It’s back! This summer, F.H. Furr is bringing back our most famous service, “A Plumber in Your Home for Free!”. That’s right, we’re bringing you the service you’ve come to know and trust!

Other plumbing companies want to charge you an arm and a leg in dispatch fees, just to tell you what the problem is! Here at F.H. Furr, we value our customers and think that they deserve the best service possible, as well as the best deals around. We want to make your experience a positive one, and with our free dispatch, you never need to worry about being charged to have a plumber come out to your home!

How Does It Work? 

When you’ve got a problem with your plumbing, you need professional help! But you want your money to go straight towards the problem, right? While other plumbing companies will charge you a dispatch fee to come to your home, look at the problem and tell you how much it will be to fix it, we do all of that for free. Best of all, there are NO OBLIGATIONS. That means that when we come to your home, you aren’t required to use our service….but we have a feeling you’ll want to! Our technicians are knowledgable and courteous, and we take care of your home in a professional manner.

 So why should you use our service?

•       Upfront, flat rate pricing, with absolutely NO OBLIGATIONS
•       Inspection performed by our professionally trained technicians 
•       Professional and courteous service
•       No hassle
•       Money saved on the dispatch fee can go towards the real problem

When your home succumbs to any kind of plumbing issue, you know who to call! F.H. Furr has been “Absolutely the Best” for over 30 years! You can’t go wrong with a guarantee like that! Spending money wisely is important to every homeowner, and we know that you strive to save! So put that $30 bucks back in your savings jar, cuz we’re coming to your home for free! 

So don’t get slapped with fees just to have a plumber tell you there’s a problem. Choose our “Plumber in Your Home for Free” service, and save big!

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With summer well on its way, everyone is gearing up for the rising temperatures. Despite the fact that we’ve all been waiting for warmer weather, once it’s finally here, we remember how unbearably hot it can get! So what can you do to prepare for the crazy heat that’s about to overcome us? Start with your air conditioning! When you’re inside, you don’t want to feel stifled by air that’s as warm as it is outdoors. You pay good money to have cool air pumping through your house, so we’ve compiled some simple tips to prepare your air conditioner and help you make sure it’s running smoothly for the summer months! 

 1. Clean or Replace the Filters

Your air handler has filters that fill up with dust and debris, causing the machine to run with less efficiency, and hampering its effectiveness. The solution to this common problem is simple: clean or replace the filters. A clean filter will also assure that dust and allergens doesn’t recirculate into your home. 

 2. Check the Coolant Lines

The refrigerant pipes that run from the evaporator to the air handler and into the condenser outside are usually covered in a  foam insulation. This prevents them from losing energy. If you notice that there are areas of the insulation that are frayed, missing, or damaged, it’s a good idea to replace them. Install foam insulation sleeves, or wrap the lines in a spiral fashion with foam insulation tape. 

 3. Maintain Your Plants

Trim the plants and bushes around the unit to provide at least 12 inches of clearance for air flow. This may sound silly, but many homeowners allow shrubbery to become overgrown and block air from exiting and entering the unit, making it less efficient.

 4. Keep Pets Away From The Unit

This may not be our favorite topic, but when your beloved Fido wants to claim your conditioning unit as his territory, the corrosive acid in his urine will deteriorate and damage the metal. So make sure your unit is clean and maintained so that it lasts as long as possible.

 5. Schedule Annual Maintenance! 

Finally, it’s important to have your unit professionally serviced annually to maintain detailed cleanliness and to ensure that everything is in working order. Some things are fine to tackle on your own, but to get the best out of your machine, call in the professionals! 

As always, F.H. Furr is fully capable of handling all of your air conditioning needs as the summer approaches. Be sure to give us a call and let us help make sure your system is in top shape for summer weather!

