Ryan Gunderson Review 07.12.2015

A couple years back my water heater was leaking and required a replacement. Rick came out quickly and did a fantastic job at a reasonable price. I recently met another plumber, which reminded me of my great experience with McAdams Plumbing, and I thought I’d do the community a favor by sharing a positive review. I see I’m not the first, which doesn’t surprise me one bit!

McAdams Plumbing Response:

Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you Ryan! We truly value your support and look forward to working with you again in the future.

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New Water Heater Regulations for 2015

The Department of Energy announced new water heater regulations and standards that began April 16, 2015. These changes will effect how water heaters are designed, manufactured, tested, distributed, and installed. These changes will affect manufacturers, wholesalers, installers and customers alike (Bradford White).

For a detailed review of the changes please watch the video below:

All water heaters produced after April 16, 2015 need to conform to new energy standards, making all models run more efficiently. The changes are anticipated to save approximately 3.3 quads of energy and result in approximately $63 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 2015-2044. The standard will avoid about 172.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 33.8 million automobiles (DOE).

The chart below outlines the increased efficiencies that new models must meet. 

While we all can agree that these are noble and necessary changes, we must also be aware of the inevitable increase in water heater prices that has followed. Bradford White alone anticipates a 15-35% increase on ALL water heater prices to off-set the costs of buying new mandatory machinery, adjusting their factories to handle the new, larger model water heaters, as well as the unforeseen costs of building, inspecting, and shipping the new models.

Bradford White also developed an excellent Q & A section  that outlines how we will be affected by the new regulations. This information can be found on their website at http://www.bradfordwhite.com/doe-department-energy-final-rule-effective-04162015-frequently-asked-questions.

You can also read more on the Department of Energy’s site: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/product.aspx/productid/27.

We hope that this information helps prepare you for the road ahead. We understand the importance of making a proper investment in your home with a great water heater and a high quality installation. We want these changes to be as clear to you as possible so if you would like clarification on any of the changes or simply have questions on how you may be affected, please feel free to call us at 303-465-1900.

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Water Heater Install? Hire a Professional

Buying a new water heater can be expensive but then you also have to worry about hiring someone to install it?! It may sound tempting to save a few bucks and do the install yourself but that may not be the most effective or safest route to take. 

Below we are highlighting a great blog posted by our partners at Bradford White. They were not only able to address why you should hire a professional but also why it is important.

To read the original article in it’s entirety please click here.

Hope you enjoy!

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Why hire a pro? 

Yes, it’s tempting to run down to the big box store, throw a water heater in a cart, and head home with your purchase. But a water heater isn’t a gallon of paint. You can’t just cover up your mistakes. There are serious risks to you, your family, your home or business by “Doing-it-Yourself” incorrectly.

Are you a qualified gas appliance installer? 

Proper installation of gas and oil-fired water heaters requires understanding of the fuel source, connection techniques, supply line materials, and start up procedures. Leaking fuel can, at best, be an awful mess and, at worst, be a very dangerous situation. Hiring a professional ensures a safe installation.

Can you vent it properly? 

Venting material requirements and configurations vary by water heater design. So do approved vent lengths. Maybe your new water heater won’t operate with your existing venting materials. Carbon monoxide is nothing to fool around with. Your pro will know.

Electric models are pretty simple, right? 

Actually, there’s more to them than you might imagine. Installation of electric water heaters requires knowledge of the properly rated wiring material as well as an understanding of the home’s electrical capacity. An adequate electrical service is a requirement.

But doesn’t it come with an installation manual? 

Installing a water heater can be a challenge. An inexperienced installer or do-it-yourselfer could inadvertently dry-fire the elements, damage delicate parts, cross-thread gas connections, forget the drain pan, ignore the need for an expansion tank… the list is endless.

Your water heater is leaking, now what? 

Even the very best water heaters don’t last forever but that doesn’t mean yours is finished. Competent troubleshooting by a professional can sometimes save you a lot of money. It may just be condensation, a loose fitting, a pin hole in the piping, a worn out valve, or a pressure release. Your professional installer might find a simple solution.

Why don’t you have hot water? 

If your water heater looks fine but it just won’t produce hot water, a professional can diagnose what may be a simple problem. You may just need an inexpensive replacement part. Diagnosing the problem is part of the professional’s job

Are you getting the most for your dollar? 

Not all water heaters are created equal. Some of the very best brands and most innovative models are not available in retail outlets. These water heaters are sold by wholesale suppliers to professional installers.

More hot water from the same size tank? 

Yes, it’s absolutely possible. Extra Recovery models, High Input models, High Performance models…they all can provide more hot water than conventional models. It’s always a good idea to discuss your options with an installation professional.

Is it time to up-size? 

