HVAC DIY Lexington Homeowners Should Avoid

Home improvement DIY (do-it-yourself) is very popular these days – there are endless websites dedicated to ideas and instructions, even TV shows! While there are some projects the average homeowner can certainly tackle safely and accurately, there are certain things which should be left to professionals.

HVAC jobs are an area of home improvement which are certainly above the skill and knowledge level of most homeowners. Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of online instructionals or YouTube videos – even a seemingly simple project can get out of hand quickly if you don’t know what you are doing. Remember – our technicians are highly trained and NATE-certified to ensure a quality job for all our Lexington area customers!

Tackling HVAC DIY can set you up for disaster if you aren’t skilled – below are a few HVAC DIY projects you should avoid and the negative implications they can have.

Out-of-Hand Thermostat Installation

While it looks like just a box on the wall, your thermostat is so much more! Behind that box are wires which connect the thermostat to your heating and cooling equipment, and indoor air quality-improving systems.

Once the old thermostat is off the wall, unexperienced homeowners may realize they are in over their heads. Incorrect thermostat installation can prevent your HVAC systems from operating correctly, or prevent you from turning these systems on at all! If your thermostat is hard-wired to your home’s electrical system, DIY could even be dangerous – resulting in electric shock and creating a fire risk.

Hazardous Refrigerant Handling

Recharging the refrigerant in your cooling system is a project that should always be left to the professionals – in fact, it is illegal to work with air conditioner refrigerant without the proper certification from the Environmental Protection Agency. If you aren’t properly trained and licensed to handle HVAC refrigerants, doing so can be dangerous to your system, the environment, and yourself. Overcharging your air conditioner’s refrigerant can damage the system, and prevent it from effectively and efficiently cooling your home. Simply charging the system without fixing the leak that causes the need for more coolant allows toxic refrigerant to continually contaminate the environment, and coming into contact with it yourself can result in refrigerant poisoning, which is potentially deadly. Protect yourself from danger and make sure your HVAC equipment will work as designed – leave these tasks to the NATE-certified HVAC pros at Climate Control! Call us today to discuss your upcoming HVAC project.