We’ve noticed some great questions popping up across social media from customers who want to know more about HVAC, plumbing, and electrical components around their home! We thought it would be a great idea to begin a series where our trainers answer those questions! This is the Ask A Trainer Series!

“Why is it important for a sump pump to have a battery backup?” – Trent W. 

Sump Pumps operate from your electrical system, so if the power goes out because of a potential rainstorm, the sump pump will not pump, which could lead to water damage. A battery backup for your sump pump can help prevent that and will keep your pump running until the power comes back on, or at least until you can find an alternative power source.

It’s our goal to provide you with the best home comfort services around, and we want you to have the assurance that it’s being performed by trustworthy, reliable technicians. CLICK HERE to check out this video and more from our expert trainers, Ethan and Nick, on our YouTube channel #AskATrainer playlist. 

Do you have more questions for F.H. Furr’s trainers? Ask us! Write your question on social media @fhfurr and use the hashtag #AskATrainer. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for a video answer to your question in our Ask A Trainer Series!

We’ve received great questions across social media from customers who want to know more about their smoke alarms. Why are they chirping? How do I fix it?

We’re diving into these questions as part of our Ask A Trainer Series!

“Why Are My Smoke Detectors Constantly Chirping?” – Fairfax, VA 

Recently, we came across a post on Twitter regarding loud chirps coming from their smoke detectors. We know how annoying this problem can be, especially in the middle of the night. Most of the time, the solution is as simple as changing the batteries. However, this is not always the case. We have asked a trainer what a chirping smoke detector means and what to do about it!

Our goal is to provide you with the best home comfort services in Northern Virginia. Our electricians are here to help and can assist with questions or concerns you may be experiencing. 

Do you have more questions for F.H. Furr’s trainers? Ask us! Write your question on social media @fhfurr and use the hashtag #AskATrainer. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for a video answer to your question in our Ask A Trainer Series!

We’ve noticed some great questions popping up across social media from customers who want to know more about dimmer switches vs light switches. Our trainers are here to answer those questions! This is the Ask A Trainer Series!

“Light switch vs. dimmer switch? What’s your thoughts? And where’s the best place for a dimmer switch?” – Frank C. 

A recent question was tweeted to us asking about our dimmers vs. light switches. Dimmer switches are a great option for bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms. It allows you to be able to adjust to the lighting that fits your mood, vs. only on or off. 

It’s our goal to provide you with the best home comfort services around. Our electricians are ready to help make your home a relaxing oasis with the lighting that best fits your needs. CLICK HERE to check out this video and more from our expert trainers Ethan and Nick, on our YouTube channel #AskATrainer playlist. 

Do you have more questions for F.H. Furr’s trainers? Ask us! Write your question on social media @fhfurr and use the hashtag #AskATrainer. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for a video answer to your question in our Ask A Trainer Series!

“My outlets seem really warm to the touch. Could that be dangerous? ”-Question Submitted by Ashley P. Fair Lakes, VA

Electrical issues are some of the most common reasons for household fires, so this question is an important one. When an electrical outlet feels warm to the touch, there is often an electrical issue happening behind the scenes. Although in most cases this isn’t hazardous, all electrical problems, left unfixed, can become dangerous.

Discovering the Cause:

Although there could be several reasons why your outlet might be emitting heat, the most likely are that you’ve got an overly large electrical load operating on that outlet, undersized wiring or a loose electrical splice. It’s not unusual for dimmer switches to be warm, but a noticeable rise in the temperature of an outlet should be monitored.

Solution: Call in an expert to look for a loose splice, melted connections, or burned insulation. They can also evaluate the wattage of your device; it may be too large relative to supply wiring. If you notice any other issues with your electrical outlets, such as inconsistent electrical currents or sparks, call on a professional electrician to perform an electrical safety inspection. Our inspections are thorough and should be performed annually. 

During an inspection we’ll check for:

• Light switch and wall outlet operation and condition
• Light bulb wattage verification
• Verify properly operating arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs)
• Identify shock or electrocution hazards
• Identify any exposed wiring
• Check for operation of all safety and security lighting
• Validate proper surge protection
• Confirm grounding systems
• Verifying all smoke detector placement
• Testing of smoke detectors
• Testing of carbon monoxide detectors
• Outdoor electrical system examination
• Electrical panel operation, amps and label inspection
• Inspection of wiring to the meter
• Inspecting main disconnect
• And much more.

Additionally, once your electrician has cleared your home of any serious dangers, have them install a Ting Electrical Monitor. This device will monitor your home’s electrical system and alert you on your device if it senses any issues. Click here to learn more about the Ting and stay protected!

We’ve noticed some great questions popping up across social media from customers who want to know more about what training our technicians receive! Our trainers are here answer those questions! This is the Ask A Trainer Series!

“What kind of training does your plumbers, electricians and techs receive?” – Amanda S.

All of our techs receive over 150 hours of ongoing training, which includes technical training, product training and customer service. Our goal is to make sure you get “Absolutely The Best” plumbing, electrical and HVAC service in Northern Virginia, Maryland And DC.

It’s our goal to provide you with the best home comfort services around, with our ongoing weekly technician training. CLICK HERE to check out this video and more from our expert trainers Ethan and Nick, on our YouTube channel #AskATrainer playlist

Do you have more questions for F.H. Furr’s trainers? Ask us! Write your question on social media @fhfurr and use the hashtag #AskATrainer. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for a video answer to your question in our Ask A Trainer Series!

We’ve noticed some great questions popping up across social media from customers who want to know more about hard water! Our trainers are here answer those questions! This is the Ask A Trainer Series!

“What does hard water do to my plumbing fixtures? I’ve got a white substance all over my shower head ?” – Robert K.