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Spring is here, with summer close behind! That means the heat is nearly upon us, and there’s no better feeling than coming in from the stifling outdoors to a cool and comfortable home. But have you ever experienced the opposite effect? Walking into  a warm house when it’s hot outside can automatically destroy your comfort. Maybe you’ve got that one cool room in the house that reflects the temperature that you’ve set the thermostat to,  but the rest are lukewarm. Unfortunately, this is a common situation. Many homes don’t have the proper circulation of heating or cooling  due to poorly constructed ductwork, leaky ducts or simply the structure of the home itself. So how can you be sure that air is circulating in the rooms that YOU want it to? The solution is a Ductless Heating and Cooling System! 

What Are Ductless Systems And How Do They Work?

 Ductless systems are reversible, 2 way pumps that use electricity to transfer heating or cooling. They pull outdoor air in and use “inverter technology” to make the air warmer or cooler, depending on your desired temperature. The system uses two units to complete the process: the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. Both are equally important for the other to function. The outdoor unit gathers the air and heats or cools it, then sends it to the indoor unit, which evaporates and disperses the air into the desired zone. By choosing precisely where you want your air distributed, you can save a boatload on the air that would have been wasted in rooms that aren’t being occupied.  

Is My Home In Need Of  A Ductless System?

 Not only are Ductless systems perfect for homes with inefficient heating or cooling, but also for homes that are undergoing remodeling or additions. Rather than extending the home’s ductwork (which is expensive and time consuming) a Ductless system can provide the same efficient heating or cooling at a lower operating cost! When a new home is being constructed, it’s a good idea to consider installing Ductless systems from the get-go, that way you can install one or more systems in the desired areas of your home, utilizing the full benefits of going Ductless! 

Go Ductless, Go Efficient

 Are they efficient? In this day and age, people are more aware of conserving energy, so this is a valid question. The answer is yes! Because you can personalize where the majority of the heated or cooled air is being  distributed, you don’t waste any air or use unnecessary resources! According to Energy Star, heating and cooling costs the average homeowner $1,000 a year, which is nearly half of the home’s total energy bill! Ductless systems operate using 25%-50% less energy than other systems, and ductwork loses as much as 30% of its efficiency due to leaks and conduction. Eliminating the need for ductwork in your home will put money back in your pocket, and using a Ductless heating and cooling system could cut your bill by 30%. You’ll save money and be more energy efficient! So what are you waiting for?

Have one of F.H. Furr’s trained technicians come out to your home and help you discover the best ways to use the Ductless system. We’ll answer your questions, and make sure you’ve got “Absolutely the Best” energy efficient comfort! 

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Need a guide to help you choose the right Sump Pump for your home? Read the following infographic to find out the best option for you, and get prepared for flooding this summer! 

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 It’s spring! Flowers are appearing, trees are blooming and our cars are turning

yellow…wait, what’s that last part? Ah yes, the pollen has returned with Spring, dousing

everything in its powdery yellow substance. For those of us with allergies, springtime

can be the worst time of the year. Despite the beauty that’s growing all around us, the

allergens are multiplying in the air, making the first few months of spring utterly

miserable. Sneezing, sniffing, itchy eyes; pollen’s symptoms know no end! If you’ve

experienced these allergies, then you know that they can ruin your spring days! When

allergies hit, most of us seek the comfort of our homes to escape the outside air, yet

often times, the air INSIDE your home can be just as bad as it is outside. So how can

you make your home safe from seasonal allergies? Here are 7 tips to help improve your

indoor air quality and clear out seasonal pollen.

1. Dust and Vacuum Frequently

This may sound obvious, but this is a critical part of keeping allergens at bay! With

springtime weather, windows and doors are opened more frequently, allowing pollen to

enter your home and infiltrate the air. By dusting and vacuuming routinely, you can

bypass the issue of pollen becoming imbedded in your carpets and avoid stirring it up

while dusting. Also, using a hypo-allergenic vacuum or high filtration bag will help retain

allergens better than most regular vacuums and bags that can leak allergens back into

the air. Keep up with these simple household chores and you’ll see a decrease in

springtime pollen in your home.

2. Keep Your Pets Clean!

If you’ve got pets, (especially if they are regularly outside of your home) brushing and

bathing them regularly will greatly reduce pollen allergens. Pollen can hide in the coat of

your animals, and without grooming your pets routinely, dander and pollen can escape

into your home and cause irritation for those in your family who are suffering from

allergies.

