Does your furnace start up without blowing air? Has it started making strange sounds? Have you noticed water leaking from it, or puddles on the floor?
If the answer is yes, chances are your furnace needs servicing or a repair. And, doing it sooner rather than later just makes sense; you don’t want to be caught without heat when the temperature drops!
With living expenses on the rise, you may be considering attempting a DIY repair. But, as tempting as it may be to try fixing the furnace yourself, it is almost always a bad idea.
Here are just a few of the reasons you should leave furnace repair to the experts, instead of trying to fix any issues yourself:
You Could Start a Fire
You may scoff at the idea of accidentally burning down your house. But, Coyote HVAC, experts in furnace repair in Centennial, CO, explain that even a small mistake can be catastrophic when it comes to furnace repairs.
Many repairs can require wiring electrical components within the furnace. If wiring is done incorrectly, shorts in the electrical system can cause a fire.
Other repairs may involve dealing with gas leaks. Failing to properly repair a gas leak or, even worse, causing a leak accidentally when you attempt a repair, can eventually cause fires or even an explosion.
You Could Risk Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
When the connectors and pipes on your furnace get older, they can develop cracks or gaps that allow carbon monoxide to escape.
Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, so you likely won’t know that there’s a leak, or where to find it if you do suspect that’s the issue.
If there are brown or yellow stains around your furnace, or you notice condensation on your windows, always call a professional repair company to check for possible carbon monoxide leaks.
You should also consider investing in a carbon monoxide detector, if you don’t already have one installed.
You Might Incorrectly Read Furnace Error Codes
Modern furnaces contain advanced diagnostic components, which allow technicians to read error codes to diagnose problems with the furnace.
Codes differ from brand to brand, and if you interpret your furnace’s error codes incorrectly, you risk worsening the problem.
A skilled technician will be able to properly read and decipher the codes, confirm the issue, and fix your furnace.
Your Toolbox May Not Have the Right Tools for the Job
If your toolbox does not have furnace-specific repair tools, you will find it challenging to fix anything.
For instance, you need a combustion analyzer to measure flue gas composition. This will help identify potential CO risks.
You may also need a refrigerant pressure gauge to troubleshoot issues with an all-in-one HVAC system. And, you can only measure gas pressure with a manometer.
Using the wrong tools when attempting a DIY fix could break something else in your furnace, or fail to repair the original problem.
A qualified repair technician will have the tools needed to both to fix furnace issues quickly and efficiently, and double-check that the repairs solved the issue.
You Could Lose Your Warranty
Most furnace manufacturers offer a warranty that will cover the replacement of any defective components.
But, in many cases, attempting to service your furnace yourself could void the warranty and leave you on the hook for any replacement parts.
This means that if your furnace is still malfunctioning after your DIY attempt, you may have to pay out-of-pocket for parts that could have been covered under your warranty.
You May Be Delaying the Inevitable
While quick DIY fixes may sometimes temporarily solve a problem, the root cause of the issue may not have been dealt with.
Down the line, you may find that you’ve only delayed the inevitable: calling a professional repair technician.
Remember that a botched DIY job can cause bigger issues than simply needing to call a professional, too.
It could reduce the value of your home when selling, or invalidate your house insurance if problems with the HVAC system occur in the future.
Do Not DIY: Hire a Qualified Technician Instead
Reputable furnace repair technicians have years of experience working with all furnaces.
They’ve seen all the problems, and dealt with both common and uncommon furnace-related issues.
There is simply no reason to DIY when you can hire a qualified technician to ensure that your furnace is repaired safely and properly.
In the end, it just makes sense to give yourself peace-of-mind, and save yourself time and frustration by hiring a professional.