As a manager of commercial or residential buildings in NYC, you probably are all too familiar with the stress and aggravation that follows a major HVAC system breakdown. By troubleshooting HVAC problems quickly, you can get the system back up and running sooner and avoid the wrath of tenants.
Let’s take a look at troubleshooting HVAC tips that can help you identify the causes of some common problems and possibly prevent expensive repair bills.
Troubleshooting HVAC problems in NYC buildings
1. AC or heat won’t turn on
If your air conditioning or heat fail to turn on, the problem could be simple and not require a visit from a repair technician.
If the AC won’t turn on, check your circuit breaker box. The lack of power could mean a blown use or tripped circuit breaker. It might just be a matter of resetting the circuit breaker or replacing the bad fuse.
Learn more: Tips for Troubleshooting AC Electrical Problems
If your heat won’t turn on, it could also mean your gas is turned off. Check your gas valve at the meter installed by your gas company, and check the shutoff valve at the furnace. If the gas is shut off at the meter, contact the gas company to turn it back on.
Learn more: Heat Pump Troubleshooting: 3 Common Problems & Solutions
2. Thermostat issues
If the air conditioning or heat won’t turn on or is cycling on and off too frequently, the thermostat may not be calibrated correctly. A recalibration or a replacement of the thermostat may be needed.
An easy-to-fix and often overlooked thermostat issue involves its location relative to heat-generating appliances. Heat from electrical devices such as computers, appliances and lighting can affect the operation of the air conditioning system. The thermostat detects heat from these devices and keeps the AC running longer. Moving the thermostat away from heat sources can solve the problem.
If your air conditioning or heat seem to be running non-stop, you may be losing heated and cooled air through leaky windows. Poor seals allow hot air inside in the summer or cold air inside in the winter. Resealing can solve the problem.
3. Dirty or blocked registers
If the space is heated and cooled by a forced air system, dirty vents can block hot and cold air flow. Vacuum the registers regularly to remove dust. Also make sure airflow is not blocked by furniture located in front of the vents.
4. Clogged filters
Replacing air conditioning filters regularly is a simple way to prevent air conditioning problems. Poor air flow affects comfort conditions and can also lead to equipment breakdowns. Clogged filters can also cause air quality issues and health symptoms.
Learn more: Why and How to Change an HVAC Air Filter
5. Frozen evaporator coils
An air conditioner’s evaporator coil is responsible for removing heat from the space. Coils can get grimy and prevent that from happening. If it does, you end up with warm air or no air from the air conditioner supply registers. To avoid freezing coils, make sure your AC technician regularly cleans evaporator coils.
Learn more: AC Troubleshooting: FROZEN HVAC System? Don’t “Let it Go!”
6. Grimy condenser coils
The condenser coil, located in the outdoor unit (or in a mechanical room), discharges the heat removed from the inside air by releasing it outside the building. When the condenser coil gets caked in dirt and debris, it can’t release enough heat. The air conditioner will cycle on more frequently and at longer intervals in its attempt to reach set temperatures. So, if the air conditioner rarely cycles off, check the condenser coils because a good cleaning might be overdue.
Learn more: AC Losing Its Cool? Try Air Conditioning Coil Cleaning
7. Leaky ducts
Over time, AC and heating ducts can develop holes and tears due to rodents or inattentive workers. If there’s a rip in the ducts, the conditioned air will escape inside the walls and cause reduced air flow and performance. An HVAC technician can repair the holes or replace duct sections if needed.
8. Clogged drainage
If you see dripping water near an HVAC unit, it could mean a clogged condensate drain line or pan. It’s critical to address the problem immediately to avoid damage to both the HVAC system and the building’s walls, floors, ceilings, and furnishings.
HVAC units are designed to remove moisture from the space through a drain line into a pan, which funnels the water into a drain. If there’s a clog and the pan overflows, the water will back up and damage the system. Clearing the clog is a relatively easy fix for your HVAC technician.
9. AC blowing warm or furnace blowing cold
If you notice your AC is blowing warm air, a depleted refrigerant level could be at fault. If the refrigerant level is low, it usually means the system has one or more leaks. Don’t try to deal handle refrigerant on your own: call in an HVAC expert to check levels and fix refrigerant leaks.
If the furnace is blowing cold, there are quite a few possible causes. Read this to learn more: Furnace Blowing Cold? 13 Common Causes
How HVAC preventative maintenance helps
HVAC preventative maintenance keeps your climate control systems in peak condition so they operate reliably. Just about all the issues described here can be prevented with regular AC and heating maintenance. Here’s what technicians typically do at each visit:
Spring and summer commercial HVAC preventative maintenance checklist:
- Replace filters on cooling equipment
- Check electrical connections
- Check belts and pulleys and replace if necessary
- Clean condenser and evaporator coils
- Check refrigerant charge and inspect for leaks if charge is low
- Clear drain pans and lines
- Check fan and blower motor operation
- Check thermostat and other controls for proper operation
- Lubricate motors, bearings and other moving parts
- Check for adequate air flow
Fall commercial HVAC preventative maintenance checklist:
- Replace filters on heating unit
- Check conditions of belts and pulleys and replace as needed
- Check electrical connections
- Clear drain lines and pans
- Check fan and blower motor operation
- Inspect ignition and burner assembly
- Lubricate motors, bearings and other moving parts
- Check thermostat and other controls for proper operation
- Inspect heat exchanger
Learn what you stand to gain by getting a commercial or residential preventative maintenance agreement with Arista.