3. Maintain Your Bedding Material

Often times, you can’t escape your allergies, even when you’re trying to sleep. That’s

because pollen settles on everything, including your pillow. If you are a sufferer of

allergies, it may be wise to purchase allergen impermeable pillowcases for the pollen

season. It’s important to wash your bedding material in hot water every week. This will

get rid of any pollen that’s accumulated, or has been brought in, and help you sleep

easier this spring! 

4. Keep Windows Closed!

This should go without saying, but we’ll mention it anyway. Keep those windows shut! The more outside air you let into your home, the worse it’ll be for the one suffering from allergies. Despite the fact that the weather is beautiful….you’ll have to enjoy it from afar for a few weeks until the blooms die down.

5. Upgrade Your Air Filter

Most common air filters only eliminate 3-5% of the dust particles and allergens that

circulate through them. Upgrading will greatly reduce pollen and allergens that are in

your home.

6. Control the Humidity in Your Home

A humidifier can be good for the elimination of allergens in the air. There are small, one

room humidifiers that you can buy for fairly cheap if your allergies only last a month or

so, and for those of us who suffer all year long, a Whole House Humidifier will greatly

improve the indoor air quality of your home by keeping dry pollen out and the right

amount of moisture in.

7. Maintain Your Ductwork

The ductwork in your house disperses air throughout your home, so if your ducts are

leaking, or not filtering air properly, you could be sending allergens and dust into the

rooms of your home. It’s a good idea to make sure your ductwork is in clean, working

shape before that Air Conditioning starts pumping!

Protecting your family from harmful allergens and improving your indoor air quality is

important. Try these tips this spring as the pollen count begins to rise! As always, F.H.

Furr is ready to handle all of your Indoor Air Quality needs!

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In our fast paced environment, people tend to misplace things all the time. We lose our car keys, cell phones and wallets and breathe a sigh of relief when we finally find them. Yet, when you lose something of personal and financial value, an annoying inconvenience turns into a frantic search that must be resolved. Such was the case for a Northern Virginia woman who lost her diamond wedding ring down the drain last week. Fearing she’d lost one of her most valued possessions, she called F.H. Furr in hopes that they could recover it! Our technician made the call and told the customer that there was a chance that it couldn’t be recovered, but would try every option to retrieve it. A lot of time and energy later, the ring was safely back in the woman’s possession! “How did he recover it?” one might ask. It was all thanks to a little F.H. Furr perseverance and a trick we call Video Inspection! 

A plumbing video inspection targets the problems that you can’t see or get to. It’s essentially X-Ray vision for your plumbing! The technology allows us to pinpoint exactly where a problem lies, and visually inspect underground pipes and sewer lines that we wouldn’t normally be able to access. These flexible, fiberoptic cameras are designed for small spaces so that they can fit through pipes with ease and keep from compromising the infrastructure. The video is taken through the small high-resolution video camera that is attached to a cable which is fed through the pipe. The video is played out on a monitor in real time, so the technician can see what’s going on as the camera goes through the pipes.   Once they spot the problem, they can then determine the best way to fix it! With the video inspection, we can view and pinpoint problems such as:

• Pipe blockage: Buildup or a foreign object prohibiting proper flow or cleaning of the line. 
• Root penetration: Roots have grown into the sewer line, preventing normal cleaning or damaging the pipe.
• Damaged pipes: Shifting soil, frozen ground and foundation settling can cause pipes to break or crack.
• Misaligned piping-Pipes that have become offset due to shifting soil, frozen ground or settling.
• Bellied (sunken) pipe lines-Section of the pipe has sunken, due to ground or soil conditions, creating a valley that collects paper and waste.
• Corroded pipes- Pipes that have deteriorated or broken, causing sections to collapse and restrict the water flow.
• Leaking joints- Broken pipe seals allow water to escape into the area surrounding the pipe.

