What is it doing?
Common HVAC Problems in Savannah Homes
Most people arrive describing a symptom, not naming a repair. Start from what you can see or hear and we will tell you what it usually means, what is safe to check yourself, and what needs a technician.
Stop and get out first if:
- · You smell gas, or rotten eggs, anywhere in the house
- · You see smoke, or smell burning from the system
- · A carbon monoxide alarm is sounding
Leave the building, and call the gas utility or 911 from outside before you call us. Do not switch anything on or off on your way out. Once everyone is safe, we are here around the clock.
(912) 858-3737Cooling problems
Air conditioner not cooling, not starting, freezing up, leaking or making noise.
AC running but not cooling
An air conditioner can run without cooling properly when airflow is restricted, the indoor coil has frozen, a component has failed, or the refrigerant charge is low because of a leak.
What this usually meansAC won't turn on
When an air conditioner won't turn on at all, the cause is usually power, the thermostat, a safety switch that has shut the system off (often a full condensate drain), or a failed electrical component such as a capacitor or contactor.
What this usually meansAC frozen / iced up
Ice on an air conditioner's copper lines or indoor coil almost always means the coil is getting too cold — usually because airflow across it is restricted, or because the refrigerant charge is low from a leak.
What this usually meansAC leaking water
An air conditioner leaking water indoors is usually a blocked condensate drain, an overflowing or cracked drain pan, or a frozen coil melting.
What this usually meansOutdoor unit not running
If the indoor fan is blowing but the outdoor unit isn't running, the house gets moving air without cooling.
What this usually meansAC making a noise
A new noise from an air conditioner usually points to a specific part.
What this usually means
Heating problems
Furnace or heat pump not heating, blowing cold air, cycling or running up the bill.
Furnace won't turn on or light
A gas furnace that won't light is most often a worn igniter, a dirty flame sensor, a clogged filter tripping a safety limit, or a thermostat or power problem.
What this usually meansFurnace blowing cold air
A furnace blowing cold air is often a thermostat set to fan On rather than Auto, a furnace that has shut its burners off on a safety limit, or an ignition problem.
What this usually meansFurnace turning on and off
A furnace that runs for a few minutes, shuts off and restarts over and over is short cycling.
What this usually meansHeat pump not heating
A heat pump that runs but doesn't heat well may have a thermostat set incorrectly, a dirty filter, an iced-up outdoor coil, a low refrigerant charge, or a reversing valve or defrost problem.
What this usually meansHeat pump iced up or stuck in defrost
In cold, damp weather a heat pump's outdoor coil collects frost, and the system runs a defrost cycle to melt it — steam and a few minutes of cooler indoor air are normal.
What this usually meansAux heat always on / high winter bill
Auxiliary heat is the backup — usually electric resistance — that helps a heat pump in very cold weather or during defrost.
What this usually means
Humidity, airflow & energy bills
The system runs, but the house feels damp, some rooms never keep up, or the bill jumped.
House feels humid or damp
A house can feel damp with the AC running when the system cools the air without running long enough to pull moisture out — most often because it's oversized — or because humid air is getting in through leaky ducts, ventilation or poor exhaust.
What this usually meansSome rooms too hot or cold
When one room or a whole floor stays hotter or colder than the rest, the equipment is often fine — the problem is getting air to that space.
What this usually meansPower bill suddenly higher
Heating and cooling are usually the largest share of a home's electricity use, so a sudden jump in the bill often points to the HVAC system running longer or harder than it should.
What this usually means
Not on the list?
These are the calls we take most often, not everything that can go wrong. If what your system is doing is not here, describe it to us — you do not need the right words for it, and a technician will work out the rest on site.