A lot of people can truly benefit from the DIY philosophy, but choosing to take the handyman approach and working on your own home heating, cooling, and ventilation system isn’t such a good idea unless you know what you’re doing. What can seem easy, logical or uncomplicated, can sometimes be just the opposite.

When it comes to your HVAC system, take note of these common mistakes. You’ll likely avoid more costly fixes in the future.

Mistakes To Avoid

• Purchasing a unit too large for your home. This is probably one of the most common mistakes homeowners make. Choosing to purchase a unit from your local home improvement store, or insisting on a larger unit (assuming bigger must be better) can result in wasting a significant amount of energy, and that can cost dearly over the long term.
• Installing a furnace or air conditioning unit on your own. If it’s your first time installing a new unit in your home, it’s best to rely on the experience of an expert. Certified HVAC technicians understand how to properly calibrate and balance each element of the unit so it works correctly and efficiently.
• Bargain shopping for repairs. While it can pay off to shop around for the best price on other areas of home service repair, when it comes to fixing your HVAC, it’s best to go with a company you can trust. If the job isn’t done correctly the first time, you end up spending more to fix the mistakes of the cheaper company.
• Not having your HVAC system professionally maintained. Neglecting to maintain your system can lead to costly repairs and inefficient performance. Regular professional maintenance will prolong the life of your system and help it remain reliable when you need it most.
• Risking repair over a needed replacement. To save money, many homeowners will choose to repair their heating or cooling unit when it should be replaced. In the long run, this short-term savings can end up costing you more with additional repairs and more frequent service. If you factor today’s more energy efficient units into the equation, the decision becomes even clearer. A new, energy efficient unit will equal greater savings both now and in the long term.
• Not having your air ducts professionally cleaned or sealed. Enlisting a professionally trained person to clean your air ducts helps to assure good air quality inside your home. If not sealed or cleaned properly, your air ducts can contribute to an unhealthy environment, especially for persons with allergies or asthma.
• Not exhausting bathroom, kitchen or dryer vents to the outside of your home. Be sure your vents are not exhausted into your attic or crawl space. Doing so can lead to serious moisture problems that contribute to mold and mildew. Your dryer vents should be exhausted outside. Dryer vents exhausted to inside spaces like the attic or crawl space can also contribute to lint build-up, which can be a very dangerous fire hazard.
• Masking odors with air fresheners and/or open windows. If you have an odor inside your home that won’t disappear, don’t try to hide with air fresheners and sprays. If you notice unusual odors, or the air seems stuffy and stale, it could be your air quality. Installing an air purifier can help your HVAC system deliver fresher, cleaner air.
• Not changing your air filter. It is important to change your system’s air filter often – every month for standard filters, and every three months for the HEPA variety. Clean air filters not only help keep your indoor air quality at a healthy level, they help your air conditioner and furnace run smoothly.
• Regularly turning your thermostat up or down to overcompensate for temperature imbalances. If you find you are adjusting the thermostat to make up for one room or area of your home always being too hot or too cold, you are likely wasting a great deal of money. Zoning your home might be a better solution, so you’re only controlling the comfort in the areas that matter to you most.

While it’s great to take on regular maintenance and repairs by fixing things yourself when you can, it can sometimes become more costly and complicated if not done correctly.

Do you have a need for repair? Do you have questions about your home HVAC system? Contact the pros at Boonstra’s One Hour Heating and Air or schedule a repair online today.