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We're seeing more of it than ever: as heating costs go up, homeowners turn to selective heating to save money. But what about when that selective heating causes plumbing installations and areas of the home to freeze? Then it becomes a liability, and plumbing pros have to know how to handle it safely and responsibly.
From the very first moment when the plumber steps on the scene to answer a frozen pipes call or incident, it's essential that he or she recognizes that this call will take time....
•How to Handle On-The-Job Arbitration
Lots of white collar jobs come with their own "arbitration". You see it everywhere - on contracts for all kinds of social services and everything else. But for trade contractors, arbitration is often just done on the job, and comes down to a simple question: do you want the work or not?
It's inevitable that you're going to run into some situations that you're not going to like when you go out as independent contractor to do plumbing job. It's inevitable that some of this type of work won't go...
•The Multi-Unit Problems
Yes, we like to talk about the problems with home plumbing projects, random clients with their own weird situations, and one time jobs that went awry. But seriously, there can be huge problems with recurring work situations in a commercial environment or other large clients that can turn into disaster.
So I get a call from a property manager, and he has about 100 units. That's great - I can use the work. It's a slow year, and it's about the time I'm starting to calculate second quarter...
•Pipe Pressure: A Contractor's Story in Learning Business Lessons
Sometimes, the most obvious things can serve as a lesson for professional contractors. A simple observation might show you a lot about what to do, or what not to do, on-the-job. Unfortunately, some of us don't learn as well as others. However, when you keep your eyes open, you can learn from anyone, even a 10-year-old kid.
It started with a simple elementary school job shadow day: my sister brought her 10-year-old son Bobby to watch me and my crew fool around with the old copper in a...
•Clients Who Won't Leave You Alone
That's right, folks, as a plumber you deal with all kinds of clients. They are the ones who open the door for you and disappear. And then there are those other ones - always puttering around just out of range, with their good eye fixed on your workspace, and their voice constantly intruding into your work atmosphere. How do you deal with this? Very carefully.
Yes, it happens more often than a lot of us would think. You get the call, grab your tools, and head out to the house. The client seems...
•Taking Care Of Your Roof
You might think that it's as simple as just calling a roofer every 10 years. Often that's not the case. There are things that get in the way of keeping a roofing good shape, and sometimes, being proactive about these things is in the best interests of the homeowner.
It's a common thing: the people in charge of maintaining a home or other property may not really understand that some commonsense maintenance can work wonders on a roof. Regular upkeep on your shingles is required for your roofs...
•The Invoince and You
In a lot of plumbing situations, the job's not done until the paperwork is prepared. This means that a professional plumber has to be not only a trade service provider but someone who knows how to represent their work on paper.
So maybe you're not the world's best paperwork guy - and I really wasn't what you were hired for when you started at your first plumbing job, where you are part of a crew, and some other faceless entity handled all of the billing etc. but then, you kept on working, and...
•Sump Pump Design: Reasonable Set Up
Some basement drainage situations are just no fun: specific challenges might arise when setting up a sump pump or related configuration. A few basic tips can make this a lot easier and lead to some better thinking on how to install drainage elements.
Every plumber needs to be aware of the technical aspects of a sump pump, including how to wire it into an electrical set up, and all of the various sizing and diagnostic elements. But there are also design issues around how to integrate this...
•Dealing With Compression Faucets For Beginners
Whether you're a plumber called in to address a leaky faucet situation, or a homeowner tackling the job yourself, there are some basic tactics for dealing with compression faucets that can be useful as a general guideline for getting tighter fixtures and better use.
Before you start on dealing with a leaky faucet, prepare your workspace. A good way to start is to shut of the water. This will ensure that you do not encounter a troubling "high spray" situation when opening the faucet fixture....
•The Proper Use Of Nail Guns
Nail guns are some of the most volatile gear that roofers use on the job. Controlling their use is essential. Nail guns are a tool, period. Fix that fact in the minds of your crew to avoid disasters.
I'm really not kidding. You turn your back for a second, and some of these people will be yukking it up with sensitive hydraulic power tools that are as dangerous as some murder weapons. Just like at a public pool, a roofing crew needs signs in big letters, with rules like "NO HORSEPLAY" stencil...
•Dropping Roofing Stuff: Tell Your Clients
If I wrote a book about roofing, one chapter would be about the hazards of having clients in the way. A lot of roofers get better at dealing with it, but it's always a liability on the job.
We all know that it can be particularly challenging when clients decide to stand around under a worksite. They might not be sitting there, but wandering around and accidentally obstructing work. Despite hearing someone walking below, it is hard to determine when and where to throw materials based of the...
