There are many joys that come with home ownership and few better feelings in the world than the one you get when you're handed the keys to a new home for the first time. Whether it's your first home or your fiftieth, a new home offers the promise of so much, but it also comes with new responsibilities for upkeep and maintenance. If you're a first-time homeowner, the days when you could just call your landlord whenever something went wrong are behind you. Learning how to evaluate and even solve problems around the house as they arise will be extremely valuable in the years and decades to come. Many household problems can be fixed with a few tools, but it's always a good idea to call the Olathe heating and cooling professionals (or a plumber, an electrician, and so on) when you know you're in over your head.
Plumbing Disaster: Inconvenience (usually)
Unless the toilet, tub, or dishwasher is overflowing and sending water down through the ceiling, most plumbing disasters are inconvenient but not actually catastrophic. If the problem is just a leaking tap or showerhead, then the water is probably pretty well contained, and you can use a local shutoff to stop the flow of water until the plumber arrives. The same goes for leaking pipes below the kitchen sink or anyplace else in your house. Sometimes, blocked drains can be taken care of by pulling out whatever is causing the blockage. If it doesn't come easily, you can always try a plunger. Of course, if that doesn't work, call in the professionals.
Leaking or Malfunctioning Water Heater: Inconvenience
If you've never had a water heater go out on you, you may not realize how much we take hot water for granted. Sure, we use it for showers and baths, but we also use it for washing dishes, washing our hands, shaving, and so on. Nothing lasts forever, though, and most water heaters have a life span of around 10 years. If you're experiencing problems with your water heater, it's probably time to have a professional take a look at it. Dealing with the water heater isn't something that you want to tackle yourself, because it involves not just water but electricity and often gas, which can be troublesome and dangerous for the layperson.
Furnace or Air Conditioner Failure: Inconvenience (usually)
Most days, the furnace or AC going out is inconvenient and uncomfortable, but not dangerous. Here in Olathe, however, we experience extremes of both heat and cold in the summer and winter, and homeowners and their families can actually be put at risk without a furnace or air conditioner. To keep your home's HVAC system in good working order, make sure that you replace the air filters regularly and have your system checked out by an Olathe heating and cooling professional. Davenport Service Company's VIP program can take the guesswork out of maintaining your HVAC system in Olathe, as it includes seasonal tune-ups and lots of other great features. And remember, if your furnace or AC does break down, don't try to fix it yourself. Let the pros handle it.
Power Outage: Inconvenience
Most of the time, when the power goes out, there's nothing you can do but wait it out. Keep the fridge shut to lock in the cool air for as long as possible, unplug sensitive electronics such as your computers and TV to minimize the risk of damage from sudden surges, and just wait for the power to come back on. If you have battery life left in your laptop or phone, many utility companies offer online outage maps and updates that can tell you when your power is likely to come back. If the power is only out in your house and not your neighbor's, then it could be that something tripped a circuit breaker. In that case, you can find the breaker box, reset the tripped breaker, and remember that you might not want to run the hair dryer, the microwave, and the band saw at the same time. If you think that the outage may be caused by faulty wiring or have any reason to think that you may be having electrical problems, call an electrician right away. Electricity can be dangerous and isn't something you want to mess with yourself.
Gas Leak: Emergency
A gas leak is something you should take seriously and is definitely a household emergency. Many appliances may run on natural gas or on liquid propane if you live outside the city. These include your water heater, gas fireplace, clothes dryer, and stove or oven. If you smell a rotten egg smell, that may mean a gas leak. If you have any reason to suspect that you may be experiencing a gas leak, get out of your house right away and contact your gas provider as soon as possible. In the meantime, definitely don't light any flames and don't switch anything electrical either on or off. ONLY turn off the gas supply to the home if you are already experienced in working with these things. Even then, it's a better idea to have the gas company do it for you.
Frozen or Burst Pipes: Emergency
While frozen or burst water pipes may seem like just an inconvenience, it's one that should be addressed immediately. A frozen or burst pipe can actually do significant damage to your property and contribute to long-term problems such as mold if left untreated. The best thing to do is to keep pipes from freezing in the first place by closing off outside taps and keeping your home warm during the winter months. In the event of frozen or burst pipes, you should shut off the water where it comes into the house and call a licensed plumber immediately.
Whatever household problems you might be facing, whether they're a minor inconvenience or a major emergency, Davenport Service Company can help! We've been providing Olathe heating and cooling services for more than thirty years, and believe us, in that time, we've seen it all. Whether you're facing an emergency or just a little hiccup, give Davenport Service Company call at 913-441-2222, and let us help you get things running smoothly again!
