will need to contact your HVAC representative immediately to troubleshoot and fix the problem. 

If you are having any of these issues, or just need your system serviced and prepped for the coming winter months contact us at Air-Mart AC & Heating. We will make sure that you and your family’s HVAC system is working properly for colder temperatures.