The furnace in your home is how you stay warm and comfortable when outside temperatures drop. Most furnace systems are equipped with a reset feature designed to shut the furnace down quickly when potentially serious problems occur. If this important safety feature activates or "trips" frequently, it might mean the furnace is overheating and in need of professional attention.

Today, we'll discuss reasons why you might need to reset your furnace, how to reset it, and when to call for professional assistance.

Signs You Need To Reset Your Furnace

The furnace reset feature is designed to keep you in control of your furnace. It's a protective measure to ensure that the furnace doesn't come back on if it's overheating or leaking fuel, which could be dangerous to you and your family. Some situations in which you might need to reset your furnace include:

• Power outages and surges
• Frequent short cycles (meaning the unit starts and stops quickly without doing its job)
• Persistent error codes

How To Reset Your Furnace

Each furnace unit comes equipped with a furnace reset button. When the reset feature trips, it's usually a simple DIY task to reset it. If, for any reason, you feel uncomfortable doing this, call the pros at Cassell Brothers.

Follow these steps to reset the unit:

1. Turn off the power at the circuit box, or make sure the main gas supply is off.
2. Lower the thermostat to its lowest setting.
3. Find the reset button. It's usually yellow or red and located inside the furnace's blower compartment.
4. Press and hold the reset button for about 30 seconds.
5. Turn the power or gas supply back on.
6. Observe to ensure your furnace was successfully reset

When To Call a Professional

Though your furnace's reset feature is designed for ease of use, there may be times when the results aren't what the average homeowner might be equipped to handle. In those cases, it's best to call a qualified, knowledgeable furnace service provider for help. Instances where you might need furnace service include:

• The reset didn't work
• Frequent resets are needed
• Error codes continue
• Strange noises coming from your furnace
• If you have any safety concerns (such as gases leaking)

Why Cassell Brothers?

At Cassell Brothers Home Services, we've provided the Midlands with superior furnace services since 2008. We're a family-owned and -operated company with over 60 combined years of experience handling furnace challenges of all kinds. See us for emergency service and technicians who are licensed, bonded, and insured. Count on us for 100% guaranteed satisfaction and results you can trust for years.

To learn more about furnace services from Cassell Brothers Home Services in the Midlands area of South Carolina, call (803) 868-6191 or fill out a contact form online, and we'll be with you shortly!

If you are having a water heater installed in your home for the first time, one of the first decisions you must make is whether it will be gas or electric. Since both are available for most sizes, the decision most often comes down to what connections you have available and their relative cost.

To learn more about which type of water heater in will be most effective and cost efficient for your home, call Cassell Brothers today. One of our technicians can discuss your options with you and provide the water heater installation services needed for your new electric or gas water heater in .

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Gas Water Heaters

Gas water heaters require a gas line to operate so if your home does not have natural gas connections, then this will not be an option. However, if you do have natural gas, a gas water heater may be a good fit for your needs.

Gas water heaters have a pilot light that ignites a burner plate beneath the tank whenever the temperature of the water in the tank drops below the thermostat setting. Most modern gas water heaters have electronic ignition to ensure only as much gas as is needed is used for your system. Because a gas water heater burns gas, it requires an exhaust system as well. This means it needs to be patched into the chimney or a separate ventilation system. This can add to the installation cost if you do not currently have a gas appliance in your utility room.

Electric Water Heaters

Whereas gas water heaters use a burner plate, electric water heaters use electrical elements to heat the water. Like the gas water heater, an electrical model will turn on when the temperature drops below the thermostat setting. The elements will turn on and start to heat the water.

Because you don’t need to connect an electric water heater to a gas line or exhaust system, installation is less expensive and can usually be completed relatively fast. Additionally, you can install insulation upgrades like a water heater blanket that will reduce heat loss from the tank without worrying about the gas burners.

The trade-off of easier and less expensive installation is that an electric water heater is often more expensive to operate. In The Midlands and the surrounding area, electricity is more expensive than natural gas and will likely remain that way for some time. So, you will pay more to operate your water heater if it is electric.

Ultimately, the decision on what type of water heater is best for your home depends on the size of your home, the relative cost of installation and what you currently have installed. If you only need a small water heater for a basement apartment, electrical might be your best option, whereas a full–sized gas water heater may be better for your entire home.

Call the Electric and Gas Water Heater Installation Experts

Whatever you decide, know that Cassell Brothers Home Services’s plumbing team is available to provide installation services for your gas or electric water heater in The Midlands. Call us today to learn more about what we can do for you.