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Central heat

Why Is My Central Heater Blowing Cold Air

March 14, 2022/0 Comments/in HVAC /by BJ Johnson

Imagine coming home from work and all you wanted to do was sit on the couch and cozy up to a good book. It is cold outside and getting out of the elements and getting warm has been your top priority. You click on your furnace and head for the couch. After reading through the first five pages of your favorite book, you begin to realize, the furnace is not working properly. No warm air is circulating through the vents. Instead, you reach for the vent and notice that cold air is blowing through your system! As if it wasn’t already cold enough from the outside weather. Why is my central heater blowing cold air? The pilot light is out, your filter is dirty, or the thermostat isn’t working.

Those are all possible reasons for cold air to be blowing through your central heater. Let’s take a look below at some more details regarding why your central heater is blowing cold air.

What Is Central Heating

Simply put, central heating is the ability for your heating system that is associated with your HVAC unit to blow warm air throughout your entire home. Many homes that were built over fifty years ago were done so without any central heating or cooling elements.

Thermostat issues can cause the central heater to blow cold air.

Why Does This Happen

Understanding how your central heat and central air work in your home is an important first step to understanding why your central heater could be blowing cold air. Let’s look at a list of reasons as to how this might happen.

  • Thermostat Issues – anytime your thermostat is set incorrectly, it causes the furnace to blow cold air. Check the thermostat. Do not forget to switch your device to the heat position. Make sure that the unit is set on the “Auto” position and not the “On” position. This ensures that the fan isn’t continuously running when the unit is off. Keeping the unit on “Auto” ensures the fan and the furnace come on at the same time. This saves money and stress as you worry about the heat in colder months.
  • Furnace Takes A While To Heat Up – keep in mind that just because you have turned the furnace on does not mean hot air blows out immediately. Just like any mechanical device, it takes time for your furnace to heat up. If you don’t have warm air blowing through your vents after waiting 15 minutes, then you could have an issue.
  • Dirty Furnace Filter – a dirty air filter can stop the airflow over your furnace’s heat exchanger. If this happens your emergency shut down switch will kick on and turn off the system. This prevents your system from over-heating and will not create heated air.
  • Pilot Light Is Out – if the pilot light is out on your gas furnace, there is nothing to heat the gas that is flowing through your heater. Most newer models do not require a pilot light. However, if you have a gas heater in your home, you will have a pilot light that will use natural gas supply or propane gas supply to warm your heating cycle.
  • Overheating – if your heating unit is overheating, there is a safety feature switch that shuts down your furnace and air conditioner. This is built-in to prevent fire, explosion, or even carbon monoxide gas exposure.
Dirty air filter
Dirty air filter

How Does It Overheat

Unfortunately, just about every electrical or mechanical invention has the potential to overheat. How they are built can determine if the damage is severe or if safety measures are installed to prevent damage. The three main reasons for a system to overheat are as follows:

  • Old Age – most furnaces last about 10 to 15 years. As the heating elements in your system get old, parts begin to decline in their performance. If you do not perform regular maintenance, your system will fail a lot faster.
  • Mechanical Fails – furnaces have many moving parts. Once they begin to malfunction, issues will arise. If your furnace isn’t working properly, it will begin to blow cold air and start to overheat. The emergency switch will shut off the furnace to save it from further damage and destruction.
  • Dirt Build-up – if your filter gets clogged for any reason, the heater will blow cold air. A dirty filter prevents the air from passing over the heat exchanger. This can cause the system to overheat and start a shutdown.

What Does It Cost

Getting your furnace or any portion of your HVAC system repaired is never fun and never cheap. The national average for AC repair costs could range from $200 to $750. This varies based on labor and materials needed and whether the unit is under any warranty. Homes with multiple HVAC units could see their repairs go beyond $2,500. The average HVAC technician charges $90 to $150 per hour for labor on your central HVAC unit.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Spring is right around the corner so this is a great time to have maintenance done on the HVAC unit. You will want to do things such as clean around the unit, replace the filter, clean around the condensing unit, and clean the condensation line. Also, adjusting the thermostat is a good idea, depending on where you live.

Take a look around the HVAC unit and if there is water, there may be a few reasons for this. It can be there is a clogged condensate line, refrigerant is low, a drip pan is broken, dirty air filter, or broken condensate pump.

