https://diyhvacguy.com/Heating and cooling how-tos for homeowners who fix things themselves.en-ushttps://diyhvacguy.com/how-to-clean-a-mini-split/https://diyhvacguy.com/how-to-clean-a-mini-split/Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000Mini splits & heat pumpsMusty smell, weak airflow, black specks on the louvers? A wall-mounted head needs more than a filter rinse. Here's the full routine, start to finish.https://diyhvacguy.com/heat-pump-steaming-in-winter/https://diyhvacguy.com/heat-pump-steaming-in-winter/Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000Mini splits & heat pumpsClouds of steam, a whoosh, and the fan quits. Looks broken. Usually it's just the defrost cycle doing what it's supposed to do.https://diyhvacguy.com/thermostat-wire-colors/https://diyhvacguy.com/thermostat-wire-colors/Tue, 15 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000Thermostats & wiringR, C, W, Y, G, O/B. What each letter actually does, why you can't trust the colors, and the one photo that'll save your butt before you disconnect anything.https://diyhvacguy.com/clear-ac-condensate-drain-line/https://diyhvacguy.com/clear-ac-condensate-drain-line/Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000MaintenanceAC quit and won't come back on? Water sitting in the pan under your furnace? A clogged drain is the culprit behind a ton of summer service calls, and it's usually a quick fix you can handle yourself.https://diyhvacguy.com/how-to-test-an-ac-capacitor/https://diyhvacguy.com/how-to-test-an-ac-capacitor/Fri, 04 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000TroubleshootingOutdoor unit humming but the fan won't spin? A bad run capacitor is one of the most common culprits, and one of the cheapest parts in the whole system. Here's how to check it without getting hurt.https://diyhvacguy.com/merv-rating-furnace-filter/https://diyhvacguy.com/merv-rating-furnace-filter/Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000MaintenanceMERV 8, 11, 13. Higher catches more junk, but jam in too dense a filter and your airflow pays the price. Here's how to choose without getting lost in the aisle.https://diyhvacguy.com/pull-a-vacuum-on-a-mini-split/https://diyhvacguy.com/pull-a-vacuum-on-a-mini-split/Fri, 21 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000Mini splits & heat pumpsRushing the vacuum kills mini splits early. Here's what a micron gauge actually tells you, what "good" looks like, and how to read a decay test without guessing.https://diyhvacguy.com/diy-hvac-tool-kit/https://diyhvacguy.com/diy-hvac-tool-kit/Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000ToolsYou don't need a service van full of gear. Here's what a homeowner really uses, in the order you'll need it, from swapping filters all the way up to installing a mini split.https://diyhvacguy.com/ac-running-but-not-cooling/https://diyhvacguy.com/ac-running-but-not-cooling/Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000TroubleshootingBefore you pick up the phone, walk through this list. A bunch of common causes won't cost you a dime to fix, and the rest give you something useful to tell the tech.