Hard Water is a major issue to your home’s plumbing system. It can effect the entirety of your system, leading to leaky / smelly faucets, leaky or clogged toilets, and can cause damage to your shower head. 

It’s our goal to provide you with the best home comfort services around, and if you are showing signs of hard water please don’t hesitate to reach out!. CLICK HERE to check out this video and more from our expert trainers Ethan and Nick, on our Youtube channel #AskATrainer playlist. 

Do you have more questions for F.H. Furr’s trainers? Ask us! Write your question on social media @fhfurr and use the hashtag #AskATrainer. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for a video answer to your question in our Ask A Trainer Series!

Our customers do their research and are well-educated on the quality of service we provide, but we’ve noticed some great questions popping up across social media from customers who want to know more! We thought it would be a great idea to begin a series where our trainers answer those questions! This is the Ask A Trainer Series!

“Why do you guys background check and drug test all of your employees?” – Jessica G. 

A recent question was posted on Facebook asking about our background checks and drug tests. Many companies don’t require these checks and tests upon hiring, but we believe that they need to be performed in order to ensure the safety of our customers. Background checks are a requirement and must be passed before an employee can be hired at F.H. Furr, and the same goes for drug tests. Additionally, random drug tests are performed to maintain the safest environment for our customers and employees.

It’s our goal to provide you with the best home comfort services around, and we want you to have the assurance that it’s being performed by trustworthy, reliable technicians. CLICK HERE to check out this video and more from our expert trainers, Ethan and Nick, on our YouTube channel #AskATrainer playlist. 

Do you have more questions for F.H. Furr’s trainers? Ask us! Write your question on social media @fhfurr and use the hashtag #AskATrainer. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for a video answer to your question in our Ask A Trainer Series!

F.H. Furr knows there are hundreds of reasons why you should choose us over other plumbing, heating, air conditioning & electrical companies, but we’ve culled it down to our top 6. We call these The F.H. Furr Difference

We Hire “Absolutely The Best” People

We Protect Your Home As If It Were Our Own

Industry Exclusive Guarantees

Flat-Rate Pricing — Know Upfront What You’re Paying

Community Involvement & Charities

100% Customer Satisfaction: Past, Present & Future

Disinfectant is in high demand these days. With people clamoring for hand sanitizers and aerosol sprays in grocery stores, one might be wondering; what is the ultimate form of disinfectant? 

Priorities have certainly changed over the past few weeks and maintaining health, distance, and sterilization have risen to the top of everyone’s list. Most are doing their part to stay home as much as possible, and many states require residents to wear face masks while shopping for essentials. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most N95 face masks used by health care workers are designed for single-use, to be worn and then thrown out after they’ve been contaminated with germs throughout the day. But with a shortage of quality masks, many are left wondering how to keep their masks clean enough to reuse. 

Last week the CDC released new guidelines for using UV germicidal decontamination methods in emergency situations to kill deadly viruses without harming the mask’s filtration abilities. UV light is already commonly used in hospitals and other areas that require heavy sanitation due to its intense germ-killing properties. With this in mind, the CDC is working to discover more ways to utilize its power. While we know that UV light has been used in home air purification systems to effectively eradicate germs, toxins, viruses, and allergens in the home’s air, many people are just now learning about UV light and are wondering exactly what it is and how it works…

What Is UV Light?

According to NASA, Ultraviolet (UV) light is a form of radiation that is invisible to the human eye. As an invisible part of the “electromagnetic spectrum,” its electromagnetic radiation wavelengths are shorter than the violet end of visible light, making them impossible for our eyes to register and see. 

While UV rays are invisible, they’re extremely powerful. Have you ever sat outside for a few hours on a cloudy day without sunscreen, thinking you’d be fine, only to realize you got a terrible sunburn? That’s the power of UV rays! Fortunately, the atmosphere of the Earth blocks the transmission of seriously dangerous levels of ultraviolet light.

There are three types of UV light; UV-A (lowest energy), UV-B (medium energy), and UV-C (highest energy). UV-C light can be the most damaging if used incorrectly, but is also the most powerful when harnessed for proper use. 

How Does UV Light Work To Disinfect? 

UV light penetrates the cells of bacteria, protozoa, germs, and viruses, absorbing the DNA or RNA that contains their genetic code and damaging it. Once harmful microorganisms are exposed to the germicidal wavelengths of UV-C light, they are rendered incapable of reproducing and infecting.

UV light has demonstrated its germ-killing power over the years, fighting pathogenic organisms responsible for viral and bacterial diseases like polio, typhoid, and cholera. This makes it a promising option for future disinfecting efforts. 

Should I Be Disinfecting My Own Mask?

If you’re not a health care worker wearing an N95 mask on the front lines of this pandemic, you don’t need to take these serious steps. The CDC has recommended that if you are one of the many who are simply trying to weather this storm, pick up groceries without getting infected or passing on a potential infection to anyone else and cover your face with a cloth that can be laundered at home. 

Be Smart…

Recently, The World Health Organization put out a warning stating that UV lamps should never be used to sterilize hands or any other part of your skin. Improper use of UV light could result in loss of sight, skin irritation or burning, and even cancer. While UV-C light is a great disinfectant, it should be used in safe, trusted formats like air purifiers until more testing is concluded. 

New research is happening, but that doesn’t mean you should go out and purchase every UV wand or tool you see on Amazon. UV-C light might very well be the ultimate disinfectant, but it must be used in a specific way to be both truly safe and effective. For now, consider protecting your home, where you’re spending most of your time, with a trusted UV-C light whole home air purifier. Stay informed, stay healthy, and stay safe!