Once the problem is detected and identified, F.H Furr’s team is able to properly fix the issue once and for all. Sewer and drain inspections are essential when it comes to keeping your home safe and your plumbing running smoothly. And when it comes to the retrieval of personal items that have been lost, F.H Furr’s technicians will strive to do what we can to get them back. With video inspection, your chances of holding that lost ring in your hand again will double! You can trust our technicians to treat you like family and get the job done right!

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This Spring, make sure that your air conditioning is cooling your home the way it should: with efficiency! Don’t use vacation money on fixing or replacing an air conditioner; maintain and protect, with F.H. Furr’s Home Comfort Inspection! 

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Summer! Just the word brings feelings of freedom, relaxation and excitement! Although some of us remain busy during these warm months, most are able to escape for awhile on a vacation that we’ve anticipated since the last one ended. As you sit at your desk with visions of palm trees, swimsuits and beaches dancing in your head, something sinister may be at work back at your home! During the year, as you are working towards your summer vacation, your A/C unit is working too. Unfortunately if you’ve neglected to have maintenance performed on your unit, it’s been working overtime collecting dust and dirt. This makes it less efficient and costs you more money in utility bills. Not only that, but there’s a greater chance of a system breakdown, which could cost you hundreds! If you find yourself in a predicament with a broken air handler, chances are, that vacation money you’ve been hoarding is going to go straight into a new unit. If that thought scares you, it might be time to get your system maintenance and tune-up before disaster strikes! 

 “So what are the benefits of maintaining my air conditioning equipment?” This may be a question on most people’s minds, especially as they’re trying to be smart with their money. As it turns out, the benefits far outweigh the cost of maintenance:

• You’ll have fewer breakdowns. 90% of breakdowns can be avoided with regular maintenance. 
• The longevity of your equipment will increase significantly, allowing you to save big on your utility bills! 
• Maintenance improves the efficiency of your unit.
• Maintaining your system can protect you from the potential danger of carbon monoxide leaks.
• Improves your indoor air quality.
• You’ll have peace of mind knowing that your system is working when you need it and in the way that it’s supposed to!
• By maintaining your system, you’re staying within the stipulations of your warranty, equipping yourself with the protection that your warranty provides.
• We provide documentation of your tune-up, so you can always keep track of when your system received it’s maintenance. 

It’s a good idea to keep your system clean in between professional tune-ups. This is something that you can do on your own to keep up with your system and have it running smoothly! 

With your vacation so close, and the energy costs rising, maintenance could mean the difference between a relaxing vacation with Mickey Mouse in Orlando or Bob over in Accounting. It’s your choice, but we have a feeling you deserve a real vacation. When you take care of your equipment, you’re protecting your finances by looking ahead and taking preventative measures. Let F.H. Furr help your family get on vacation spot! Call us to have an experienced professional come out and perform a 21-point air conditioning maintenance and tune-up on your system. Don’t let your A/C steal your vacation! 

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What is a crawl space? It’s not a term that you’d know off the top of your head, but the fact is, it’s a part of your home, and it has the potential to be extremely harmful. A crawl space is located beneath many houses, is generally very small, and is only tall enough to “crawl” through, hence its name. These spaces have room for pipes to run, allowing easy access should the pipes need to be serviced. Unfortunately, the spaces are located very near to the ground, and their floor is generally made up of dirt. Here are some questions you need to ask yourself to discover the truth about your crawl spaces:

     What are the dangers of leaving my home’s crawl space as it is?

Homeowners likely don’t feel that taking protective measures with their crawl space is necessary, since they’ve rarely even noticed its existence, but the reality is; crawl spaces can be damaging to your home and health. There’s a lot of water that accumulates in the earth beneath your home, and this moisture can vaporize and puddle. Your crawl space is the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. As your home circulates air, it pulls up from the crawl space and into your home. Mold spores, odors and dust mites can come up with the air, like smoke being wafted up a chimney. This severely compromises your indoor air quality as well as the health and safety of your home. As spring and summer approach, the moisture combined with stagnant air and humidity will wreak havoc on your home and cause unhealthy air quality. Crawl spaces need to be properly ventilated in order to allow the moisture to escape the space or else the vapors can lead to serious structural problems as floor joists and framing become compromised. Keep an eye out for these telltale signs of that water vapors are damaging your home:

• Warped or buckling floors
• Mildewed carpets 
• Rust 
• Peeling paint
• Musty odors

 Not only do you have to watch out for structural damage, but keep in mind that rodents, and pests of all kinds love dark, dank areas. These creatures also attract snakes, and while some of us may like the reptiles, most don’t want them slithering beneath our homes. 

