The simple answer to this question is “no.” If you are having troubles with your home’s heating system this winter, or with your air conditioning later in the year, there’s not much you can do to repair it unless you are a trained HVAC technician with the right equipment. Modern HVAC systems are complex and even attempting to diagnose what’s causing problems is difficult unless you’re specially trained. Attempting to make any type of repairs yourself risks the following:
- Making the problem worse
- Causing possibly irreversible damage to the HVAC system
- Voiding the system’s warranty
- Causing harm to yourself or others
We want to draw special attention to the last point: when it comes to gas-powered heaters like furnaces, it’s actually illegal for anyone without the proper certification to work on them. The potential for gas leaks and combustion hazards is simply too high. Don’t risk it!
On the other hand, you aren’t helpless.
Although you shouldn’t attempt to make any DIY repairs to your HVAC system, you do have resources. We don’t just mean calling HVAC contractors in Greenville, SC, although that’s one of your best options. Before you call HVAC experts like our team, you can go through troubleshooting steps to check if a simple problem is behind your malfunctioning heating and cooling. None of these steps are “repairs”—you don’t have to open up the HVAC cabinet and use any tools.
- Check that the HVAC system has power. Most HVAC systems have a dedicated power switch located near the cabinet. Make sure it’s turned on. Sometimes people forget to turn this switch on at the beginning of the season.
- Check on the thermostat. A mistake in settings or someone in the household changing the settings without you knowing about it can interfere with comfort. You may also need to change the batteries on the thermostat.
- Check the electrical panel. Even gas furnaces need electricity to run, and the tripped circuit breaker will cut off the power to any heating or cooling system. If a circuit breaker has tripped, reset it and attempt to run the HVAC system again. If the breaker keeps tripping, then it’s better to call on technicians to investigate.
- Change out a clogged air filter. Any forced-air heater or air conditioner has an air filter (also known as the blower filter) that protects the interior of the HVAC cabinet from dust and dirt infiltration. This filter will clog up after one to three months and start lowering system performance, even causing it to shut down. Change the filter if it’s clogged to see if it corrects the problem.
- Clean and clear the outdoor cabinet. If you’re having problems with a heat pump or an air conditioner, check the outside cabinet to make sure it isn’t blocked or too dirty. Clean off the cabinet and keep the area around it clear for at least a foot.
If you’ve gone through these steps and still have a malfunctioning HVAC system, it’s time to reach out to the team at Carolina Climate Control. We’ll get your comfort system back to full operation.