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Fix it yourself

HVAC Technician repairs you can do yourself

8 HVAC technician problems a careful person can handle at home — and the point where each one becomes a job for a pro.

You can do
8
Pro-only
0
Typical time
10 min – 4 h
  1. 01

    AC leaking water

    Switch the system off at the thermostat so the leak stops growing while you work.

    easy 20–45 min· $0–15 for vinegar and a filter

  2. 02

    AC not cooling

    Set the thermostat to COOL and 3 °C (5 °F) below room temperature; check its batteries and that the fan is set to AUTO.

    easy 20–60 min· $10–30 for a filter

  3. 03

    AC unit freezing up

    Switch the system to OFF at the thermostat and set the fan to ON so warm air melts the ice; leave it 2–4 hours.

    easy 1–4 h· $10–30 for a filter

  4. 04

    Bathroom vent dripping water

    Time the drip: water during or right after a shower on a cold day is condensation; water during rain is the roof or wall cap leaking.

    moderate 1–3 h· $25–70 in insulated duct, tape and a cap

  5. 05

    Musty or Moldy Smell Coming From Air Vents

    Replace the filter and note its colour and date; a filter that is grey after a month means the system is pulling in dust from a leak or a dirty return.

    easy 1–2 h· $15–35 for a filter, vinegar and coil cleaner

  6. 06

    Thermostat not working

    Replace the batteries even if the screen is on — low batteries stop the relay from switching before the display dies.

    easy 10–40 min· $3–10 for batteries; $60–200 for a new thermostat

  7. 07

    Uneven heating or cooling between rooms

    Open every supply register and move furniture, rugs and curtains off them; a closed register in one room starves the rooms downstream.

    easy 1–2 h· $10–30 in a filter and foil tape

  8. 08

    Unusually high energy bill

    Compare this month with the same month last year, not last month — weather explains most swings; a jump of 30 % or more with similar weather is the signal.

    easy 1–2 h· $10–40 in a filter, gaskets and weatherstripping

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