There are some things you own that you may replace well before they fail on you. For instance, you might replace your smartphone with the latest and greatest model primarily to take advantage of the camera. You replace your furniture even though it’s still in decent shape just to get a better color or upholstery.
However, there are some things you don’t tend to replace until they’ve completely given out on you. This includes home systems like the garbage disposal, clothes dryer, and, unfortunately, the furnace. We think it’s a mistake to wait this long to replace your heating system though.
Heating systems have improved in many ways since we first became a company in 1912. The most noticeable and needed improvement has been in terms of safety. Today’s heating systems don’t even require you to keep a pilot light lit. They can ignite themselves with electronic ignition systems, and only when the thermostat calls for heat.
When your furnace runs effectively year after year, a problem with the system comes as a surprise. Furnaces are durable, after all, but only assuming they get the service they really need year after year. Improper maintenance can be a huge contributing factor as to why a heating system experiences frequent breakdowns, although many come without warning.
When it comes to purchasing a new computer, television, bicycle, or even a simple lightbulb, most people want the best item they can afford. They want the fastest system, the clearest picture, the bike that requires the least maintenance, the most efficient bulb. The “best” is sometimes hard to define, but a lot easier when you spend a lot of time interacting with those items. When it comes to finding the “best” heating system, it’s a bit of a mystery.
This year, don’t waste your time making repairs for your home furnace in the middle of winter, when you need it most. You might be surprised to hear that a large portion of the problems we see with furnaces in the colder season are largely preventable. Furnace repairs are frustrating, and in some cases, they are also dangerous. We want to help you avoid them at all costs.
Some of the major investments you own are things you take every opportunity to protect. Your car, for example, hopefully receives regular oil changes and tire rotations. Your computer likely has antivirus protection installed. And you may use surge protectors to reduce the possibility of power surges that can slowly wear out your electronics.
Buying a 
Energy costs are always high in the middle of summer when you have a central air conditioner. While it may seem there’s little you can do to control costs, we have a couple of ideas. First, it’s important to see that your air conditioner gets regular maintenance, appointments for a tune-up with a trained technician each and every year. You’ll also need to change the filter once a month.
You probably already know that your air conditioner uses refrigerant (although you might have heard it called by a brand name, “Freon”). When an air conditioner isn’t working properly, homeowners often ask us this: “Does it just need more Freon?”
A water leak from your air conditioner can cause hundreds or thousands of dollars in damages—yikes! First, let’s clear up some initial confusion about this topic. No, your air conditioner does not use water to run (unless it is an evaporative cooler, systems which are only common in dry desert climates). So where is the water coming from?