Suddenly your home has gone from toasty warm to cool and uncomfortable. The furnace is on the fritz and you're not sure if professional heating services are absolutely necessary. With the ever-growing number of do-it-yourself or DIY videos online, you've seen clips that make it seem like home heating repair services are a thing of the past. But is that really true?

While there are some basics that homeowners can take care of themselves, when your furnace fails it's more than likely that you'll need an expert. If you're a first-time homeowner, knowing when to schedule service from a pro and when to DIY it is a tough call. Before you make a decision one way or the other, take a look at some of the common questions that new homeowners have about heating services.

Does Every Furnace Issue Require a Professional?

There's no easy answer to this question. Every furnace and homeowner has their own individual needs. If you have very little, or zero, knowledge of HVAC systems and how they work, stay far away from do-it-yourself fixes.

Even though many furnace issues require an expert's advice (and their repair), some are simple enough for most non-professionals to remedy. These include obvious issues, such as the thermostat or furnace switch (in the breaker box) are turned off, the temperature is set too low or the battery in the thermostat needs a replacement.

What Does a Natural Gas Smell Mean?

This only applies if your furnace uses natural gas as a heating fuel. Natural gas is given a rotten egg-like scent. You should never smell gas in your home or around your furnace. If you smell gas, something is wrong. And this 'something' requires immediate attention from a professional.

Natural gas is a serious health and fire hazard. Never attempt to fix your furnace or figure out what's making the small. Turn the furnace off, open the windows, move yourself (and any other people or pets) to fresh air and call a professional right away.

What Services Can a Novice DIYer Tackle?

Keep your DIYing to the basics — especially in the beginning. As a new homeowner it's not likely that you have extensive experience in heating repairs. When in doubt, call the professional.

Even though you need an expert to for routine service and repairs, you can learn how to tackle easy tasks. These include changing or cleaning air filters, cleaning a condensate pump and replacing thermostat batteries.

Beyond the basics, it's time to call in the experts. Heating repair services range from the minor to serious and major. If you're not sure what to do or how severe the problem is, it's always best to consult an HVAC repair person like those at Smedley & Associates.