When your heating or cooling system stops working, you may be tempted to try to fix it yourself to save time and money. Unless you are a qualified HVAC professional, however, you should resist this temptation. Here are some of the reasons why DIY HVAC repairs can be a bad idea.
- DIY HVAC repairs may not be safe: Furnaces, heat pumps, and air conditioners are complex pieces of equipment. Many of the components can be dangerous to work with if you aren’t familiar with them. A piece of HVAC equipment could expose you to a serious electrical shock. A minor shock could cause physical harm, but there’s enough electricity flowing through an HVAC system that you could be fatally electrocuted. If you’re working with a piece of equipment that uses refrigerant, you could be exposed to this harmful substance if there is a leak. Errors could cause electrical fires or, in gas-fueled systems, fires and explosions.
- DIY HVAC repairs may void the equipment warranty: Many equipment manufacturers make it a condition of the warranty that repairs be done by a qualified and licensed HVAC specialist. If you try to fix your HVAC system yourself, it could void the warranty, leaving you with no recourse if the equipment fails during the time span of the warranty.
- DIY HVAC repairs may cost you more in the long run: If you try to repair your HVAC system without the knowledge to do so, you could end up making the problem worse. You could cause more problems without realizing you’ve done it. You could break or damage important system components, or install something improperly. If these things happen, you are likely going to have to call an HVAC pro to reverse the damage and repair the equipment properly. This will require additional expense.
Arpi’s Industries Ltd. is provides the best of HVAC maintenance and repair for customers in and around. Contact us today for more information on reasons why you shouldn’t take on DIY HVAC repairs and for the professional services you need to make sure your heating and cooling systems work properly and safely.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Calgary, Alberta about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide.
