The high you get from successfully doing something you haven’t tried so far is indeed worth all the research and hard work. Also, the fact that you save money is an added benefit. If time is on your hands, the inclination to DIY stuff becomes greater, especially repairs. Nonetheless, keep in mind that every DIY task is not simple, and there may be setbacks that could affect you financially and healthwise.
HVAC
Every home nowadays has central heating and cooling. The HVAC system that delivers this service requires minor ac tune-ups and repairs time and again due to continuous use. When you add up the costs (technician fees and cost of spare parts), it may seem like a good idea to save a few dollars by doing the repairs yourself. From your perspective, keeping your expenses low is a commendable thought, but the repercussions of an HVAC repair job done incorrectly are pretty high. Here are a few reasons that elucidate why you should never do AC repairs on your own.
Why Shouldn’t You Do HVAC Repairs Yourself
Every HVAC company will advise you to refrain from carrying out DIY repairs on your unit. Yes, it would affect their business if the people start doing so. But most importantly, because it has inherent hazards attached to it. So, next time when the bug to do DIY repairs bites you, remember the reasons below.
1. Professional Knowledge Limitation – The biggest roadblock is that you are limited by the lack of professional knowledge. Your DIY research may tell you what needs to be done and how. But, it will not tell you about other things that could go wrong in doing so. On top of that, for every problem that occurs, there could be one or more reasons. For you, the inspection stops as soon as you find one problem. What if there are others? A professional technician is trained to check for all possibilities in the shortest possible time. You, on the other hand, will take long to check them all out, and even then, there won’t be any guarantees that all possibilities were exhausted. The doubt will always be there.
2. Warranty May Become Void – HVAC unit manufacturers lay down special terms which, if violated, will make the warranty void and ineffective. One crucial such term is that all repairs should be carried out by trained and certified technicians only. You happen to be neither. If your HVAC unit is still under warranty, it is best to let the professionals take care of things. It would be foolish to render the warranty on your product void just because you couldn’t refrain from doing a minor repair job. The key being minor, and that too from your point of view. Assuming that others are doing it and so can you, will not earn any brownie points from either the manufacturer or the HVAC technician.
3. You Can Hurt Yourself – The repairs to the HVAC system can often be hazardous, especially if you do not take adequate care, wear protective gear, or are plain careless. HVAC units are quite large and carry massive voltage power. Add to that the fact that some components still pack a punch even when the power supply to the unit has been cut. How would you identify these parts? And moreover, will you even remember them? Additionally, the refrigerant is a dangerous chemical that should not come in contact with any part of your body. How will you ensure that? A trained and certified technician is taught all these things from the very beginning. There is no scope of them overlooking these critical details or being careless while on the job.
4. The Repair Has To Be Precise – The HVAC unit is a piece of complicated machinery that consists of moving parts and intelligent circuits. There is no margin for error in the repair jobs. It has to be precise and correct in the very first instance. If you fail to do so, the chances of some other part developing a fault increase proportionately. Add to that the fact that now a repair will cost far more than what it would have originally. In your bid to save a few dollars, you land up spending more and complicating the issue.
5. You Can Fry Your HVAC Unit – Have you ever given thought to what’s the worst that could happen? If not, do so now. The worst-case scenario, and believe me when I say I’m not joking, is that you could fry your unit. Are you ready for that possibility? One wrong connection and your very expensive HVAC unit goes belly up. It may sound severe, and yet the chance remains. Give due thought and consideration to this occurrence before wearing your tool belt.
6. Special Tools Are Needed – You cannot put a nail in the wall without a hammer. Even then, the nail has to be the right size to bear the weight. The same is true for your HVAC unit. It is built of unique components that require specialized tools. Sometimes these tools are used to identify the problem and at other times to rectify it. These tools are not only costly, but you also need to know how to use them correctly. Adding to the burden of your DIY repair knowledge, these small things can make or mar your DIY attempt. If you are unable to use the tool correctly, you are bound to make mistakes.
In The End
The idea behind this post is not to tell you that you can’t do anything for your HVAC unit, but to be judicious in approach There are things you can do like changing the air filters, checking the batteries in thermostat & Carbon Monoxide detector, opening and closing the ducts, superficially cleaning the unit and surroundings, etc. But, there are also things that you should not do. The simple rule of thumb is that if you have to open either the indoor or the outdoor unit, think again. By hiring a professional, you can easily ensure the longevity and efficiency of your HVAC unit.
