When your air conditioner stops working, you may worry about how to get it back up and running. You do not want to suffer through those high temperature days without having a good air conditioner that is going to work well for you. Many homeowners will automatically call a technician to make sure that the work will get done quickly and efficiently. But if you are short on money and don’t want to wait for someone to come and get it done, you may consider doing some of the work on your own.
If it is a small problem, you may be able to handle some of the common problems of your air conditioner on your own. For example, you probably do not need to hire someone to come and change the filter since you can do that on your own. But when it comes to some of the electrical components and more technical things of the AC unit, then it is a good idea to hire the professionals. Some of the reasons that you shouldn’t consider doing the repairs and maintenance on your own includes:
Electrocution
One of the major problems that can happen when you start to work on your air conditioner on your own is that you will work with some of the high voltage wiring and end up getting electrocuted. If you are hurt while touching an AC unit, which can run up to 2500 watts, you may suffer from severe burns, problems with heart palpitations, and even death.
It is easy to reach in with a toot, usually a metal one, when you are working on the air conditioner and before long, you nick a wire that wasn’t grounded well. This will send the electricity right to you, which is never a fun experience. Rather than risking your health and even your life just to work on the air conditioner, it is best to hire a HVAC technician to take on the work for you.
Hazardous Materials
Another common problem that you will need to worry about when it comes to DIY repairs on your air conditioner is that there are some hazardous materials present in the unit. In older ones, you may be dealing with things like asbestos. In the new ones, you could have materials like refrigerants, which are used to keep things cold. These can be hard to the environment and even bad if you end up inhaling them.
If there is a leak of the refrigerant, it can cause oxygen to get cut off from the lungs and in severe cases, it may cause organ damage. If there is some reason that you inhale it in high doses, then it may be able to cause sudden death in the individual. None of this is a good thing and is it really worth risking your health and life for?
Rather than risking all of this, it is usually best to talk to a professional HVAC technician to help out. They have the right tools and experience to ensure that the unit is fixed and that they will not get hurt in the process. You will be able to stay safe as well when you let the professionals do the work for you.
Asphyxiation
It is common for some homeowners who trying to fix their own air conditioner to suffer from problems of asphyxiation. Due to the smaller space that you are working in and some of the chemicals that are common with this kind of appliance, it is easier to inhale a lot more gas than oxygen when you are getting to work. And it is possible that you will think you are just fine until things are too late. There are a few different types of this problem that you will need to worry about including:
# Air displacement asphyxiation: This is when the oxygen in the air is displaced by a non-life sustaining gas and you will breathe that in. There are a few things that can cause this, but nitrogen is common since it lacks odor or color. It is hard to detect a nitrogen leak, but it can make it hard to breath.
# Heavier than air asphyxiation: This is going to happen when the oxygen is displaced, not because of another gas filling up the room, but because of density. This can be found with carbon dioxide, which is a lot heavier than what we see with oxygen. This can push the oxygen out of the way and you will not have any more to breathe.
Rather than risking the issue of asphyxiation just to try and replace the air conditioner on your own, especially if the problem area is inside of the home, you may want to consider hiring a professional to come and do the work. The right HVAC technician is going to step in and be able to handle all of the repairs and other issues, keeping you safe and preventing some major problems like the ones we discussed above. They are often faster at it as well, giving you some of the cool air you need.
While it may be tempting to consider doing the air conditioner repair on your own, this is not always the best option to go with. There are a lot of different components that can come with an AC unit, and trying to do it on your own can result in some issues and can cost you more in the long run. For most homeowners, it makes more sense to work with the professionals to take care of the air conditioner and to make sure it will last you a long time.
When you need to repair or replace your AC unit, then trust our team at Pro-Tech Air Corp AC Repair. Our team has the experience and the tools to get it done. Whether you are looking to do some routine maintenance to keep your home cool all summer long or you are ready to discuss whether it is time to get a new unit or not, our team will be there to check things out, answer your questions, and help you make the right decision. Contact us today to learn more!
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