Question 1

Do you offer multiple financing options?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we offer a variety of financing options. You can call our office for more information.

Question 2

Why does it seem like there are two separate John C. Floods?

Accepted Answer

There are in fact 2 separate John C. Floods. We used to be one company, but went our own ways decades ago. Now, the two John C. Flood’s operate as individual entities.

So, how can you tell us apart? The other one is called John C. Flood Inc. and is based out of DC; while we have two locations in MD and VA and service DC. Also, we pride ourselves on customer service and providing a positive customer experience. To learn more, read the Tale of The Two John C. Flood’s.

Question 3

Why can't you give me a quote over the phone for a job?

Accepted Answer

As with most home improvement, installation or repair related jobs there are wide number of unknown variables that can affect a price one way or the other. This makes it difficult for service providers to quote prices over the phone, since we don’t want to give an estimate that’s too high or too low. For example, if we provide an estimate for a new water heater installation, but as soon as the technician arrives they realize the furnace is in the way, or your old water heater had a unique connection that will not work with a newer model then the quoted estimate will not be accurate. We can ask certain questions over the phone that will help us with determining your needs for a particular job, but with a majority of jobs a technician will need to visit the job site in order to formulate a more accurate quote.

Question 4

I think I may have a water leak in my home. How can I be sure?

Accepted Answer

Turn off all water-using appliances and fixtures inside and outside your home. Do not use sinks, toilets, dishwasher, etc. Next, locate your water meter, and write down the numbers showing beneath the glass cover. Wait 20 minutes without using any water inside or outside your home. Then, check the meter again. If the numbers have changed from the previous reading, you have a leak. The plumbing professionals at John C. Flood will be happy to find the source of, and repair, the leak.

Question 5

Especially during the colder months, I can't seem to get hot water in my shower. Can this be fixed?

Accepted Answer

If you tend to feel that the Arctic Sea is probably warmer than the water coming out of your showerhead, most likely, the problem is that water coming into your home is colder in the winter. This water causes a couple of problems. First, the tap water at your faucets is colder and thus requires more hot water mixed in to achieve that perfect “Caribbean Sea” temperature. Because of this, you use more hot water than usual. Second, this colder water takes longer to heat in the hot water tank, which causes recovery time to lengthen. But, if the unfortunate happens and your water heater should fail, we carry high-quality tanks on all our plumbing trucks — for quick and easy installations.

Question 6

Every time I plug in my electric heater, my electricity shuts off. How can I prevent this from happening?

Accepted Answer

Besides being unsafe, electric heaters use a lot of power and can easily exceed the capacity of an already loaded circuit. Anything with a motor or fan will use more power when starting up than after it is already running. If the circuit breaker or fuse is tripping when you plug in or turn on the heater, then you may have too many things on that circuit. Look at every electrical device on the circuit and add up the total watts of each one (it’s listed somewhere on each, usually the back or bottom). Divide the total wattage by 120 to get the total amperage needed on that circuit. The fuse or circuit breaker should be rated for at least as many amps needed or it will trip when the total is exceeded. You may have to find another place to plug the heater in or have a circuit added to handle the extra load.

Don’t replace the fuse or circuit breaker with one rated for a higher load; the wiring may not be able to handle it and you could start a fire within the walls or attic. (Using extension cords for heaters in a house is a bad idea because the cord can overheat and start a fire.)

When in doubt, call John C. Flood and ask to speak to an electrician. And by the way, if your home isn’t being heated properly, you may want to contact one of our heating experts, too.

Don’t replace the fuse or circuit breaker with one rated for a higher load; the wiring may not be able to handle it and you could start a fire within the walls or attic. (Using extension cords for heaters in a house is a bad idea because the cord can overheat and start a fire.)

When in doubt, call John C. Flood and ask to speak to an electrician. And by the way, if your home isn’t being heated properly, you may want to contact one of our heating experts, too.

Question 7

Should a 35 year-old house with 100 amp service be upgraded to 150 or 200?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the amount of power you use. If you trip circuit breakers a lot, the service needs to be upgraded. Also, sometimes the wiring in the walls deteriorates. A John C. Flood electrical expert can tell you if the service is adequate or not. Odds are, if the home has a gas stove, gas or oil-fired water heater and gas or oil-fired furnace, 100 amps may be fine, although some new circuits may need to be added to help spread the load around. When you make any of the above items electric, that’s when you start eating up your power reserve.

Also you may not have enough outlets available. This is especially true in kitchens with heavy draw items like toasters, coffee makers, and other heating appliances … or in your living room, if you’re into home theatre. Again, if you have any doubts, ask a Flood expert.

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