Do you suddenly hear strange noises coming from your furnace or notice it’s not producing hot air? If so, you might feel tempted to save a few bucks and perform the repairs yourself. Homeowners in Pineville, North Carolina, should know these four dangers of DIY furnace repair before attempting it:
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
As a colorless and odorless gas, carbon monoxide is almost impossible to detect unless you have a carbon monoxide detector. Whenever you have something that uses fuel, it emits carbon monoxide, which can cause serious health effects including death. Improperly fixing your furnace can cause the heat exchanger to crack and leak carbon monoxide into your home. Therefore, you should professional help instead.
Refrigerant Leaks
If your furnace has a heat pump, it relies on refrigerant as a source of heat. Refrigerant leaks during the winter affect both the HVAC system and occupants of the residence. Common dangerous symptoms include asphyxia, dizziness and other respiratory issues.
Fire
Whether you have a natural gas or electric system, your furnace is part of a heating element. Natural gas systems use extremely flammable fuel, which increases the risk of fire. With an electric system, if you have a misplaced or cross wire, the system could overheat and catch fire.
Permanent Damage
Most furnace issues start small. But if you catch them early, they will most likely be cheaper and easier to repair. However, if you make a mistake during DIY furnace repair, you could end up making expensive mistakes and create further damage. Having to replace a damaged furnace can cost thousands of dollars.
The risks of a DIY furnace repair are high, which is why it’s best to only allow licensed and qualified service technicians repair your unit. If you’re worried about your heating unit, reach out to Bradham Brothers, Inc. to have a professional come out and take a look.
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