DIY vs. Professional Help – When to Call an HVAC Technician
Do you panic and call a technician whenever you think there’s something wrong with your HVAC system? That’s alright, but you will end up spending a lot of money every year because of that. If you don’t want to, you need to know when you should call a professional and fix it alone. Many DIY tips can help improve your HVAC system, but you need to know the issues first. Let’s take a look at some of the instances when you can DIY or call for professional help.
DIY
1. Changing the air filters
This involves opening the lid of your air conditioner and taking out the air filters slowly. Accumulated dust often blocks the passage of cold air through these filters. You don’t need a professional to clean or replace them. Check the filters that are compatible with your AC, buy them, and install them the way you took them out. Close the lid and enjoy fast cooling.
2. Cleaning HVAC components
Cleaning the filters and the outside of the condenser doesn’t require any specialist. Use a vacuum cleaner or air compressor to clean the interiors of your AC. Besides cleaning the condenser and interiors, you should also flush the drainpipe to ensure the AC works at its optimal condition.
3. Insulating your home
Adequate insulation is essential to keep your energy bills down. Check whether there are gaps or cracks in your room that allow warm air to come in. If that happens, your AC will need to work harder to cool the room down. This may lead to premature breakdown.
Professional help
1. HVAC repairs
Suppose you want to improve the efficiency of your old AC. What do you do? You don’t have the answer, right. But a professional would install dampers as they extend the longevity of your air conditioner. Dampers may look small, but they are useful to increase the longevity of your HVAC system.
2. New installation
New AC installation is time-consuming. Most importantly, you won’t have the necessary tools to carry out the installation alone. And it’s better to call the professional in this case because one wrong step can damage the air conditioner. An experienced technician installs the air condition quickly and tests it so that you can start using it right after he leaves.
3. Annual tune-up
You are cleaning the air filters, and the condenser isn’t the only maintenance that your air-conditioner needs. From refilling refrigerants to cleaning the interiors thoroughly, you will require professional help for these jobs. Therefore, don’t hesitate to call an expert at least once every year.
While DIY saves you a lot of money, there are times when you just can’t rely on YouTube videos to repair your AC. Who knows, you may end up damaging the air conditioner further and spend more than you had to if you had called the professional in the first place! Assess the situation carefully before making a decision.
Jim Bevin is a passionate writer, guest blogger, and a social media enthusiast. The primary focus is writing high-quality articles after in-depth research and make sure it is a readers delight. Information is key and he abides by the rule of writing articles that will appeal to a broader audience.