If the HVAC system in your Sioux City, IA home is overheating, it will eventually shut itself down. Emergency shutdowns prevent blower motors from burning out and protect homeowners and their families from potentially dangerous operating conditions. Although your HVAC system might cycle back on once cooled, it will continue to turn off until you’ve found and fixed the underlying problem. The following are some common reasons HVAC systems overheat.
Dirty Air Filters
Dirty air filters are among the most common causes of HVAC overheating. All the air that enters your HVAC system must pass through this component. When air filters have thick, lint-like mats of accumulated debris, furnaces, heat pumps, and air conditioners must work harder to move air. This extra effort increases operational stress and raises operating temperatures.
If your HVAC system is overheating, the first thing to check is its air filter. Turn your HVAC system off and take its filter out. Then, hold it up to the overhead light. In theory, when light can no longer pass through the mesh, air cannot pass through it either.
To avoid filter-related overheating in the future, inspect your air filter once each month. Homeowners should perform replacements every 30 to 90 days as needed.
Electrical Malfunctions
Your HVAC system could have worn wiring, a faulty circuit, or a bad capacitor. Fluctuations in voltage and other electrical problems can create excess heat on their own, but they can also force HVAC equipment to work harder. If you have problems with overheating and experience frequent circuit breaker trips, you should call a professional. Troubleshooting or fixing electrical problems on your own could cause serious or even fatal electric shock.
AC and Heat Pump Capacitor Failure
At times, heat pumps and air conditioners draw more electricity than residential electrical systems can supply at once. To overcome this deficiency, they have run and start capacitors. These components harness and store electricity. At startup and throughout heating and cooling cycles, capacitors give HVAC systems the boosts they need.
If your heat pump or AC has a faulty capacitor, it might attempt to draw too much power from your electrical system. This can cause overheating, short-cycling, and repeated circuit breaker trips.
Have a licensed HVAC company replace your faulty capacitor. You also have the option of upgrading from separate run and start capacitors to a dual capacitor. Dual capacitors perform both jobs, allow for more efficient motor operation, and simplify future replacements.
Dirty Coils or Dirty Furnace Heat Exchangers
Heat pumps and air conditioners alter indoor temperatures by transferring heat. They facilitate heat transfer by pumping refrigerant to and from their evaporator and condenser coils. During cooling, cold refrigerant in an evaporator coil extracts heat and moisture from warm indoor air. Refrigerant then rushes to the outdoor condenser to shed its heat as a hot, high-pressure gas.
Heavy buildups on evaporator and condenser coils impede heat transfer. ACs and heat pumps can have a harder time collecting and releasing heat, and their coils could ice over. Icing places stress on system compressors that eventually increases operating temperatures. The best way to avoid dirty coils is by scheduling pre-season maintenance for all HVAC equipment types.
How Dirty Heat Exchangers Cause Overheating
If your HVAC system overheats while using your furnace, it may have a dirty heat exchanger. Dirty heat exchangers inhibit airflow and prevent heat from dissipating. When furnace burners and heat exchangers overheat, furnaces shut down as a preventative safety measure.
Refrigerant Leaks
AC and heat pump refrigerant leaks can cause overheating as well. As refrigerant levels decline, compressors have an increasingly hard time pressurizing and depressurizing it. This extra effort could cause compressors to collapse or fail. If you believe that overheating is due to refrigerant loss, schedule HVAC repairs right away.
A Blocked Condensate Drain
Heat pumps, air conditioners, and condensing furnaces regulate both heat and humidity. After these appliances extract excess moisture from indoor air, they condense it and route it down their condensate drains.
The constantly warm and wet conditions of HVAC condensate drains are ideal for mold, mildew, bacteria, and algae. When homeowners skip routine maintenance, these and other growths can flourish.
Blocked condensate drains impede ongoing humidity extraction. They also add humidity to the indoor air and inhibit airflow. Together, these things can lead to frozen evaporator coils or overheated heat exchangers.
You can keep your condensate drain free of blockages by scheduling annual tune-ups for all humidity-regulating appliances. During tune-up service, our technicians clean and disinfect condensate drains. This promotes safe and efficient performance, and it also staves off unpleasant HVAC odors.
Airflow Obstructions at the Condenser
The outdoor condenser units for air conditioners and heat pumps must have adequate clearance at all times. This is where these appliances release the heat that they’ve extracted from the indoor air. Located in back or side yards, condensers are frequently encroached on by fast-growing trees, shrubs, grass, and bushes. Windblown debris can also block airflow from outdoor condensers.
Inspect your AC or heat pump condenser and clear away all twigs, rocks, leaves, and other loose debris every two to three weeks. You should also regularly cut back overgrown foliage. Your condenser needs at least two feet of clearance on all sides.
Blocked or Closed Air Vents
People often close the air vents in their bedrooms or other spaces when they no longer want conditioned air. Although manual vent closures effectively redirect unwanted air, they do so at a considerable cost. Vent closures increase static pressure in ducting and inhibit airflow. If you keep your air vents closed for too long or close multiple vents at once, your HVAC system could overheat. Due to the extra stress that they cause, frequent vent closures can also decrease the lifespan of your heating and cooling equipment.
Schedule air balancing service to optimize airflow and air delivery. HVAC technicians can strategically position your vents to prevent hot and cold spots throughout the building. If you want customized comfort to accommodate vastly different temperature preferences, consider having your HVAC system zoned or install smart vents.
Dirty, Bent, or Broken Fan Blades
If your HVAC system is overheating and making rattling and clanging sounds, it may have a loose motor bearing or a bent or broken fan blade. Dirty and damaged fan blades make it harder for HVAC systems to move air. They can also increase the length of heating and cooling cycles and cause overheating. The best way to prevent overheating due to fan blade problems is by scheduling HVAC tune-up service before every heating and cooling season.
Get Help Now
Kalins Indoor Comfort proudly serves Sioux City and the surrounding communities with top-notch HVAC service. Our service history spans more than 100 years. We offer expert heating maintenance and cooling maintenance, replacement, and repairs. To help locals save, we also provide an affordable HVAC preventative maintenance plan.
If the HVAC system in your Sioux City home is overheating, give Kalins Indoor Comfort a call now!
