Is Furnace Installation a DIY Job?

Can you skip the HVAC professional and install your own furnace? Plenty of handy homeowners think HVAC contractors are overrated and have tried DIY furnace installation. Is this a good idea? Let’s talk about the potential outcomes of doing your own HVAC work, in this case, furnace installation.

DIY Furnace Installation Results

It’s always good to start on a positive note. The best outcome for homeowners who are not HVAC contractors is that they select the right size furnace, install and adjust it properly, connect it to the ductwork plenum and exhaust, hook up the gas line and nothing bad ever happens. This does happen, but not very often. Most homeowners leave HVAC work to the professionals, and those that don’t often encounter one or more of the following problems:

Improper sizing of the furnace: They pull a 100,000 BTU furnace out of the house, buy another of the same size and install it. However, in many cases, the new furnace is much more efficient than one that is 20 years old, so if it has the same BTU input as the old one, it’s likely 15 to 25 percent larger than necessary. One result of this installation blunder is that it will run inefficiently and produce temperature fluctuations a properly sized unit would not. It always makes sense to have a heating and cooling professional do some simple load testing to determine the right size furnace for your home.

Faulty installation: HVAC contractors get those calls a few times a year, sometimes more. Some overeager homeowner tried furnace installation or furnace repair, and something went wrong. Now, the furnace doesn’t run properly, and the homeowner wants HVAC help. Even if nothing seems wrong and HVAC help isn’t called in, a badly installed furnace won’t run as efficiently as it could or maximize its potential for climate control. The ducts might leak and waste heat. It might also break down prematurely. The list of bad things that might happen is quite long.

Problems with the gas line or the exhaust vent: These problems lead to the  tragedies we sometimes hear about on the news. A gas leak can quickly lead to a deadly explosion. Carbon monoxide kills more quietly and sometimes more effectively. Things can go wrong in DIY faucet installation, but usually nobody gets hurt as a result. That’s rarely the case when the gas line or furnace vent installation is mishandled.

Avoiding Furnace Installation Nightmares

These HVAC horrors don’t have to haunt your home when you get estimates from qualified HVAC contractors in your area and choose one with experience and a track record of quality furnace installation. What you will get is a furnace that runs as efficiently, durably and safely as it should and the peace of mind that goes with it.