FAQs

Whether you live in a multi-level home or a one bedroom apartment, you might experience hot spots throughout different rooms. From cracks in window sealing to improper insulation to dirty air filters—there are many reasons why you could experience poor air circulation.

Tired of dry skin, chapped lips and a stuffy nose? Dry air can be the root of many of these problems. Luckily, your air quality can be improved with the use of a humidifier.

If you’re ready to schedule new AC installation service in Northern VA, you may have already thought about two features you want: size and power. There’s no doubt that a larger AC unit must be more effective at cooling your home this summer, right? Well—not so fast. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that a bigger air conditioner won’t necessarily give you more comfort during the hot days ahead.

One of the most common AC problems your unit may encounter at some point is a refrigerant leak. Refrigerant leaks are very common, and they can wreak havoc on your expensive AC system if they go undetected. How can you tell if your unit has this problem?

Being a Northern Virginia homeowner, you know how bad the winters can get. The snow often causes school and work to close—sometimes for a few days—and you are cooped up in your home the entire time. But if you’re relying on your gas furnace to keep you and your family warm, think again. Your gas furnace will not work without power. But there’s no need to worry, John Nugent & Sons has some suggestions to keep your home safe and comfortable this winter.

We routinely receive phone calls from residents throughout Northern Virginia who say something to the extent of “my gas furnace won’t ignite.” When we’re in the middle of the cold season, your gas furnace is the most important appliance in your home. Check out this blog for what you should do when your furnace won’t ignite.

You’ve likely encountered your fair share of heating system troubles over the years. A clank or squeal here, a breakdown there; it’s all fairly common every now and then. But what on earth could be making your gas furnace leak water? The answers are surprisingly simple, and the certified team at John Nugent & Sons are here to help you find them!

GFCI stands for Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter. It’s a device designed to protect people from electric shock by monitoring the amount of current flowing in a circuit. If the GFCI detects a difference in the current between the hot and neutral wires (indicating a leakage of current), it quickly cuts off the power to that circuit. GFCIs are commonly used in areas where electrical circuits may accidentally come into contact with water, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoor areas.

Emergency room doctors treat over 4,000 individuals each year for injuries caused by faulty electrical outlets — don’t let anyone in your family fall victim to an electrical accident. Electrical fires and related injuries can be prevented by properly inspecting the outlet receptacles in your Northern Virginia home. John Nugent & Sons has compiled a list of warning signs that signal an electrical problem is occurring behind your walls.

A blown fuse and a tripped circuit breaker both indicate an electrical problem, but they work differently. A fuse is a small piece of metal that melts when overloaded, breaking the circuit and stopping the flow of electricity. Once a fuse is blown, it needs to be replaced. A circuit breaker, on the other hand, is a switch that automatically turns off when it detects an overload or short circuit. It can be reset by flipping the switch back to the “on” position, making it reusable.

Have you noticed that all or some of your lights have been flickering? In most cases, it can be a faulty lightbulb, but in other cases it can mean something more serious — and potentially dangerous. Keep reading to learn about potential reasons as to why your lights are flickering, from the expert Northern Virginian electricians at John Nugent & Sons.

LED lights are generally considered better than incandescent bulbs for several reasons. They are much more energy-efficient, using up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs for the same amount of light. They also last significantly longer, reducing the need for frequent replacements. Additionally, LED lights produce less heat and are more environmentally friendly.

It’s not uncommon for homeowners to immediately spot an electrical issue. Any good handyman will tell you that they can fix it themselves without a problem. Unfortunately, there is a problem. Handymen are not qualified to handle electrical work. Electricians have to undergo years of extensive training and certification processes to obtain his or her license. Sure, a license may seem like a piece of paper, but that paper is something that can save your life.

When you reach to your light switch to turn it off, only to find that it’s hot to the touch, you have a problem. This is not a normal phenomenon, and it indicates that there are serious issues hiding behind your walls. If you don’t get help right away, you could end up facing a serious electrical fire in your home.

