Have you ever thought about servicing your air conditioner on your own? While DIY AC maintenance seems easy enough, you’ll want to read this first.
As the go-to AC maintenance experts in Humble, TX, Crew Heating & Cooling knows a thing or two about proper cooling system care. We lend some insight below – those potential pitfalls might shock you.
The Risky Business of Homegrown Tune-Ups in Humble, Texas
The main reason people try this route is to “save money,” but it’s no marketing gimmick that this decision costs you more. These risks top the list:
Voided Warranty
Many air conditioning manufacturers insist on professional maintenance to keep guarantees valid. Avoiding DIY AC maintenance is in the fine print. Why?
The company could lose money when they have to fix every unit that breaks after amateur work. They might also want to avoid liability if someone unqualified gets hurt while tinkering with their product.
Subpar Performance
Cooling systems involve a careful balance of delicate parts, like fans, coils, and refrigerant lines. Each piece must function perfectly in sync.
Messing with the balance could ruin a lot for your Humble property’s comfort and safety. Hot spots, rising usage costs, and strange noises are just some of the potential issues.
Hazards Abound
In Humble and everywhere else, well-meaning DIYers endanger themselves and their property’s inhabitants with HVAC complications. Let’s break down what can go wrong:
- Electric shocks: Air conditioners run on high voltages. One wrong move gets a nasty shock!
- Fires: Incorrect wiring or overloading circuits easily spark a flame. Air conditioner fires are fairly rare – around 2,300 a year – but why become part of that statistic?
- Chemical leaks: A refrigerant line breach can cause toxic coolant liquid or gas to escape. It is odorless and colorless, so you may not know it’s there until you experience headaches, nausea, or worse.
- Personal injury: Cooling appliances have sharp edges and small spaces; getting hurt is easier than you think. Lifting heavy parts could also strain a muscle.
Expensive Damage
What you might have saved with DIY AC maintenance will usually go toward fixing mistakes. In Humble, our air conditioning team has personally had to address:
- Bent fins and fans
- Blown compressors
- Cracked condenser coils
- Short-circuited wiring
- Damaged thermostats
- Corroded connections
The worst case scenario is that you damage something irreparable — can you afford to prematurely replace a whole system thanks to tinkering gone wrong?
Legal Trouble
The EPA strictly regulates cooling chemicals under the Clean Air Act. It’s a federal law that aims to safeguard air quality and people from harmful substances.
You can’t just handle refrigerants. The law requires proper training and specific guidelines for safe AC maintenance.
Why Partner With an HVAC Expert?
Skip the DIY AC maintenance – let a specialist handle things for:
Convenience
Learning to take care of your cooling system requires time. Mastering it takes even longer.
Wouldn’t you rather spend your weekend catching up on your favorite hobby or relaxing with family and friends? Humble’s residents have busy schedules. Leave the air conditioning repair time for our local air conditioning experts.
Thoroughness
You think, “Just a quick check and an air filter replacement.” But a proper tune-up digs much deeper than that. It examines every part and considers every angle.
Typical sessions from certified technicians in Humble often involve:
- Thermostat calibration: Experts clean and move contacts to the optimal position. A well-tuned device provides accurate temperature settings, saves energy, enhances comfort, prolongs system life, and prevents breakdowns.
- Evaporator coil cleaning: Coils need a refresh every so often. Dirt and debris cover them over time, which hinders heat absorption.
- Drain line unclogging: Cooling systems produce condensation, and it needs a place to go. A blocked channel may damage sensitive components, create leaks, and encourage organic growth.
- Refrigerant recharge: Your air conditioner normally won’t need new coolant unless it leaks out. A professional would have to fix that leak first, then replace the lost fluid with the right chemical and amount.
Savings
Has a long time passed since your last HVAC servicing? Compare your bills before and after that tune-up – the difference might shock you. Well-maintained units consume less power for the same amount of cool air, and that efficiency helps the unit serve you for longer.
Your Dependable AC Tune-Up Team in Humble, Texas
DIY AC maintenance is a perilous endeavor that may not even pay off in the end. The reputable professionals at Crew Heating & Cooling have you covered!
Call now — or read more of our blog to learn some culprits of an AC unit not turning on.