Peak Hour Demand, a growing family, additional plumbing fixtures, and multiple draws are some of the reasons to consider a higher capacity or output model. Proper sizing is critical to your ultimate satisfaction.

Interested in saving energy and money? 

Some water heaters now carry an ENERGY STAR® certification, some are high efficiency, and some can be programmed to operate only when needed. These choices may cost a little more but the return on your investment can be considerable. Ask your installer to recommend the energy saving option that’s best for you.

If something goes wrong, who will you turn to? 

As we’ve always said, “Do it yourself and you’ll only have yourself to blame.” Professional installers provide a service and part of that service is to stand behind their work.

Can you get it done cheaper? 

Possibly, but what is your peace of mind worth? Knowing you have the right water heater for your needs, knowing it was installed correctly, and knowing you have someone to count on gives you confidence. That is a priceless commodity you can get at a reasonable price.

So what is the best water heater for you? 

There’s a very simple answer. The very best water heater you can get for you and your family is the one installed by a trained plumbing and heating professional.

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Feel free to give us a call at 303-465-1900 for any questions you may have about our professional water heater install services.

*”Bradford White Water Heaters. Built to Be the Best.” Why You Should Hire a Pro. Bradford White Corp., n.d. Web. 10 June 2015.

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All About Whirlpool Water Heaters

So recently we ran into a situation with a customer dealing with their Whirlpool water heater. The quick and easy is that it was less than 2 years old, still under manufacturer’s warranty, but was malfunctioning and needed a new part. These folks weren’t sure what to do so they called MP. We gladly went out, diagnosed the problem, and let the owners know what was going on. Here’s where it got sticky. The parts for Whirlpool water heaters aren’t readily available. They sell some at Lowe’s, but not the big ticket items, meaning we had to go through Whirlpool direct. Well Whirlpool does not sell their parts to service companies, only to the owners of the purchased unit. So after our plumber re-diagnosed the problem on the phone with the agent, they came to the same conclusion we did and said they would overnight the part to the customer. At this point the customers have had no hot water for 2 days.

Next day. Part came to the customer as promised by Whirlpool. We were able to fit them back in the schedule and get the part replaced. But guess what? Same problem. Now back on the phone with Whirlpool our plumber re-diagnosed the problem with the customers present and were told that they sent a malfunctioning part. Another would be over-nighted. Now 3 nights for the customer without hot water.

Next day. Repeat the previous paragraph, only this time, Whirlpool decided to just send out a whole new water heater. So now, these folks are on their 4th day without hot water, needed to wait at least 7 days for the new unit to be delivered, and extremely frustrated with the Whirlpool water heater they purchased. The customer, based on this experience, decided to cut their losses and purchase and install a brand new Bradford White water heater from MP. So now they have all the hot water they could hope for, but it came at a cost of time, hassle, and money.

After MP heard the story of what happened over the course of this job we decided to do a little investigating around about Whirlpool water heaters. Boy were we shocked at what we learned.

Apparently what happened to these folks is not an isolated incident. On the Consumer Affairs website alone there are over 1,400 negative reviews about Whirlpool water heaters. Apparently there was even a class-action lawsuit filed. Here were the top trending complaints according to what was read:

• Poor customer service
• Defective pilot ignition systems
• Premature failure
• Thermocouple failure
• Inability to get anyone to service the water heater

So we tell you this not to take shots at Whirlpool, who actually make some of the best dishwashers and refrigerators we’ve encountered, but to inform you, the customer, of what you are purchasing. While the low cost Whirlpool water heater may seem like a deal, the cost of maintenance and the headache that comes along with ownership may not be worth it. While we’re sure there are many Whirlpool water heaters out there performing just fine, it looks like it may just be a bit of a gamble on what you’ll receive. If you ask us, just stick with Bradford White.

Hope this helps answer some questions and shows you why many plumbing companies are unable to assist in the repair of Whirlpool water heaters. Feel free to reply with any questions or comments. We’re here to help. Thanks!

The Proof is in the Plumbing!

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Here to Help with the Colorado Floods

McAdams Plumbing is here to help with the current Colorado floods. In this time of devastation the most important thing is to ensure that friends and family are safe and accounted for. We ask that you please cooperate with any requests for evacuation that may still come. While it seems the worst has past, the forecast shows that it’s not quite over yet.

With all of the excess water that is affecting the Colorado homes, MP has noticed that it seems sump pumps and water heaters are the most common items to fail. Because of this we have decided to offer $100.00 off ANY sump pump or water heater installation for homes affected by flood waters, good through the month of September. There is going to be a lot of stress and worry as our friends and neighbors get their lives and homes back in order. Hopefully we can help take a little of your shoulders.

At McAdams Plumbing our relationships with our customers mean the world to us. If you have been affected by the flood, please don’t hesitate to call. We’re here for you. 303-465-1900.

MP

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