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Professional plumbing services can help bring your DIY project together seamlessly. There has been a trend in the U.S. for the last decade or so where homeowners are taking on more of the remodeling/repair work in their homes on their own.

DIY repairs and remodeling work is a great way to save money, but DIY is not always an option. How much you can handle on your own relies heavily on your skillset. Knowing when to call in a pro is an important part of being successful with your DIY projects.

Plumbers Are Not Only For Pipes

It is estimated that about 10% of the homes in the United States have leaks and are wasting about 90 gallons of water every day. Leaky plumbing is certainly something that you might want to call a plumber for, but that is not all they can take care of in your home.

Plumber services deliver a wide range of support, including:

Plumbers deliver the range of services that can help to bring your DIY project together successfully. You may be able to handle those leaky pipes on your own, but you should not risk a water heater installation or furnace replacement on your own. A plumber can help.

Know When to Make the Call

There are a few instances where it is best to call in a professional to ensure that your home stays safe. Dealing with a new furnace installation is one of those times. Heating systems are expensive, and cutting corners by trying to manage installation on your own is not the best way to approach the situation.

It is best to have a professional do the installation to ensure you do not void your warranty or, worse yet, cause a safety hazard. A plumber can get the job done fast and make sure it is done right. If you are planning a kitchen or bathroom remodel, a professional can come in handy for that as well.

A kitchen or bath remodel requires a great deal of plumbing work. It requires a great deal of other work as well. Having a professional handle the plumbing will free you up to focus on the other work that needs to be done.

The right plumbing company will be there to partner with you on your DIY projects and deliver exceptional, affordable plumbing service.

People use water in their homes each and every day -- in fact, a family of four in the U.S. can use around 400 gallons of water in just one day. But when it comes to showering or doing the dishes, it's important to have working hot water. Unfortunately, water heaters don't last forever. If you've noticed problems with your water heater, you may be wondering what the next step is. In this article, we're going to discuss how to decide between water heater repairs and replacement.

Water heater age: One of the first factors to consider when deciding whether to repair or replace your water heater is the age of the unit. Water heaters can usually last between 10 and 20 years, depending on the model and maintenance. If your unit is near the end of its lifespan, water heater replacement may be the way to go -- otherwise, you're going to be spending a lot of money trying to repair a unit that is ultimately going to fail.

Extra costs: There are a few different costs you need to consider before hiring plumbing services. First, consider how often you have to pay for water heater repairs. If you're continuously paying for repairs, replacement may help save money. However, you do need to think about the extra costs that come with replacing your unit. You may have to update supply pipes, the venting system, or even the heater's drain pan before having your new water heater installed. So keep these extra costs in mind to ensure you're really going to be saving money.

Increased expenses: Water heating bills are also something that should be considered. If your unit is old and failing, it's going to use more energy to work harder to heat the water. This results in increased water heating expenses. Unfortunately, if your unit is old and continues to have problems, this bill is going to continue to increase -- in this case, it's probably more cost-efficient to get a new unit that will be more energy-efficient.

If your water heater is not doing its job, then you need to take action. But in the end, it's best to trust the professionals to recommend whether you should repair or replace your unit.

A hot water recirculating pump is great for convenience and comfort, as it means getting hot water faster when you turn on the hot tap. For homes with on-demand or tankless water heaters, this is important, as it can otherwise be a little bit of a wait before the cold water clears out of the pipes and the hot water reaches you. When a hot water recirculating pump starts having or causing problems with the system, though, it can become more frustrating than anything else, especially if you don't know what to do about it. Here are a few signs there is a problem with your hot water recirculating pump, and what to do about it.

