contractor's blog

When installing new plumbing, fixtures and utilities, our rule of thumb is to install like you're coming back to work on it. That means keeping wiring clean and wrapped, piping straight, valves accessible and replaceable, and controls within reach. Look how pretty:

So much uninsualted plumbing on outside walls EVERYwhere. Shame.

This little hole saturated a kitchen and a basement in a matter of minutes. This is a break from a frozen line, and it was in a poorly insulated area on an outside wall. Had to rip out the siding and outside wall, repair the break, and stitch it back up.

Before and after. Poorly insulated, unfortunately duplicated.

"After Your Pipes thaw" Click here to watch

Just a quick reminder about quick connects: they're not permanent. They should never be enclosed behind a wall or used for extended periods of time. Quick Connects and Shark bitbite fittings are great in emergency situations, but should never be used long term Have a plumber come and permanently solder joints

Both of these water heaters are the same size, brand and model. But they were manufactured 6 years apart. In that time, regulation was put in place to make these units run more heat efficient. The new models are wider, with larger vent lines. They run hotter and create more heat expansion. Unfortunately this sometimes requires more equipment.

Boilers are not very good at hiding their age. They may try to pass for younger, they may spend the money for new hardware here and there to make them look younger, they may even date a younger boiler to feel that pizzazz they once did in their youth, but we all know hen we see that boiler, that it's old. Main sign: corrosion. Look for signs of water damage, heavily corroded iron piping and hardware around the boiler, unhealthy looking electrical, and leaks around the jacket.

Probable causes: 1. Bad safety switch. Boilers are equipped with these all over the place. They can be jumped with a little piece of wire as a bypass. (Don't run a jumped boiler for a long time) 2. Pilot is out. This can happen from backdrafts through your chimney or a bad thermocouple 3. Air in the line. If your heat kicks on and you can hear water swishing around while you're reading in your living room, that's air. Big no no. 4. Bad thermostat. You can test this by taki

Most important: DO NOT let a contractor decide if the plumbing is ok. The worst thing you can do is deface a bathroom or kitchen, and leave decades old plumbing behind the walls. Toilet flanges need to be updated, tub drains should be changed, kitchen lines should be updated, etc. Nothing is worse than trying to save a few bucks withba simple deface, and a pipe or drain breaks, ruining the new bathroom. Always call a plumber on remodels. Don't leave those decisions to a contr