Heating & cooling repair guides
Keep the air comfortable and the water hot. Simple checks for your AC, furnace filter, thermostat and water heater, plus how to keep pipes from freezing.
- AC not cooling: what to check before you call for serviceMany no-cool calls turn out to be a thermostat setting, a tripped breaker or a clogged filter. Here's how to check the easy things safely, and when to stop.Easy15–30 minutes (plus thawing time for a frozen coil)
- How to change your HVAC filterA clean filter helps your heating and cooling run better and keeps dust out of your home. It's one of the easiest home jobs there is, once you know where to look.Easy5–10 minutes
- Thermostat not working: simple checks and fixesA blank screen or a system that won't respond is often a battery, setting or power switch problem. Here's how to work through it safely.Easy10–30 minutes
- No hot water: safe checks for gas and electric water heatersA cold shower usually traces back to a tripped breaker, a reset button or a pilot that went out. Here's what a homeowner can safely check, and where to stop.Moderate15–45 minutes
- How to prevent frozen pipes and thaw them safelyA few easy steps before a cold snap can save you from a burst pipe and a flooded house. If a pipe does freeze, here's how to thaw it without making things worse.Easy30–60 minutes to prepare