4 Signs You Need HVAC Repair

As a homeowner, you need to take care of your home to protect both your investment and the well-being of your family. A good rule of thumb from HGTV says to set aside as much as 3% of your home’s market price every year just for home maintenance and repairs.

A quick way to get a fair estimate of your home’s value is to look on such sites as Zillow.com, Trulia.com, Homefinder.com, Realtor.com, MLS.com, and Redfin.com. To use real numbers: in 2019, the median sale price of single-family homes in Massachusetts was roughly $400,000, according to the Massachusetts Association of Realtors.

Using this sale price as an example, Massachusetts homeowners should consider putting aside $12,000 annually for repairs and maintenance.

That figure may sound like a lot, but don’t underestimate how quickly it can all vanish if you have to replace a major appliance, like a gas furnace or central air conditioning system.

To help your home repair budget go further, here’s a list of 4 signs you need to call an HVAC repair technician.

1. Your energy bill soars.

Your energy bill inexplicably shooting through the roof is a sign you need HVAC service.

At the very least, a higher than usual energy bill could mean it’s time to change the air filter. Heat pumps and condensers work harder to move air through clogged filters, which ruins their efficiency. Dirty coils on an air conditioner will also make it work harder than necessary.

If you have a forced-air heating system, energy loss could be happening in your ductwork.

About 30%–40% of the air traveling through ducts leak, according to research by the Department of Energy. Sealing your ductwork can easily lower your energy bill by a lot.

During the winter, the general humidity is very low. How low? The moisture from your body is sucked up into the air, which is why you may suffer from dry skin, raw sinuses, and a parched throat, according to WebMD.

All those static shocks you get when you’re shuffling across your carpet in flannel socks is another sign of dry indoor air.

At the other end of the spectrum, when there’s not enough air flow in a building, moisture will build up and cause a mildewy smell. Although, you may not smell the mildew over the odor of food, perfume, and other stinks hanging around, you may find it growing if you look in the right places.

Poor humidity control can be a result of many problems, from failed equipment to inadequate air circulation. A free HVAC consultation with an indoor air quality expert should identify the problem and a solution.

Every reputable HVAC expert will tell you, a knocking sound that continuously goes while the furnace is running is a sign it needs a repair.

Most likely, the bearings are shot or the belt is cracked. However, a dirty burner and defective gas valve can also cause loud banging sounds.

It’s normal to hear some noise when your furnace or boiler kicks on. After that, you shouldn’t know it’s on.

The best deal:

When you can, subscribe to a preventative maintenance plan for your heating and cooling systems. The best service plans maintain the efficiency of your heating and cooling system, save you money on monthly utility bills, and extend the life of your existing equipment.

Looking to upgrade? Always check for money-saving rebates and incentives from Mass Save® and manufacturers