Finally, while the furnace is being inspected, make sure that the entire HVAC system is inspected and serviced. Check the HVAC system.  This should be done twice a year. If you want to avoid any additional expensive repairs, stay on top of your maintenance recommendations. HVAC systems can give you 10-15 years of quality output. However, in Florida, the longevity of an HVAC system is decreased in coastal areas due to salty air.

Furnace issues.
Furnace issues.

When Do I Call A Professional

Anytime you are experiencing issues with your HVAC system, it is best to call on a professional. Understanding the ways your system heats and cools your home can be difficult. There are so many working parts associated with your HVAC system. When areas of your system begin to malfunction, there are only a few ways a homeowner can troubleshoot the system. Otherwise, a professional HVAC company is necessary to ensure that all parts are working properly. It is also recommended that you call on your local home inspection team. Not only can they inspect your HVAC system, but they can inspect other areas of your home that could contribute to faulty HVAC operations.

Conclusion

Reaching out to your local HVAC service company as well as your local home inspection company allows you to ensure that any issues with your HVAC unit are taken care of. Aside from replacing your HVAC unit’s filter in your air handler unit and checking to see if the pilot light is working on your furnace, there aren’t too many other areas that you can manage as a homeowner. At this time, it is in your best interest to call on the professionals.

Not only can your local home inspection team complete a full home inspection, but they can also refer the most reputable HVAC service company in your area. This can save you time and money. You might end up with multiple projects that need completion and without the inspection, you would not otherwise be made aware of those additional projects.  Contact Inside and Out Property Inspectors in Jacksonville, FL, and surrounding areas to get your home inspection done today.

https://insideandoutpropertyinspectors.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/central_heat_25.jpeg 917 1375 BJ Johnson https://d39oyu4lp7snwz.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2019/08/31171419/io-favicon-300x300.png BJ Johnson2022-03-14 19:46:412022-03-14 19:46:48Why Is My Central Heater Blowing Cold Air
HVAC Damper

Where Are HVAC Dampers Located

December 21, 2021/0 Comments/in HVAC /by BJ Johnson

Sitting around the house and you begin to realize that the air flow doesn’t seem right. The cooler months are coming and you want to ensure that heat is able to circulate properly throughout the home. There are a couple of ways to ensure that heat is flowing throughout the home. If you have a fireplace, that is a great start to create some heat energy for your main room of the home. Turning up the thermostat to a higher temperature also allows you to have heat in the home.

What if you have a second level and the airflow is struggling to warm the upstairs? You are likely to need to make an adjustment to your HVAC system. Having dampers in your system allows you to cut off the airflow so that the natural heat rises and warms your upstairs. Where are HVAC dampers located? They are located a few feet from the base of the unit, on every air duct run, and away from the air handler.

Let’s take a look below at some more details regarding dampers.

HVAC dampers

What Are Dampers

Dampers are typically found in older HVAC units. Currently, HVAC contractors save money by leaving out the damper option in new construction. Dampers are put into an HVAC unit system in order to change the flow of air through each room of the home. These allow you to adjust the hot or cold airflow so that you can concentrate the air to one area of the home. Presently, there are electronic options to control the damper system from your temperature control unit on the wall. It might be a good idea to upgrade your system by having an electronic control option installed.

An example of an HVAC damper.

Where Do I Find A Damper

The most standard dampers are found a few feet from the base of the HVAC unit. As you enter your crawl space or air handler unit in a closet, you notice the main connections to the trunk of the HVAC unit. Most homes with a second level will have dampers in their HVAC system. Check your air duct runs as they flow away from the main unit. You should be able to determine if there are dampers located in each run of ductwork. Furthermore, make sure to have your home inspection company check the system thoroughly during a home inspection.

How Much Do They Cost

Fortunately, if you have a system in place that is lacking a damper option, you can have some installed into your current system. The cost is relatively inexpensive. You are looking at a part cost of roughly $200 and a professional installation cost of around $500.

Other Recommended Maintenance

While you are searching for your air dampers, another reason for your airflow to change could be insulation. Making sure that all areas of your home are properly insulated is very important. Check the garage to ensure it is insulated properly. If you aren’t sure about the garage insulation, read up on some of your options. You would be surprised at the change in airflow with a simple insulation upgrade.

