Tips/FAQs

• My garbage disposal doesn't work and makes no noise, what is wrong?
• I smell gas, what should I do?
• Is it safe to turn off my water to the house when I go away?
• Should I turn off the gas to my water heater while on vacation?
• How much will it cost?
• Will you call to confirm my appointment?
• Will you bill me?
• If I have a plumbing contract does this cover my furnace?
• Why don't you breakdown your prices like you did at one time?

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.Top

 

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.Top

 

 

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.Top

 

 

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. Top

 

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.

Top

 

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.Top

 

 

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.Top

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.

Top

 

Why don't you offer a breakdown of your prices, like you used to do? We spoke with with all of our techs to review our tasks and set 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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?
4. It is a better system and we have fewer complaints.

Top

 

 

 

 

 

Drains

Kitchen sink drain

Avoid putting grease down where possible. If it can't be avoided use cold water to flush it down, not hot water. Cold water will cause the grease to solidify in small particles and will be washed down and out the sewer. Hot water will cause the grease to remain solution until it encounters the colder underground pipes where it will stick to the walls of the cold pipe and over a period of time clog the drain.

Laundry drains

Lint is the big problem here so attempt to catch the lint and prevent it from entering the drainage system. A nylon stocking tied over the clothes washer discharge line where it dumps into the laundry sink will catch the lint and prevent stoppages. Using a clothes washer with a lint trap that can be cleaned out is recommended.

Bath room drains

Hair mixed with the soap curd is the biggest problem in this area. Where possible using a screen to catch the hair before it enters the drain will help.

Toilet drains and main sewer lines

A minimal use of toilet paper and never flushing paper towels down the drain will go a long way toward preventing stoppages.

General

Use of a drain maintenance program wil reduce need for drain rodding or snaking. We recommend the use of Bio-Clean drain maintenance chemicals. This is a bacteria which when added to your drains with a small amount of warm water will eat the accumulation in the drain and keep them flowing properly. Bio-Clean is available from your technician. Please follow the enclosed instructions.

Fixtures & Appliances

Kitchen sinks

Stainless Steel sinks can be scoured with cleansers and a sponge. They are pre-scratched by the manufacturer and will continue to look good when kept clean. Enameled steel and cast iron sinks must NOT be scoured, but should be cleaned with a liquid cleaner and a sponge. Scouring will damage the surface and remove the luster. Corian sinks can be scoured with cleansers and a sponge without damaging them.

Garbage disposers

Run copious amounts of water while grinding garbage and don't force garbage down too fast. Avoid disposing of fibrous items like corn husks, celery, cabbage, and lettuce. Bones tend to help the disposal as they break up into small sharp pieces which tend to scrape the sides of the pipes and clean them. Large roast bones should be given to the dog.

Fixtures

China, enameled and fiberglass fixtures i.e. lavatories, toilets, bath tubs, and showers should be cleaned with liquid cleaners and never scoured.

Toilets

Watch for water leaking from the tank to the toilet bowl. Adding food color to the toilet tank will show leaks by coloring the water in the bowl if a leak is present. Also listen for water running when the toilet has not been flushed for a period of time.

Clothes washer hoses

The water valves to the washer should be turned off when not using the washer. When this is not done you leave full pressure on these rubber hoses which was not intended. You stand the chance that these hoses will burst and flood your home. If this is an inconvenience we suggest that these hoses be replaced with braided non burst hoses which your technician carries and will be happy to supply you with and install.

Disclaimer:

These are suggestions based on many years of experience and are intended to help our clients enjoy many years of service from the expensive plumbing systems and fixtures. We accept no responsibility for damage or loss of any kind do to the implementing of these suggestions.