Troubleshooting

How do I know if I need an A1 Technician to come to my house?

Almost all repairs to a furnace or AC require a fully licensed Technician to come to your house. Proper diagnosis of the problem is key.

  • If you notice any of the things below, please call A1 and we will connect with you within 2 hours
  • One of our triple-certified licensed A1 Technicians will come to your house to diagnose the problem and provide a quote for the repair
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Common furnace problems

  • The furnace does not come on at all
  • The furnace doesn’t heat at all or not enough
  • Starts to turn on and off with irregular patterns
  • The blower continuously runs
  • Yellow colour of pilot light (should be blue)
  • Low or flickering pilot light
  • The furnace is making banging sounds or high-pitched noises when it is running
  • Malfunctioning thermostat

Common air conditioner problems

  • The AC does not come on at all
  • The AC comes on but does not cool
  • Runs continuously but does not shut off
  • Starts to turn on and off erratically
  • Certain areas of your home are not cooling down at all
  • Mechanical noises like clicking come from the AC
  • Water or refrigerant (freon) is leaking from the AC
  • Malfunctioning thermostat

Many of the issues that you might have with your furnace or AC are not visible to the human eye. That is why you need an HVAC professional to do a full inspection.

Here are some tips you can do as a homeowner

Troubleshooting your furnace:

Check the thermostat

Check the thermostat’s setting to make sure it’s on “Heat” mode. Then check the temperature to make sure it’s set to one that’s higher than the current room temperature.

Check the fan settings on the thermostat

When the blower fan doesn’t turn off or the furnace cycles too frequently, check the thermostat settings. The fan setting should be on “Auto.” In the “On,” “Low,” “Medium” or “High” modes, the fan will run continuously.

Check battery in the thermostat

If it seems as if your furnace doesn’t produce any heat, check the battery level in the thermostat. In some models, simply replacing the battery may do the trick.

Check power supply

If the furnace stops working or the thermostat’s screen is blank, check if your circuit breaker tripped or blew a fuse. If you have a power switch on the wall, ensure it is turned on. Or alternatively, make sure your power cord is plugged into an outlet.

Change the air filter

Dirty air filters lead to a multitude of furnace problems. Clean or replace the filter according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Check exhaust pipes

In the winter, check that your exhaust pipes are not blocked by snow or debris that will cause the furnace to shut off. Always keep the area around the furnace free from dirt, dust, cleaners, paint, wooden objects and other chemicals that could heat up and catch fire or explode if they become too hot.

Keep air supply outlets in your home clean

Make sure warm-air outlets and cold-air outlets are free and clear for good air flow. Remove any debris, vent coverings or carpets to ensure the air can flow into each room.

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Troubleshooting your air conditioner:

Check the thermostat

Ensure the thermostat is on “Cool” mode. Ensure batteries are charged. If your thermostat is not working or if it is incorrectly calibrated, it may not tell the air conditioner to turn on. If you have set your thermostat to the lowest temperature setting and the system still does not start, it’s probably time to call A1 – our Technicians can recalibrate or replace the thermostat if it is no longer working.

Check the power source

If your AC will not turn on, the lack of power could be something as simple as a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker. It also could be the result of broken or loose wiring or thermostat problems.

AC unit is not working at capacity

Your AC may be underperforming as a result of low refrigerant. If the refrigerant level is low, it usually means it was either undercharged at installation or it has a leak. Low refrigerant is often the sign of a leak and you will need a qualified HVAC professional to fix it. If multiple leaks are detected, it’s possible that you may need to replace the unit.

Replace dirty air filters

Dirty air filters can lead to a multitude of air flow problems for your AC. A dirty filter can choke your AC unit by limiting the amount of air your AC unit can breathe in.  Clean or replace the furnace filter regularly according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Tidy up around the AC unit

Clear leaves, brush and debris from around the outside AC unit and surrounding area.

Keep air supply outlets in your home clean

Make sure your air supply and return outlets are free and clear for good air flow. Remove any debris, vent coverings or carpets to ensure the air can flow into each room.

Did you know?

Did you know that only about 1 out of 5 people perform the right maintenance on their home heating and air conditioning systems?

Things to leave to the experts

A1 strongly recommends that you do not attempt to repair your furnace or AC yourself. YouTube videos might be tempting but it can be dangerous and you might end up compounding the original problem.

Some HVAC problems may be a health or safety hazard which is not only concerning but also a liability for you as a homeowner.

Please remember that you need to call an HVAC professional to address any mechanical issues or natural gas line issues.

  • Ignition control or pilot light problems: You may be experiencing problems from clogged components or faulty electrical components. Only a licensed technician should be diagnosing this problem and repairing your furnace.
  • Mechanical issues: Only licensed technicians can handle problems related to mechanical wear and tear. Otherwise, you may void the warranty on your furnace or accidentally cause a larger problem.
  • Natural gas or propane problems: Safety first on this one. When you suspect problems with the gas feed or valve because of a malfunction with the gas pressure regulator, you need to call an HVAC technician who is properly licensed to deal with natural gas.

Preventing HVAC emergencies

Proper maintenance is the best way to avoid problems and prevent headaches for yourself. Repairs can be costly so look after your equipment – your wallet will thank you!

Some heating and cooling emergencies are unavoidable, but others can be prevented with proper installation and regular maintenance.

At A1, we also provide comprehensive Protection and Maintenance Plans to offer you peace of mind and cover your maintenance needs.

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  • The annual furnace or AC tune-up included in all plans will help you avoid future expensive repairs, minimize your utility bills and ensure full coverage on the manufacturer’s warranties
  • We cover every type of furnace and air conditioner out there, not just ones installed by our A1 team
  • Our triple-certified Technicians are so well-trained and experienced that we handle all brands of equipment
  • We will clearly tell you upfront everything that’s included in your plan – such as unlimited repairs and no-charge service calls – and we stand by our work

Great response from A1. The motor fan pretty well turned itself into pieces after 20+ years. It sounded like the whole furnace was about to implode. I called A1 around 9 a.m. and by noon a new motor was in and running. The technician was great, very professional, courteous and on point with the repair. After the initial shock and stress of the motor’s failure, it couldn’t have worked out any better.


Isabelle, Oakville

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