As temperatures begin to drop in Salem, Oregon, your HVAC system will likely be receiving significant use once the cold snap hits. That’s why ensuring it’s working at peak performance levels is vital. There’s nothing worse than having your HVAC break down in the height of winter, so enlisting the help of an HVAC repair team to provide you with seasonal maintenance is essential.
As one of today’s leading HVAC contractors in Salem and Keizer, Oregon, Melton’s Heating & Air Conditioning has collected some tips to solve one of the most common HVAC issues, a refrigerant leak.
What are the Risks of an HVAC Coolant Leak?
When you have a coolant leak, your HVAC system will continue running but cease cooling your home, meaning it’s a massive drain on energy. One of the reasons why it’s so essential to repair a leak ASAP is because, in addition to impacting your comfort, it can also be fatal if inhaled and harm the environment.
How to Detect Leaks
Although one of the most common and easily identified areas of refrigerant leaks is in your HVAC’s evaporator coils, they also occur elsewhere. Unfortunately, even with proper maintenance, your HVAC system can still fall victim to leaks.
Here are a few tips to help you identify leaks throughout your system:
Using Ultraviolet (UV) Dye: Special UV light can help you identify leaks. An expert will add some UV reactive dye to the refrigerant of your HVAC system, then run the light over your HVAC system to see if any of the dye appears on its exterior.
Soap Bubbles: Applying soapy water to suspected leak areas is another way to determine when you may have a refrigerant leak on your hands. The soapy water will bubble up and help you identify any pinhole leaks.
Electronic Leak Detectors: For those who want to detect a coolant leak without a shadow of a doubt, using an electronic leak detector that’s been well-calibrated will deliver the highest degree of accuracy.
Contact us if you suspect your HVAC system has a leak.
With winter right around the corner, having an HVAC system that’s running at peak performance levels is key. That’s why hiring HVAC contractors to perform a seasonal inspection is always recommended. As one of today’s leading HVAC repair teams in the Salem and Keizer, Oregon area, the team from Melton’s Heating & Air Conditioning wants to help you identify when your heating and cooling system requires maintenance.
Here, we’ve collected five of the most common noises that will call for professional maintenance and repairs.
1. Popping
If you hear popping sounds coming from your HVAC system when you turn it on or off, it’s merely due to your ductwork, not a problem with your system. If the sound is becoming a distraction, installing rubber or foam insulation in your ducts will minimize it.
2. Thumping, Clanking, or Banging
Often, these types of noises are an indication that all is not well with your HVAC. These noises are every day when there’s a problem with its blower assembly, so turn off your HVAC before the problem grows out of control and contact an HVAC contractor ASAP!
3. Frequent Clicking
A recurring clicking noise coming from your outside compressor or control panel often signifies there’s a problem. It usually indicates a disruption in your system’s relay, so monitor it and if it doesn’t go away, contact a professional.
4. Hissing
A loud hissing noise likely means there’s a leak somewhere inside your HVAC system or in your home’s air ducts. Leaking ducts can cause spikes in energy costs, clogged air filters, and reduced HVAC efficiency. Fixing such an issue can call for specialized expertise, so it’s always best to contact an HVAC contractor for assistance.
5. Rumbling
An issue most often causes this type of noise with your system’s burner. Over time, soot and dirt can build up on your HVAC’s burners, restricting airflow and causing a rumbling sound. You can clean the burners yourself by turning off the power to your system and vacuuming or dusting them, or contact a professional to do the job.
Contact us today for more about HVAC maintenance and repair services.
When your heat pump stops working in the middle of winter, you need a solution fast. Thankfully, the heat pump repair team at Melton’s Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc has created the following guide for troubleshooting common heat pump problems so you can get your heating system back up and running for the coldest season of the year.
4 Ways To Fix Your Heat Pump
1. Reset The Circuit Breaker
Before calling a heat pump repair mechanic, check to see if your home or office’s circuit breaker has been tripped. The blower motor could’ve caused a power surge, resulting in a tripped circuit breaker and the deactivation of your heating system. Reset the switch to see if this restores power.
2. Check the Thermostat
Next, go to your heating and cooling system’s thermostat to ensure that it hasn’t been tampered with. If you’re not sure where to start, review the thermostat’s documentation and make sure it’s set according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. When in doubt, contact a professional heat pump repair service.
3. Inspect the Outdoor Unit
After checking your circuit breaker and thermostat, you’ll want to inspect the outdoor components of your heat pump. During the summer and fall, it’s not uncommon for leaves or grass to block airflow on your unit’s intake vent. During winter months, snow or ice can accumulate on the system, and actually prevent the heat pump from working altogether. By removing yard debris, snow, and ice, you will allow your heat pump to absorb air and convert it into heat in the interior component of your heating system.
4. Check the Indoor Components
The last step to DIY heat pump repair to take before calling a professional is to inspect the parts of the system on the interior of your home or office. Start with the air filter. Even if there’s only a thin layer of dirt and grime, this can prevent your pump from properly functioning, so you should change it. Then, spend some time inspecting your ducts and the inside part of the heat pump for leaks of air or refrigerant, respectively. For air leaks, you will need to secure your ductwork, or consider installing a ductless heat pump system; for refrigerant leaks, you’ll need to figure out where the leak is occurring, patch it, and then refill the refrigerant.
Get Affordable Heat Pump Repair
Contact our heat pump repair team at Melton’s Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. in Salem and Keizer, Oregon today to learn more about heating system maintenance.
