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Why pay for a service you can do yourself? Hence the DIY movement where you can do various home improvement projects yourself instead of hiring a professional.
Although this school of thinking works well in some spheres of home improvement, it is not that great when it comes to other things that put your life at risk. There are things that only professionals know how to maintain and repair.
These are things that need a lot of caution, care, and precision, which can lead to damage and bigger accidents and disasters if left for anyone to do.
Furnace maintenance falls into this category. There are instances where it is safe for you to handle some aspects of maintenance. You can change the filter and light the pilot light. But this is also not for everybody, as a single mistake can damage the equipment or put your life at risk. For professional furnace maintenance from the pros at Anderson Air, visit this site.
Let’s find out if DIY furnace maintenance is okay.
What is the importance of furnace maintenance?
Furnaces keep your home sufficiently warm during chilly and cold/freezing days. A furnace is a system that generates and supplies heat throughout all rooms of your home using a duct system.
Like any other device or system, parts of the furnace heating system suffer from wear-and-tear over time with use. To maintain your furnace running efficiently and safely, you need to perform routine maintenance and repair and replace faulty furnace components.
It is recommended to get the services of a professional for furnace inspection and maintenance.
Scope of furnace maintenance you can DIY
These are some of the things you can do in DIY furnace maintenance:
- Inspecting burner flames
- Cleaning the flame sensor. You can use a fine emery cloth that cleans metal surfaces.
- Vacuuming in and around the furnace
- Cleaning and changing the air filter
- Cleaning the pilot and hot surface igniter. Without coming in contact with these parts, blow air through a straw to remove any dust and dirt in these parts.
- Cleaning the burner. To do this, switch off the furnace system and gas supply. Then vacuum the dust in and around the burners, furnace base, and blower compartment.
- Clean the blower blades. You can use a vacuum and a small brush to do this. While cleaning, avoid tampering with the wiring and counterweights.
- Changing the batteries in the thermostat
- Inspect and seal leaks in the furnace ductwork.
Note: Before any DIY heating system maintenance, remember to switch off the power connection to your furnace. To do this, inspect the circuit breaker and turn off the switch.
But although you can easily do the above tasks yourself, here is why you shouldn’t.
Why you shouldn’t do DIY furnace maintenance
You can easily damage your furnace components
Wrongly readjusting or repairing any part of the furnace can be the start of big furnace problems. Professional technicians know the where, the how, the what, and the when of furnace maintenance.
On the other hand, you have no expert knowledge about how to handle a furnace. And so may tweak or adjust what you are not supposed to, damaging your furnace.
You risk carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide is produced when fossil fuels don’t combust or burn properly. A faulty furnace may not completely burn the gas, leading to carbon monoxide production in your home. And this is not a problem that you can rectify on your own.
A professional can easily tell that your faulty furnace is producing high levels of carbon monoxide in your home by inspecting your heat exchangers and burners and rectifying the problem quickly.
Tip: Don’t wait for a professional to tell you that you have carbon monoxide leaks. Install a carbon monoxide detector to signal anytime a gas leak happens. This will help you avoid carbon monoxide poisoning,and potentially save your life.
Increased risk of causing a fire
Household heating systems are potential fire hazards. Any small mistake can lead to a fire. To ensure fire safety, always let a professional handle any repair concerning your furnace’s gas lines or electrical wiring.
Some issues are more severe than they seem
Some issues are far above your novice expertise. If your furnace makes loud noises, undergoes short cycling, and has poor airflow, your simple furnace maintenance DIY repair won’t suffice. You need the services of a professional to repair or replace your furnace efficiently.
DIY repairs void warranties
Some furnace manufacturers only compensate for issues that qualified technicians have uncovered. So, if you do the furnace repair yourself, you risk violating the warranty policies, making it void.
Most warranties require that only professional or qualified technicians can install HVAC equipment. They also stipulate:
· The use of particular parts or brands.
· Following specific guidelines and proper industry practices.
· Technicians are qualified, licensed, insured, and bonded.
Because of this, jumping into DIY repairs can cost you more in the long run.
Furnace repair and maintenance is more complex than you think, so if you’re DIY central heating maintenance attempts fail and add damage to the furnace. You will incur more to hire a professional and buy replacement parts you destroyed.
It makes it difficult to sell a house
Potential buyers of your house want a house in overall good condition. A house that has sound HVAC, electricity, and drainage systems. To ensure that your furnace system is in great condition, they will ask for proof of a professional HVAC maintenance report. So, if you did the furnace repairs yourself, you will lack this proof, causing you to miss a lucrative deal.
Conclusion
Regular DIY furnace maintenance is a must-have activity to ensure the long time efficiency of your furnace system.
And while you can do some maintenance tasks yourself, remember to seek an HVAC professional for more complex issues. Qualified technicians ensure safe and proper maintenance of all components of your furnace system, ductwork, and electrical components.
Also, plan for annual inspections and cleanings to keep your furnace system in excellent working condition, increase its longevity and reduce energy bills.
