Furnace repairs heat up during winter season

RALEIGH--As the bitter cold blasts across North Carolina, it's posing threats to many homeowners to keep houses warm.

Prolonged cold also puts a strain on older heating systems, like 95-year-old Minnie Shores' furnace.

"As cold as it is, working outside, and I feel for them...but there's not much I can do, I just hope they get through the job quick," she said.

Her heating system broke down on Friday, leaving the temperature in her home at 45 degrees for two days.

"It's been awfully cold....I believe we could keep frozen food in here," she said.

Luckily for Shores, Michael & Son Services, Inc. provided her with a space heater for her home, but technicians said the problem can be avoided with service checks twice a year.

"The most important thing to do is service the unit often, at least twice a year...one time before you are turning on the air conditioning and once before you are turning on the heat," said Jason Litvak, with Michael & Son Services, Inc.

Shores' heating system was 12-years-old, which is about the average life expectancy of a heating and cooling system in North Carolina.

"Here in North Carolina, the units run really hard, since we have both extremes, we get the heat in the summer and we get cold like we are having here in the winter, so a typical life expectancy of heating and cooling equipment here in this state is about anywhere between 12 and 18 years, so most people are replacing that often," said Litvak.

Cooler temperatures also bring a greater plumbing demand, as water heaters are working harder and pipes can burst.

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Furnace repairs heat up during winter season