A question someone ought to study.

Do furnaces break more frequently in the winter than the summer, or do people just have occasion to notice non-functional furnaces when the weather gets really cold?

(Why yes, our furnace has broken, and our temperatures have been dipping below freezing. Why do you ask? Is it my pathetic chattering?)

More like this

I've broken mine twice in the winter. It's not fun.

I got the impression from the furnace guy that the biggest spike in business for him was in the fall when people turn them on for the first time in months.

Your teeth were chattering? I couldn't hear that over the din of your knees knocking. :)

I'd say you're having the sort of night where everybody sleeps together in the same bed. Dress warmly, and in layers. Pile up the blankets and comforters; make sure everybody goes to the bathroom just before going to bed; finally, spend a little extra time playing with your pets, to get them worn out and sleepy. Bed time stories are a great help in this sort of situation. And be thankful children your daughters' ages drop off to sleep so quickly.

Practical experience shows that there are two periods when furnaces are most likely to cause difficulties: at the start of the heating season when they've been shut off for the summer, and in times of very cold weather when they have to work harder than usual.

One year my parents furnace water pump burned out Christmas Day... It was well bellow freezing too (-10ish C.) We were able to get a replacement a couple days later...

Merry Christmas indeed...
Good Luck Janet!! ;>)

I'm pretty sure AC's also like to expire on the first hot day of the summer... one day before you're hosting 30 out-of-towners for a family reunion.

Since these things come in 3s and we were #1 in the family this heating season, it's time to warn your bros.

By Super Sally (not verified) on 11 Dec 2007 #permalink

Arkansas Traveler: "Say, Old-timer, I see you have a hole in your roof. Why don't you fix it?"

Old Man: "Can't fix the roof when it's raining, and when the sun shines, the roof don't leak."

It's the oldest joke in the book.

What, you're not laughing?

I have pretty much always lived in the south so I'm not sure what this "furnace" thing is. But I do know that when our A/C goes it's in the middle of summer (admittedly we're running it pretty hard at that time)

My heat pump went out here last summer during a record heat wave! It was 100 degrees here in the office! I think with furnaces
the pros advocate having them checked over before the chilly stuff shows up. But they can still break the day after the pro gives the OK! Ah yes, machines! Gotta love em. We have no choice! LOL!
Dave Briggs :~)