If your AC is running but the air coming out of the vents isn’t cold, low refrigerant is one of the most common causes. Unlike a bad capacitor or contactor that you can swap out yourself, refrigerant work requires an EPA-certified technician. But knowing the signs helps you avoid getting overcharged for a misdiagnosis. The…
That gray metal box on the wall next to your outdoor AC unit is called the disconnect box, and it’s one of the most important safety devices in your HVAC system. Before you do any work on your air conditioner — even something as simple as cleaning the coils — you need to know how…
Your furnace has a built-in safety device called a pressure switch that verifies the inducer motor is pulling combustion gases out of the heat exchanger before the burners light. If the pressure switch doesn’t close, the furnace locks out and won’t fire — even though everything else seems fine. This is one of the most…
Your outdoor AC unit pulls air through aluminum fins to release heat from the refrigerant. Over time, those fins collect dirt, grass clippings, cottonwood fluff, and other debris that acts like a blanket — trapping heat inside the system and forcing your compressor to work overtime. A dirty condenser coil is one of the most…