Your heating and air conditioning system is one of the most important appliances in your home. So what do you do when it breaks? Well, depending on the repair, you may be able to fix it yourself. But you should only go this route if you know what you’re doing. Otherwise, you could put yourself, your family, and your home in danger.

This article will help you tell a do-it-yourself (DIY) job apart from an air conditioning repair that needs professional attention.

Is it a good idea to repair your AC unit yourself?

When it comes to DIY repairs, the honest answer is that it depends. If you don’t have the right tools or experience with AC units, consider letting a professional handle the job. On the other hand, if you have the know-how and the supplies, you may be able to handle minor repairs independently.

Here are a few things you should consider before jumping into a DIY repair:

• Cost. While hiring a professional technician can be expensive, it doesn’t mean your DIY job will come cheap. If you need to purchase new tools or parts, you may spend more money than it would take to hire an expert to handle the problem. You also need to consider what happens if you make a mistake because messing up a DIY repair can make everything more costly than it already was.
• Parts. As mentioned above, you will likely need to buy new parts for your DIY AC repair. While this isn’t always a problem, it can present its own challenges. For example, if your air conditioning unit is older, you might have trouble finding the parts you need. You also need to ensure that whatever parts you buy will fit your air conditioning unit. Hiring a professional technician ensures that your AC unit will be repaired correctly, as they tend to have all the necessary parts on hand when they come to fix your unit.
• Experience. Being good at DIY home projects does not mean you have the necessary knowledge or skill to take on air conditioning repairs. You shouldn’t attempt any repairs to your air conditioning unit if you don’t have the right experience. The reason is that you could worsen the problem or even put yourself in danger.
• Danger. Some air conditioning repairs can be dangerous, especially if they involve refrigerant, gas leaks, or electrical problems. Trying to fix the problem can put you and your home in danger. It’s not worth hurting yourself to save money on an air conditioning repair.

When to call a professional air conditioning company

If you have no experience handling your air conditioning unit or need professional help, you should contact an expert to come out and solve the problem. There are several instances when you should consider calling an air conditioning technician over DIY fixes, including:

• You have high electric bills.
• Your air conditioning unit has major or hidden leaks.
• You notice mold growth inside or outside of your air conditioning unit.
• You smell something foul coming from your air conditioning unit, typically indicating a gas leak.
• You hear loud or scary noises from your unit, indicating a serious problem.

Contact us for a consultation in Edmond, OK!

If you need maintenance performed on your HVAC system, would like a system installed, or simply want more information about how residential HVAC systems work, get in touch with us at Caldwell Mechanical Systems. Schedule a consultation by calling 580-490-2453 or 580-220-0932. You can also send a message using our online contact form.