Before you change your outside spigot (Hose bib, Boiler drain or whatever you would like to call it;)

This is one of the most common types of spigots in our area of Florida; there are many differing types of the same style. This type even though you see threads maybe soldered on and if you try to remove it you will probably damage the water piping behind the wall which will cost much more to repair. Believe it or not we get this call a couple of times a month.

Even if it is threaded into a female fitting unthreading could damage your water piping if the female fitting is not stabilized with a wrench.

This is what it may look like if it is threaded into a female fitting.

If you are unsure call a PLUMBER the difference between fixing a spigot or getting into the wall to repair the pipe and spigot is less than half in most cases;)

Here is another variation called a silcock and in my opinion should only be replaced by a PLUMBER, this spigot has a female thread and is threaded onto a male adapter inside the wall and then screwed to the outside wall. Again if you call a Plumber it may cost more upfront but it could save a lot of time money and aggravation in the long run;)

Why are Plumbers so expensive?

I know it seams expensive to hire a professional Plumber. Believe me when I tell you the number on the bill is far different from what the Plumber puts into his pocket. I have heard many times that Plumbers are rich and they make a lot of money. It is a good living but we are not getting rich. Here are some of the things that make Plumbing expensive.

1- Licensing ( State and every local municipality in which you do business. )
2- Insurance ( Liability, commercial vehicle, Workman's comp, etc.)
3- Taxes       ( Federal, State, Payroll, etc.)
4- Fuel          ( We come to you loaded with hundreds of pounds of material.)
5- Advertising ( How you found us, very expensive)

6- Location    ( commercial property, electric, internet, phone system, water etc.)
7-There are plenty more.

I have heard of company cost of $100 to put a truck and plumber on a job, so if they are charging $100 they effectively made no money. We are a small company and it cost at least $60 to put a plumber and truck on your job, so I do not believe $100 is to big of a stretch.

I only put these words here to inform, Plumbers do make a good living, However
You have to ask yourself the following question, How much would they have to pay me to leave my family at a restaurant at 7pm, get into your truck drive for up to an hour to work on someone else's backed up toilet?

Try not to be too hard on your Plumber, yes he makes a good living but would you really want his job?

Before remodeling your kitchen have a licensed plumber assess your plumbing needs!

Many times I have been called buy a customer who has had a new kitchen installed, and was not told and did not know they needed a plumber, (said they did in the fine print that no one reads) or the cabinet people had their own "Plumber" unlicensed uninsured and unprofessional.

  If you are not putting back the exact same kitchen your plumbing system may need modified. Paying the service call for a plumber to come by and give his professional opinion before the new cabinets go in will more than likely save you time and money!

 Here is some of the things your "Professional Plumber" can tell you.

 1. Are the waist lines going to work with your new sink set up?

 2. Are the water lines where they need to be, and are the water shut offs functional?

 3. If your Dish washer is not right next to the sink the lines may need pre run.

 The service call could save you big in the long run.

                                          Kitchen remodel completed 2-7-11

If your project is in Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas or Citrus County, first call H2O Plumbing Solutions state lic# CFC1427731, for the rest of your remodel call Tim Thelen Top to Bottom Construction state lic#CRC1329392. Spring Hill, Hudson, Port Richey, New Port Richey, Trinity, Holiday, Fl.

http://www.h2oplumbingsolutions.com/

Freezing temperatures and burst water piping

 I know its hard to believe but, even in Florida our water piping can freeze and even burst. Costing time, money and even the inconvenience of going without water for a period of time.

 The best way to avoid this problem is by insulating ALL exposed water piping and checking insulation before each freeze. Even after you insulate, your piping should be checked for leaks after each freeze, not doing so could cost a very high water bill or even a flood...

 Here is a picture of a 1/2 inch copper water line that burst in Dec of 2010 in the attic of a home in Spring Hill. No one was home at the time and the whole house flooded.

5 things all home owners should know about their plumbing system.

