HVAC Inspection Checklist – Common Problems with Your HVAC System

Would you like to know what you should look for when inspecting your HVAC system? Fortunately, you can follow a checklist that includes all the necessary inspection steps to be done that can uncover potential problems with the heating and air conditioning system.

In general, a HVAC inspection checklist provides a list of the most common problems that can develop with your system and suggestions to prevent those issues from even happening. In addition, you can get a professional to inspect your system by contacting the HVAC services in Spokane for assistance.

What are the benefits of a regular inspection of your HVAC system?

Regular inspections of the HVAC unit are necessary to prevent problems that can develop over time or detect malfunctioning parts. Often when minor issues are not fixed promptly, they can cause severe damage to the system.

Here are the things you can avoid by doing regular inspections:

• Prevent significant damages to the system
• Prevent accidents and fire hazards
• Reduce the number of repairs
• Make your system last longer
• Keep your energy bill as low as possible
• Improve air quality

Routine maintenance is essential to prevent dangerous accidents such as fires or explosions. However, in the long run, you can save a huge amount of money by not paying for costly repairs or getting an entirely new system.

But, most importantly, you can keep your system up to standards during hot summers and cold winters and enjoy a comfortable home temperature.

Inspections of the HVAC unit should not be done only when there are visible problems with the system but should be done before summer and before winter regardless. But, if you spot unusual signs, a full inspection can locate the source of the problem.

Here are some of the things that could signal you the need for a full inspection:

• Higher utility bills
• Inconsistent heating or cooling
• Bad odors
• Constant cycling of the system
• Humidity in the house
• The system is old and needs checking

What are the most common problems an HVAC system inspection can uncover?

During an inspection executed following a checklist, different problems can surface. However, some of them are very common issues, such as dirty filters, thermostat problems, and dirty coils.

Here are some of the most common problems you can expect to find:

1.   Water leakage

Water leaks are annoying and can create additional damage to the HVAC unit and the house. However, sometimes you do not see leaks. An inspection can uncover them so that actions can be taken to seal them.

2.   Problems with air filters

Possibly this is the most common problem. So often, homeowners forget to change filters regularly, and they accumulate so much dirt to become clogged.

If that happens, the airflow can be blocked, making the HVAC unit inefficient and working harder to meet the temperature established by the thermostat. In addition, with dirty filters, the system has to run longer to cool the house, and its part wears out faster.

3.   Dirty coils

While cleaning the filters can be done quickly by a homeowner, cleaning the coils is more complex. But dirty coils can reduce the efficiency of the HVAC system significantly since it is responsible for releasing hot air outside.

4.   Thermostat malfunctions

It can take some time for you to figure out that the thermostat is not functioning correctly without a proper inspection. Meanwhile, your system could run excessively, increasing energy consumption and overworking its mechanical parts.

A proper inspection can find out what the problem is. It could be as simple as changing the batteries, internal cleaning, or as severe as the need to replace the thermostat.

5.   Ignition problems

An inspection can detect ignition problems, such as a burner’s delayed ignition, due to a dirty pilot or defective flame sensor. This situation can create short cycling and a furnace lockout.

However, the ignition components can deteriorate and need to be replaced over time. An inspection can locate which parts are too worn out for replacement. In addition, the pilot can also pose a problem if gas leaks out of the furnace, and it is not easy to spot for untrained people.

6.   Unusual sounds and noises coming from the furnace

HVAC systems are not silent and can produce some noises when running. However, when there are unusual noises, it signifies the presence of a non-optimal situation.

Unusual noises can be caused by different things, such as a problem with the fan blade or loose pieces of the system banging together. The fan blade can bend when coming in contact with nearby elements, so loose parts can get damaged when bumping into each other.

7.    Normal wear and tear

After time and usage, any HVAC system will wear out, and before you replace the entire system because of old age, you may have to replace some of its parts. When the efficiency of the HVAC system lowers, an inspection can reveal if there is any part of it that needs to be replaced.

The problems you can experience due to the system usage are poor heating, overheating, or issues with the airflow.

8.   Tripped breakers

When the blower is overworking, the furnace can trip a circuit breaker. Also, a blower may need to work too much if something is blocking airflow from getting to the system. Typically, this happens when there are dirty filters impeding air from getting through.

But it can also be due to a malfunction of the circuit breaker. In both instances, a technician has to replace the broken circuit. 

Conclusion

Using a checklist to inspect your HVAC system can uncover many situations requiring attention that otherwise remain unresolved and can create even more damage over time. But, a complete inspection of the system requires technical skills to determine if something is wrong with some mechanical parts or electrical circuits.

If you need assistance to get your system inspected and have a professional come and do a full inspection, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Photo by Taylor Vick on Unsplash