Imagine how much worse it would get, though, if you were to discover that in fact the HVAC unit is broken. That is one of my worst fears every time I go to turn on the heat or the air conditioning for the first time in a season, and you might be surprised by how often it does happen. As amazing as they are, they are a bit finicky, requiring a delicate touch and regular maintenance.
That being said, there is no denying that it is important to keep them in good shape. As you can see on pages like this one, https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/extremeheat/index.html, it is pretty important to prepare ourselves for the heat that comes in the summer. No matter what part of the country that you are in, it is something to think about.
What is an HVAC Unit?
Before we go any further, it is pretty important to understand what these are in the first place. The acronym stands for “heating,” “ventilation,” and “air conditioning” – so, a proper system will have all of those options, even if you use some more than the others. Typically, we refer to them as “central” heating and cooling methods because they extend through the whole home via a centralized mechanism.
This allows them to keep the temperature pretty much the same in every room, which is quite different from the air conditioners or heaters that are portable or in windows. With those, the space that is heated or cooled is quite concentrated, so it is less efficient.
When is Repair Required?
Obviously, these systems are pretty critical whether you’ve got hot weather, cold weather, or somewhere in between. Even the ventilation part of them can be a big deal for anyone with underlying health conditions such as asthma – breathing in dusty or stale air is a big no-no. When they break, as Temperge talks about on their site, it can be quite disruptive for our day-to-day lives.
Personally, the AC is always going to be a bigger issue for me – I cannot stand being hot. Sweat and I just do not get along. However, heat can be just as big of a problem, so keep that in mind. There are a few signs to watch for if you think your system might be acting up. Any puddles of water underneath it or nearby are probably a pretty big red flag, although most moisture build-up isn’t going to be good.
If you do notice something like that or other signals such as a rattling noise or that the temperature of the air it is blowing out is wrong, then it might be time to call someone in. That is where home service and repairs can come into play if you are not already familiar with them.
You can find some examples of home services and how they work on this page, though it is pretty simple. In this context, they are essentially private contractors that go to customers’ homes to inspect and fix any HVAC unit problems. Most of the time, you can call them first and get a consultation that will determine whether they will need to make a home visit. Sometimes, it won’t really be anything – but hey, better safe than sorry.
For something as critical as air quality and maintaining safe and comfortable temperatures indoors, I feel that applies even more than usual. While this might sound a bit silly, it’s pretty dangerous to go without proper cooling and heating systems during extreme temperatures. In a state like Florida or Ohio, for example, you might experience either side of that coin.
Heat strokes and frostbite often seem like far-away concepts that only happen to people in other parts of the world, but they’re plenty common here too. In my eyes, there’s nothing wrong with going the extra mile to protect ourselves against them, and if that involves having routine inspections of my HVAC unit, well – so be it!
Read more blog: 9 Services you can expect from residential plumbers