Derek Cole from Simmons One Hour Heating and Air breaks down which HVAC tasks homeowners can handle themselves and which need a professional. Changing filters and clearing vents are safe DIY moves. Refrigerant work, electrical repairs, and compressor issues require a licensed technician to avoid damage and safety hazards.
Home and Life Comfort with Derek Cole. Hey, y'. All. Welcome back to the Home and Life Comfort podcast. I'm Derek Cole, general manager at Simmons One Hour Heating and Air. And today we're diving into one of the biggest questions we hear from homeowners all the time. Can I fix it myself or should I call a professional? We get it. It's tempting to jump into DIY mode when your AC or heat pump isn't acting right. But over the years, 72 years to be exact, we've seen what happens when good intentions go sideways. So let's break it down. Here's what you can do safely on your own and and what you should leave to the pros. Number one, change your air filter. That's the easiest and most important thing you can do. A clogged filter restricts airflow, makes your system work harder, and can even cause it to freeze up. For most homes, every 30 days is a good habit. If you got pets or allergies, check it more often. But every 30 days, check it or change it. Your air filter is the most important thing you can do. Number two, check the insulation on your refrigerant lines. Now, that thick black pipe running from your outdoor unit to should be insulated. If that foam is cracked or missing or falling off or you hit it with a weed eater when you're mowing grass, your system won't cool properly and your energy bills will go up. If you spot damage, call us and we can fix it. Right? Number three, clear the space around your indoor unit. We recommend keeping at least 2ft of space around the system around the outdoor unit. No leaves, no bushes, no lawn furniture. It needs room to breathe. These are great ways to help without risking damage. Now what? You should absolutely lead to the pros. Now, it gets serious right here when. If you're not trained, licensed, or equipped, you won't. You want to leave these to pros? Okay, let's start with the coals. Your indoor and outdoor coal needs to be clean for your system to work efficiently. But those fins are delicate. Bend them, you got a problem, you got a whole new set of problems. We use the right cleaners, the right tools, and the right pressure to clean them safely. Next, condensate drain lines. That's where all the humidity poured into your home drains out. We're in southeastern North Carolina. Okay. It gets humid, it gets nasty. The water coming out of there has to travel somewhere. That's going to be the condensate drain line. When that gets clogged, it can back up and cause water damage or some type of growth you don't want, we flush the line. You can add a treatment as well to help prevent clogs. Make sure it's flowing like it should. Number three lubrication. Now this is not common these days, but some motors still need it, especially older systems. But the wrong lubricant or too much of it can do harm. Arctics know it's needed if anything at all is needed. And there's your refrigerant. Everyone's favorite my system is low on Freon. If your system is low on Freon, that means you have a leak period. In the story, it went somewhere. The system is not using up refrigerant. It is a closed system. The refrigerant in the system should last unless it is leaked out. Topping it off without fixing the leak is just throwing money away. Plus, handling refrigerant without certification is not only is illegal, but it's also dangerous. And finally, electrical diagnostics. H Vac systems are full of capacitors, contactors, control boards. One wrong move with the voltmeter and you're looking at not only injury, but a fried system. Our guys, our team had the training, has the training and tools to safely inspect every part of your system. So what? What's the real cost for the DIY mistakes? And I've seen, I've seen homeowners unintentionally ruin perfectly good equipment. Not out of, you know, trying to be lazy, but out of a desire to help. But trying DIY advanced H Vac work usually results in voiding warranties, high repair costs, safety hazards, and yes, further system failure. You could take something that could be a minor problem and now it's a major problem. So here's the truth. If you're ever in doubt, call us. We have been serving Fayetteville Ponder, Sanford Lauenberg and the surrounding sand hills area for 72 years. We built our reputation on honest advice, fast response and doing the job right. If you need seasonal maintenance, a repair, or just peace of mind, reach out to us at 910-534-4462. Or as always, you can always go to simmons1hour.com your comfort is our calling. Thanks for listening and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more no nonsense Home Advice, Home and Life Comfort with Derrick Cole.