Another area where heat or cool air can escape is your roof. Since you are having a home inspection conducted to find your dampers, you should also get a roof inspection done at the same time. This saves time and money and extra potential repair headaches. Additionally, take a look at the roof inspection checklist at least once a year. For example, in Florida, it is best to do this after hurricane season.

Finally, while the dampers are being located, make sure that the entire HVAC system is inspected and serviced. Check the HVAC system.  This should be done twice a year to ensure the integrity of the system is maintained. Most HVAC systems give you 10-15 years, however, in Florida, the life expectancy will be decreased in coastal areas and salty air.

When Do I Call A Professional

Although it might seem easy to adjust a damper on your HVAC unit by yourself. You might want to consider calling out a professional HVAC company. Heating and cooling can be finicky business and if the system is not installed properly, you might end up doing more damage than good. Simply closing off one of the dampers is not the best solution.

Before you go and commit to adjusting or changing the dampers in your system, call on a professional HVAC contractor. In addition, they can tell you if you even have dampers in your system. Not all HVAC systems have dampers. Save yourself time and energy and call a professional.

Conclusion

Calling on your local HVAC unit service company and home inspection services allows you to locate all dampers in your HVAC unit. Although, it is fairly easy for you to walk around your attic and identify if there are dampers it is recommended to call on professionals. Your home inspection team can recommend a quality HVAC service company to come out and install dampers as needed. This helps protect the airflow of your home. Check out our home inspection services in the Jacksonville, Area!

https://insideandoutpropertyinspectors.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/hvac-duct-scaled.jpeg 1042 2560 BJ Johnson https://d39oyu4lp7snwz.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2019/08/31171419/io-favicon-300x300.png BJ Johnson2021-12-21 17:48:302021-12-21 17:48:36Where Are HVAC Dampers Located
HVAC unit

How Long Do HVAC Systems Last

July 30, 2021/0 Comments/in HVAC /by BJ Johnson

HVAC systems are a necessity in the home, no matter if you live in a warm or cold climate. It can be very expensive to replace a unit so keeping up with the maintenance is important. However, the HVAC, like all things, has a lifespan and there may come a time in which you try to repair it to find out that you actually need to replace it.

How long do HVAC systems last? About 10-15 years but it also depends on the climate in which you live, especially if you are in a coastal town, if chemicals are used in the home, and how the HVAC unit is maintained. It is expensive to replace so do what you can to get the most out of the unit.

Let’s take a look at the HVAC system and signs that you may need to replace the unit or repair, the lifespan of various HVAC units, and maintenance to keep your HVAC working.

Signs Replacing Is Needed

HVAC is Close to 10 Years Old or Older

A typical HVAC unit should last you 10 years of longer. However, this is not always the case. If you fail to maintain your HVAC unit with yearly maintenance, then it is likely that your units lifespan will fail you. The lifespan of an HVAC unit is predicated on the local weather conditions and how much time you invest into maintaining your basic system needs.

Do you change the AC filters on a regular basis, or even suck out the drain lines on your AC unit? Have you called a professional for yearly maintenance on the unit? All of the answers to these questions will determine the lifespan of your HVAC unit.

air conditioner repair

Breaks Down Frequently

The most common reason for your AC unit to break down is lack of yearly maintenance. A licensed professional will be able to inspect and identify any troubling situations that might arise prior to the summer months. However, if your HVAC unit is breaking down even after the maintenance schedule, it is a cause for concern. At this point, frequent repairs might be in order. This is way better than a full unit replacement. However, you should start preparing for a replacement unit just in case.

Electric Bill Has Gone Up….A Lot

Should you notice a dramatic change in your electric bill, you will want to check a few things first. Higher energy bills are often a cause for alarm that your air conditioner is getting old. It may mean that it cannot keep up with the demands of the inside and outside weather conditions.

Efficiency and malfunctions are the two main causes for your energy bill to rise. If the energy bill has gone up on more than two occasions, it is definitely recommended that you look into the functionality of your system.

Your A/C Unit Uses R22 Freon

Just in case you were not aware, the use of Freon in an AC unit has been discontinued in the U.S. as of January 1, 2020. What this means for you is if you have an older AC unit that requires a Freon boost in order to maintain proper working conditions, this might cause you to replace the unit. Also, because there is very little R22 available, it is very expensive. Newer models use 410A and don’t need to worry about R22.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are huge negative effects to using Freon in the environment. With that being said, it is highly recommended that any person that owns a location with an AC unit that requires Freon should start saving for an AC replacement.

