Blog, News & Resources

from Nichols & Phipps and the Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical industry.

balance temp in 2-story house

How to Balance the Temperature in a Two-Story House

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Do you ever go upstairs in the summertime and feel like you've walked into the Mediterranean? Do you turn your thermostat down, but it just makes downstairs feel like the arctic? If you have family living on both stories of your home, then you're probably fighting over the thermostat. Only some of you will get…

replace evaporator coil hvac

How To Know When You Need To Replace Your HVAC Evaporator Coil

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Evaporator coils are a hot topic when it comes to HVAC repairs in Northern Virginia. They’re an essential part of your HVAC system, and if your system isn’t running how it should be, you could be in trouble. When left to its own devices, a bad HVAC evaporator coil could lead to you having to…

hire a pro to clean your air duct system

Everything You Need To Know About Duct Cleaning

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When you’re cleaning your home, you probably do the dusting every week or every couple of weeks (we don’t judge!). If you don’t dust regularly, the cobwebs and dirt soon build up. Now, imagine how much dust would build up over the course of a month in an area that you don’t see very often.…

clogged shower drain

How to Clean a Shower Drain & Remove Clogs

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There’s nothing worse than getting ready to take an invigorating shower, only to be greeted with a stinky odor wafting up from your drain. What’s even worse is standing in the shower, watching the dirty water rise up and panicking when it doesn't drain away quickly. A clogged shower drain is one of the worst…

plumbing checklist

The Ultimate Plumbing Checklist for the Holidays

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With the holidays only just around the corner, it’s about time we all started checking up on our plumbing works. It’s important to keep an eye on your plumbing all year, but when the holidays are approaching and the frosty weather is beginning to creep in, it’s more important than ever. You don’t want a…

family covering furniture home remodel

How to Protect Your HVAC System During a Home Renovation

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Home renovations can be incredibly exciting and fun – but they also create quite a lot of mess. Protecting your HVAC system during a home renovation is incredibly important. The last thing you need after surviving a home renovation is another thing on your to-do list. Renovations can be quite expensive, so damaging your HVAC…

warm and happy thermostat heater furnace

6 Tips to Get Your Furnace Ready for Winter

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The cold is starting to creep in once again, and not even a pumpkin spiced latte will fight away the chill. It’s that time of year again where you’re starting to think about switching on the heating – turning on your furnace after months of neglect and pumping sweet, warm air around your home. But,…

Mold in air conditioner

How to Prevent Mold in HVAC Systems

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Having mold in your home can cause many issues for both you and your property. Not only is it unsightly, but mold can also have a serious impact on your health and the health of your family. If you have excess moisture in your HVAC system, both mold and mildew can grow inside your HVAC…

Boiler vs Furnace

What's the Difference Between a Boiler and a Furnace?

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Whether you’re looking to upgrade your existing heating system or you’re building a new home, you’re going to want to choose the right heating system for your family’s needs. Make an informed decision by knowing the difference between boilers and furnaces. If you're unsure of what system to have in your home and want to…

what temperature should I set my hot water heater

What Temperature Should a Hot Water Heater Be Set At?

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How hot should hot water be? There isn’t really a universal temperature for ‘hot water’ so how do you know what temperature is appropriate for your hot water heater? There’s a suggested temperature for hot water heaters, but a lot of other factors can influence what temperature is appropriate for your heater. Depending on your…