>>>Frequently Asked Questions
1. My garbage disposal doesn't work and makes no noise, what is wrong? There is a reset button on the bottom of the disposal which disconnects when the disposal over heats. Push it in and try the disposal again. If it makes a humming noise it is probably jammed. With the switch off, try using a broom handle to turn it and then remove the broom handle and try it again. If this doesn't work give us a call.
2. I smell gas, what should I do? Do not turn on any switches! Leave the house and call the Gas Company from a neighbor's phone at (703) 750-1000.
3. Is it safe to turn off my water to the house when I go away? It is not only safe it is recommended. Turn off the main water valve where the water line enters your home. It will not affect your water heater nor hurt any other part of your plumbing system. With the rash of pinhole leaks we have been having in this area it would be unwise to not turn if off.
4. Should I turn off the gas to my water heater while on vacation? All gas water heaters have a knob, which allows you to turn the control to pilot only. This is a good way to save gas when you are going to be away for any length of time. When you return just switch it back to on and the water heater will begin to heat your water. You may have to wait an hour of two to have a full tank of hot water. With electric water heaters you will have to turn if off at the breaker in your electric panel box. Electric water heaters take longer to reheat, but you will save energy by doing so.
5. How much will it cost? We often don't know, as we can't see your problem over the phone. Because of this we will not quote prices over the phone. We will send a technician to your home to give you an estimate and if you are not happy with the price, he will leave and in most cases there will not be a charge. However the following will clarify the estimate situation.
Plumbing
- No estimate charge, but there is a $49 estimate fee for new customers
HVAC
- No estimate charge; however, if the tech has to diagnose your system before he can give you the estimate, there is a charge for the diagnostic work.
Electrical and Handyman Service
- There is a $30 estimate fee that will be waived if you have the estimated work done.
6. Will you call to confirm my appointment? No, time does not allow that. We give you an appointment, not a window, and arrive on time, every time or the call is free up to $100. We may call before we are late to adjust the appointment time.
7. Will you bill me? NO! We do not run an account receivable system but we do accept cash, checks and Visa/MC. American Exp and Discover credit cards.
8. If I have a plumbing contract does this cover my furnace? No, you will need a separate contract for plumbing and another for HVAC.
Plumbing Safety Inspection Agreement - A one-time charge of $199.50.
- Includes an annual inspection of your entire plumbing and gas system searching for problems, soon to be problems or other maintenance items that should be performed.
- Weekend and night emergency calls at regular rates
- We will give you an itemized and priced list of these problems, should we find any.
- 10% off all purchases
- Priority scheduling
- Piece of mind
HVAC Agreement - Costs $595.00 for three years. If you have more than one system in your home the first is $595 and each system after that will cost $330.00. The program includes six trips to your home:
One trip each spring - Where your air conditioning system will be checked for cleanliness and proper operation for three years.
One trip each fall - Where your furnace will be checked for cleanliness and proper operation for three years.
9. Why don't you breakdown your prices like you did at one time? We sat down with all of the techs and went over all of our tasks, setting an average time and normal material needed for each task and arrived at a set price to accomplish the task.
We believe it to be unfair to charge time and material and these are our reasons:
- If you get the slowest tech or a tech that had a bad night or is having a bad day, your bill will be higher.
- It also penalizes the tech that works the hardest and the fastest, because on an hourly basis he earns less money than the slow tech would earn.
- Of course the biggest advantage is that you know how much money you are going to spend, before you agree to have the work go forward. Most of us always know how much we are going to spend, before we spend it, isn't this true?
- It is a better system and we have fewer complaints.