What people keep running into with heating and cooling
Complaints tagged heating and cooling, each raised by more than one person. One-off posts are not included.
18 recurring problems · 136 people · 10 forums we read
Raised more than once
Most people first.
- 33Should I pay for appliance repair or fix it myself?Paying for professional service calls and OEM parts often costs hundreds of dollars more than buying third-party components online and fixing the appliance yourself. However, guessing wrong about whether a machine is actually safe to use can leave you with a dangerous hazard instead of a working fix.
- 24How to choose between different HVAC replacement quotesHomeowners replacing aging systems face conflicting quotes and unfamiliar equipment brands like Lennox and Bosch. Without knowing how to compare these options or contractor experience, people risk choosing unreliable installers or overpaying for equipment that doesn't fit their needs.
- 19Why do small bathroom remodels cost so much?Contractor quotes for basic renovations routinely range from $15,000 to over $30,000 even for small spaces like a 5x7 bathroom. This huge gap between expected and actual costs makes standard updates feel prohibitively expensive, leaving homeowners unable to afford necessary repairs without blowing their budgets.
- 11Why is one bedroom getting way more air than other rooms?Air conditioning systems often push uneven amounts of air through vents, flooding a single bedroom with cold air while the rest of the house or upstairs stays warm. This makes it impossible to achieve balanced cooling, leaving the main thermostat reading 78 degrees while a single room drops to 70.
- 10Why does my brand new AC not cool as well as the old one?New cooling systems often feel less effective because installers may misconfigure airflow settings or fail to balance multi-room temperatures properly. This leaves homeowners dealing with rooms that stay significantly warmer than they were with older equipment, causing regret and doubt over the replacement choice.
- 8What to do when an HVAC installation fails inspectionBad HVAC installations often involve dangerous issues like gas leaks, missing thread compound, uninsulated ducts, and mismatched or outdated equipment. These critical safety code violations and missing warranties leave homeowners dealing with failed inspections, hazardous living conditions, and unresolved cleanup costs.
- 5How do I use and maintain an oil heating system?Switching from a familiar electric heat pump to heating oil leaves new homeowners in the dark about how to order fuel, manage tank levels, and set efficient thermostat schedules. Without clear guidance on these basics, adjusting to an unfamiliar heating system becomes an overwhelming guessing game.
- 5Car heater blowing cold air even with good coolant and thermostatCar heaters can blow lukewarm or cool air despite having normal coolant levels and a working thermostat. This leaves drivers with weak or no heat coming from the vents when turning the system on full tilt.
- 3Why is my attic apartment so hot in summer and cold in winter?Attic apartments trap extreme heat from the roof while sharing a single HVAC sensor located elsewhere in the house, leaving the top floor sweltering at 80 degrees or freezing at 64. Because the central system cannot properly regulate the space, tenants are left struggling with unmanageable indoor temperatures and direct drafts from blowing vents.
- 3Why is water dripping from my furnace when AC is on?When the air conditioner runs, water drips directly from the furnace and pools on the ground. This unexpected leaking forces people to constantly mop up standing water and manage basement moisture.
- 2Why does my furnace make a loud banging noise?Delayed ignition causes a small explosion of built-up gas inside the combustion chamber, resulting in a loud bang when the furnace finally fires up. This issue stops the heating system from operating smoothly and requires immediate attention to prevent damage to the equipment during freezing weather.
- 2Loud howling and whistling noise from vents after replacing blower motorSystem replacements like a new blower motor or squirrel cage often alter airflow dynamics, and if technicians skip installing a necessary bypass damper due to space limits, the system creates intense static pressure and howling. This leaves homeowners with a constant, disruptive noise through their vents and rooms blowing air even when their specific zone isn't calling for it.
- 2How to secure a horizontal evaporator coil to a furnaceManufacturer instructions for mounting the equipment are vague and typically supply only a single, flimsy flat bracket. This lack of clear guidance leaves installers guessing about how to properly attach the coil to the furnace and whether additional hardware is required.
- 2Why won't HVAC contractors follow my Manual J report?Contractors routinely dismiss independent load calculations and insist on using old rules of thumb or installing oversized equipment instead. This leaves homeowners unable to find someone willing to install the correct size system for their home.
- 2Why is my ductwork dripping condensation inside the walls?Ductwork running from unconditioned spaces into wall cavities collects condensation on its exterior, causing water to drip into walls. This moisture leads to severe fungal growth and structural damage that often requires tearing out the walls.
- 2How do I reconnect a disconnected HVAC duct?HVAC and appliance exhaust ducts can come loose due to renovations, vibrations, or wear, leading to air leaking into living spaces instead of venting outside. Reconnecting them requires securing the pipe alignment and sealing the joints properly to ensure the system functions efficiently and safely.
- 2AC unit humming with no air coming out of ventsThe system runs or hums while failing to blow any air through the vents. This leaves the space without cooling or airflow, rendering the HVAC system unusable until the airflow issue is resolved.
- 2How to clean a mouse nest out of car ventsMice nesting in vehicle ventilation systems cause severe rattling and foul odors when the fan is turned on. Cleaning out the debris requires taking apart the accessible dashboard components to vacuum the core, letting you clear the nest without necessarily removing the entire dashboard.
Comes up alongside
Topics that keep appearing on the same problems — not topics with similar names.