Sometimes it makes sense to use an anti-clog chemical like Drano or others to get the water moving again, but there are some things you need to know.
For one thing, not all of the chemicals are just the same thing in different packaging. These are dangerous for many reasons, one is the caustic nature of the chemicals themselves. If more than one agent is used on one clogged drain, several bad things can potentially happen. [Read more…] about Beware Using Chemicals to Unclog Drains
The cold winter nights are upon us. The fire is crackling and the aroma of holiday cooking surrounds us. Before heading off to bed we double check to make sure the fire is all the way out and the kitchen appliance knobs are turned to the off positions. These are the obvious things we do to protect our homes from a fire hazard.
It is important in the cold months to consider the possibility of a hard freeze. We need to make sure our homes are as protected as possible including the parts that are vulnerable to cold air. [Read more…] about Defend Your Home Against a Winter Attack
You’d better go around the house and check for leaks while the days are still nice! Outside faucets should definitely be addressed before the weather turns on us. If you have any drips, you want to get them repaired before it gets cold.
Outside faucets can freeze up with the cold weather, causing the pipe inside the wall to crack and cause severe damage to the interior of your home. You can go to any home improvement store to purchase hose-bib covers. These are inexpensive and highly recommended as extra insurance against freezing.
It’s nice to have access to 911 when you need it, but adding a residential fire sprinkler can bring immediate help to a fire emergency – possibly saving lives.
Plumbing an internal fire sprinkler isn’t a difficult proposition. If you’ve been thinking about it, here are some reasons it’s become easier to do.
There are only three materials approved for sprinklers:
Materials approved must meet safety guidelines for toxicity in extreme heat environments. Of these three approved materials, PVC is only allowable if it is protected behind a fire-rated barrier. That additional expense can be avoided if garages, crawl spaces, attics and other exposed areas are also avoided, but those areas really need protection.
Steel is more difficult to manipulate when threading it into enclosed areas. Threading the pipe accurately can present problems, especially when trying to miss walls above.
Copper is lightweight, easy to cut on the job and thread through existing walls. It’s recyclable and won’t emit toxic fumes when exposed to high temperatures. Copper will be around a long time, and for a residential sprinkler system, we believe it’s the best material to use.
Let us assess your home to see if a residential sprinkler system is a good installation idea for you. We believe it is, but also believe you need to understand how the system will work, what it will cost, and where it should be located for maximum effectiveness. Call our office today, 972-424-6479
Most cities have required permits for years on things like water heater, gas line, water and sewer installations. They vary slightly from city to city, but we take care of that for you and obtain the necessary permit for your job.
We know that it’s difficult for you to take time from work to be home for the work to be done, and then you have to be available to see it through the permit process. We try to make it as easy as possible!
Truth be told however, they really are an important part of ensuring that the work you have done is up to code. It’s a protection from many things. It protects you from having work that is not safe and up to code and it protects us because we are required to take out the proper permits by the State of Texas or be subject to large fines or even losing our license to work.
For instance, you need to have a plumbing license to do certain types of work. Often handymen are hired for those jobs because they are lower-priced, but you have to consider the trade-offs. The licenses and insurance, even the continuing education, all cost money, and a licensed plumber has to offset those fees. By comparison, those illegally doing that work without the proper licensing can cause you to be unarmed if the work goes haywire. Where’s the insurance to kick in when damage to a person or property is due to an illegally non-permitted job?
Those permits can’t be taken out by just anybody. We have to show that we are a licensed and insured plumbing company, and on file with the city. A homeowner can do work themselves if they live in the home where the work is to be done, but a hired contractor who knows what they’re doing is the safer bet, and they must have necessary permits.
We wanted you to know why we take those steps. They truly are for your protection, so we wanted you to know that we feel your pain! Even so, we’ll always do our best to err on the side of right. It’s ultimately in your best interest.
When you’re having an emergency, you wait and look … and look … and drive yourself crazy looking for your plumber to pull up to your house. There is NEVER any plumber ANYWHERE that can be there fast enough for a customer’s emergency! In that case, you’re plenty aware of who is knocking at your door. But what if you are simply having routine maintenance done, or a less urgent situation? We all know it’s very easy to be distracted in the home and not really think about who is at your door. If you are already one of our valuable customers, you know us all by name. But if you are a new customer, how can you be sure it is our company at your door?
First of all, look out a near window to see if our clearly marked company vans are outside where you can see them. If you can’t see the truck, ask through the door, “Who is it?” It is possible that while you were looking out the window our man may have walked back to the truck for something, or stepped far enough away from the door that he didn’t hear you. Our men wear shirts with “Gary’s Quality Plumbing” clearly marked on the back, and their names are on the front. If you don’t see those words, you’re not dealing with Gary’s Quality Plumbing, and you need to make an excuse to get back behind the door and lock it until you can find out if who you’re dealing with is legitimate.
Our goal is to provide you excellent products and service, safely. We want to encourage our customers to be aware of who is at their door, and to call our company to speak with Dorothy or Debi if you have any doubts whatsoever. We do our best to be easily identified by our customers, and value their safety at all times.