There are a number of online tutorials out there, for just about any type of home renovation or repair project. Unfortunately, just because you can do just about any repair hack you found online, doesn’t always mean that you should. This is especially true with furnace repairs–particularly gas furnaces.
Furnaces are very complex pieces of machinery, and HVAC technicians receive years of training and education in order to learn how to safely and adequately service these systems. Furnace repairs are always best left to the pros! Read on to learn why.
DIY Furnace Repair Can Create Fire Hazards
Gas-powered furnaces rely on a gas line and heat exchangers to do their job. These heat exchangers house powerful and hot combustion gases. If the gas line or heat exchanger is damaged, it can create a fire hazard in your home, particularly if you don’t, or are unsure how to, shut off the main gas supply line to your home.
Even with an electrical furnace, DIY repairs can create fire hazards. There are electrical components and wiring that could get damaged, and even if the fire doesn’t occur that day, smoldering can occur and lead to a fire later on.
DIY Furnace Repair Can Cause Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
As we mentioned above, the heat exchangers of a gas-powered furnace house combustion gases. One of these gases is Carbon Monoxide or CO. Over the years, and even in our last post, you’ve likely heard of the dangers of CO poisoning. It leads to hundreds of illnesses and even fatalities each year.
If the heat exchangers become damaged during DIY furnace repairs, it can cause a leak, which will lead to CO exposure and potential poisoning.
Small Repairs Can Turn into Big Repairs
One of the biggest problems (no pun intended) with DIY furnace repairs is that small issues can become much bigger if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Take worn-down motor bearings, for instance. This is a very common result of natural wear and tear. What happens is that the lubrication on the motor bearings wears down and it creates friction between the motor and the blower fan.
Relubricating these motor bearings sounds easy enough, right? Well, if done incorrectly, the friction will only increase, which will lead to a broken-down motor, potentially a damaged blower fan, and a much more expensive problem than you started out with. You may even find yourself calling a professional to fix a botched job anyway.
The best thing to do when you need furnace repairs is to contact a qualified professional. And the best thing you can do to prevent small repairs from becoming much bigger issues is to schedule professional maintenance each year! In fact, maintenance from our technicians could help you avoid up to 85% of the repair needs a system might otherwise need without regular service!
Please reach out to learn more, and ask about our VIP club maintenance program.
For professional and reliable heating repairs in Woodstock, GA, look no further than Dayco Systems.
Contact us today!
