Spring ushers in ambition. People tired of being cooped up inside all winter are ready to get outdoors and tackle all sorts of home improvement projects. It feels wonderful to put on your warm-weather clothes, a little bit of sunscreen, and head outside to show your home and yards some TLC. One thing you shouldn’t attempt on your own, however, is air conditioning repair. Even if all you have is a window unit, it is a complex piece of machinery. Here are a few reasons why it’s best to call in the professionals.
You Don’t Know What You’re Doing
Sorry. That sounds harsher than it’s intended to sound, but it is a bottom line statement. Heating, air conditioning, and ventilation, whether in one system or separate, is made up of so many parts that contractors must receive special licensing and certification to work them. The system’s operating parts work individually and in tandem to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Your home’s ventilation is also complex, not to mention crucial. It keeps the air in your home clean and safe so nobody gets sick.
Rather than add HVAC maintenance and repair to your list of household repairs for the spring, contact a professional technician to handle this job. He or she will make certain everything is maintained per manufacturer’s specifications and also repair any part of the system that requires it. This helps you avoid the dangers of live electric currents, natural gas, and carbon monoxide. If you don’t know how to handle these dangers properly, you risk injury or death. If the home’s ventilation is compromised, you risk carbon monoxide poisoning.
Ill Effects
The consequences of the latter are more common than you might think. When natural gas was introduced decades earlier as a heating alternative, the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning in the home were born. No, you aren’t running your heater in the summer, but you are running your air-conditioner, and the two use the same ventilation. If your air ducts and internal and external vents are compromised during your DIY AC project, you could make everyone in your home ill or worse. According to the CDC, 393 people died of carbon monoxide poisoning in 2015.
Financial Effects
Another issue with repairing your HVAC system yourself is you invalidate your warranty. Heating and air conditioning manufacturers do not want anyone other than certified technicians working on your unit, and this is understandable. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you could cause additional and unnecessary harm to the system. Professionals won’t do that, and they may also provide an additional guarantee, which takes the burden off the manufacturer. This is why an HVAC DIY project might cost you your warranty, which will cost you even more in the end.
Yes, tackle your spring-cleaning and many other DIY projects prior to the summer heat, but leave your HVAC to the professionals. You don’t want to damage your unit, cause to harm to your family, or void your warranty. You’ve got plenty to do anyway! Let someone else fuss over the air conditioner, so you can get outdoors and get the pool ready for the first party of the year.