1 - Locate and make sure your emergency water shut off valve is working properly.
Generally there are 2 ways to shut off the incoming water to your home, the first at the building and second at the water meter / Well. The one at the building is generally easier to operate and should be checked once a year to verify it is functional. You don't want to be looking for your Emergency shut off valve while your house is flooding.
                                    
                        Water service emergency shut off valve.
                        Example only, can be other types and locations.
                        

                                      Typical  water meter valve.

                                  
2 - The sewer clean out should be where your building drain connects to the sewer as it exits the structure, within about 18".
In an emergency you don't want your plumber looking for your clean out for an hour at 2am, this gets expensive.

                                      

                                                         Typical sewer clean out.

3 - If your home is backing up ( toilets, shower over flowing ) immediately shut off all running water, your drains are connected and water running out of a clothes washer or any other fixture / appliance can end up on the floor in another room.

4 - How to turn off the electric / gas to your hot water heater, Which you will have to do if your tank is leaking and you turn off the water supply to your water heater. Very Important!

5 - How to shut off the incoming water to your hot water heater, if you have a tank leak you must turn off the power/gas and only then turn off the water. This way at least you will have cold water until your Plumber is able to get to you.

   
                                           

Tankless water heater vs. Tank type water heater.

 My Professional opinion on this issue may not what you may expect.

 Tankless water heaters are great if you are purchasing them for the correct application and reason.           

 - Instant hot water = no. The cold water in the pipping from the HWH to the fixture will still have to be displaced, either by running the faucet ( wasting the same water as a tank type) or buy installing a recirculation pump specifically designed for use with the THWH, which still may shorten the warranty on the unit, and is much less expensive to have installed during the construction of the home.

- Over all cost benefit = no ( in retrofit situations). To start with the tankless can cost two to three times as much to have purchased and installed just on the plumbing end. If your tank type is electric you will have to hire an electrician to pull a new service from your panel to the unit, If your service panel is to small you would probably will need a sub panel installed. If your existing HWH is gas you may have to up size the service lines to the THWH. While saving on energy when not in use, when it activates it has to heat water much faster and uses allot of energy while heating. Also the THWH is a very sophisticated appliance which in most cases have allot of upkeep and maintenance which under some warranties, has to be preformed by a plumber certified by the heater company or the warranty may not be covered.

-You are looking for Endless hot water= Yes, If you have a large tub, shower with jets, have allot of people or for other reasons hot water demand is higher than normal. Again make sure it is sized and installed by a professional or you may not get what you were expecting.

 In my own home I have a 50 Gallon electric tank type on a timer which runs 2 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the evening, the timer cost a couple hundred to have installed and will in most cases will not have to be changed when you install a new heater.

 My point here is simply before you buy a tankless hot water heater, do your home work. H2O Plumbing Solutions does NOT believe in blindly passing on Sales pitches from manufacturers. If a newer product is better we will explain the difference and let you decide.

 Thank you for reading. H.P.S.

The truth about handymen.

 In the state of Florida there is no such thing as a handyman license! If someone tells you he is a licensed handyman beware. If he tells you he can paint, drywall, do electrical, plumbing or anything else that a so called handyman does there is no one license that covers all of these.

 However there are companies who call them selves a handyman company who are Certified Building Contractors (CBC) Certified Residential Contractors (CRC) or Certified General Contractors (CGC) who are qualified to do most non plumbing, non electrical, or non air conditioning work.

 Most people who call them selves licensed handy people have what's known as an occupational license or maintenance license which allows them to do things such as landscape, pressure washing, cleaning etc.

 Unlicensed Contractors are breaking the law! If they are willing to break the law do you want them working for you?


 State Licensed Contractors who are operating properly are, F.B.I. background checked, Insured, Bonded where required, and have Workman's comp insurance to protect you from being sued if an employee is injured on your property!


 Look below for the link that says Unlicensed Contractors for a good list of reasons not to hire unlicensed People..