When something goes wrong with your heating system, it often happens just when you need your heat the most. You want it fixed right away, and ideally, you would like that fix to be free. And hey, you’re a handy homeowner, inclined toward DIY projects. Maybe you can fix your furnace yourself!
We’ll stop you right there. Don’t do it. Here are some of the many reasons to trust a professional for furnace repair.
You might have an aging furnace and be wondering how long it will be before you have to replace it. You might have purchased your home with the furnace already in it, and be curious about what to expect. Or you might be looking at new furnaces, seeing the variety of options, and asking yourself, How long will each of these last?
Regardless of your situation, having more information is always better. The more you know, the more you can prepare for the future. We’ve got the scoop for you: not just how long different types of furnaces last, but also what you can do to help them last as long as possible.
We’re sure everyone will agree with us that indoor plumbing is useful. You certainly wouldn’t want to do without it! But you’ll also agree that it isn’t exactly beautiful. That’s why most of your pipes are tucked away out of sight. They’re between ceilings and floors, they’re behind walls, and in some cases, they’re underneath the foundation of your house.
Now, while you wouldn’t want to have to look at your home’s plumbing all the time, having it hidden from view does pose a bit of a challenge. What if something goes wrong? If there’s a leak in a pipe somewhere, how can you tell? Detecting leaks and pinpointing their sources requires skilled professionals with high-tech equipment.
There are times in life when we’re faced with big questions. Sometimes, that question is: Can I have my heating system repaired or is it time to replace it? And then, once that question is resolved—either the heating system is beyond repair, or it would cost so much that it simply isn’t worth investing all that money in an old heater—you’re immediately faced with another question.
When you do need to replace your heater, what should you replace it with? Have heating system technologies changed since you last had to purchase one? What heating system options are currently available? Which ones are good choices for this climate, for your home, for your family’s needs, or for your budget?
If you’ve purchased a home rather than building one from the ground up yourself, there are a lot of things going on behind those walls and below those floorboards that you can’t possibly know about. And depending on what year your home was built, there could be materials that you really don’t want to be exposed to, particularly in your plumbing.
You may be surprised to hear some of this information about the changing materials used in home plumbing, but it’s always better to be informed. If there are outdated pipe materials in your home, there could be unpleasant consequences you don’t want to deal with. The solution is repiping.
Let’s be honest. Your sewer pipe is the last thing you want to have to think about. Of all the plumbing in your home, it has the most unpleasant job: carrying all the wastewater from all the drains away from your home and toward the municipal sewer line or your sewage tank. It’s not exactly a pretty picture.
But it is absolutely necessary to have a functional sewer line, or you’ll end up with an extremely ugly situation on your hands. While a sewer line can work just fine with no help for long stretches of time, sooner or later, it will need to be cleaned out. How can you tell that it’s time to have a plumber come do a professional sewer cleaning? Here are the things you should watch for.
There’s never really a good time to have a problem with a sump pump. No matter the time of year, it’s important to know that your sump pump is ready to deal with any influx of water that may occur. If you’re noticing that your sump pump isn’t behaving the way it should, having that addressed promptly could save you from hugely inconvenient and expensive water damage.
What about DIY sump pump repair? Is it reasonable to attempt to fix a broken sump pump yourself? What would the risks and benefits of DIY sump pump repair be? Here’s some food for thought:
Ignoring it won’t make it go away: winter is coming. All you can do is get ready for when the cold weather hits. There are a variety of things on your to-do list, depending on your home and your family. But one thing everyone needs to do is make sure they’re ready to turn on the heat.
How will your heater do when you need to use it? Is it ready, clean, lubricated, and in tip-top condition? Only if you’ve gotten maintenance!
Natural gas is a great fuel to use for home heating. It’s affordable and efficient, it’s a domestic product and does not rely on foreign oil, and in most places it can be piped directly into your home so you don’t have to worry about bothersome deliveries. Many homes use natural gas not just for heating but for their stove, water heater, or even clothes dryer.
Natural gas makes some people nervous because of health and safety concerns. It’s actually perfectly safe if handled correctly, and according to the Energy Information Administration, it’s used in 61% of American homes. It is critical to ensure that your gas line and appliances are operating safely. Do you need a gas line inspection? Here’s what you should know.
If you own a commercial property, there are so many things you’re constantly trying to stay on top of. From HVAC repairs to simply replacing lightbulbs, there’s always something that needs to be done. You definitely don’t want to overlook something, like the water heater, until it becomes an emergency.
Anticipating the needs of your commercial property gives you a chance to plan ahead. If you’re concerned about your commercial water heater, find out now whether repairs will suffice or if you need to plan to replace it.
