Last Modified: 1/2/24

As a homeowner, keeping your air conditioner in great shape is essential for staying cool during the summer heat. The good news? Many maintenance tasks are easy to handle yourself! Regular cleaning not only improves your AC’s efficiency but also helps lower energy bills and extends its lifespan.

Cleaning your AC compressor is a crucial part of maintaining your air conditioning system’s efficiency and longevity. The compressor, located in the outdoor unit, is responsible for circulating refrigerant through your system, and dirt or debris can impact its performance. Here’s how you can clean your AC compressor safely and effectively.

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Can I Clean My AC Compressor Myself?

Yes, you can clean your AC compressor yourself by following a few simple steps. Regular cleaning helps remove dirt, debris, and grime that can reduce airflow and put unnecessary strain on your system. For deeper cleaning or complex issues, consider hiring a professional to avoid accidental damage.

Steps to Clean Your AC Compressor

1. Turn Off the Power

Before starting, shut off the power to your air conditioner at the breaker box. This ensures safety while working on the compressor unit.

2. Remove Debris from Around the Unit

Clear any leaves, grass, or dirt around the compressor. Keeping the area clean improves airflow and reduces the chances of debris entering the unit.

3. Clean the Compressor Fins

The fins on the compressor allow for heat exchange, so keeping them clean is essential. Use a soft-bristle brush or vacuum with a brush attachment to remove surface dirt carefully. Avoid bending the fins.

4. Rinse the Compressor with Water

Using a low-pressure garden hose, gently spray water onto the compressor to rinse away dust and debris. Avoid using high-pressure water, as it can damage the fins or internal components.

5. Apply a Coil Cleaner

Spray a coil cleaner designed for outdoor units onto the compressor coils. Let the cleaner sit for the recommended time to break down grime and buildup. Rinse thoroughly with water to remove the cleaner.

6. Check the Compressor Cover and Drainage

Ensure the compressor cover is secure and inspect the drainage for blockages. Proper drainage prevents water from pooling inside the unit, which could cause damage.

Why Is AC Compressor Cleaning Important?

Cleaning your AC compressor improves efficiency, prevents overheating, and reduces wear on the system. A clean compressor can lower energy bills and ensure consistent cooling during hot weather. Neglecting this step can lead to reduced performance, higher repair costs, or even system failure.

When Should Homeowners Call a Professional?

While regular DIY maintenance can prevent many issues, some situations require professional expertise. If your AC isn’t cooling properly, makes unusual noises, or has airflow problems, contact a trusted HVAC technician. A professional can diagnose the problem and provide the necessary repairs.

Let Gore Help Keep Your AC in Top Shape

At Gore Plumbing, Heating, & Air, we provide professional AC maintenance and repair services to ensure your system runs efficiently all year. If you’re in Fayetteville, NC, our expert technicians are here to help with everything from routine cleanings to complex repairs. Call us today at 910-485-5877 or fill out a form online to schedule your service and stay cool this summer!

You may hold your hand up to the air vent in your bedroom and ask, “Why isn’t my heater producing enough warm air?” A lack of consistent airflow could mean a heater not working properly, but it’s not always a simple fix. 

The Ductwork Leaks

When you notice your furnace not blowing hot air, check the duct network. The ducts connect directly to the furnace unit and transport the warm air throughout the building. Each room features a vent opening where the heat exists.

Duct materials can crack or become corroded when exposed to water. This damage allows the hot air to escape. You’ll notice a weak, cool airflow as a result. 

The Thermostat Connections Are Off

Is your heater not warming up? Make sure your thermostat works. 

This device houses temperature sensors and delicate electrical connections, which could become coated in dust. It’s also possible that the wires might become insecurely connected or disconnected altogether. A maintenance service can address both issues during the thermostat calibration phase.

The System Size Doesn’t Match the Building

If you’re struggling with low heat from furnace vents, you might have a system that is too big or small for your home or business. System size is everything for efficiency, comfort, and longevity. An undersized system will long cycle to heat a large building while an oversized one may short cycle in sudden blasts – and both erode energy efficiency. 