•From The Little Stuff To The Big Stuff: Home Plumbing Scenarios
A skilled plumbing pro has to know how to handle all kinds of situations: there are the usual "cat stuck in the tree" situations, where it's as simple as turning a knob or tightening up a valve, and then there are those disasters that take very skilled attention and technical knowledge to fix. Looking at the difference between the two can help homeowners assess their plumbing situations.
First, there's the issue of preventive maintenance. The home plumber will periodically inspect all sorts...
•Your Roof: Is White Right?
? We may be used to seeing a sea of dark colors when we look at a neighborhood from an aerial view, but that may be about to change. Professional roofers should be aware of new trends and be able to explain them to clients when it's time for a new roof.
That's right: Science has evidence that a light colored roof can help against greenhouse gases - by a lot! The idea is that while black absorbs heat, white reflects it back up into the atmosphere.
So how does that translate into energy...
•Scaling The Heights: Roofing Logistics
It's not always the little things that can found a roofing job. Sometimes it's the most essential parts of the process. For instance - what if you just can't get all the gear you need to the place where it needs to be?
I've been out on any number of projects like this: the project appears to have been plagued from day one. You get the contractors to dump the tarpaper, shingles, and everything else - and you are viewing it from street level, pacing through the site, searching for the best...
•Escalator Clauses: For The Up-And-Down
Professional roofers need to know how to "insure" themselves from losing money on a job. Some of this is learned through skill and experience, but some specific tools can also come into play - one of those is the escalator clause.
I used to do some pretty straight estimating that didn't hardly take any time at all. I used to price a job immediately after the potential client called, but it started to hurt my business. I was not able to come up with an accurate figure for a job off the top of...
•Preventing the high flow: shutting off water lines
Veteran plumbers like to think that they are immune to some of the basic problems that newbies report on the job, but in some cases, an old hand may really not be able to see the forest for the trees. Although they may be proficient in dealing with the major issues that they were sent to address, some basic issues can really trip them up, such as making sure that all of the water lines or turned off before starting the job.
One way that a dangerous water situation can creep up on a pro-is in...
•Self-Help Toilet Tank Fixes
Concerned about some problems with flushing the commode? You may have a scary situation on your hands, but on the other hand, a peek inside the tank could reveal that there is a simple solution that you can do all on your own, without needing to get professional help.
As far as tools, a pliers and screwdriver as well as an adjustable wrench are good ideas. The most you will likely have to do is to loosen a nut fixing one or the other of several parts to the tank system.
You'll want to...
•Good Water Pressure All The Time
There are a number of things around the home that can really annoy you. One of these involves low water pressure. No one likes having a shower and discovering that the water has reduced to a mere dribble. And it is a waste of time standing waiting for the sink to fill slowly with water. Luckily, you can easily sort out these water pressure problems and ensure you have good water pressure in your home.
If it isn't the supply from the water authority, then it could be one of the pipes bringing...
•Keeping Your Shower Working Well
The shower is a wonderful fixture, it makes cleaning such an easy task, and certainly much more pleasant than having a cold bucket of water poured over you as in the distant past. It is important, however, to make sure you not only clean it but make sure that it isn't leaking as this can result in rot or mold developing which may cost you a lot of money in the future. And there are a lot of different options available for you to choose from when replacing a part of your shower, but do make...
•More than just a quick fix: being ready for stagnant water situations
Those new to the plumbing business may not think about it, but in reality, a plumbers job can be very complex. It's not just a question of doing the necessary fixes, but also in being ready for the large variety of situations they plumber may encounter in your random building where job site.
You don't have to see this in a job site to appreciate how it might be an obstacle. Just imagine what happens to waterlogged food or similar materials over a period of days. Then think about all of the...
•Maintaining And Replacing A Hot Water Heater
The water heater is an immensely important fixture in your house. You rely on it for all sorts of things such as washing and cleaning. The heater tends to be so reliable that you might not even think about it, until one day you're having a shower and the water turns to cold and then you have a major problem. It is best, therefore, to maintain your heater regularly and be aware of when it needs replacing before it stops working. There are a number of things you need to keep an eye on when...
•Solar Water Heaters Are Good For You And The Planet
In this day and age we are becoming more and more conscious about how much power we use, how much it costs, and how it affects the environment. One of the best solutions is a solar water heater. It is great for the planet and will generally save you over 50% of your current heating power costs. If your household and your climate are suitable for such a unit, it is an excellent option.
If you then decide that a combination of your climate and hot water requirements will suit a solar heating...
•Successful Septic Tank Maintenance
The key to a successful septic tank system is regular maintenance. So while you are sitting enjoying the beautiful great outdoors, make sure that you have a regular maintenance routine in place. Also, keep an eye on your water usage so that you don't suddenly start to overload the system. Then you can relax in the beautiful countryside knowing that your septic tank system will be safe and effective for many years to come.
The more water and waste you put into the system, the more chance it...
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