8 HVAC Troubleshooting Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

Tech in blue shirt shows homeowning couple HVAC troubleshooting tips in their home.

Knowledge is power–especially when it comes to home maintenance. Having a general understanding of the HVAC systems in your home can help you identify easy-to-fix problems and avoid unnecessary service calls. In this blog, RJ Heating and Air Conditioning shares some simple HVAC troubleshooting tips you can use to help solve some basic heating and cooling issues. If you find you need more help, please give us a call so we can further assist you.

HVAC Troubleshooting Tips for Air Conditioners and Furnaces

An inefficient air conditioner or furnace is a major inconvenience. Sometimes, you can’t avoid repair or replacement, but there are some troubleshooting steps you can use take to help boost your home comfort:

    1. Check the batteries in your thermostat. Sometimes, the problem isn’t with your heating or cooling system–it’s with the point of control.
    2. Make sure the temperature settings on your thermostat haven’t been changed accidentally. This can happen if children play with the thermostat or buttons are accidentally pressed during normal use.
    3. Check your air filters and replace them if they are dirty. Clogged filters can keep the cool or warm air from circulating through your home. They can even force your system to shut down if they get extremely dirty. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself, you can call an HVAC technician from RJ Heating to take care of this for you. They can also inspect your system for related issues.
    4. Check for a tripped breaker or blown fuse. You can also flip the breaker and wait a few seconds before trying to turn it on again.
    5. Make sure your system is set to “cool” when running the air, and “heat” when running the heat. It sounds simple, but sometimes we can miss the overly obvious problems!
    6. Ensure the fan in your system is set to “on” instead of “auto.”
    7. Check all outside vents. If your furnace can’t vent properly, it will stop running. Remove any leaves or snow covering the exhaust pipe and see if air returns.
    8. Set your thermostat three degrees above or below the current room temperature to test your system’s operation. Your heat or air conditioning won’t turn on if your thermostat is set to the same temperature as the air in the room.

Still Need Help?

If you’ve tried a few of these HVAC troubleshooting tips and find you’re still having problems, it’s time to call in the Carrier® experts at RJ Heating. Find out why greater Milwaukee area families have been counting on our honest service for 45 years. Call us or schedule an appointment online.