Many people love a great DIY hack. They’re fun, educational, and can save you money; what’s not to love! There are a lot of informative videos and articles available online that outline many DIY projects that could be costly if you hired a pro: basic car repair, refinishing hardwood floors, even cabinet installation, among countless other tutorials. But, heed caution—HVAC repair is NOT where you want to be cutting corners.
Why Homeowners Should Avoid HVAC Hacks
If you are considering taking on a DIY project for heating or cooling repair, think again. HVAC technicians are highly trained, often certified, professionals who are required to undergo extensive continuing education within the field of HVAC repair. Therefore, any “HVAC Hacks” should be avoided by novices and best left to professionals. Here’s why:
It’s Risky.
When it comes to HVAC, if you don’t know what you’re doing, a few videos on YouTube will not properly prepare you to fix your system. One needs to have extensive knowledge to be able to diagnose and fix potential HVAC system issues. Also, HVAC units are expensive and depending on the brand, make, model, and even year of production they can differ widely. The video that you are watching could highlight a different model than your unit, which could cause confusion in locating where the correct components are—potentially causing big problems if a component is misidentified. If you don’t have the proper knowledge when you try and fix something, you could end up with a bigger problem than you initially started out with.
High voltage electricity is also a big concern. HVAC technicians have been properly trained on electrical concepts such as components, voltage, currents, and many other systems that are probably unfamiliar to a typical homeowner. Messing around with high voltage electricity if you don’t know what you are doing is not only dangerous, it could be deadly. Don’t risk your life trying to save a few dollars on HVAC repair. It’s simply not worth it.
You Probably Don’t Have the Right Tools.
HVAC technicians use very specific tools and gauges to identify issues within the HVAC systems. These tools alone can cost a substantial amount of money, and without them your newly gained HVAC knowledge is pretty useless. If you opt to purchase the tools yourself, keep in mind that the tools for just one task may end up costing you more money than a professional service call.
And, if you use the incorrect tools to try and service your HVAC unit, you could inadvertently damage the system. This could cost you a significant amount of money in parts, or require you to have to replace the entire unit.
Simply put, DIY HVAC hacks are just not worth it. There are a couple things you can do on your own to help keep your HVAC system running smoothly, such as changing the air filter regularly, vacuuming out registers and vents, and having regular maintenance performed on your HVAC system. Otherwise, leave it to a pro—like us!
Call us today for repair or maintenance: 513-612-9201
