This site publishes guides that homeowners can act on. Some of that work is genuinely straightforward. Some of it is not legal for you to do, in any of the countries we write for. This page explains the line.
Work that is certified everywhere we write for
Anything that opens the refrigerant circuit requires certification in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union and Australia. That includes evacuating, charging, recovering or topping up refrigerant, and cutting or brazing refrigerant lines.
This is not a difficulty rule, it is an environmental and legal one. Refrigerants are regulated greenhouse gases, venting them is an offence, and the certification exists to stop that. No guide on this site will ever ask you to do it.
Electrical connection work is licensed in most jurisdictions, and the rules differ sharply between them. Where a guide reaches a step that requires a licensed electrician, it says so and stops.
What we do cover
- Planning, positioning and sizing decisions you make before anyone touches the building.
- Cleaning, filter and drain maintenance that requires no certification.
- Diagnosis — understanding what a symptom or an error code means, so you can decide what to do and are not sold a repair you do not need.
- Cost comparison, so you can judge a quote.
- Pre-charged DIY systems, which are specifically designed to be installed without breaking into the refrigerant circuit — within the limits your local permit rules set.
Always, before opening any unit
- Isolate power at the breaker or disconnect, not at the remote or the wall switch. Confirm the unit is dead before you touch it.
- Work at height with proper access equipment, not a chair.
- If you find scorching, melted insulation, corroded terminals or a smell of hot plastic, stop and call a professional.
Permits and local rules
Permit requirements for installing a mini-split vary by country, state and sometimes by municipality, and they change. Where an article discusses permits it describes the general position and tells you to confirm locally. Check with your local authority before you install anything. An uninspected installation can also affect your building insurance.
This is information, not a professional assessment
Nobody here has seen your building, your existing equipment or your electrical supply. Our guides describe typical cases and state their assumptions. A qualified technician on site can tell you things a website cannot, and where a decision is expensive or safety-relevant, that is worth paying for.
If a guide on this site conflicts with your equipment’s installation manual, the manual wins. Manufacturers set the limits that keep the warranty valid and the machine alive.