These simple but useful tips can help you get to the bottom of some common heating, plumbing, and electrical issues.
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I have NO WATER… what should I do?
Check the power to your pump. There may be a problem with the circuit, or a lightning strike in the area may have tripped your breaker (GFCI).
Verify all of the water supply valves at the water source are turned on.
Bypass the water filters and test the pressure; if it improves, your water filters need to be replaced.
Verify the heat line is turned on and working by touching the line; it should be warm to the touch.
Check the low water cut off on the pressure switch.
Check out: These Links Here and Here for youtube videos about possible fixes.
I have NO HOT WATER… what can I do?
Do you have power to your boiler or hot water tank? Check your breaker, plug, and switch.
Check the hot water tank. Is the hot water pipe on the top of the tank hot? If one of the lines on the top of your tank is hot, then your tank is likely working.
On the hot water tank or boiler you will find an “anti-scalding device” or “mixing valve.” Can you turn it? If so, adjust the temperature of the water to see if this helps.
Is there fuel for the system (natural gas or propane)? Be sure that your hot water tank is full of water before turning it on; if the tank is turned on with no water in it, this will cause issues.
My GENERATOR won’t start… where do I look?
Is there a “fault” light on on your generator? If so, what is the fault message? Red is a “fault,” yellow indicates that “service is required,” and green indicates that “all systems are normal.”
Check your fluids. Most generators won’t start if they’re low on oil or coolant.
Check your generator’s battery. If you put your generator into “manual mode” will it crank over? If not, it is likely that the battery needs to be charged or replaced.
If the generator is running but there is no power to the house, check the circuit breaker on the generator. This will, in most instances, be found on the line leaving the generator.
If the generator cranks over but doesn’t start, check the fuel. Is the tank empty? How cold is it outside? If it is colder than -25 degrees Celsius, then there may be a problem with propane leaving the tank.
I have NO HEAT… what’s up?
Confirm the furnace switch or disconnect is turned on as well as the thermostat.
Most thermostats will have a low battery indicator light. Confirm this is not on. If it is on, replace the batteries.
Verify that the fuel tanks for the failed appliance are not empty.
Is the furnace vent/chimney clear of snow, frost build-up (hoar frost) or debris? The slightest blockage will cause the furnace to fault.
My drains are NOT DRAINING… how do I fix it?
If it is just one fixture (most commonly the kitchen sink), try plunging the drain in question first. If that doesn’t work, the drain will need to be snaked.
If the whole house is affected, do you have a septic? Where is the septic? You will need to expose the septic and check the baffle where the outflow from the house enters the septic tank. There may or may not be a pump; if there is a pump it is common that the GFCI receptacle for the pump has tripped and simply resetting it can resolve the issues. A “piggy back” cord end is common with sewage pumps. It floats the float plugs into the receptacle and the pump plugs into the other side of the float plug. To test the float, simply unplug the pump from the float piggy back plug, unplug the piggy back from the receptacle, and plug the pump into the receptacle directly. If the pump works, the float has failed. *NOTE* Don’t leave the pump plugged in because it will continuously run and eventually burn out.
Check for power to the sewage pump by making sure the breaker is turned on and plugging an appliance that you know works into the sewage pump receptacle.
If there is a humming noise coming from the pump chamber, unplug the pump to keep the pump motor from burning out. Either the pump has a blockage or the sewage line could be frozen.
