A lot of people take pride in homeownership. It makes sense—being a homeowner is a difficult task but often incredibly rewarding. Nothing quite feels like the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment after someone has found a DIY solution to a complex problem occurring in their home. The only issue is that the risk vs. reward in these kinds of situations can differ drastically.
For instance, doing some intense cleaning or painting the walls in a home can have marginal risk when measured against the huge reward one might get from this work. But furnace repair in Westchester, NY often has high levels of risk for a low amount of reward. Don’t get us wrong, furnace repairs can often be expensive, but the cost of this work is worth every single penny when compared to what could go wrong when homeowners try to do it themselves.
The Safety Risks
First, we think it’s appropriate to talk about the safety risks involved with DIY furnace repair. Most of our customers have gas furnaces in their homes, which are great systems that run with peak safety and performance, but only with a licensed HVAC technician providing the work.
Once someone who is inexperienced or unlicensed opens the furnace up and starts messing with components, all bets are off. DIY furnace work can be extremely dangerous. It can lead to gas leaks, which are fire hazards, and carbon monoxide leaks which contribute to a number of fatalities per year.
Trust us: the health and safety of a family is more important than saving a few bucks on furnace repairs by trying to do the work yourself.
An Expensive Resolution
Yes, furnace repair costs money. There’s no way around this. But DIY work isn’t exactly free. If there’s a component that’s broken, homeowners would likely need to replace it with a new one that costs money. Also, time is precious, and all that time spent trying to fix a furnace is going to add up.
Unlicensed amateurs and homeowners are more likely to make mistakes when trying to do DIY work, which also needs to be resolved at some point. All of this can sometimes lead to a higher cost than just calling for a pro.
The Legal Ramifications
Did we mention that trying to fix or work on gas lines is illegal? Tampering with a municipality’s gas lines can be illegal and often extremely dangerous. This is one great reason to call for professional help. Legal fines and safety hazards are not worth the big of money saved from trying to do this work DIY.
Peace of Mind
Peace of mind is something to remember when deciding between calling for help or doing DIY work. DIY work, especially without experience or training, can be stressful and extremely difficult. This is not a process that we’d recommend anyone go through for the sheer stress alone can be hard to manage and life altering.
When a professional is hired to do this work, it’s done quickly and efficiently, leaving homeowners to focus on the things that matter.
Contact the pros at Yost & Campbell Heating, Cooling & Generators for comprehensive furnace repair.