4 Tips for Avoiding an HVAC Emergency in Chino Hills, CA

No one wants to deal with the surprise and hassle of a sudden and unexpected HVAC emergency. While it’s unfortunately impossible to avoid all HVAC-related mishaps, there are things that you can do to keep them from taking you by surprise. Here are four things that homeowners in Chino Hills, CA, can do to avert an HVAC emergency:

Never Skip HVAC Maintenance

HVAC industry professionals repeatedly emphasize the need to provide heating and air conditioning systems with regular rounds of maintenance. Tuneups can resolve minor issues, like loose screws and unreliable electrical connections, but they have another purpose that’s much more important. They can detect latent problems with your HVAC system, allowing you to formulate plans to set things right before matters become too dire.

For example, suppose that during a maintenance review, our team of comfort advisors discovers that your AC system’s compressor has incurred some minor damage. Perhaps the damage isn’t significant enough to noticeably disrupt your system’s performance, generate annoying noises or do anything else that would have any immediately negative impact on your daily life. Nevertheless, without preventive action, the problem may fester into something much greater and possibly force your system to break down completely at some unforeseeable future moment.

Having uncovered an issue that you otherwise would have been unlikely to spot, our comfort advisors can fix things. If our advisors had not noticed the problem in its early stages, it would have been much more difficult, costly and time-consuming for you to deal with it. In fact, a lack of maintenance may ultimately force you to prematurely replace your HVAC system.

Periodic maintenance can also maintain your system’s efficiency for a longer time, bring down your energy bills, extend your system’s overall service life and preserve your manufacturer’s warranty. If these things don’t persuade you of the importance of regular tuneups, remember the maxim that an ounce of prevention can be worth a pound of cure. We recommend signing up for HVAC maintenance either once or twice per year.

Clean/Change Your Filters

To do effective work, HVAC systems critically rely upon the continued existence of smooth airflow. Your HVAC system’s filters serve the essential function of cleaning the air that passes through them, but if too much debris happens to gather on their meshes, they can end up hindering airflow. As airflow drops, virtually all aspects of HVAC performance will drop with it.

Furthermore, if treated air cannot reach the rooms of your home, your thermostat may misguidedly force your HVAC system to work even harder. As a result, your HVAC system may overheat, damage its own components and possibly even stop working. This is why it’s crucial for you to replace or clean your HVAC filters regularly.

Keep Your Ears and Nose Open

When something goes wrong with your HVAC system, it may start emitting strange noises or smells. These sounds and odors will vary depending on the exact nature of the problem.

For example, you may hear rattling, hissing, banging, whistling, popping or grinding sounds. You may also smell ether, sulfur, dirty socks, burning dust, smoke or rotten eggs. Schedule a repair right away to avoid a serious HVAC emergency.

Be Mindful of Your HVAC System’s Age

On average, if it receives the proper care, a standard central HVAC system should function effectively for about 15 or 20 years. Air-source heat pumps typically last for about 15 years, while geothermal ones may remain in good working order for as long as 25 years. Ductless mini-splits, like their traditional ducted counterparts, also have average service lives of 15-20 years.

You should always remember the figure that corresponds to the type of HVAC system you have. Even though some systems may last longer than their respective averages and others may collapse sooner, you can be sure that, as your system ages, the probability that it will experience serious malfunctions will increase. If you want to avoid crippling HVAC emergencies, consider replacing your system as it comes to the end of its respective average lifespan.

With enough knowledge and awareness, you can sidestep a major HVAC emergency in Chino Hills, CA. For help, call Metz Air Control to ask for our HVAC services, including comprehensive maintenance and long-lasting repairs.

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