Imagine water leaking somewhere in your home—somewhere out of sight. How in the world will you be able to determine where that leaking is occurring? If you can’t locate it precisely, will you have to tear down walls or tear up floors in order to seek it out so it can be repaired? This all sounds like a nightmare! But don’t worry, we’ve got good news for you. While in the past, it was often much more challenging to pinpoint the source of plumbing leaks, things have changed a lot. Modern plumbers have modern equipment and know-how. With the help of advanced technology, professional plumbers ca ..read more

A mini split HVAC system is also sometimes called a ductless system. Why? Because it does not require ducts in order to heat and cool your home. How does a mini split eliminate the need for ducts? What are the benefits of going ductless? Can it really provide both AC and heat? We’ll explain everything. No Ducts Required Just like any air conditioner or heat pump, this system has an outdoor unit with a compressor and coils that carry refrigerant through that unit and also through the home. The term mini split refers to the way that the refrigerant coils split when they enter the home, dividing ..read more

It’s easy to panic when something sudden and distressing happens—say, for example, the waste and water in your toilet doesn’t flush down but instead starts rising up. But if you panic, it’s all too easy to spend critical moments rushing around accomplishing nothing while the problem gets worse. What’s the best antidote to panic? Knowledge and understanding. If you’ve already got a plan in place, you’ll be able to execute that plan even when circumstances are extreme. In order to make that plan, you need some information. Here’s what you need to know in order to deal with an overflowing toilet ..read more

It’s getting pretty late in the winter, but it isn’t spring yet. It’s not quite time to be done with our heating systems. We’ll still need them a bit longer! So if your furnace’s burners aren’t lighting, you’ll need to get that fixed right away. What can cause this? Here are some of the possibilities. Pilot Problems Today’s gas furnaces don’t use pilot lights, but if you have an older furnace, you might still have one. This needs to stay lit at all times, and if it goes out, it needs to be relit. Make sure to follow the directions in your owner’s manual carefully so that you can relight the p ..read more

We always strongly urge folks to address all furnace problems as promptly as possible. Too often, when people ignore an issue that starts out small, it develops into something major that requires extensive repair. But in some cases, a furnace problem is already serious and needs immediate repair. Here are the most urgent situations that could occur with your furnace. 1: A Gas Leak Natural gas, by itself, has no odor. In order to protect consumers, a chemical called mercaptan is added. It gives natural gas a strong, eggy, sulfurous smell. If you notice this smell, do not delay. Quickly turn of ..read more

We’re accustomed to having appliances in our home that run on natural gas. Stoves, water heaters, clothes dryers, and of course furnaces all commonly use natural gas. And in general, with basic precautions, this is all perfectly safe. But if your furnace’s heat exchanger cracks, it will seriously compromise your safety. We’d like to give you a quick crash course in how to avoid a major heating hazard. We’ll explain what a heat exchanger is, why you must never run your furnace if you suspect your heat exchanger is cracked, and what to do about it. What a Heat Exchanger Is When your furnace bur ..read more

You’re probably aware of the widely-given advice that furnace maintenance should be done every year. And you’re probably convinced that it’s absolutely necessary in places like snowy New England or windswept Minnesota. But this is Arizona! Do our furnaces need to be maintained every single year, even when they see much less use than in some parts of the country? Yes. Here’s why. Safety The most critical thing that your heating technician will do during maintenance is take steps to ensure the safety of you, your family, and your home. Gas and electric furnaces can both pose safety hazards. By ..read more

Some plumbing leaks are obvious. Water is spreading, pooling, dripping, or even spraying in areas where you can clearly see it. But sometimes, plumbing has a sneaky leak. With pipes running under floors and inside walls, how can you tell if a leak is happening? Our leak detection specialists are amazing at finding the source of a leak in order to repair it. But first, you need to know it’s time to call them in. How can you determine whether you’ve got a plumbing leak in a sneaky spot? We’ve got a list of signs for you to watch out for. Rising Water Bills If your municipal water rates have sta ..read more

If you’ve had a heat pump for years now, you’re well aware of just how fantastic they are. They provide excellent air conditioning, and their efficiency when it comes to heating just can’t be beat. But did you know that you could be experiencing something even better? Your old heat pump might still be working, but you could reap some amazing benefits by replacing it with a new mini split. How Heat Pumps Work A heat pump is like a reversible air conditioner. Refrigerant can flow in either direction, so heat can be carried out of the house in the summer and carried into the house in the winter ..read more

If you’ve got an air conditioner that’s past its prime, you might be thinking that you’ll consider getting a new one in the spring, before the weather gets hot. That’s definitely an option, but it might not be your best option. There are some very good reasons to consider choosing a new AC system now and getting it installed this fall. Here are some factors to weigh. Is It Really Time to Replace? What AC units should definitely be replaced? An air conditioner more than ten years old, one which has required frequent small repairs in recent years, one which is in need of a big repair now, or on ..read more