Furnace Service vs DIY: DIY is not the cheapest or safest option when it comes to servicing your furnace. You can do basic maintenance such as changing your filters regularly but the more technical repairs should be left to the pros. Read on to find out why.
If you are looking for a fully qualified HVAC technician you can trust to service your furnace properly in the Ottawa region, contact Draft Control today.
Furnace Service vs DIY – Pros of DIY Furnace Service
DIY Can Save You Money
The biggest advantage of tackling a furnace repair yourself is the money that you could save. Labour costs are often the largest portion of any repair or maintenance service. Doing the service yourself could save you this cost. However, if you make a mistake, the damage that you do many end up costing you more in the long run to repair.
If you make a mistake, fixing your furnace yourself could cost you more in the long run
DIY Can Help Your Build Your Skills
Learning a new skill such as servicing your own furnace can be very rewarding. Being able to say that you did it yourself is a great feeling. However, you need to count the cost of learning to fix your furnace yourself. Today’s furnaces are very complex, so learning how to do it yourself will take a lot of research, study, and skill. You need to ask yourself if it is actually worth all of the time and effort that it would take when you can simply call a professional to do it for you.
Furnace Service vs DIY – Cons of DIY Furnace Service
Servicing Your Furnace Requires Technical Knowledge and Training
It is tempting to try doing repairs yourself as there is an abundance of DIY books and YouTube videos available now that make so many jobs look easy. But becoming a trained HVAC technician usually takes an average of two years of training at a trade school or community college for a diploma program or one year for a certificate.
In addition, you will probably also need to complete an apprenticeship. The rules vary depending on the province you are in. Some institutions offer an accelerated program that you can complete in less time, but the point is, getting the proper training is not something that you can learn by watching a few videos; it takes time.
Servicing Your Furnace Can Be Dangerous
Most furnaces run on gas. When you work with gas there is a serious risk of fire, explosion, or carbon monoxide poisoning. If you don’t do it right, you are endangering yours and your family’s safety. Don’t fool around with your safety or your life. Hire a trained technician to work on your furnace.
If you don’t know what you are doing, servicing your furnace can be extremely dangerous
A DIY Repair Could Void Your Warranty
You may think that doing a repair on your furnace yourself could save you lots of money, but it could actually mean that you void your warranty.
A DIY Repair Could Mean that Your Home Insurance Won’t Cover You if Something Happens
You may find that your home insurance doesn’t cover any damage caused by a furnace that you have tried to repair yourself. You could find yourself in big financial trouble if a fire occurs as a result of a furnace that was not repaired by a licensed HVAC technician.
You Need a Permit to Do HVAC Renovations
In most municipalities in Canada, you will require a permit to do any renovation work on an HVAC unit such as replacing it yourself. The fact that you need a permit should immediately make you think twice about working on your furnace yourself.
Some DIY Furnace Services that Are Safe to Do Yourself
There are some DIY furnace maintenance tasks that are not only safe but are a good idea to do yourself in order to prolong the life of your furnace and prevent bigger issues happening. These include:
- Change your filter quarterly when the fan is set for “auto” and every 30 to 45 days when it is running continuously.
- Replace the batteries in your thermostat when necessary
- Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every 30 days and replace their batteries at least once a year
- Lower the temperature on your thermostat when you go away or when you are sleeping
- Seal air leaks in your ductwork and other places such as your attic where air is escaping.
- Clean up the dust in your home to help your HVAC system work more efficiently
You can safely change your furnace filter yourself
Call Draft Control for Your All Your HVAC Servicing Needs
Draft Control HVAC is a highly trusted heating and air conditioning company servicing the East Ottawa region. Unlike other companies, we focus on our customers and their complete satisfaction, not on the brands that we sell. Whether you require installation, repair, or maintenance for your furnace, air conditioner, water heater, gas BBQ and fireplace, or boiler; you can trust Draft Control. Contact us today for all your heating and cooling needs.
“Our furnace was acting up, so I called Draft Control Heating and Cooling. What I like immediately was talking to the owner. You call and he picks up the phone. He offered to come the next day, give a free inspection of our old furnace. If the fix was simple, then he would repair it, if not he would give us a no pressure quote for a new furnace…If you are looking for an honest contractor that has competitive pricing that installs a very good brand, then definitely put Draft Controls Heating and Cooling on your short list. I’d also recommend him for servicing heating and cooling.” – Christopher K.
Financing Available!
Great news, Draft Control now offers financing through EcoHome Financial. If you know that you need to a new air conditioner and furnace and want to replace HVAC system, but you weren’t sure how you were going to do it financially, we can help. Contact Draft Control to learn more.
We Even Offer a Military Discount!
Draft Control is proud to offer a 10% discount on select services and sales to our military personnel. Contact us today to learn more.