A Long Wait for Hot Water

The purpose of a hot water recirculation system is to provide you with hot water faster, so if you find yourself waiting for hot water when you turn on the tap, there could be something wrong with your system. Here are a few potential problems:

Hot Water in the Cold Pipe

If you turn on the cold water and get hit with hot water instead, you may actually have a problem with the bypass valve that's a part of your hot water recirculation system, rather than the pump itself. The valve is designed to close and keep the hot water in the pipes once it's up to temperature. When it cools down too much, the valve opens and the pump pushes the water back into the cold lines, making room for freshly heated water in the hot pipe. If you have hot water in the cold side, on the other hand, the valve may actually be staying open when it shouldn't be.

A Noisy Pump

Like with most things, a lot of noise coming from your hot water recirculation pump isn't a good sign. Once again, there are a few different things it could be.

Professional Service You Can Trust

A hot water recirculating pump is supposed to make your access to hot water more convenient, not less. If you notice one of these signs that your recirculating pump isn't performing at its best, call Maeser today. One of our experienced technicians will get you back up and running as soon as possible.

The Better Business Bureau is an unbiased tool for consumers to use to search for businesses and charities they can trust. The BBB’s mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. Although it seems as though good business practices would be common sense, the BBB has a Standard of Trust for which they base their accredited businesses.

The BBB knows consumers want to be able to trust the businesses they work with and have confidence that the business will have sound advertising, selling, and customer service practices. Here is a summary of the 8 standards a business or organization must abide by in order to be BBB accredited:

  1. Build trust: The business must create and maintain a positive performance in the marketplace.
  2. Advertise honestly: The business must comply with federal and state standards of advertising and selling, which include being honest about trustworthiness, product quality, business practices, etc.
  3. Tell the Truth: Businesses must represent their product or service honestly, disclosing all terms clearly.
  4. Be Transparent: The business must clearly identify the nature of the business, the location and ownership of the business, and disclose policies, guarantees, and procedures that may persuade a consumer.
  5. Honor Promises: Businesses must abide by all written or verbal agreements.
  6. Be Responsive: A business must resolve marketplace controversy quickly, professionally, and in good faith.
  7. Privacy Agreement: There is a safeguard of any personal information provided to a business by the customer.
  8. Exhibit Integrity: The business must address all business proceedings, marketplace dealings, and commitments with sincerity and honesty.

Maeser is honored to be considered one of the Better Business Bureau's accredited businesses. Whether it is a standard of trust, code of advertising, or code of business practices, we pride ourselves on doing what is right and just. We believe we set the standard in plumbing, heating, and cooling industries, and we are honored to serve you, our loyal customers.

Benjamin Franklin's quote "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" most certainly was not talking about clogged sewers, however, it certainly applies. Recognizing the signs that your sewers are clogged can reduce the risk of unwanted repairs, water damage and an icky mess.

The things to look for when you suspect a clogged sewer line include water backing up in your tub or shower when you flush the toilet, your toilet or sink water bubbling, or your toilet overflowing when water is draining out of the washing machine. If any of these occur, limit the use of your plumbing and call an expert immediately.

Now that you know what to look for, here are a few causes of a clogged sewer:

Obstructions

Objects may accidentally get flushed down the toilet, and along with toilet paper and other paper products, these items may get hung up on tree roots poking through the sewer pipe. Over time, more paper products can get caught at the same spot resulting in a major pipe clog.

Roots from shrubs and trees

In the past, sewer pipes were constructed out of porous materials or clay which typically does not hold up as well as PVC piping. As trees and shrubs grow, they search out a water source. If the roots find your sewer pipe, they will grow into the pipe causing backflow.

Cracked Pipes

If sewer pipes are ruptured or cracked, sewage will not be able to flow well through the pipe, leading to backups in your home. There could be several reasons for a ruptured pipe including age, type of material used in construction, increased sewer line use, or even ground movement.

Below are some helpful hints to minimize a clogged sewer pipe:

If you suspect your sewer pipes are clogged, Maeser suggests calling a professional to inspect them as soon as possible to avoid further damage and limit costly repairs. Our goal is to keep your pipes flowing freely and to improve the overall efficiency of your home's sewage system. Call us today if you suspect a problem, and we will use a sewer line video camera to pinpoint the cause of your blockage.

