Blog, News & Resources
from Nichols & Phipps and the Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical industry.
No, you're not imagining it – your HVAC is one of the most energy-hungry systems in your home! A recent study by the U.S. Energy Information Association found that heating and air conditioning accounts for 40% of the average home's energy consumption. Keeping your home at a comfortable temperature and humidity doesn't have to cost…
Goodbye winter, hello sunny spring! With the seasons changing, it's time to get your home sparkling and fresh, letting you enjoy the sunshine with your nearest and dearest. While vacuuming, dusting, and scrubbing, don't forget about your trusty HVAC system! Often overlooked in the spring clean, you'll want it running smoothly over the next few…
Despite 20% of the average household's expenses taken up by the cost of heating water, water heaters are usually ignored until they stop working. There are so many options, how do you know the best water heater to buy? It's safe to say the reason why you're reading this today is that your water heater…
If you think you have a leak it’s too late to stop it now – leave the house immediately and call the gas company. Gas leaks are no joke. If you smell gas in your home right now – leave your home and CALL THE GAS COMPANY RIGHT NOW! Ok, now that’s out of the…
Not only do air conditioners cool your home during the hot summer months, but they can also dramatically reduce the humidity levels in your house. Controlling humidity levels in your home influences how comfortable you are and is directly related to energy reduction and AC/home maintenance costs. Too little or too much humidity causes problems…
We've been around since the 70's and through our years in the business, we've seen a thing or two! Our expert team have quite a few secrets of the trade and we would like to pass on a few of these tips to you. Many plumbers want to horde their knowledge and keep it to…
Are your water pipes driving you crazy with banging, squealing and whistling noises? Not only are they a huge headache to listen to, but excessive or odd plumbing noises might also be an indication that something’s not quite right with your plumbing system. In general, pipes shouldn’t make any noise at all – so if…
If you didn’t already realize it, your entire bathroom is built around a huge plumbing system. There aren’t many components in the bathroom that don’t rely on your home’s plumbing to work. Before you think about demolishing and remodeling your bathroom, you need to know a bit about plumbing. Here are our 6 fundamentals on…
A heat exchanger is an integral part of your furnace – it keeps the combustion chamber and the breathing air separate within the furnace. Made of thin metal panels (and sometimes coils), a heat exchanger is designed to heat the air before it is distributed throughout the house. The metal panels or coils of the…
The best way to deal with freezing pipes is to prevent them in the first place, but the chances are if you're reading this it's probably already happened! When pipes freeze, the water inside expands, which can cause the pipe to burst and flood your home quickly – resulting in a major disaster and and…