Tue 28 Dec 2010

Plumbers Portland Maine

Posted by loxley under Plumbers Portland Maine
No Comments

Hello! Welcome to Plumbers Portland Maine.

Okay, I realize that is an odd name for a website, but there is a reason for choosing this particular combination of words.

You see, when a homeowner in Portland, Maine needs plumbing work done, whether needing a water heater replaced or having a clogged drain pipe cleared, there is a pretty good chance that you will log on to your computer and type in: Plumbing Portland Maine, Portland Maine Plumbers… or maybe Portland Plumbers in order to find a company to handle your needs.

And, I wanted you to find my website because, unlike other sites that may pop up, I do not own my own plumbing company.

I’m actually an impartial consumer who was once in your shoes and had a bad enough experience looking for and hiring local plumbing contractors that it motivated me enough to create this site to help protect you.

It was kind of my civic duty to do so!

Now, I am not going to bash any plumbing outfit out there, but I will make a solid recommendation of three very good plumbers that are licensed, bonded, and insured that you can trust to take care of you.

In additon to this, I want to educate home owners on how their plumbing system works and give you enough knowledge to confidently make a few minor repairs. Or, if you are like many homeowners and scared to death of messing around with your toilet and water, you will be able to make an informed decision should you need to hire a plumbing contractor in Portland to tackle a larger job.

So, if you have a drain field that is backing up or a garbage disposal that no longer works, or anything in between, this site is for you.

Before I got started in this epic quest to find a qualified plumber, I did not know the difference between an drain pipe and a water pipe or how the plumbing system in my house actually worked… maybe you don’t either?

No worries!  I will cover all of this at Plumbers Portland Maine. We will look at your septic system as well as how water is routed through your home and how the waste is routed out of it.

I will show you what toilet repair parts to use when trying to fix a running toilet, how to make sure that your water heater is protected with a heater pressure relief, and how to replace worn washers in any of your bathroom faucets. Also, we will look at products and plumbing supplies, such as a tankless water heater, sump pumps and many other plumbing products that are available to homeowners looking to upgrade or remodel their bathrooms or kitchens.

Most importantly though, this site will help you hire a plumber contractor that is honest and professional.

The last thing you need is to have some backwoods mechanic messing around with your plumbing system and possibly flooding your home.

Also, the prices plumbing contractors charge for various service repair work is all over the board.  You can get ripped off very easily when hiring out plumbing work because most homeowners have no idea how much these repairs should cost… it’s just not something we deal with very often.

And one word of warning.  You cannot rely on an organization like the Better Business Bureau to vouch for a company.

Most people are not aware of this, but the Better Business Bureau is not any type of official governing body like their name implies, and they are actually paid by the businesses they represent! Can you say conflict of interest?

It is also important that you know what organizations a plumber should belong to like the UA Local 716, and what type of state contractor’s license they hold. You can search for a licensed plumber at the Office of Licensing and Registration.

Here are just a few more pluming organizations to help you understand the industry better.

Is the owner of the company a Master Plumber or just a guy/gal with a journeyman’s card who has run out of companies to get fired from and started his own business? If so, I doubt he/she has insurance, and should something bad happen to your home, you could literally be in a “sink or swim” situation.

Does your job require a permit and inspection? Will it be done up to city code? I could go on and on, but you get the picture.

Hopefully after spending a few minutes at my site, Plumbers Portland Maine, you will be able to make an informed decision on who to hire for your plumbing job, or have the confidence that you can do it your self…DIY!

Tags: ,

 

Tue 4 Jan 2011

Plumbing Repair Portland Maine

Posted by loxley under Plumbing Repair Portland Maine
No Comments

If you searched for Plumbing Repair Portland Maine, then you are in the right place! Check out our great DIY tips and also our video on how to repair bathroom plumbing.

Tackling A Diy Plumbing Repair

Author: Michelle Bery

When it comes to a plumbing repair, you have two ways to go – calling in a professional plumber to take on the job or tackling it yourself with a DIY plumbing repair. Taking on a plumbing repair yourself can save you quite a bit of money but you have to have the time and tools to complete the repair successfully.

When venturing into the world of do-it-yourself plumbing repairs it’s best to take it slowly. Begin with smaller projects such as simple installs and relatively easy repairs such as fixing a leak, replacing a valve, or insulating a pipe.

However, completing a plumbing repair successfully requires some fundamental knowledge and a comprehensive tool kit that will ensure your preparedness in any situation. Some basic tools to include in your plumbing repair kit are the basic varieties of wrenches, caulk, tape, nuts and bolts, and other basic household tools that you would use for any project.