The appliances that typically use the most electricity in homes include air conditioners, space heaters, water heaters, clothes dryers, refrigerators, and electric ovens. The actual consumption can vary based on the efficiency of the appliances, how often they are used, and the size of the home.

As the summer or winter months roll around, you probably start to experience more power outages than usual in your Northern Virginia home. In fact, these are the times of the year when the experts at John Nugent and Sons receive the most calls from the community. Your first option is to check the circuit breaker box. The rows and rows of switches make it almost impossible to guess which one is linked to which appliance, so naturally, most people just flip the switches that are out of alignment to get everything working again. However, we should warn you this doesn’t always solve your problem.

To reset a tripped breaker, first, ensure that you have resolved the issue that caused the trip, such as unplugging overloaded appliances or fixing short circuits. Then, find your circuit breaker panel, locate the tripped breaker (usually in the “off” position or in a middle position between “on” and “off”).

Switch it fully to the “off” position and then back to the “on” position. This should reset the breaker and restore power to the circuit. If it trips again immediately, you may have an unresolved electrical issue that needs professional attention.

Grounding in electrical systems refers to the practice of connecting the electrical system to the earth. This is done to ensure safety by providing a path for excess electrical current to disperse harmlessly into the ground in case of a fault, such as a short circuit. This helps to prevent electric shock, electrical fires, and damage to appliances.

There are many modern conveniences we often take for granted during our everyday lives — until we have to go without them. You don’t realize how nice it is to be able to dispose of food waste down the drain until your garbage disposal stops working. One of the common issues we hear about is a garbage disposal that seems to turn on and makes a humming noise but won’t actually shred up any food. There are a couple of reasons this could be the case.

The wintertime around Northern Virginia can produce temperatures in the teens — and even below — which means homeowners in the area should take steps to prevent frozen pipes. When water freezes, it expands, which can cause your pipes to burst — this can cause major problems and create lengthy plumbing bills. Rapid drops in temperature, poor insulation, and improperly set thermostats are the major culprits behind frozen pipes.

There could be a few reasons why your water bills have started to rise. The first thing to check is if a toilet is leaking. Check the water level in the tank to see if water is overflowing into the overflow pipe. In the event water is running into the overflow pipe, adjust the fill valve to stop the flow approximately 1 inch below the top of the overflow tube or to the water level mark stamped on the side of the tank.

The average life span of a traditional tank water heater is about eight to 12 years, depending on the quality of the unit, the hardness of the water, and how well it’s maintained. Tankless water heaters can last up to 20 years or more with proper maintenance.

It’s advisable to check your sump pump at least once a year, preferably before the rainy season. If you live in an area prone to heavy rainfall or have had basement moisture issues, consider checking it more frequently.

When your well pump is cycling on and off, it’s a sign that something’s wrong. Getting to the root of the problem is the first step in fixing it. Here are some of the reasons why your well pump may be short-cycling and what can be done to fix it.

Slow drainage is often caused by blockages from hair, soap scum, food particles, or other debris. You can try clearing minor clogs using a plunger or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. For persistent blockages, you might need a drain snake or professional assistance.

Clogged drains are one of the most common plumbing problems homeowners face. Clogs happen at the worst times — like when you sleep through your alarm and are going to be late for work but still decide to take a shower and now the water is overflowing onto the bathroom floor. Although a clogged drain can be a major inconvenience, it’s a relatively easy problem to fix!

After an extended trip away from home, the water coming out of your faucet could be slightly discolored — luckily, the discoloration usually goes away on its own in less than a minute. But what if this happens to your hot water regularly? Is the discolored water dangerous to your health? Can you use it to cook, bathe, or clean? Often the water is safe to use, and can often be associated with an aging water heater or rusty pipes.

Low water pressure can be caused by various factors including clogged pipes, a malfunctioning pressure regulator, closed shut-off valves, or issues with the local water supply. It’s essential to identify the root cause to address the problem effectively.