Can I Buy My Own Heating & Air Conditioning Equipment?

I was recently cruising through some online do it yourself forums, and ran across this ongoing question. When a homeowner and/or do-it-yourselfer brings up the subject of equipment containing refrigerant, there are always those, usually of the contractor persuasion, who respond with misinformation. Below is a recant of one such thread.

Question: I am wanting to buy and DIY install a furnace and ac unit for my shop. Where can I buy the equipment?

Misinformed Answer: From the time the CFC air quality codes have been passed it is against the to sell a product with refrigerant in it to a party not cfc certified. You will have a hard time finding anyone to sell you a furnace and a/c

Correct Answer: The unaware and undereducated spread so much misdirection and misinformation.

It is true that: 1. There are no CFC air quality codes. There are laws that prohibit certain actions pertaining to refrigerants - which includes CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, and several other chemical compositions.

2. It is not lawful to sell refrigerant to uncertified persons, but it is well within the law to sell a product that contains a refrigerant, as long as the uncertified does not handle the refrigerant or break the seal. This must me done by a certified technician. ; for example automobiles with air conditioning, dehumidifiers, and numerous other products.

3. It is lawful for anyone to buy or to sell air conditioning equipment to anyone even if the equipment contains a refrigerant. Let's break it down a bit further. Every time a contractor installs an air conditioner for a homeowner and the homeowner in turn pays the contractor, the contractor has in fact, sold the air conditioner containing a regulated refrigerant to a non-licensed and or noncertified entity.

4. Persons authorized to buy refrigerants (raw material):

b. Only EPA CERTIFIED persons can buy refrigerants.

5. Wholesalers who deal with HVAC contractors usually refuse to sell to non-contractors, or will charge a price that discourages the DIY.

If you are determined to proceed with a Do-It-Yourself project, check out Home Air Direct and others that will sell you the equipment. Do all of the work that you can do within your ability and technical skills, but by all means, when equipment containing EPA regulated refrigerant is involved, hire a local certified technician to assist with the attachment and start up procedure.

There are thousands of dollars to be saved with DIY. These savings will be realized in buying your own equipment, and doing much of the labor related physical work yourself.