Air Conditioning Repair & Safety | Plano, TX
HVAC Safety | Air Conditioning Repair Plano, TX
The safety of your home’s HVAC equipment is essential for protecting your home and family from the hazards of fire. The annual inspections provided by qualified HVAC technicians during maintenance not only keep them operating optimally for greater comfort and efficiency, they assist in maintaining HVAC safety. To identify and prevent malfunctions, HVAC equipment should be cleaned and tuned-up by an HVAC professional each year. This service will eliminate debris, and diagnose any malfunctions that could start fires, enabling heating and air conditioning repair in Plano, TX before a larger problem, or a fire can occur.
Gas furnaces should be inspected annually to ensure the safety of all components. Leaking fuel lines or cracks in the furnace’s heat exchanger can cause dangerous carbon monoxide gas to enter the home. Safety switches should be tested and combustion requirements checked to ensure the furnace is working safely. When problems are detected, timely heating and air conditioning repair in Plano, TX is essential.
Electric heating systems also require annual inspections. During a tune-up, the HVAC technician will check for loose electrical connections which can result in increased electrical use, and burnt wires. In addition to the inspection of wires and connections, safety switches and relays within the system will also be checked to ensure your safety. While fires in the system are relatively rare, prevention with routine maintenance, and heating and air conditioning repair in Plano, TX when required is the best policy for ensuring your family’s safety.
While you probably understand the association of heat with fires, you may find it surprising that the air conditioner can also cause fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are approximately 2,500 fires in the U.S. each year involving central and room air conditioners, compared to 500 fires per year for heat pumps.
The leading factor in residential air conditioning fires are mechanical or electrical failures. One-third of the fires began in the wire or cable insulation. Heavy use with a lack of routine maintenance can result in malfunctions of any type of system, with the potential for a fire to occur. Heavy use can also cause your air conditioning unit to overheat, especially when it is undersized for your home. Undersized HVAC systems are a common occurrence and underscore the importance of using a qualified and experienced HVAC contractor for heating and air conditioning installation, and heating and air conditioning repair in Plano, TX.
Furnace Odors and Fire Prevention
Dusty and Burnt Odors
Dusty, burnt odors are normal after the system has been unused for several months. The odor originates from accumulated dust and/or perhaps a little lubrication when the system is started up. It will often stop within an hour or so, but may persist for a few days. However, if the odor persists, it can indicate a larger issue requiring heating and air conditioning repair in Plano, TX and should be checked by a professional HVAC technician.
Natural Gas or Fuel Odor
If you detect the odor of rotten eggs, it is likely that you have a gas leak. If the odor is strong, leave your house, go to a neighbor’s home and call 911. Notify the gas utility company. They will turn off the gas supply and locate the source of the leak. If it is determined the leak is inside your furnace, a professional HVAC contractor will need to check it before you can use the furnace to ensure it is safe to operate.
Damp or Musty Odors
Homes can experience a buildup of mold inside ductwork or the equipment producing a musty, moldy odor. If the odor appears to be strongest at the registers, have the furnace and ducts inspected. During the summer, as the air conditioning coil extracts moisture in the air, a stopped up condensing drain, or a coil in need of professional cleaning, can result in excess moisture in the condensation pan, and an increase in moisture within the ducts, potentially resulting in mold formation.
Furthermore, an excess of condensate may result in water infiltrating electrical components, resulting in a short. If you note water running from the system on floors contact your technician for air conditioning repair in Plano, TX. Doing so can prevent damage to your home from water, as well as damage to components. An additional potential source of the odor can be ducts in need of sealing. This can result in the HVAC system drawing in odors from a crawlspace, attic or basement depending upon where the ducts are located.
Burning Wire Odor
The acrid odor of burning electrical wire can indicate a malfunction in the systems components, including wiring. If you detect electrical odors coming from the system, have your equipment inspected a.s.a.p. to prevent further issues and damage, and a potential fire. If you are familiar with the odor of electrical wire burning, shut off your system and call your technician for heating and air conditioning repair in Plano, TX.
Remember to change your filters as recommended, and schedule annual system maintenance and inspection to maintain peak operation and HVAC safety. When your HVAC system is experiencing a problem, contact Cypress Heating and Air Conditioning for quality heating and air conditioning repair in Plano, TX. Our certified and skilled technicians will identify the issue and provide the service necessary to ensure the proper operation and safety of your system. We serve Plano, Katy and the surrounding areas, and are a member of the BBB with an A+ rating.
