When you review your furnace maintenance checklist, you will find that you should replace that air filter once every few months and perform a visual inspection. Anything more than that requires you to contact a local furnace tune up company to remedy any problems.
Refrigerant Leaks
When you utilize a heat pump, you rely on refrigerant to heat and cool your home. Anytime this substance leaks, you and your family are in danger. These leaks can cause asphyxia, dizziness and a myriad of other respiratory issues.
A licensed professional knows how to work around refrigerant safely. A manufacturer will also make sure your warranty remains intact. If you were to work on your furnace, then you may void the warranty, meaning you will have to pay out of pocket for any future expenses.
Big Fixes
You should only be responsible for cleaning all dust inside the unit and clearing the outdoor unit of all loose leaves, sticks and grass clippings. In the event there is still an issue with the furnace, you need to call an expert.
For starters, you likely lack the proper tools to do the job. Repairing the ducts alone will likely require you to have tin snips, tongs crimpers, and shears. These tools are not like a power drill where it is good to have for various projects. You may end up spending more on tools than to simply hire someone.
Annual Inspection
Similar to most things around the house, you want to thoroughly inspect the furnace once a year even when everything seems to be working fine. You probably do not know precisely what to look for. An HVAC expert will not miss early warning signs that something is about to go wrong with your unit.
Risk of Fire
A furnace depends on a pilot light to function. With an open flame in the mix, it is possible something will catch fire. If you have a system without such a flame, then there is still the risk presented by faulty wiring. You also do not want to mess with any gas lines unless you have received the proper training.
As soon as you smell gas in your home, you need to contact your local fire department as well as the gas company. Everyone needs to evacuate out of the home until the problem is resolved. One misstep is all it takes to endanger your family, so leave this work to the professionals whenever you can.
Call the Experts
No matter how handy you think you are, everyone needs some help now and then. When it comes to your furnace, you are always better off playing it safe than sorry. Contact a heating tune up service company near you today when you start having problems.
About Author: Lisa Davis is the HVAC senior content creator at ABC Cooling, Heating and Plumbing, a professional HVAC service company located in Hayward, CA. Lisa has a Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management and has been working within the home services industry for more than 10 years.
