York Rooftop Unit Troubleshooting Guide
Before we get into the nitty gritty of York rooftop unit troubleshooting, first verify that one of these 3 things is not the reason why the office is sweating through their dress shirts or wearing winter coats instead of suit jackets to all the important meetings:
- The thermostat is set to either heating or cooling
- The unit has power
- The power was not interrupted by a blown fuse or flipped circuit breaker switch
If after going down the line of these York rooftop unit troubleshooting tricks, and you’re still not feeling the cool breeze or cozy heat of a fully functioning HVAC unit, then it’s time to check out more potential culprits that are causing you to shiver or sweat.
York Rooftop Unit Not Cooling
There’s nothing worse than working in a hot kitchen with the ovens blasting, fryers bubbling, and the stove tops cooking, all without the sweet relief of modern-day air conditioning. If sweat is starting to drip onto your work, then it’s time to try out a few of these York rooftop unit troubleshooting tricks:
- Clogged filters – You’ll find that dirty air filters are a common issue with HVAC systems in general and are, more often than not, the reason behind the lack of airflow. York rooftop unit filters are not reusable, so you’ll need to replace them at least once every 3 months. You may have to replace them more frequently if you work in a restaurant setting or other establishments that produce a lot of airborne contaminants like grease and oil.
- Dirty condenser coils – Like air filters, condenser coils can also get clogged with airborne contaminants like dirt, dust, pollen, mold, mildew and rust that need to be regularly cleaned for uninterrupted performance and efficiency.
- Low refrigerant levels – Since refrigerant is the secret sauce that allows your building to stay cool even in hot weather, it can cause your York rooftop unit to stop cooling when there’s a leak.
- Note: If you suspect a leak, never attempt to clean it up or fix it yourself, as refrigerant is extremely harmful when touched or inhaled.
- Electrical issues – Components like relays, contactors, wiring, power leads and connections are just some examples of electrical components that could cause your Yook rooftop unit to stop cooling.
York Rooftop Unit Not Heating
Sometimes you may not notice any significant heating issue with your HVAC unit until record freezing temperatures roll in on a cold front, but by then, the issue is at its most critical. To circumvent this problem, you can schedule regular maintenance checks to prevent having to send all your employees home to warmer indoor weather. Until then, however, here’s a list of York rooftop unit troubleshooting techniques:
- Blocked heat exchanger – If you’ve been neglecting routine maintenance for a while, a blocked heat exchanger may be what gives. Because of their location, heat exchangers can get blocked with dirt and debris. But it also remains true that corrosion, improper installation and inadequate ventilation could be the cause rather than the symptom where the heat exchanger is involved.
- Dirty air filters – Dirty filters made the list again! That’s because if too much dirt, dust and other air debris gets caught in the filters, it can restrict the airflow, which allows everyone to not have to bring their comforter to work.
- Ignition problems – The next place to look on our York Rooftop unit troubleshooting list is the ignition system. Faulty flame sensors, inadequate fuel supply, pilot light issues, control board malfunctions and other defective ignition components could all have a hand in why your York rooftop unit is not heating.
- Gas supply issues – For gas-heated RTUs, broken or faulty gas valves or gas pressure switches can not only be party to poor heating conditions but be dangerous as well.
York Rooftop Unit Not Holding Temperature
When a York RTU isn’t holding at its set temperature, you’ll notice some hot and cold flashes. They may be subtle at first, but as the issue progresses, the fluctuations could become more drastic or even result in the failure of your unit altogether. That’s why early diagnosis is key whenever you notice a downward trend.
- Faulty thermostat – If the thermostat is faulty and can’t properly sense the temperature inside the building, the results will be a little off. Frayed wiring or loose electrical connections also might cause your York rooftop unit to over-cool or overheat the building, resulting in widely fluctuating indoor temperatures.
- Poor insulation – Another reason might not have anything to do with your RTU and everything to do with your building’s insulation. Older buildings, for example, have insulation with lower U-values. Unfortunately, in this case, you’ll just have to deal with the higher utility bills and crank up the heat unless you want to pay someone to reinsulate your building.
- Leaky ductwork – The good news is, there isn’t anything wrong with your York rooftop unit. The downside is natural wear and tear, or rodents and other pests could be causing the drop in heating and cooling efficiency. By any means, it’s a good idea to give your favorite HVAC technician a call, so they can repair any damage or seal up any leaks in the ductwork.
- Defective Compressor – Since the compressor is an indispensable component in the heating and cooling system of any HVAC unit, even the smallest electrical issue can bring the entire building to its knees. If the compressor fails, problems with refrigerant circulation and leaking, overheating, and energy efficiency and consumption are sure to entail.
- Dirty air filters – At this point, you might be wondering if we’ve made a typo. But no, air filters, when clogged with dirt, dust, pollutants and allergens, obstruct airflow of both the hot and cold variety.
What is the Problem with the York Heat Exchanger?
A heat exchanger is responsible for distributing heated air throughout your home or building. Regular cleaning and maintenance play a vital role in protecting the heat exchanger from developing any cracks and other vulnerabilities that might harm the building’s occupants.
Dirty air filters can cause the heat exchanger to overheat and become damaged, resulting in the release of harmful gasses like carbon monoxide. Problems with clogged air filters and other weak points in the heat exchanger, like corrosion, are on the HVAC technician's maintenance checklist and caught during the unit’s quarterly checkup.
How do I reset my York heating system?
Another York rooftop unit troubleshooting trick you can try before calling in a certified HVAC technician is initiating a system reset. You can do this by turning off the thermostat and cutting the power to the RTU through the main circuit breaker. Wait a few minutes before restoring power, and see if that doesn’t fix the problem.
If you’re interested in more York materials, we also have additional resources on York heat pump troubleshooting, York chiller troubleshooting and fault codes and York manuals available.