Dear Homeowners

Before I say anything, please don't take offence to what I say. I'm just offering my opinion (and that of many other HVAC techs) on the subject of DIY.

So I've been browsing this sub for a few months now. I am a residential hvac installer/ occasional service tech at a fairly large local HVAC plumbing company. Little over seven years experience. With that said, I will get to my point.

As a homeowner, there are many things within your home that can go wrong. Anything from a hole in the drywall to a major failure in your heating or cooling system. Naturally, in either case, the first thing to come to mind is "what is this going to cost me". That's a fair thought. Everyone knows hiring someone to perform a repair is a costly ordeal. However, when it pertains to hvac, please do yourself a favor and hire a professional. Now i'm not saying that you need a pro for every minor thing, say your coils drain is clogged. Chances are a decently handy homeowner can tackle this one. The problem is, I all to often see homeowners trying to take on something way way out of their league. Both on this sub, and my own personal experience. Unless you truly know how the system you're working on operates, please don't try. Air conditioning especially is far more complex than it appears. As a homeowner, if you find yourself looking to do more than change your filter or blow out your drains, you're probably not qualified to do so. The thing is though, thats fine. I'm an HVAC tech, maybe you're a lawyer. I can't do what you do, and you can't do what I do. Just as most people wouldn't chose to represent themselves in a court of law, you should chose not to try to fix a problem with your system that is often out of your understanding. The biggest thing is to find yourself a reputable, well reviewed company. There are more than you think, and the internet is a great way to find out. Most HVAC companies aren't out to rip you off. We as techs, ask you to have a little trust in us, as we would a doctor, lawyer, teacher etc.

TL;DR Hire a professional for your HVAC needs. Just as you would hire a lawyer or see a doctor. It's fine to not know.

submitted by /u/Majin_Sus
[link] [comments]