Airflow Restrictions Keep Air From Reaching Vent Outlets

Some heater airflow problems have nothing to do with the heating system but occur because of obstacles hampering the heat from reaching its destination. Check around your home or business for:

• Furniture and other items blocking vent openings. It’s easy to set down a laundry hamper full of clothes or push a chair in front of a vent without realizing it. Obstacles keep air from flowing freely into the room, too. 
• Dirty filters and other hindrances around the return vent. Replace the air and furnace filters every three months. Dirty filters resist airflow, which reduces the amount of air your system takes in. Like the room vents, items in front of the return register keep fresh air from entering the duct network. 
• Excessively dusty ductwork. The network’s interior can gather lots of dust and debris, too, and the buildup limits airflow. A good duct cleaning could work wonders.

Maintenance resolves many airflow concerns before they become more significant issues. Be sure to schedule heating tune-ups with a trusted service provider – like Gore Plumbing, Heating & Air. 

Why Isn’t My Heater Producing Enough Warm Air? Let Gore Plumbing, Heating & Air Get To the Bottom of It

Call Gore Plumbing, Heating & Air at 910-485-5877 about troubleshooting furnace airflow issues. Our technicians will get to the bottom of it and offer air quality solutions, zoning services, and other HVAC improvements as well. 

If you hear odd noises from your heating unit, you may be unsure whether they indicate a serious problem, asking yourself, “What does a broken furnace sound like, and what should I do about it?” Many kinds of furnace sounds, such as banging, screeching, whistling, and rattling, can point to a serious issue. 

Learn more about what noises indicate you should seek help from expert furnace repair technicians.

Rattling and Buzzing Noises

If you hear rattling or buzzing noises, these are some of the most dangerous furnace malfunction sounds. If you’re hearing a rattle, it could indicate a cracked heat exchanger. This is a dangerous issue for a furnace because you may have carbon monoxide leaking into your home, which could cause fatalities.

If you hear these noises, stop using the furnace and call for service immediately.

Banging and Booming Noises

Booming noises may indicate dirty burners. Grime and dirt on the burners delay the furnace’s ignition process, leading to a slight gas buildup and a small explosion at ignition. If you leave the grime to continue to build up, the small explosions could become larger, potentially damaging the furnace.

As part of a maintenance program, our experts will visit your home annually and clean all the components, which should eliminate this noisy problem.

Screeching and Whistling Noises

If you hear screeching noises, they can signal problems with the furnace’s blower motor. When the blower whistles or makes a whining noise, it probably needs lubrication because the parts are moving inefficiently. Without a service call, the blower motor could seize up and stop working.

Regular visits from our maintenance technicians can prevent this problem from ever occurring. We’ll lubricate all the parts of the furnace, including the blower motor.

Belts that are starting to wear out may make whistling or screeching noises. A broken belt can cause a complete breakdown of the furnace, so you should call for service.

Some whistling noises indicate a problem with the seals on the air vents. When heated air is escaping from the vents, you may hear whistling noises near the furnace or in other areas of the home. These leaks are a big waste of energy and require service to fix.

Scraping and Grinding Noises

Scraping and grinding sounds from the furnace are nearly always signs of loose parts making contact with each other. This issue can lead to unwanted wear that causes parts to fail prematurely.

Let Us Investigate Any Furnace Noises That Are Worrying You

Rather than asking yourself, “What does a broken furnace sound like, and what should I do about it?” trust the experts at Gore Heating & A/C. Our seasoned technicians will visit your property and run through a furnace troubleshooting checklist. We’ll create an action plan for necessary repairs and provide a detailed price quote for the work.

Don’t risk a furnace failure by ignoring sounds related to common furnace issues. Call us today at (910) 485-5877, and let us investigate the sounds for you.

You might already know this from experience, but indoor air quality deteriorates during the winter. Consistent heat is a double-edged sword, making us choose between our love of energy efficiency and fresh air being allowed to come inside. Gore Heating & Air’s HVAC crew offers professional suggestions below. 

Open Your Windows When Possible

The Environmental Protection Agency recognizes a lack of fresh, outdoor air as one of the primary reasons for poor indoor air quality. Quality insulation and tight-knit building structures keep you warm. However, by barring the entry of fresh air, the risk of stagnant, contaminated air is high. 

Professionals recommend that you increase ventilation by leaving windows and doors open when the weather permits. 

Keep the Air Moving

It gets cold in places like North Carolina, so cracking open a window or door often isn’t feasible. Why not turn on your thermostat’s fan setting for air quality improvement instead? The fan will run regardless of your ambient temperature, allowing the air filter to continuously remove particles and microbes from the air as it passes through. 

