Why a Larger HVAC Installation May Not Be the Best Choice

March 12th, 2018

Air-Conditioner-Outside-UnitWhen you need a new HVAC installation (heating, ventilation, or air conditioning system), it’s important to consider all of your options. We don’t recommend that you simply take whatever your technician says is the cheapest. In all likelihood, this will be a system that is too small. You will end up paying a lot more on your energy and fuel costs for the next several years, and those initial savings may not be worth it.

Too many “technicians” are willing to meet you halfway and install an inefficient, undersized system that does not match your home. Any quality technician will tell you that when a system is too small, it wears down and breaks frequently, and will likely have to be replaced years early. But that doesn’t mean a larger system is better.

Continue Reading

Common Problems with Older Furnaces

February 26th, 2018

Open-furnace-basement-unitIt’s surprising when a brand-new furnace starts to malfunction. When a furnace has worked almost perfectly for many years, though, and suddenly starts to show signs of failure, it can be almost just as alarming. A reliable, older furnace will still need repairs eventually. And at some point, you’ll have to replace your furnace altogether.

We’re here to offer some guidance about what may be happening with your home heating system when it fails to work as expected. If you have an older furnace, a sudden malfunction may not mean the end of its life. However, you’ll likely have to call in technicians to be sure.

Continue Reading

How Scaling Affects Your Water Heater

February 12th, 2018

water-heater-tankYou’ve probably heard the term “hard water” before. This may sound a bit frightening in regard to your water quality, but it’s really not so bad for you. Hard water means that the water supply has an excess of calcium and magnesium, and for most people, this is perfectly safe to ingest. While it’s safe for people, however, we cannot say the same for your plumbing.

Scaling—the deposits that get left behind from hard water—can affect your water heater worse than any other part of your plumbing. While you can clean scale out of a faucet with a wrench and some vinegar, it’s not so easy when it comes to your water heater.

Continue Reading

4 Surprising Reasons for a Furnace Repair

January 29th, 2018

filter-vent-technicianWhen a furnace stops heating a home, many homeowners hope for the best. “I think the thermostat is broken,” they may say, hoping a quick calibration or rewiring will do the trick. Others jump to the worst-case scenario: “I think it may need to be replaced.”

These are both things that can and do happen. However, it’s often not what the homeowner expects. In fact, some of the things that cause a furnace to break down or function incorrectly may surprise you! Here are four things you may not realize could cause failures with your heating system.

Continue Reading

Common Problems with Gas Furnaces

January 15th, 2018

natural-gas-furnace-burnersBefore we begin, we want to remind you that if you suspect a gas leak, vacate the home ASAP and call the gas company. If you don’t have the number on hand, call 911. For your family’s health and safety, it’s not worth staying indoors. You should also make sure the home is properly equipped with smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors that are regularly tested.

Otherwise, problems with gas furnaces typically are not such a huge deal. We want to give you an idea of what may go wrong, so you can narrow in a problem before you call a technician (or even “fix” the problem on your own).

Continue Reading

How to Handle a Leaking Pipe

January 1st, 2018

frozen-pipe-damLeaky pipes are unfortunately quite common in the winter. The freezing and thawing of water in the pipes causes them to expand, which may force a pipe to burst open. Other factors can contribute to leaky pipes too, of course, such as corrosion or other means of excess pressure on the pipes.

For the most part, a homeowner is not most concerned with how a leak happened. It’s important to know whether corrosion indicates your pipes are in need of replacement, but the first thing you want to know is how to stop the leak and get things under control.

Continue Reading

Preventing Everyday Plumbing Clogs

December 18th, 2017

plunger-woman-call-plumberWhen you’re in the business of plumbing, you know that this is any homeowner’s biggest grievance. Sure, there are worse things that could happen in a home, but few of them happen again and again the way plumbing clogs often do. Some can be unclogged yourself while some will always require a plumber’s help, which is why it’s so important to focus on prevention.

You may be able to prevent many of those everyday clogs you find most annoying, and even the big clogs that don’t come up so often but tend to cost you more.

Continue Reading

Heater Repair vs. Replacement: Know the Signs

December 4th, 2017

red-boiler-heating-newYikes! It’s chilly outside and your heating system is showing signs of failure. Perhaps it’s already broken down. This is the worst time for a heater to fail, and you have your fingers crossed for the best. Will you have to replace your heating system? Can it be repaired?

Of course, this is a question we most likely cannot answer before we take a look at your system. However, we’re here to help you understand more about when a heater needs repair, and when it starts to show signs you need heater replacement.

Continue Reading

Is a Plumber Necessary for That Drain Clog?

November 20th, 2017

drain-water-drainingWe’re big fans of all the crafters, woodworkers, and general do-it-yourselfers out there. When you can look up a solution for a home problem and have it fixed relatively quickly, why call in a handyman to help?

We don’t typically encourage DIY work for large plumbing problems, but there are even some things that seem complicated you can handle yourself: resetting the garbage disposal, cleaning the aerator when there’s no water pressure, and even unclogging a drain. Some drain clogs have simple solutions, or at least a solution that does not require costly equipment or professional drain cleaning. But that doesn’t apply to all drain clogs. How do you know the difference?

Continue Reading

Why You Should Schedule Furnace Service Sooner than You Think

November 6th, 2017

Open-furnace-basement-unitMost people never really think about scheduling service for any particular system in their home until it shows signs of damage. When it comes to your home heating system, we think this is a mistake.

We recommend that all of our customers schedule routine furnace maintenance in the fall. Yes, that means you schedule service for your heater even though you haven’t noticed an issue with the way it operates—but this helps you in so many ways.

A standard furnace tune-up helps prevent a winter catastrophe, protects your home and family, and can even save you money. Learn more from the guide below and call our team for more information.

Continue Reading