Here is a video about when to repair or replace the system

Replace or Repair?

A professional can tell you if you are wasting your money on the repairs or if the unit is close to the end of its lifespan. It costs between $3,000- $12,000 to replace an HVAC system. It will depend on the size of your home as to the size of the unit you need. Also, if you are seeing the technician often, think about the amount of money you are spending.

You may be surprised that by buying a new unit you will save money in the end because it will run better and you don’t need to have an AC company on speed dial. Of course, find out if you need a simple repair. A technician can help you figure out the best route to go, especially if the system is still “young” and has years left.

furnace is part of the HVAC system

Lifespan of Different HVAC Systems

Furnace

The life expectancy of your furnace is 15-25 years. This is predicated on the proper yearly maintenance of your furnace. A furnace is typically replaced when the heat exchanger starts leaking. Oil furnaces will cause a bigger problem after 10-15 years, if they aren’t maintained properly as well.

Heat Pump

Your typical heat pump can last you 10-20 years, depending upon the amount of time that you use it. In order to maintain its functionality, it is important to maintain the capability of providing heating and cooling each year. It’s also highly possible that a heat pump that is located in the coastal areas will suffer an earlier breakdown due to the salt air and weather conditions.

Boiler is part of the HVAC system

Boiler

Your boiler is typically only replaced when the heat exchanger is leaking. Most boilers will last 20-35 years.

An HVAC that needs replacing

Air Conditioner

The air conditioner will typically last you 15 to 20 years depending upon your maintenance schedule. The issue with your AC unit is typically when the compressor fails or the condenser develops corrosion and begins to leak. Unfortunately, in more coastal areas, the AC units begin to fail at a faster rate due to weather conditions and salt air.

However, if you live on the beach in Florida, it may last only 5 years!

Factors That Affect the Life of the HVAC

Air conditioner freezes up – if this happens, it may be due to lack of airflow, broken or crushed duct, dust on the coils, or low refrigerant to name a few.

Blower Motor – this can go bad if you hear strange sounds, there is overheating, or weak airflow. You will want to call a professional if there are any issues.

Replace the air filter

Maintenance of the HVAC

Replace the Air Filter – you will need to replace the air filter every 1 -3 months depending on the environment in your home. This means, if you have dogs, or someone who smokes, you may need to change it every month. If you don’t, you may be able to do it every 3 months. Take a look at it each month and if it starts to look clogged, it may be time to replace the filter.

Clean Around the Unit – make sure grass and plants are not growing into the unit. This can cause the unit to break down.

Condensation Line Needs Cleaning Out – You can do this every month: Add ¼ cup vinegar to the drain.  Next, let it sit for 30 minutes, flush it out and it should clear.  This will allow it to kill harmful bacteria, sludge, mold, and algae.

Adjust the Thermostat– always keep the temperature inside the home cooler than it is outside the home.

Other Areas for Maintenance

Attic

You want to help keep your home cool so the HVAC systems don’t have to work as hard in the summer. One way to do this is to keep the attic cool. Keeping the attic cool can be done by having enough insulation in the home, light color shingles, sealing cracks, and shade landscaping to name a few.

When to Call a Professional

It is imperative that you call a professional to check on your HVAC unit when you hear strange noises. It is recommended that you also utilize a professional HVAC service at least twice a year to do maintenance and a system checkup. Failing to do your yearly maintenance can cause the system to break down and cost you a lot of money in the long run.

Conclusion

The HVAC systems in a home are the most vital parts of you living comfortably in the heat and cold weather conditions. Although most HVAC systems last 10 to 15 years, it is important for a homeowner to maintain the system. It is far more costly to neglect the HVAC system in a home, and much smarter to maintain and save money on a yearly basis. Inside and Out Property Inspectors will check your HVAC unit during a home inspection in Jacksonville and St. Augustine, FL.

https://insideandoutpropertyinspectors.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/HVAC-unit-scaled.jpeg 1887 2560 BJ Johnson https://d39oyu4lp7snwz.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2019/08/31171419/io-favicon-300x300.png BJ Johnson2021-07-30 02:14:302021-07-30 02:14:31How Long Do HVAC Systems Last

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