Fan mode can also distribute heat more evenly. Just remember to change your heater’s filter more frequently throughout the winter. 

Don’t Forget Housekeeping!

How can I improve my indoor air quality during the heating season? Homeowners tidy each room from top to bottom when preparing for the holidays and heating season, which is great for guests. However, that also means countless household cleaning chemicals break down and float around in your home. 

Why not use gentler cleaning products? Staying on top of dusting and vacuuming also keeps allergens to a minimum. 

Schedule HVAC Maintenance

You can’t go wrong with good, old-fashioned HVAC maintenance. Experts like Gore Heating & Air recommend affordable indoor air quality improvements, and the service will:

• Dust off forgotten or neglected HVAC components
• Clean your vents and ductwork
• Change the filters
• Calibrate the thermostat
• Check for impending repairs and hidden air quality concerns

Schedule a maintenance service in the early autumn – before you fire up the furnace. 

Try Air Quality Products

HVAC companies like Gore Heating & Air have home air quality solutions galore. You can find installations to suit every comfort need, including ultraviolet air purifiers. A technician situates these UV lights in ductwork, where they can zap and kill incoming pollutants. 

You can also shop for:

• Humidifiers: Heating systems often make indoor air uncomfortably dry. These handy devices balance the humidity inside.
• Portable air purifiers: Trap additional dust with a portable option and take it from room to room as needed.
• Houseplants: Plants absorb carbon dioxide — the gas that you breathe out. They also release oxygen. It’s a symbiotic relationship that adds a touch of natural beauty.

How Can I Improve My Indoor Air Quality During the Heating Season? Gore Heating & Air Has Answers

Call 910-485-5877 for Gore Heating & Air’s recommendations! Start by joining our HVAC maintenance plan and asking about air-purifying UV lights.

As fall’s chill settles upon Fayetteville, you reach for the thermostat to turn up the heat only to be greeted by an unpleasant stench when the furnace kicks on. Alarmed, you might wonder why there’s a distinct smell.

Some furnace odors are no big deal, but others are a cause for concern. Below, we’ll go over some common furnace smells and what they mean.

A Brief Burning Dust Smell Is Nothing To Worry About

If you notice a burning smell when the furnace first kicks on after months of disuse, that’s completely normal. The odor is caused by dust settling on and around the furnace during the spring and summer. When the furnace starts to heat up, the dust burns off.

This is nothing to worry about, and the odor should fade in a couple of minutes. If it doesn’t, call our pros to take a look.

Your Air Filter Is Ancient

No air filter lasts forever, and a dirty air filter is a smelly one. On top of that, a clogged furnace filter makes it harder for your furnace to do its job. Without regular replacement or cleaning, your furnace might draw its last breath and require replacement sooner than you expected.

Been a while since you last changed yours? Pull it out and be amazed by all the filth it has trapped.

It’s best to change your filter every three to six months. The thicker the filter, the longer you can go without replacing it.

Helpful article: Furnace Repair vs. Replacement: Which Is Right For You?

Mold Has Made Its Home in Your Furnace

Does your furnace smell unpleasantly musty, like a load of wet laundry left in the washing machine a bit too long? You may have a mold problem on your hands. Mold can settle in the cracks and crevices of your furnace. Filters, humidifier panels, and coils are common places for it to hide.

Because mold can grow in unseen places, it’s best to call the pros to handle a musty furnace smell. We’ll inspect your HVAC system, including the air ducts, and eliminate mold and mildew wherever it lurks.

Mechanical or Electrical Problems May Be To Blame

Wondering, “Why does my furnace smell like chemicals?” That’s a good question because a chemical odor could spell big trouble for your furnace.

Often, chemical smells point to a cracked heat exchanger. This vital component heats your home’s air and keeps toxic fumes from wafting through your air ducts.

If you turn the furnace on and smell a persistent burning odor, that could point to an electrical problem, such as a failing motor or damaged wiring.

Gas Leaks: The Silent Enemy

Smelling rotten eggs? Act fast, because you may have a dangerous gas leak. Shut off the gas, leave your home ASAP, and call us for help.

Smelly Furnace? Call the Experts

If you’re still asking why your furnace smells, then call the experts at Gore Heating & Air. Contact us at (910) 485-5877 to schedule furnace maintenance or repairs now. We are here for you!