The last thing that you want is to be stuck without working HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning). There are few things more uncomfortable than a blazing summer without air conditioning or a freezing winter without heating. However, in many situations, the problem actually lies with your ventilation rather than your expensive appliances. Therefore, it is critical that you are able to diagnose any basic problems with your ventilation in order to determine exactly what the problem is and whether you need to hire a professional.

Gauge the Extent of the Problem

First you need to determine whether the problem is localized to a single room or if it affects the entire building. Regardless of whether the problem is with heating or air conditioning, you should check each room individually. In order to do this, you should close all doors between rooms and let the heater/air conditioner run for a few hours. Then, carefully check the temperature in each room. If some rooms are substantially hotter or colder than the rest, then you might have a problem with your ventilation, such as a blockage.

Blockages

This means that your air conditioner or heater is actually working fine. The problem is more likely a blockage in your ventilation shafts that is preventing the hot or cold air from reaching the entire house. The severity of this problem depends on where exactly the blockage is. If your problem can be easily reached from one of the vent openings, then you can probably deal with the situation yourself. However, the blockage might be a lot harder to find, which could mean that a professional is needed. In the worst case scenario, you might actually have a dead animal decomposing in your ventilation.

Decomposition

If you experience a terrible smell when you turn on the heater or the fan, then you might actually have a dead animal in your ventilation. This can pose a health risk as well as being a source of discomfort, so it is crucial that you deal with the situation as quickly as possible. Using the heater will actually accelerate the rate of decomposition, which will result in a mess that is much harder to clean up and a much worse smell.

If you plan on removing the dead animal yourself, you should take significant safety precautions, including a mask, gloves, and strong disinfecting agents. You will also need to determine how the animal got into the vent so that you can prevent a similar situation from happening in the future.

For more information about your HVAC system, contact a professional like Advanced Care Heating & Cooling.