Hopefully the Polar Vortex deep freeze is over for the winter of 2014. Maeser worked non-stop to repair frozen pipes or to prevent them from further damaging your home. There were days we took over 1000 calls from our loyal customers with plumbing issues. Thank you for trusting us with your home. As home-comfort experts, we suggest you review how to prevent your pipes from freezing so this won’t be you the next time we have bitter cold temperatures.

There are three causes of frozen pipes: poor insulation, a quick drop in temperature and the thermostat is set too low. Be aware that any time temperatures dip to 32 degrees, unprotected pipes are vulnerable to freezing, especially when you factor in the wind chill.

We are seeing insufficient insulation in attics, crawl spaces and on pipes that are situated on an outside wall. Consider purchasing pre-cut foam insulation for your pipes. It is inexpensive and easy to install.

Maeser also suggests sealing leaks in your home’s foundation that allows the cold air to come inside. You can use spray foam insulation or cold-weather caulking. Take care not to cover vents as this could cause dangerous results. If you are unsure, find a professional or err on the side of caution. There are several cut-off valves in your home, however, knowing where the main water shut-off valve could keep your home from extensive damage if a pipe were to burst. Every person in the household should know where this valve is located. Tag the valve with a Maeser Emergency Shut-Off tag so it is easily seen.

Another suggestion is to be careful when turning your outside spigots on in the Spring. It is possible your pipes were damaged and there were no outward signs during the bitter cold. If water doesn’t flow out of your spigots, this may reveal pipe damage. Again, know the location of your main water cut-off valve.

So many of our customers endured this harsh winter with damage to their pipes and home. We hope you will consider our suggestions to make the next winter season worry-free and know that we are here if you need a home-comfort expert.

Another Valentine's Day has come and gone.  This year, we asked our customers to write us a love poem to Ducky, and the winning poem writer won a dozen roses that were delivered on Valentine's Day.  We had a great time reading the creative entries from our customers.  It was certainly hard to pick just one poem, but we chose the poem submitted by Alma.

Here it is:

Oh Ducky! How did I ever get so Lucky?
To have you in my life, before there was such strife!
The cold winters and hot summers, the clogged
drains and countless drips, Oh how my scenarios
have flipped! When I see the big truck with that
smiling duck, I'm forever heart-struck!

Throughout this year, we have planned different interactive campaigns that are not only fun, but let us interact with you, our customers.  We want to get a better idea of what you want and need.  Believe it or not, we may even have products and services that you didn't know about.  If you ever have a question about a product or service you have heard about, call and ask us about it!  We hope you think ‘Maeser’ first, and we strive to provide you the best service and information possible.

Our next campaign this year is the Ugly Bathroom Photo Contest.  Just submit a photo of your ugly bathroom, and you can win a wonderful prize.  Visit the Ugly Bathroom Contest link on our website to submit your photo and see what prizes are available for the ugly bathrooms that get the most votes.  You can even vote on the ugliest bathroom while you’re there, so make sure you visit maeser.com to vote daily.  The bathroom with the most votes will win.

We have planned a wonderful year full of opportunities and contests in order to further involve and serve our customers.  We want to again thank you for thinking ‘Maeser’ for all of your plumbing, heating, cooling, geothermal, and bathroom remodels needs.  We're sweet on you!

With the beauty of Spring comes the beginning of the "hay fever" season. According to MedicineNet.com, hay fever affects 30% of Americans and over $1 billion is spent to treat the symptoms. Millions of work and school days are lost because of the discomfort of this disorder. In 2011, AAFA listed Louisville as the second city in their Spring Allergy Capitals' list. The billion dollar question is, what are we allergic to and how do we prevent hay fever?

If you are a typical allergy sufferer with sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, nasal congestion or headaches, the best possible way to avoid hay fever is to avoid the allergens that cause your symptoms to begin with. Easier said than done, right? It is not possible to avoid breathing.

