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DIY - Home Maintenance and Upgrade Projects

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Heating & Cooling

DIY Guide:

Air Seal and Repair Ducts

Right – Ducts are pulled taut and correctly supported
Seal and repair your central heating system’s ducts to make sure heated or cooled air gets to all the rooms of your house as efficiently as possible.
DIY Guide:

Air Seal HVAC Air Handler Unit Cabinet

Sealing seams and holes in the air handler or furnace cabinet of central forced-air HVAC systems prevents the loss of conditioned air and improves the performance of your HVAC equipment.
Sealing seams and holes in the air handler or furnace cabinet of central forced-air HVAC systems prevents the loss of conditioned air and improves the performance of your HVAC equipment.
DIY Guide:

Clean Ductless Heat Pump Air Filters

Home Maintenance: Clean Ductless Heat Pump Air Filters
Clean the air filters in your ductless heat pumps every 3 months to ensure proper operation.
DIY Guide:

Determine if a Smart Thermostat is Right for You

Right - The advanced controls in a programmable thermostat can be used to improve the efficiency of the home’s HVAC system.
Determine if you can benefit from replacing your old thermostat with a new smart thermostat.
DIY Guide:

Install an Awning Over an Outdoor HVAC Condenser Unit

This HVAC awning is made of metal roofing that is attached directly to the lumber framing.
Awnings protect the outdoor compressor unit of your heat pump or air conditioner from snow, rain, and hail.
DIY Guide:

Look at Refrigerant Line Set Insulation for Air Conditioners or Heat Pumps and Replace if Needed

Look at the condition of the insulation on the refrigerant pipe from the house to the outdoor unit of the home’s air conditioning or heat pump system and replace or hire an HVAC contractor to replace if needed.
Look at the condition of the insulation on the refrigerant pipe from the house to the outdoor unit of the home’s air conditioning or heat pump system and replace or hire an HVAC contractor to replace if needed.
DIY Guide:

Look for Condensate Drain Line Insulation

Look at the condensate drain line of your air conditioner, heat pump, or condensing furnace or boiler to make sure it is insulated. 
Look at the condensate drain line of your air conditioner, heat pump, or condensing furnace or boiler to make sure it is insulated.
DIY Guide:

Look for Signs of a Gas Furnace Backdrafting

Look at a gas furnace for signs of backdrafting, if the furnace is an older model that does not have a sealed combustion chamber and sealed exhaust pipe.
Look at a gas furnace for signs of backdrafting, if the furnace is an older model that does not have a sealed combustion chamber and sealed exhaust pipe.
DIY Guide:

Replace Air Filter Located at Return Air Filter Grille

If filter is inaccessible, locate the air filter between the return air plenum and the air handler box.
DIY guide showing how to pick a replacement air filter and how to replace the filter in home’s HVAC system when the air filter is located in a return grille in a ceiling, floor, or wall.
DIY Guide:

Replace Air Filter Located in Furnace or Central Heat Pump Air Filter Slot

Size the filter box for the appropriate filter.
DIY guide showing how to replace the filter in a home’s HVAC system when the air filter is located in an air filter slot on the furnace.

Appliances & Lighting

DIY Guide:

Check Refrigerator Temperature

This is a typical refrigerator thermometer showing ideal temperature ranges for both refrigerators and freezers
To ensure both food safety and energy efficiency, the refrigerator and freezer temperatures should be checked regularly using a refrigerator thermometer.
DIY Guide:

Clean Dryer Exhaust

Home Maintenance: Clean Dryer Exhaust
Cleaning your dryer duct annually will make your clothes dry faster, save energy, and could prevent a fire.
DIY Guide:

Clean Refrigerator Condenser Coils

To maximize the life of your refrigerator, ensure your refrigerator cools your food down quickly, and save energy, it is important to clean the condenser coils behind or below the refrigerator every 6 to 12 months.
To maximize the life of your refrigerator, ensure your refrigerator cools your food down quickly, and save energy, it is important to clean the condenser coils behind or below the refrigerator every 6 to 12 months.
DIY Guide:

Install a High-Efficiency Clothes Washer

This high-efficiency front loading washer is ENERGY STAR certified to use 45% less energy and 50% less water than standard brands.
Install a high-efficiency ENERGY STAR-certified clothes washer.
DIY Guide:

Install a Ventless Clothes Dryer or Combo Washer-Dryer

Ventless heat pump clothes dryers use one-third the energy of regular electric dryers and don’t require a vent to the outside.
Install a ventless heat pump clothes dryer or combination washer/dryer for energy savings and space savings.
DIY Guide:

Look at a Ductless Heat Pump for Deep Cleaning

This mini-split heat pump needs to be checked to see if it needs deep cleaning.
Ductless heat pumps should be checked periodically to see if they need a deep cleaning to remove dust and mold and keep them operating efficiently.
DIY Guide:

Upgrade Linear Fluorescents to LEDs

Replacing linear fluorescent bulbs with long-lasting LED lamps can save money and provide better lighting (Source: Ed Louie Photography).
Converting your existing fluorescent fixtures to LED technology offers improved energy efficiency and longer bulb life. This guide demonstrates the step-by-step process for safely rewiring a linear fluorescent light fixture to accommodate LED tubes.