     What can I do to protect my home from crawl space damages? 

Encapsulation! It’s a fancy sounding word for a simple procedure that will save you hundreds on potential damages and give you peace of mind all year long. Encapsulation is the process of covering the dirt and gaps with a protective barrier. This barrier seals out the moisture, protecting your home from damage and destructive vapors. Not only does encapsulation turn  your crawl space into a clean and safe area, it also saves you up to 20% on your heating and cooling costs, simply by sealing the cracks that allow outdoor air in! 

At F.H. Furr, we encourage you to take the initiative, protect your home from moisture damage, and save energy with crawl space encapsulation. We believe that keeping your home and family safe and comfortable comes first! Saving energy with this option is just another reason to take the right step towards encapsulating your crawl space! Give our experts a call and find out of crawl space encapsulation is right for your home!

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Dust is common in every home. There’s no way to escape it, it’s just a part of life. With Spring Cleaning right around the corner, you’ll be seeing your fair share of dust bunnies hidden beneath the beds! In this day and age, most of us don’t have time to dust every day, yet, have you noticed an unusual amount of dust in your home? Are layers of dust plaguing your furniture, appliances and floors, even after you’ve just dusted? This is a sign that there is a problem with your home’s indoor air quality that you might not be able to see. Here are three causes for uncommon amounts of dust in your home:

 1. Dirty Furnace or Air Conditioner Filters 

The filters in your home need to be changed once a month or according to the filter manufacturer’s instructions to maintain a good indoor air quality. Homeowners can often forget about changing their filters, or put it off, presuming that they can probably last longer than a month, but those filters keep your home clear of dust, so it’s good to keep up with them. It has been suggested that you temporarily seal the filter in place with metal back duct tape. Write the date on the tape with a marker so you can keep track of the last time you changed the filter. 

 2. Leaks in Your Home

Tiny leaks in the cracks and crevices of your home can allow air to seep in, bringing outside dust particles with it! It’s a good idea to invest in some home sealing solutions. It’s easy to seal spaces around windows and doors, but holes hidden in attics, basements and crawlspaces can be more difficult to fix. For your windows and doors, consider sealing those yourself with caulk. For any spaces in the attic or basement, call in the professionals. Sealing up your home will not only improve the indoor air quality and help with your dust problem, but save you money every month on your electricity bill. 

3. Clogged Ducts and Leaky Ducts 

Duct leaks can be a large cause of unsightly dust in your home. Ducts can become clogged with dirt and debris, and when this happens, the dirt and dust leaks out from the cracks in your ducts and into your home. This could be one of the reasons your home is overly dusty, and there are two ways to prevent it. Firstly, be sure that your ducts are properly sealed so that there are no leaks that dust could be blown through. Secondly, have your ducts cleaned. Maintaining your ducts can transform the indoor air quality in your home and could mean the difference between clean, breathable air, and musty, dust-filled air.  

If you think you’re a victim of an overly dusty home, you’ve probably got one of more of these issues causing excessive dust accumulation. Not only does a dusty home give off the impression that it’s dirty, but it’s also unhealthy! You expect the air your breathe to be clean and dust-free. If you’ve changed filters and patched up leaks the best you can, yet still find your home to be dusty, it’s time to call the experts at F.H Furr. We’ll come into your home to conduct a Whole Home Energy and Duct Performance Audit, where we let you know what kind of services you’ll need to keep your home dust free and in top condition. By keeping up with the indoor air quality of your home and keeping dust out, you can conserve energy! Let F.H. Furr show you how!

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