Emergencies don’t always bring out the best in everyone. It’s easy to be frantic when something goes suddenly wrong, and that never helps with resolving the situation. And of all the possible household emergencies, ones that involve a flood of toilet water can be particularly distressing. If your toilet overflows, what is the most important thing to do? Stay calm! But of course that’s easier said than done. The best way to avoid panic and calmly resolve an issue with an overflowing toilet is to have a clear plan to follow. Here’s what to do. Step 1: Stop That Water from Flowing! Chances are ..read more

Congratulations! You’ve chosen a new air conditioning system for your home. These days, new air conditioners work so well and are so efficient, we’re sure you’ll be delighted with it. And you’ve made an appointment for the installation! That’s great. But do you know what to expect? It may have been quite a long time since you’ve had an AC system installed. With proper maintenance, your last one might have lasted twelve years or so. Or perhaps you purchased your home with an air conditioner and have never been through this process. We’d like to tell you what to expect at your AC installation a ..read more

Annual maintenance is strongly recommended for many things. Your air conditioner, gas or electric furnace, water heater and more will all function better when they get a professional check-up every year. If you heat with a boiler rather than a furnace, does it also need annual maintenance? It does. We’ll explain why, and how boiler maintenance will benefit your system. What’s So Great About Boilers? A boiler is a truly timeless classic of home heating comfort. This type of heating system has been in use for generations precisely because they work so well and keep working for so long. They req ..read more

How are things going in the drainage portion of your home’s plumbing pipes? Chances are, unless you’re currently dealing with a major clog, you haven’t thought about it in quite a while. Here’s the thing: drain pipe problems are not usually caused by one catastrophic thing, like a single item going down a drain. They’re caused by gradual buildup. The good news is that gradual buildup is something you can deal with before serious issues develop. How? With professional drain cleaning, you can prevent major pipe problems. Here are three of the big ones and how drain cleaning keeps them from happ ..read more

Your body is more than half water. And in a younger person, the proportion is even higher. A child’s body is 65% water, and an infant’s is 75% water. This is why infants and young children are at more serious risk from problems that lead to dehydration, such as diarrhea and vomiting. Being able to drink plenty of water is critical for keeping your body healthy. But what if the water you drink is contaminated? If you drink water that contains germs, you might put yourself in harm’s way. You can even contract the very illnesses that lead to that dehydration, meaning your water is doing more har ..read more

Some furnace repairs are more common than others. Even if you don’t know anything about heating systems, you probably wouldn’t be surprised to hear that there’s an ignition system that lights the fuel, or a blower fan motor that forces air to move. If you were told one of these things needed to be fixed, it wouldn’t come as much of a shock. But sometimes there’s an unusual situation that causes a problem with your heating system. What kind of furnace repair needs might surprise you? Here are some odd ones that you probably wouldn’t see coming. Water Damage A heating system like a boiler does ..read more

Once your water heater starts to go, the clock is ticking. If it isn’t working properly and you’ve been taking cold showers, or if it’s starting to rust or leak, it’s only a matter of time before you’ve got a very big problem on your hands. Water damage is no joke! So you’d better get to work on deciding which kind of water heater you want to replace it with. Tank water heaters are the more traditional option, which you’re probably familiar with. Tankless systems offer some different advantages. And then there are heat pump water heaters. Which is the right choice for you? Here’s some useful ..read more

You’re probably familiar with electric water heaters and water heaters that use natural gas. You’re accustomed to tank or storage water heaters, and you’ve at least heard of tankless water heater systems. But do you know about heat pump water heaters? If not, you’ll want to stick around to find out more, because they’re amazing. Here’s how they work. It’s Not New Technology Heat pumps for home air conditioning and heating have become very popular in recent years. It would be easy to assume the technology they use is very modern. But no! In 1852, Lord Kelvin developed the concept of a heat pum ..read more

Boilers are the best! They last longer than any other type of heating system—up to 30 years!—and during those decades, they rarely need repairs. But in order to perform their best, and to make it to that 30-year mark, they do need regular maintenance. Here’s a primer on why boiler maintenance is necessary, what it entails, and how to make it go as smoothly as possible. Boiler Maintenance Benefits When you have your boiler professionally maintained every year, you’ll be able to enjoy a wide array of benefits. Safety: This is our top priority: making sure you can stay warm without risking any ..read more

There are so many benefits to tankless water heater systems. They’re extremely efficient, lowering your utility costs. They’re incredibly effective, and you no longer have to wait for a large tank to heat up between family member’s showers. It can be easy to forget that, just like a tank or storage water heater, they still do need maintenance. The maintenance that water heaters of either type receive includes flushing the system. Why do water heaters need to be flushed? Do tankless systems need flushing, too? Yes, they do, and we’ll tell you exactly why. Your Water: A Geology Lesson You may r ..read more