It’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.
You’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. 
When 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.”
Before 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.
Leaky 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.
When 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.
Yikes! 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?
We’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?
When is the last time you got a good long look at the foundation of your home? What about your home’s air ducts? Your septic tank? Chances are that these are things you don’t get a chance to inspect very often. Like your plumbing pipes, they are hidden from view, so for routine maintenance you’ll typically have to call in a specialist for an inspection.