F.H. Furr's Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical Insider Blog

F.H. Furr has great respect for all you DIY-ers out there. It can be intimidating to sort through a plethora of Internet resources, or filter through a slew of comments on your facebook status plumbing inquiries — just to find the right quick fix for your minor plumbing problems. Though we recommend you contact an F.H. Furr professional for any of your plumbing needs (improper DIY repairs can complicate the problem and end up costing you more money!), we acknowledge that many of you prefer to try your hand at home remedies first. Throughout our 30+ years of serving Northern Virginia and surrounding areas, we have seen some DIY failures that we would like to share so you can avoid further financial strain (not to mention save yourself the embarrassment!)

Well, here we are in a winter wonderland…again! You’ve shoveled your drive way and salted the sidewalk; but before you wrap up in that snuggie and whip up a cup of hot chocolate, F.H. Furr wants to let you know there may be a little something you haven’t considered. It’s below freezing outside, there’s snow on your roof, and you are toasty inside—these three factors, though seemingly harmless separately, could together be a recipe for a disaster! The heat from your heating system rising and heating the surface of your roof, causes snow to melt. “Perfect, no need to remove it myself!” you say? Think again. While snow nearest the heated part of your roof melts, snow untouched by the heat and refrozen by the winter air creates a dam and traps a store of water that could seep through your attic, into your roof, and eventually your interior walls! Here are some helpful tips to prevent ice dams:

Alright, let’s talk a little bit about the basement. Basements are the location of every "jumpy scene" in horror movies, but in real life they are often just an average part of your home. Some basements are typical man caves, complete with plasma screens and pool tables. They can even be the main storage area for of the things you aren't sure if you should throw out or hold onto. Often times, basements are an extended living space, bedrooms, kitchenettes, the works. So what do all of these different types of basements have in common? A need for a sump pump!