Additionally, be sure to include a flashlight – with extra batteries – as part of your plumbing repair tool kit. Attending to a plumbing repair project often requires you to work in a dimly lit environment. A flashlight will ensure that you have all the necessary light in your workspace.

In addition to your plumbing repair tool kit, you should also arm yourself with as much information as possible. Go online to learn step-by-step instructions for any do-it-yourself plumbing repair project. You can also visit your local home improvement store for the latest resources on plumbing repairs.

No matter what, you should always be sure to stay within your comfort zone. If you feel like a plumbing repair project is out of your league, do not hesitate to call in a professional plumber. Tackling a project that you are not prepared to handle will only cost you time and money in the long run.

But if you are successful in your plumbing repair you will have the added satisfaction of a job well done as well as cash saved in your pocket.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/tackling-a-diy-plumbing-repair-147314.html

About the Author

For easy to understand, in depth information about plumbing visit our ezGuide 2 Plumbing.

Tags:

 

Tue 28 Dec 2010

Plumbing System Recommended Manufacturers

Posted by loxley under Plumbing System Recommended Manufacturers
No Comments

This section of the Plumbers Portland Maine website covers various brands of plumbing fixtures and components such as faucets, toilets and water heaters.

Most homeowners will limit plumbing repairs to unclogging a drain, toilet repair parts or maybe changing out the supply hoses to the washing machine. Maybe changing out a worn bathroom faucet or maybe even try to install a new toilet.

The most important thing to remember when doing these repairs, aside from general safety precautions when dealing with water under pressure, is to make sure you use the proper replacement parts.

Take a toilet for example.  Most people would just run up to the hardware store and grab some generic toilet repair parts. Many would determine what parts to buy based on price.

However, you need to make sure you get the proper toilet repair parts for the job.  Will it work with the toilet that you are trying to fix? Will the flapper fit properly? Will the fill valve work with your brand of toilet?

And what about replacing the worn out washers in a bathroom faucet? Do you know what type and brand to replace it with?  You need to see who manufactured the faucet and then use that manufacturer’s parts.

In Hagerstown, the most popular toilet manufacturers are: Toto, American Standard and Kohler.

When it comes to water heaters, the most important consideration is whether your heater is gas or electric. Gas heaters tend to be a little more expensive, but are much more efficient than electric water heaters. However, if there is now gas line running to your house, then you have no choice but to install an electric water heater.

Now, you need to determine what size water heater to have installed in your home. Here is a great chart that will show you exactly what size water heater should be sufficient for your needs.

http://www.altereagle.com/Water_Heater.html

And here is another great website that will help you to determine the water heater that will best suit your needs:

http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12770

In Portland, the most popular and most recommended brands of water heaters are:

American Water Heating Company - A well-known manufacturer of residential and commercial gas and electric water heaters, this company is credited with creating the first flammable-vapor-resistant water heater. “Flame Guard,” as they dubbed it, became mandatory for almost all gas water heaters in the United States just three years later. Brands under American Water Heater Co. include Whirlpool, sold through the mass-merchant channel; American PROLine, sold through the plumbing wholesale channel; and U.S. Craftmaster, sold through the retail channel.

Rheem Water Heating - Manufacturing water heaters since the 1930s, this company focuses on their award-winning tankless water heaters. The models come natural gas or propane fueled, with the option for placing them indoors or out. They are the makers of water heaters branded GE (sold exclusively at Home Depot), Ruud and Richmond. A popular model seems to be the electric Rheem Marathon, which has been mentioned on several forums and called a selling point for a home.

A.O. Smith – Also in business since the ’30s, A.O. Smith is known for manufacturing some of the highest water heater efficient units on the market, particularly with their Conservationist series. Their products run the gamut of electric, gas, pump and boiler units. A.O. Smith water heaters can be found under brand names such as Reliance, Kenmore, Maytag and State.

As far as other fixtures such as faucets for your bathroom, kitchen and tubs/showers, you will find that the majority of Hagerstown plumbers will suggest Delta, Moen, American Standard, and if you are on a tight budget, Banners faucets. Excellent and very popular foreign upgrade faucets are Grohe, HansGrohe and Danze.

So, do your homework and get the proper components and make sure they are rated for your plumbing requirements.  You will be glad you did and can rest easy knowing you have done the job right!

Tags:

 

Next Page »