For the confident do-it-yourselfer, no household job may seem to be off limits. After all, if you’re handy with tools and can read directions, what could go wrong? When it comes to furnace installation, the answer is "plenty."
Installing a furnace may seem simple: one must come out and another must be fitted in its place. It's not that simple, however. Furnace installation is a job that’s best left to people who have years of experience confronting and reconciling the quirky little problems and the bigger life-threatening issues, such as the possibility of a carbon monoxide leak.
Homeowners who attempt to install a unit themselves often begin the process on the wrong foot by trying to install a furnace that's improperly sized. A too-small furnace won't be able to heat a home comfortably, but one that's too large will be inefficient as well.
From there, a furnace installation gets even trickier. Think about:
- Dealing properly with refrigerant and carbon monoxide, the latter of which is commonly emitted in small amounts from furnaces, but can be deadly at dangerous levels.
- The need for furnace installation tools, such as a refrigeration gauge, pipe-threading dies, cutters and a vacuum pump.
- The need for competence and skill with the tools and the results you must achieve with them. For example, if it’s been a while since you’ve fed nitrogen through copper tubing, you might finally agree that furnace installation is a job that’s better left to the pros.
No one would blame you if your goal is to save money on your furnace installation by doing it yourself. But remember that many DIY jobs end up costing homeowners more money because they must pay a furnace expert to undo the work they started.
For more information on furnace installation, or for answers to any other HVAC questions, contact the pros at Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning. We're proud to serve homeowners throughout the Route 295/128 area of Massachusetts.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Solutions Guide.
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