And what about allergens that aren't seasonally related, such as dust, tobacco smoke, pet dander or chemical vapors from gas ovens, space heaters, water heaters, furnaces, carpets, fireplaces, garages, cleaning products, furniture, paint, etc.? EPA studies indicate indoor air pollution is two to five times higher than outdoor levels because it is recycled over and over, trapping dust, pollen, smoke, mold, pet dander and more. Many of the particles polluting the air in your home are so small that you don’t even see them, but they can have a big impact on your family’s health and quality of life.

What can you do?

It is possible to remove airborne contaminants with a Fresh-Aire UV APCO. The APCO unit is installed in the ductwork of the central air system. As the air is circulated, mold, germs, and viruses are sterilized by a UV light and airborne microbes and volatile organic compounds (odor molecules) are captured. Scientific studies have shown that UV light can kill 99.9% of microbes after 24 hours.

Enjoy your Spring this year and keep your family's health in mind by being aware of the quality of your indoor air. Maeser has indoor air-quality technicians that have the expertise to diagnose and remove air quality problems so you and your family can enjoy clean air and a healthy indoor environment.

http://www.medicinenet.com/hay_fever/article.htm

http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-03-2011/worst-cities-for-spring-allergies.html

Maeser Master Services / Joni Crume

When it comes to our home, we want our surroundings, and in this case, our bathroom, to match our personality and style. You may just want to introduce some new accessories, change the color scheme or theme or do a massive bathroom remodel that coincides with your lifestyle. One thing that is a constant for any degree of decorating plan is functionality. Pair functionality with beauty and you have not only a delightful, practical space, but a bathroom you would be proud to allow your guests to use. To begin, let's start with the basics.

Let's talk about color. If you are wanting to change the color of your bathroom and not sure what color you want, start with asking yourself a few questions. What is your favorite color? What color combinations make you take pause and sigh? Would colors in nature appeal to you? What are your hobbies? If you are a hunter, consider camouflage; ok, perhaps not the whole bathroom, but aspects of it such as hunter greens, deep musky browns or natural fiber colors. Are you a scrap-booker? What colors are your "go-to" colors? Is your job tedious and monotonous? Don't make your bathroom that way; go big, with bold, bright colors that add excitement to your life.

Blues and greens have a calming effect, whereas bold red, orange and purple are more intense, thereby making your heart race a bit. Think about how color makes you feel and start being aware of those colors. Take pictures with your cell phone of colors you find in the grocery store, patterns in clothing, floral arrangements or upholstery patterns. Color is everywhere and it can change our mood, excite us, calm us, inspire us and motivate us.

If, however, color intimidates you, go neutral! White, cream, taupe and browns can be spectacular when accessorized with bold and bright towels, pictures, shower curtain, tile, lighting, mirrors, medicine cabinet, window treatments, etc.

Digressing just a bit here, I took a long weekend to chill, regroup and unwind at a gorgeous log cabin at Rough River, Kentucky. The owner of the cabin decorated with such simplicity, and yet followed the "log cabin" theme of river, water, boating, fishing and hunting. This was a departure from my normal life and therefore, a relaxing experience. The walls and floors in the bathrooms were all wood, so in order to work with this theme, hunter green and "river water" blue colors were introduced. Simple and yet so effective because she worked with the neutral wood colors and created a pleasing, "woodsy" atmosphere.

Consequently, when choosing your colors, make sure they work with the features that you are not changing, such as the wall tile or flooring. Choosing a blue/green color scheme may be nice, however, pairing it with pink wall tile may be aesthetically disturbing. (Speaking of disturbing, you may want to entertain the idea of changing the pink tile!)

So color will start you thinking about which direction you want to go. Just make sure your style is reflected in whatever color scheme you choose. After that, think about changing your fixtures; but that is for another day and another blog.

Maeser Services / Joni Crume