It’s no surprise that there’s been an uptick in DIY fixes on air conditioners in the past few years. With more people using the internet to find information, homeowners can easily come across tutorials and “quick fixes” complete with a whole guide and video to accompany them. It seems like the time of professional AC repairs is over, and anything can be done by a curious homeowner, right?
Absolutely not. DIY fixes can quickly become a hassle and even more costly than professional visits. Think about it, if you’re not experienced or trained, how do you know that you’re fixing the source of the issue at hand? How do you know you’ve got the right tools to fix a problem, or the right refrigerant to recharge your system? Just one minor slip up could lead to a completely broken down system and the need for expensive air conditioning repair in Mandeville, LA.
Let’s talk about what homeowners shouldn’t do in the HVAC world.
1. Patching a Refrigerant Leak
You might have patched a plumbing leak before and thought, “Hey, what’s the difference?” Well, we hate to disappoint you, but there’s a huge difference between refrigerant lines and normal plumbing pipes. For starters, they’re pressurized and depending on the type of system you have, you might not have the equipment to patch this system or recharge the refrigerant.
Secondly, and arguably more importantly, different systems require different types of refrigerant. This material can be dangerous to handle without proper safety equipment, so there’s just no good reason why an untrained person should be performing this work. Stay safe, secure, and keep your system from breaking down by calling for a professional to patch your system’s refrigerant leak.
2. Tightening a Loose Part
It might seem simple—opening up your air conditioner, locating the loose component, and simply tightening it in the position that you see in a tutorial video. Quick and easy, right?
Wrong! Firstly, the moment you open your air conditioner, you could be voiding your warranty and costing yourself a tremendous amount of money in the future.
Secondly, you might bump into another part when trying to perform your repair, causing a cascade of damage that inevitably requires professional care. Do yourself a favor and call for an experienced technician to get this work done.
3. Thawing Ice That’s Formed on Your System
It’s perfectly natural to see a block of ice forming on your air conditioner and want to thaw it immediately. After all, you know that ice shouldn’t be forming on the condenser and you also know that you need to deal with this problem immediately. The only problem is that ice on your condenser is most likely being formed because of an internal problem. This could be related to a clogged air filter or a refrigerant leak.
The good news is that you can absolutely change your air filter yourself. Go ahead and do so, and then turn your air conditioner back on to see if there is a difference. If not, then there’s a problem that needs to be addressed by a professional.
When you need it done right, call Professional Heating & Air.