Many home services companies base their pricing on time and materials. But that often leads to an unpleasant surprise for the customer: A final bill with hourly charges for unexpected work, or worse yet, fees that weren’t originally disclosed.

Predicting your water heater’s future is risky. It could last up to 15 years, but waiting until it breaks can be costly. The average homeowner’s insurance claim for water damage due to a failed water heater is over $4,000.

If your water comes from a well, the added strain of increased usage can cause serious problems in the water system if it hasn’t been maintained properly. One common issue is a rapid cycling (or short cycling) well pump.