Troubleshoot HVAC Problems with the Official Air-Tro Feline Fact Sheet

Your air filter should not look like a grey cat.

We post a lot to social media, but we’ve never had a more popular post than one recently comparing a cat’s color to a dirty air filter. If the filter was the color of a grey cat, the meme went, you would know to change it out. We were so happy to see you liked the post, and we also enjoyed the cat stories, cat memes, and cat pictures our readers have shared since. But that got us thinking. Maybe we could develop some kind of feline fact sheet to help our residential customers recognize and solve certain HVAC problems that may arise.

So here goes!

Does your furnace flame look like this little guy?

A gas furnace should have a blue flame. If your technician sees an orange or yellow one instead, it could mean combustion is not efficient. This usually signals that your furnace is nearing the end of its useful life. The good news? There’s never been a better time to replace a furnace or HVAC equipment in general. With multiple rebates and sales, a new furnace will also save you money with far greater energy efficiency than the models available last time you shopped. Ask your heating and cooling professional for their suggestions on whether it’s cheaper to simply repair it, or if it’s time for a replacement.

Is your air conditioner blowing out smoke the color of this sweet girl?

An AC unit blowing white steam is not a dangerous problem, but rather an indication you may have a heater box with excess condensation collected within it. A dirty air filter or higher than normal humidity inside your home can make the problem worse. Assuming there’s no smell (i.e. no burning), it’s a harmless, if alarming problem. Your HVAC technician can usually fix this quickly and permanently.

Could the inside of your air ducts be the color of this beautiful baby?

For your health’s sake, we hope the answer is “no,” but we think you should adopt a gorgeous cat like this one!  As far as HVAC goes though, the symptoms of black mold in your air conditioning ducts are not pretty. While uncommon, excess moisture from a leak can cause a lot of unpleasant medical issues, including sneezing, coughing, headaches, and more. If you or your family members are suffering from unexplained respiratory infections or other symptoms, rule out mold as a cause. Have your HVAC professional do a careful inspection to assess for any problems with your ductwork or air quality in general.

 

So there you have it. We’re sure there are more feline facts that might tie in with HVAC tips, but these are it for now. Give a pat to your four-legged friend from all of us animal lovers at Air-Tro. And always remember: indoor comfort matters for pets as well as people!

 

Is your HVAC system getting cat calls? Call Air-Tro today to ensure your heating and air conditioning runs at peak performance throughout the year. (626) 357-3535.