Important Questions to Ask Before You Sign a Plumbing Contract

Household plumbing problems can cause anxiety and stress for many homeowners. Leaking pipes, water back-up, clogged drains and drippy faucets are not only annoying, but they often lead to more serious plumbing trouble such as water damage and mold. In a perfect world, we’d all have a reputable, trustworthy plumber on call any time of the day or night. But what if you don’t have that magic plumbing number taped to your fridge or printed on a business card stowed handily in your wallet?

If you’ve decided that you need to bring in a professional to work on your home’s plumbing, there are some important areas to cover with your plumber before you sign a plumbing contract.

• Get Prices Up Front. No one likes to be surprised by hidden plumbing fees and additional plumbing charges. A good plumber will provide a complete estimate free of charge before beginning a plumbing project and will get your approval for any unforeseen fees that pop up as plumbing work goes on. Generally, you can expect to pay for hourly labor, parts and travel time; extra charges are almost always tacked on for emergency service. Keep in mind, though, that cheaper isn’t always better when it comes to plumbing. The best way to keep plumbing costs under control is to get a ballpark number up front.
  


• Choose The Right Plumber For Your Job. Plumbers fall into two general categories: those who work on emergencies like burst pipes and water back-up, and those who do installation and renovation. Hiring a plumber who doesn’t have experience doing the kind of work you need done is like flushing money down the drain. Make sure the plumber you hire is qualified to do your specific plumbing job; for example, even the trusted general plumber who never fails to come to the rescue when you have a plumbing emergencies might not be able to manage a bathroom remodel.
  


• Do Your Homework. All reputable plumbers are licensed, adequately insured and certified; every state has a set of standards that these plumbing professionals must adhere to in order to do business. Don’t rely on your plumber’s word, either. Check with your local regulating organization to make sure the plumbing company or contractor’s license and certification are current; ask about insurance policy coverage details; and get a list of references. A good plumber will provide this information (and more) willingly and will encourage you to do a background check before signing a plumbing contract.
  


• Get Everything in Writing. An honest plumber will provide a written estimate containing details of service fees, labor charges, cost of parts, and any other costs associated with your plumbing job. This simple piece of paper can not only help you budget, but will also prevent you from sticker shock and price gouging once your plumbing project is finished. A plumber who won’t give you this information in writing is probably not someone you want to hire.

Remember...once you sign a plumbing contract, it is binding. Take some of the panic out of plumbing repairs and installation and future plumbing problems by devoting a little extra time to finding the right plumbing professional for your job BEFORE you put your signature on the paper.


Related Plumbing Information from Horizon Services...

• Horizon Plumbing Services
• Horizon Drain Cleaning Services
• Horizon Sewer & Water Line Replacement Services
• Plumbing, Drain and Sewer Glossary
• Plumbing, Drain and Sewer FAQs

Blueberry Bakewell Tart

I guess it's blueberry season now as I realized there are many bloggers had posted their bakes with blueberry which had given me lots of inspiration. I didn't think much and took two punnets of fresh blueberries when I saw it in the supermarket. At first, there are many ideas came to my mind whether to make muffins, pancake, juice or crumble etc but I don't really have the appetite to eat what is in my mind so ended up I choose to make a rustic yet with country feel of bakewell tart which will top with my fresh and juicy blueberries. I like bakewell tart because the almond bring lots of flavor with the combination of butter together with the shortcrust pasty. Normally I would like to make bakewell tart with plum or apple and here I found blueberry goes well well with it too! A piece of this nutty and buttery flavor tart for an afternoon tea,  simplicity is my biggest satisfaction. 

Recipe for 8 inches baking pan

For the pastry:

220g plain flour

110g unsalted butter

20g sugar powder

pinch of salt

2 egg yolks + 2 tbsp water

For the fillings:

95g ground almond

27g plain flour

1 tsp vanilla extract

83g unsalted butter

55g caster sugar

1 egg

some blueberry jam

Method:

1. For the pastry, add the cold water to the egg yolks and stir with a fork.


2. Place the flour into the bowl of a food processor, followed by the cold butter, sugar powder and the salt.


3. Turn the processor on and pulse several times until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.


4. Add two-thirds of the egg yolk/water mixture and pulse again. If the mixture is still too dry, add the remaining egg and water mixture (you may not need to use all of it). Be careful not to overwork the pastry. Stop pulsing when the mixture has the consistency of chunky breadcrumbs.


5. Turn the pastry out onto a clean, floured work surface and, with floured hands, bring together to make a smooth dough, but don't knead.


6. Shape into a flattened ball, wrap in cling film and refrigerate for about 10-15 minutes. You can keep the pastry at this stage for 2-3 days if not using it immediately.


7. Remove the pastry from the fridge. On a clean, floured work surface, roll it out with a floured rolling pin until it's slightly larger than the flan ring. Using the rolling pin, lift the pastry and lay it over the flan ring.


8. With your fingers, lightly press the pastry into the sides of the ring. Run a rolling pin over the top of the ring and pull away the excess pastry at the edges. Using your fingers, gently press the pastry up to slightly build up the height of the pastry at the edges. Prick the base of the pastry with a fork.


9. For the fillings, blitz the butter, sugar and vanilla extract in a food processor until light and creamy.


10. Add in the ground almond, plain flour and beaten eggs and whiz until completely mixed and smooth.


11. Place in the fridge to firm up for at least half an hour.


12. Spoon some blueberry jam into the pastry case then spread the almond batter over the blueberry jam.


13. Arrange the blueberries on the surface of the almond batter, pressing them in lightly.


14. Bake the tart in the 180'C preheated oven for about 30 minutes. Remove tarts from the oven and leave it to cool.

Hot Water Without the Waste!

"Have hot water at your fingertips whenever you turn on the faucet. Stop wasting water as you wait for cold to turn to hot. Stop burning energy as you wait for warm to turn warmer. The Taco D’MAND® System puts an end to the waste – and the wait – forever.

How D’MAND® works:

The D’MAND® System is a small, silent pump attached to your hot and cold water lines in the cabinet under your most remote kitchen or bath fixture. When D’MAND® System is activated, the cool water you normally let run down the drain is circulated back to the water heater through the cold water line.

At your “demand,” the pump circulates hot water from the water heater, and returns the cooled water back through the cold water line. When the hot water arrives at the faucet, the D’MAND® System’s patented heat sensor and control board shut off the pump to prevent pumping excess hot water into the cold water line.

Activate D’MAND® only when you need it. D’MAND® System only runs when you tell it to, and it’s smart enough to know when the water currently in the line is hot enough.

D’MAND® System can be activated with the push of a button, or with an optional wireless remote transmitter/receiver. D’MAND® System is easy to install. No new piping required.

The D’MAND® System not only saves water and energy, it saves in construction costs as well. No new return line is necessary; no need to drain the system; no demolition and repair." - www.taco-hvac.com