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 whooshing sound, and the fan stops. It looks like something's broken. Most of the time it's the defrost cycle doing its job.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 does, why the wire colors are only a suggestion, and the one photo you must take 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 shut off and won't restart? Water in the pan under the furnace? A clogged drain is one of the most common summer service calls, and one of the easiest to fix 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 failed run capacitor is one of the most common reasons, and one of the cheapest parts in the system. Here's how to check it safely.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 sounds better, but a filter that's too restrictive for your system can cost you airflow. Here's how to pick one without overthinking it.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 pumpsSkipping or rushing the vacuum is the fastest way to shorten a new mini split's life. What a micron gauge tells you, what “good” looks like, and how to read a decay test.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's worth of gear. Here's what a homeowner actually uses, in the order you'll need it, from filter changes 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 call for service, run through this list. Several of the most common causes cost nothing to fix, and the rest will help you tell the tech what's going on.