Feel Northern Air

When the temperature outside is brutal and your furnace refuses to cooperate, panic sets in fast.  In this episode of the Feel Northern Air Podcast, Joe Bates breaks down where to start when your heat won't kick on — and it might be simpler than you think. But what happens when the easy fixes don't work? And is your home ready if your only heat source goes down on the coldest night of th...

Hosts Melissa and Joe Bates kick off a new segment of the podcast spotlighting local businesses that go above and beyond for their community. In this episode, they open up about the heartbreaking and sudden loss of their beloved yellow lab, Libby, and the emotional toll it took on their family — especially their youngest son.  Contact us at FeelNorthernAir.com .

In this episode, Joe and Melissa dive into the unsettling sounds coming from your utility room. From "popping" and "crackling" to the "oatmeal-like" sediment found in aging units, they explain what causes these noises and why ignoring them can lead to a shorter lifespan for your appliance. You'll learn the difference between normal mechanical sounds and signs of...

High water bills typically result from increased household water usage, leaks in plumbing fixtures or filtration systems, or running toilets and dripping faucets that can be detected through smart monitoring or municipal alerts. Today, Master Plumber Joe Bates explains the “what” and the “how” of detecting, repairing and fixing these problems. Contact us at FeelNorthernAir.com .

In this episode of the Feel Northern Air Podcast, hosts Melissa and Joe address a common plumbing question: the safety of using chemical drain cleaners. Joe  shares a personal experience where exposure to the toxic fumes from a chemical drain cleaner resulted in serious respiratory issues.  Contact us at FeelNorthernAir.com .

In this episode of the Feel Northern Air Podcast, master plumber Joe shares why annual professional plumbing inspections are essential for every home, detailing what technicians examine—from valves and fixtures to water heaters, sump pumps, and sewage systems. He explains how these routine checks catch small issues before they cause costly emergencies like leaks or backups, while emphasizing the v...

Most homeowners treat their plumbing like magic—water appears, waste disappears—until a Christmas dinner backs up the kitchen sink. Master plumber Joe walks through what actually happens during an annual plumbing inspection, from valve functionality and water heater safety checks to the emergency shut-off location most people can't identify. The conversation illuminates the hidden infrastruct...

BIG IDEA Whenever you hear your pipes banging or clanging in your house, that's a sign to investigate it, see what's going on, get the pipe secured, make sure there's not water hammer going on. DESCRIPTION In this episode, hosts Melissa and Joe tackle two persistent household plumbing frustrations: toilets that run endlessly due to warped flappers from poor water quality or chlorine...

Joe and Melissa tackle the critical question of how to best protect pipes from freezing. They explain why keeping pipes in heated spaces is ideal, how to properly apply foam insulation and heat tape, and why crawl spaces account for most frozen pipe emergencies. Homeowners learn practical steps to avoid costly water damage when temperatures plummet. Contact us at FeelNorthernAir.com .

In this episode of the Feel Northern Air Podcast, hosts Melissa and Joe discuss how to tackle slow drains in the kitchen sink. They provide practical tips such as checking for obstructions, using a garbage disposal properly, and cleaning out the trap under the sink. The episode also highlights preventive measures like using a drain additive to keep pipes clear.  00:00 Introduction to the Feel Nort...

The primal panic of a rising toilet bowl is universally understood; this episode moves past discomfort to offer essential plumbing mastery. Learn the simple, non-negotiable rule for prevention: only human waste and toilet paper belong in the bowl, immediately dispelling myths around "flushable" wipes and feminine products. Should a clog occur, Joe and Melissa provide the critical, aggres...

If you are on city water, a mysteriously higher water bill might be the first sign of a problem; if you're on a well, the pump or pressure switch turning on randomly when no water is being used is a major indicator of a leak. Hidden water leaks in your home often begin with subtle signs, such as a water bill that is steadily climbing or hearing the unexplained sound of water moving through th...

Melissa and Joe reveal why knowing your main water shutoff location is an act of everyday wisdom few possess. Their candid discussion blends technical know-how with personal stories, urging listeners to confront both practical skill gaps and hidden discomforts. Tune in for regional surprises, honest reflections, and subtle lessons in mastering chaos at home. Contact us at FeelNorthernAir.com .

Dive below the surface of routine plumbing frustrations, as Melissa and Joe probe the deep connections between everyday habits and the stories we tell ourselves about blame, prevention, and human messiness. With candid, cinematic clarity, this conversation invites listeners to confront their own discomfort and shame, reframing even the nastiest clogs as part of the irreducible texture of ordinary...

Why does your bathroom become a battleground against sewage smells every winter? This episode peels back the layers on the subtle effects of seasonal change within your home’s plumbing and reveals the often-overlooked dance between architecture, atmosphere, and the human urge to fix what feels broken. Drawing out visceral imagery and real talk from inside Northern Air, listeners will find themselv...

Low water pressure isn't just annoying—it's your home's way of signaling problems that range from routine filter maintenance to critical system failures. Joe walks through the spectrum of causes, from whole-house filters that clog faster than you'd expect to well tanks that become waterlogged without warning. Learn when a pressure drop is a DIY fix and when it's time to ca...

"Water cannot be compressed, so when it freezes and then it thaws, if it doesn't have anywhere to go, it breaks stuff." A frozen pipe isn't just an inconvenience—it's a structural failure waiting to happen in your home.  Joe explains why hot water lines freeze first, how water's incompressibility turns a simple freeze-thaw cycle into a pipe-bursting catastrophe, and t...

"It's going to happen again if you don't address the real problem.” Most people think a dripping faucet is just an annoyance that needs a quick fix. Joe from Feel Northern Air explains why that drip is actually a symptom of something far more significant happening in your water supply.  The calcium, manganese, iron, and sediment flowing through your pipes aren't just damaging y...

Yep. A few more of our award-winning radio ads. Enjoy! Contact us at FeelNorthernAir.com .

Almost a year ago, we thought we’d do something a little different, something maybe outside the bounds of “normal” that would give us a way to introduce ourselves to our community without screaming, “Hey, Wanna Buy Our Thing?!” This is what started it all. Contact us at FeelNorthernAir.com .

Joe and Melissa share their experience sponsoring their son's high school football rivalry game and explore how local business involvement in youth sports creates genuine community connection. They examine the deeper impact beyond marketing metrics, from helping kids access proper equipment to becoming part of team identity through simple sponsorships. The conversation illuminates how support...

A Minnesota family's ambitious quest to visit every state park takes a dangerous turn when they attempt to cross the massive Lake of the Woods in a small rental boat with their two young children and dog. What starts as a beautiful day trip to an island state park becomes a harrowing battle against rising waves, plummeting fuel levels, and an approaching storm that leaves them stranded 20 mil...

Joe and Melissa share their personal transformation from a scarcity mindset to embracing possibilities they never thought achievable. From believing they could never afford to travel beyond family visits to now considering property investments in multiple countries, they explore how breaking through one barrier creates momentum for the next. Their candid conversation reveals how fear of the unknow...

A high school teacher named Nob delivered a profound truth that changed everything: 85% of your classmates will vanish after graduation, so stop making life decisions based on their opinions. This episode explores how one powerful moment of perspective shifted a student from victim to victor, transforming years of bullying into a foundation for resilience. The conversation weaves through childhood...

DESCRIPTION A high school teacher named Nob delivered a profound truth that changed everything: 85% of your classmates will vanish after graduation, so stop making life decisions based on their opinions. This episode explores how one powerful moment of perspective shifted a student from victim to victor, transforming years of bullying into a foundation for resilience. The conversation weaves throu...