You know when folks complain the absolute most about the heat? When it’s gone.

Which is why we most of us prefer summer over winter, and why we hate it when something goes wrong with our home heating system.

How can you tell if your furnace might need professional attention? Here are four of the most common symptoms of a furnace that’s seen better days:

• “What’s all that racket?” – Furnaces weren’t built to be noisy, but through continued wear and tear and plain ol’ neglect, they can be downright raucous. Popping, wheezing, rattling, and banging – if you hear that or any other loud noise right away so we can quiet it down again and help prevent any further damage.

• Hot over here, cold over there. – Hot and cold spots are another sign of a problem with your heating system, though not necessarily with the furnace. Let’s say, for example, that you have a two-zone system and temperatures are just fine in one zone but not so fine in the other. In that case, the problem is most likely confined to one of the thermostats.

• Mega high heating bills. – The surest sign that something’s wrong with your heating system is when you start paying way more than usual to heat your home. Old age (the system’s) can cause that, as can a dirty or clogged filter. If, for example, your furnace is between 12 and 15 years old, your best bet might just be to replace it; because then, it could take as little as few years to pay for the new system in energy savings alone.

• Lots more dust to contend with. – If you have a forced air heating system and all of sudden you find dusty furniture practically right after you’ve just dusted it, then you either have an excess of dust and other debris inside your ducts, a clogged filter, or dirt elsewhere in your heating system. It’s not good for your furniture, and it’s even worse for your health.

If you’re noticing any of these symptoms now, call us sooner than later and we’ll do our best to repair whatever’s gone wrong to spare you the expense of having to replace it. Or, better yet, contact us now BEFORE furnace problems crop up and we’ll do our best to make sure they don’t. How? With our multi-step furnace cleaning and inspection service. It’s designed to eliminate the need or at least the severity of repairs, lower your heating-related utility costs, and extend the effective lifespan of your furnace. Contact Boden Plumbing, Heating & Air for service now, and allow us to worry about the care and condition of your furnace. So you won’t have to.

When water flows to the wrong place at the wrong time – as it would from a cracked or leaking pipe – it can cause extensive damage to your home and personal belongings. Even a slow drip behind a bathroom or kitchen cabinet can cause sheetrock and wood floors to rot while eventually making its way to the level below.

And since damaged water pipes come in all shapes and sizes, it’s important to understand what can cause a pipe to crack or burst and what measures you, as a homeowner, can take to prevent that from happening.

1. Frozen Pipes
   An un-insulated pipe that is exposed to below freezing temperatures can freeze, burst, and instantly start gushing water. That can happen in your garage, a crawl space, or in any other unheated space. To prevent pipes from freezing, disconnect outdoor hoses and drain the faucets. Shut off and drain your irrigation system for the winter. And make sure all pipes located in unheated spaces are insulated.

2. Leaky Pipes
   Minor pinholes in your water pipes can’t fix themselves, but they can grow and become even more problematic. It’s okay to tape it up as a short-term measure, but don’t way too long before implementing a more permanent solution, even if all or a portion of water pipe needs to be replaced.

3. Unattended Drain Clogs
   If a clogged drain is left to sit, it can cause water pressure to increase in that same pipe. Over time, the added pressure can cause the pipe to crack.

4. Corroded Pipes
   The older a home and it’s plumbing, the more prone metal pipes become to internal corrosion. Constant exposure to soil, water, and temperature fluctuations can do a number on them, so you’ll want to baby them as much as possible for added years of service. Start by switching from chemical to green drain cleaning liquids.

At Boden Plumbing, Heating, & Air, we offer professional pipe repair and replacement services. Same goes for water pipe insulation, sewer and drain cleaning, and any other home plumbing need you might have. We do the job right the first time, and we guarantee your 100% satisfaction. Contact us today for service, and put our experience to work for you.