Kurt M. Review 02.16.16

We recently bought a home that had a couple plumbing issues. Rick did a great job installing an updated drain pipe for a high efficiency washing machine as well as proper gas line shutoffs on our furnace and water heater. The end results look great and we’ll definitely be calling McAdams plumbing when we need help in the future.

McAdams Plumbing, Inc reply:

Thank you for taking the time to give us such a great review Kurt! We are so glad to have been a part of making your new home perfect for you. We appreciate your loyalty and look forward to working with you in the future!

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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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Getting New Counters? Think Plumbing!

If you’re thinking about have new counters installed, make sure you talk with you plumber first!

What many people don’t know, and what many counter installers won’t/can’t tell you, is that if you have new counters installed in your kitchen or bathroom, you may need to adjust your plumbing. The plumbing under your sink is set to a certain elevation, and because of the Uniform Plumbing Code, must maintain specific standards. If the counters you are installing are thicker, or are going to be set higher or lower, it could mean you need to drastically alter the existing drain pipes. Also, You must make sure the the counters are drilled to the same measurements of your current sink basin. If this step is overlooked than the counters you receive may cause you to have to buy an entirely new sink, whether you wanted one or not.

The reason many counter installers won’t tell you all of this information is because they may not know. They are not plumbers, so we shouldn’t expect them to know all the rules of plumbing. However, they should know to tell you to contact a plumber to make sure the counters you are installing will match your current set-up. You’re likely going to need your plumber afterwards to set all of you kitchen/bathroom fixtures and pipes back up afterwards, so you might as well include them from the get go and make your life a little easier. It sure spares the headache of making adjustments after the counters are already in place.

Thanks for reading along. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future blog posts please feel free to leave them in the comments section below. Remember, with McAdams Plumbing, The Proof is in the Plumbing!

-MP

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