Taking care of your furnace and water lines now can save issues later

What can I do to help keep my furnace running?

There is some basic routine maintenance that can drastically improve the life of a furnace. The most important is to regularly check and replace the air filters. Keeping the air filters clean provides a couple of benefits. When air filters become dirty, it blocks the air making difficult for the furnace to get the air it needs. When this happens, the furnace must work harder to pull in the amount of air it needs. Getting ducts cleaned regularly is another way to make sure a furnace doesn’t have to work as hard. As build-up in ducts increases a furnace is forced to try and more air through causing unnecessary stress.

What do I do if my furnace breaks down?

It’s tough to answer this as every situation is different. The best thing to do is get a qualified professional there to look at as quickly as possible. Finding a company that offers 24-hour service such as Pond’s Plumbing, Heating, and Air in Salt Lake City is vital. If a furnace breaks down during the cold Utah winter, it needs to be fixed immediately, even if it’s a weekend. If you feel mechanically inclined, and the problem doesn’t appear to be major it can always be a DIY project. Be careful when considering tackling a furnace repair in Salt Lake City yourself. It’s very easy to make a mistake that will cost more money and time to repair.

What are some ways to prepare water lines for cold weather?

As the weather turns cold making sure pipes are ready is critical. Utah winters can become bitter cold causing various issues with water lines. It’s not uncommon for primary water lines to freeze, especially in older homes. If this happens, the repairs can be extensive and expensive as the water line will have to be dug up and to be repaired. Homes with older pipes used materials that aren’t as resistant to freezing as newer pipes are. The pipes in older homes also aren’t buried as deep making them more susceptible to freezing. If you live in a home with older pipes, the best way to keep them from freezing is to leave a faucet on with a slow drip. The slow drip is enough to keep water moving through the pipes to keep it from freezing. Make sure sprinkler lines and other outdoor water lines are also drained properly. Taking a few easy steps early can have big hassles and expenses later on.

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