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Modern life can be hectic. It's no wonder so many home maintenance and monitoring tasks can go overlooked. While it's understandable to miss the signs, it's always best to address household problems immediately to avoid future hassle. This is particularly true when it comes to your heating and air conditioning unit. Knowing the signs of trouble can help you to take care of things before they get out of control. Here are four warning signs of HVAC issues you should know.

1. High Energy Bills

If you start to see a rise in cost with regard to your utility bill without a significant change in the weather conditions, this could be a sign that your HVAC system is performing poorly. Malfunctioning units have to work harder and are less efficient.

2. Poor Air Quality or Unusual Smells

Poor air quality can be hard for the average person to detect. One way it shows up is in the form of health problems. Consider the fact that your HVAC unit may be the culprit if you or a family member suddenly begin suffering from headaches, chronic cough, irritated eyes, brain fog or airway infections. Likewise, unusual odors such as those that are musty, rotten egg or burning are strong indicators of a problem. You should seek the assistance of a professional contractor like Cape Fear Air Conditioning & Heating Co., Inc. right away, as these signals could be dangerous.

3. Strange Noises

Clunking, grating, thumping, grinding or squealing noises coming from your heating and air conditioning system are never good signs. Chances are that there is a malfunction somewhere that needs to be repaired. It's also quite possible that your unit may need to be replaced entirely. This is particularly true of units that are more than ten years old. Age plays a strong role in the decline of an HVAC system, as well as in efficiency.

4. Leaks

If you see a puddle near your outside unit or anywhere in the house that could have come from HVAC components, you should have someone come take a look. Leaks can be an extremely expensive issue because they can have such an effect on other parts of your home. Even a small leak can quickly become a big problem.

These are four of the most common warning signs of HVAC problems. It's always a good idea to be proactive in addressing these things in order to save yourself headache and money in the future. Paying attention to these signs can also lead to a quicker repair time so you’re not left with a freezing cold house while technicians do their work.

Author's Bio: 

Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She loves being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise. Meghan finds happiness in researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure.