About Barkley Plumbing: 2013

Thursday, December 26, 2013

A Plumber's Christmas

This was a typical Christmas Day plumbing job in Blaine, Washington. We don't charge overtime or holiday rates for Christmas because.

Sewer stoppage Blaine, WA

Sewer Stoppage Ball Plumbing

Monday, December 23, 2013

Happy Holidays from Ball Plumbing

I hope everyone has a safe and sane holiday relatively free of plumbing emergencies.

May all your plumbing problems be small and your plumber honest! As honest as Ball Plumbing!

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Frozen pipes

We've had a few calls in the last week for frozen pipes, but nothing like what happened in 2009.

Here is one from yesterday. We'll replace the entire pipe and hose bib tomorrow.

Garage broken water pipe damage Mt Vernon, Wa

Broken copper pipe from freeze Mt Vernon, Wa

Monday, December 9, 2013

These are some of the reviews that got eaten by the zombies that lurk in the Google servers. Actually, it's because of us moving offices around at the same time Google was revamping the system.

We try to offer the best service and prices around and sometimes even succeed!

1 - 7 of 7 Danielle ‎ - Feb 23, 2012 Recommend!! We had Robert replace our 1930's toilet and sewer pipes. He was professional, clearly answered our questions, and did great work. We liked him so much, we called again when we needed to replace a failed water heater. We trusted him to work in our house while we weren't home. He did great work, did it quickly, and with a great sense of humor. For both jobs the work was a fair price. Also, we love the toilet-shaped chocolates they give customers! 1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes - No - Flag as inappropriate Respond publicly as the owner ................................................................................................................... Sarah ‎ - Nov 16, 2011 I highly recommend Ball Plumbing for their high quality service and superior expertise. We had a kitchen sink installed along with a brand new garbage disposal. Robert went above and beyond to make sure the job was done correctly and in a timely fashion. We couldn't be happier! 3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes - No - Flag as inappropriate Respond publicly as the owner ................................................................................................................... Michael ‎ - Nov 11, 2011 Very fast and helpful. Great service by Robert. I had a clogged drain which lead to having to remove the garbage disposal and replace the faucet. bigger job than I originally expected but everything was explained and made sense. I'd use them again. 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes - No - Flag as inappropriate Respond publicly as the owner .................................................................................................................. Chris ‎ - Apr 22, 2010 Great Experience! Ball Plumbing was very helpful when my toilet was overflowing. Even though it was after-hours, Ball Plumbing was at my house within half an hour and it was fixed in another thirty minutes. I highly recommend Ball Plumbing...the price was reasonable and the service was friendly and professional. 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes - No - Flag as inappropriate Respond publicly as the owner ................................................................................................................... Nickname unavailable ‎ - Dec 30, 2008 Very Thorough and efficient!! They showed up within 30 minute of being called to repair the broken pipes of our 1890's home. They provided excellent service for a decent price, without any hidden costs. I greatly appreciated their friendly and informative way of working with us to fix the problem. I will definitely use them in the future! 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes - No - Flag as inappropriate Respond publicly as the owner ................................................................................................................... patrickmccart43 ‎ - Oct 16, 2008 Excellent Service and Fair Pricing Real quick and easy evaluation of the situation and fair pricing for sure. Polite service and quick response. I have and older house that needed to be updated to protect the structural integrity of my kitchen and bath. Robert was here the next day after I had called to do the work, quote the price and finish the job thanks for the excellent service and plumbing. 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes - No - Flag as inappropriate Respond publicly as the owner Edit - Delete

A Google User

2 years ago

Very Helpful. Ball plumbing was a great choice when we had an overflowing/clogged toilet. They were up front about the cost, so there were no hidden fees. The plumber was friendly and respectful of our home, and even cleared our slow sink drain ...More

Friday, November 29, 2013

Sedro-Woolley Septic Tank

This was a very, very old house that had the original cement sewer drain stubbing out of the foundation. From that point, it went to a Big Box thin walled drain pipe that isn't code for anything I know of (first picture.

Then, it connected to the original cement sewer sections that were crumbling for the last few decdes.

Then, it connected to 2" ABS drain.

Then, it was pushed into the concrete septic tank.

All in 15 feet.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sedro-Woolley, Wa sewer Ball Plumbing

New sewer in Sedro-Woolley, Wa Ball Plumbing

Friday, November 15, 2013

Plumber's Service Charges

Ball Plumbing charges a service charge of $45.00. We started this when fuel prices started to skyrocket and will stop when the fuel prices get back to 2009 prices.

Much confusion about the "service charge", though. I looked the term up in the online Merriam-Webster dictionary, which doesn't charge a service charge for their service. Based on the first definition, our use of the term "service charge" is correct, in that we charge another fee in addition to our minimum fee of $88.00, which covers one hour of labor.

Tax and parts are always separate and without fail will surprise everyone including us.

I bet the term confusion stems from some plumbers using the term "service charge" to get paid for outrageous estimates. It's a nicer term than "estimate fee", I guess. I don't know, but it sure is annoying.

service charge

noun

: an amount of money that is charged for a particular service in addition to a basic fee

: an amount of money that is paid to the owner of an apartment building for services (such as garbage collection)

: a charge added to a bill in a restaurant to pay for the work of the waitress or waiter

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Sudden Valley toilet replacement

Once upon a time, a black Kohler toilet was the ultimate in bathroom style. Today, not so much.

We replaced it with a toilet that we have had great success with for a much lower price in its class. It's also a Comfort Height model that's app. 16.5" high from floor to bowl rim. The seat is a slow closing model with easy removable hinges for cleaning.

Kohler toilet circa 1975

New toilet 2013

Monday, November 11, 2013

Wrong County listed in Craigslist Ad

This is our ad on CL. Notice the Skagit County in the first line. While we do business down there---all contractors work there---the CL ad is for Whatcom County.

So yes, we do work (and live) in Whatcom.

Plumber (Ball Plumbing)

Since 2005, Ball Plumbing has done plumbing and rooter work for homes and businesses in Skagit County.

Our website: http://www.ballplumbing.net

Find us on AngiesList, BBB, and Google.
All our plumbers are state licensed.

100% Transparent Pricing!

+Labor Rate: $88.00 per hour (charged to the closest 15 minutes);
+Service Charge: $45.00 Service Charge (local travel and truck charge);
+$45.00 per hour per additional worker (charged to the closest 15 minutes);
+Parts, equipment, and tax are extra.

Minimum: 1 hour plus Service Charge: $133.00 ($88.00 per hour plus $45.00 Service Charge);

Contract Price: We can give you a contract price or a NTE when we see the job. The estimate cost is $88.00.

360-647-2255 (BALL)

Location: Ball Plumbing
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
License info: BALLPPI901LT

Posting ID: 4184798979

Posted: 2013-11-11, 7:54AM PST

Updated: 2013-11-11, 7:57AM PST

Friday, November 8, 2013

Ball Plumbing's Reviews

Ball Plumbing Angies List Reviews

Reviews....how many of us have their work critiqued on the internet? It's a little daunting, to say the least.

Here are the reviews from Angies List, the good and the bad.

jimwi@angieslist.com
1-317-803-2054
Jim Willan

Ad Sales Representative:

Ball Plumbing Inc

Bellingham WA 98225

Company ID: 2018330

Reviews

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1 to 5 of 11

Filter by Grade: Filter by Category:

Review Date: December 14, 2012

Member:

Bellingham, WA 98229

Categories:

Plumbing
Water Heaters

Services Performed:

Yes

* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.

Work Completed Date:

December 13, 2012

Hire Again:

Yes

Approximate Cost:

$1,000.00

Home Build Year:

1994

Description Of Work:

Replaced leaking 26 year old Hot Water Heater/Tank

Member Comments:

From the point of first call to Ball and completion of the job was about 5 hours. This included Robert first estimating the job and then picking up the heater. Very professional, job estimate and final cost was within a few dollars. I would highly recommend the company.

Overall	A
Price	A
Quality	A
Responsiveness	A
Punctuality	A
Professionalism	A

Review Date: September 14, 2012

Member:

Bellingham, WA 98225

Category:

Plumbing

Services Performed:

* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.

Work Completed Date:

July 13, 2012

Last Modified Date:

September 18, 2012

Hire Again:

Home Build Year:

1950

Description Of Work:

Ball Plumbing gave me an estimate to fix a leaking pipe I had in my kitchen.

Member Comments:

He estimate was a little too high. I just didn’t go for him. I think plumbers are incredibly overpaid but they do have a gross job. He was bringing up a lot of issues that were potential problems. I just didn’t think it was that complicated so I let it go. He did come by and give me his time but I found another plumber to do the job.

Transcribed from a telephone interview

Company Response:

We're a small, private company that values good customers and we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.

Our prices are totally transparent and listed on our website: http://****/services.html

Please go there before calling us.

Overall	A
Price	N/A
Quality	N/A
Responsiveness	B
Punctuality	A
Professionalism	A

Review Date: July 26, 2012

Member:

Bellingham, WA 98225

Categories:

Plumbing
Water Heaters

Services Performed:

* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.

Work Completed Date:

July 23, 2012

Last Modified Date:

August 03, 2012

Hire Again:

Home Build Year:

1910

Description Of Work:

Water heater installation

Member Comments:

So I saw the posting on Angie's List with the good rating and the coupon. I called Ball to help me finish/connect a water heater I had replaced. They first admonished me for not buying a good water heater and touted their own. (OK, I went cheap but I got a name brand.) He then told me they would install it but wipe their hands of it afterwards because they didn't like the brand of water heater. Why would I blame them for the internal failings of a water heater anyway? It just sounded like they would do a crappy job and then not guarantee anything because they didn't provide the water heater. But this is the best part...I said I saw their coupon for $66 an hour fee. They told me, "Well, there's a $45 show up/diagnosis fee." And then they tell me, "And that doesn't include parts and labor." So what does it cover! At that point I was so frustrated I ended the conversation. If you don't want to do the job just say so! Watch for the "bait and switch" on that coupon.

Company Response:

All our prices are listed on our website: http://ballplumbing.net/services.html

The coupon reflects our normal hourly rate for most jobs. It's not a discount deal.

The initial phone call is as much an interview with you as it's with us. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.

Overall	D
Price	D
Quality	N/A
Responsiveness	N/A
Punctuality	N/A
Professionalism	D

This review wasn't submitted by an Angie's List member. Non-member reviews don't factor in to recent or overall grades. More...

Review Date: July 24, 2012

Member:

Categories:

Plumbing
Water Heaters

Services Performed:

Yes

* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.

Work Completed Date:

July 23, 2012

Hire Again:

Yes

Approximate Cost:

$1,450.00

Description Of Work:

They replaced a broken water heater in the garage. It needed other stuff like like earthquake strap, expansion tank and new gas connection and a few vent turns. They cleaned up and disposed of the old one.

Member Comments:

It went as well as can be expected. The job took longer than I thought, but I chose to go with a quoted price over the hourly rate, so I saved some money there. The hourly was 66 plus a service charge of 45 not including the water heater.

It looks good with brass parts and quality parts and the water is hot for the first time in years.

Review Date: October 10, 2011

Member:

Bellingham, WA 98225

Categories:

Plumbing
Plumbing - Drain Cleaning
Sewer Cleaning

Services Performed:

Yes

* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.

Work Completed Date:

October 01, 2011

Hire Again:

Yes

Approximate Cost:

$2,600.00

Home Build Year:

1926

Description Of Work:

Robert promptly diagnosed and fixed an old (70 yr) sewer main in the yard of our vintage rental property. His quote was very fair in comparison to others and he worked with my husband and subtracted my husband's labor time out of the final cost. He also fixed a rather complex do-it-yourself gone wrong plumbing situation in the basement of the same house and was prompt and price appropriate with this service as well. Robert is a funny, quirky guy who will not hesitate to tell you what he thinks, but he seems to do good, solid work and he was professional. I will use his services in the future.

Member Comments:

Overall	A
Price	A
Quality	A
Responsiveness	A
Punctuality	A
Professionalism	A

jimwi@angieslist.com
1-317-803-2054
Jim Willan

Ad Sales Representative:

Ball Plumbing Inc

Bellingham WA 98225

Company ID: 2018330

Reviews

Get notified when a review is received!

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6 to 10 of 11

Filter by Grade: Filter by Category:

Review Date: October 06, 2011

Member:

ANTELOPE, WA 95843

Categories:

Plumbing
Plumbing - Drain Cleaning

Services Performed:

Yes

* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.

Work Completed Date:

April 29, 2011

Hire Again:

Yes

Approximate Cost:

$120.00

Home Build Year:

1907

Description Of Work:

The plumber was a great guy, fast and knew what he was doing and was only here 15 minutes hence the fair grade on price for getting charged $120 for that.

Member Comments:

Called plumber for plumbing problem he came spent 15 minutes. I receive bill for $120.

Company Response:

Thanks for the good review.

Don't forget to add time to take the order, stock the truck/buy parts, drive time, look at the problem, repair the problem, clean up, do the invoice, collect the money, drive back to the shop, do the tax paperwork/enter the job info into the database, deposit the money, pay the taxes.

Now that I added up the true time it really took, can I bill you again? lol

Overall	B
Price	C
Quality	B
Responsiveness	B
Punctuality	B
Professionalism	B

Review Date: March 31, 2011

Member:

Seattle, WA 98112

Category:

Plumbing

Services Performed:

Yes

* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.

Work Completed Date:

March 30, 2011

Hire Again:

Yes

Approximate Cost:

$150.00

Home Build Year:

1999

Description Of Work:

I had been doing battle with this toilet for the last few months. We have two others just like it but this one seemed to have a slow leak... not outside the unit but through the tank and down the drain. I had changed the flapper and the fill valve but no luck so time to call in the experts. Robert of Ball Plumbing came the afternoon I called him even though I indicated this was no rush... great service. He took a look at the toilet and suggested that the fill tube might be loose yet fiddling with that didn't seem to help too much. He turned off the water to the toilet and we didn't hear any more water running leading him to believe that it was the fill valve. He had a replacement valve on the truck and gave me a firm price to which I agreed before he started working. I left him to work on the toilet and it now seems to be working just fine although illing the tank is a bit louder than before. It flushes great.

Member Comments:

Over all this was a very positive experience. Robert shared that he didn't particularly like the type of toilet I own, an opinion I appreciate. What was tough on me is that he continued to state that over and over throughout the hour he worked on it. He's a great guy and I certainly engaged him in lots of conversation but the comments on my selection of toilet type nearly a decade ago did wear me out a bit. He used booties on his shoes while in the house and, although he dripped a bit of water, he promptly cleaned that up. I would call him in a heart beat should I have a plumbing issue I can't handle myself. He knows what he is doing and gets the job done.

Overall	A
Price	B
Quality	A
Responsiveness	A
Punctuality	A
Professionalism	A

Review Date: February 02, 2010

Member:

Bellingham, WA 98226

Categories:

Plumbing
Plumbing - Drain Cleaning
Water Heaters

Services Performed:

Yes

* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.

Work Completed Date:

February 02, 2010

Last Modified Date:

September 07, 2010

Hire Again:

Yes

Approximate Cost:

$271.00

Home Build Year:

1997

Description Of Work:

Ball Plumbing determined the source of a water leak in the drain pipe that serves the overflow lines from the hot water heater, furnace, and water softener. BP determined that the drain pipe was not to code (there was no air gap between the overflow lines and the drain pipe, leading to possible contamination if the drain pipe ever backed up) and that there was no blockage in the drain pipe. BP modified the drain pipe so it now meets code (and doesn't leak).

Member Comments:

The overflow pipe from the hot water heater runs into a drain pipe. This drain pipe developed a small leak. I was concerned that this indicated that I was developing a blockage in the sewer line to my septic tank. I called Ball Plumbing about 8:40am, and he said he would come between 11am and 1pm. I asked him to give me a heads-up call. He called about 10:20 and arrived about 10:40. He immediately pointed out that my drain pipe was not to code, because the water heater overflow pipe would be contaminated if the drain pipe ever backed up. There were a number of other overflow lines (e.g., from the furnace and water softener) that fed into this drain pipe and were also subject to contamination. He quoted me a price of $135 to assess the setup and determine if there was a blockage in the drain pipe. This estimate went up to $150 as he continued to visually assess the problem. I gave him the ok to start work. He determined that there was no blockage, and that the leak was due to one of the improperly connected lines that had cracked. Since he didn't have the correct size of overflow basin in his truck (the lines should drain vertically into the overflow basin with an air gap between the lines and the basin), he was going to have to go about nine miles to get the correct part. He quoted me a price of $250 (plus $21 tax) to do this repair. After he acquired the part, he repaired the drain in about half-an-hour.

Overall	A
Price	B
Quality	A
Responsiveness	A
Punctuality	A
Professionalism	A

Review Date: December 30, 2008

Member:

BELLINGHAM, WA 98225

Category:

Plumbing

Services Performed:

Yes

* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.

Hire Again:

Yes

Approximate Cost:

$700.00

Description Of Work:

Repaired three burst pipes (one in bathroom wall) that had frozen during the storm.

Member Comments:

Robert was very friendly and efficient at repairing the pipes so our renter's could get back into the house quickly. He was able to describe what had gone wrong with the pipes and what he needed to do to fix them, so that I understood what was going on long distance. He was able to make the pipes stronger than before and insulate them so that this won't happen again. He gave a fair price for the work he completed and I will use him again for any future plumbing problems!

Overall	A
Price	A
Quality	A
Responsiveness	A
Punctuality	A
Professionalism	A

How much did the final cost compare to the original estimate? right on

How does the value of the work compare to the price? I got exactly what I paid for

How far in advance did you schedule the work? same day

Did you find the company through Angie's List? yes

If yes, which source(s)? website

Why did you choose this contractor? reputation

Have you used this company before? this is the first time I've used this company

Review Date: December 15, 2008

Member:

BELLINGHAM, WA 98225

Category:

Plumbing

Services Performed:

Yes

* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.

Hire Again:

Yes

Approximate Cost:

$100.00

Home Build Year:

2007

Description Of Work:

The plumber called ahead to let me know he was on the way, showed up on time and figured out how to un-freeze the water pipes in my new 2-year old home. He taught me about preventive measures and was extremely helpful!! I love this company!

Member Comments:

He was very professional and helpful and I would absolutely recommend this company. Showed up on time, he was dressed nicely and was friendly, but all business. Very concentrated and wanted my pipes working for me which was a perfect attitude I thought! He explained what he was doing and why, and was very sincere and honest. I am really glad I called this company and want to maintain a good relationship with them to have them back, this level of service is fantastic!

Overall	A
Price	A
Quality	A
Responsiveness	A
Punctuality	A
Professionalism	A

How much did the final cost compare to the original estimate? right on

How does the value of the work compare to the price? I got more than my money's worth

How far in advance did you schedule the work? same day

Did you find the company through Angie's List? no

If yes, which source(s)? website

Why did you choose this contractor? reputation

Have you used this company before? this is the first time I've used this company

What did you like most about this contractor? The well dressed and knowledgeable serviceman who showed up on time and explained things fully.

What did you like least about this contractor? I liked it all, I really did. I wish he could have teleported over instantly instead of a 3 hour wait, but I did call them out of the blue for same day service. %3B)

What surprises came up during the course of the work? None, he knew exactly what he was doing.

What words of advice would you give other members considering this contractor? I'd tell them to call them without hesitation.

What words of advice would you give this contractor? Keep up the outstanding integrity and service!

This is your space. Feel free to give us your two cents ... or quote your favorite movie? I'm happy I called this Company!!

jimwi@angieslist.com
1-317-803-2054
Jim Willan

Ad Sales Representative:

Ball Plumbing Inc

Bellingham WA 98225

Company ID: 2018330

Reviews

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11 to 11 of 11

Filter by Grade: Filter by Category:

Review Date: December 05, 2008

Member:

BELLINGHAM, WA 98229

Category:

Plumbing

Services Performed:

Yes

* More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed.

Hire Again:

Yes

Approximate Cost:

$1,400.00

Home Build Year:

1990

Description Of Work:

They replaced a toilet, kitchen faucet, and a hose faucet.

Member Comments:

We needed a few new things in our 18 year old (yikes!) home, so we found Ball online, went to their yellow page ads, looked here (not here, so...), and finally called them. They were out the same day and the plumber did the work. They have a neat 20% discount on secondary work that saved us a almost $200.00. They also donate 10% to charity of my choice, which is the Humane Society.

Overall	A
Price	A
Quality	A
Responsiveness	A
Punctuality	A
Professionalism	A

How much did the final cost compare to the original estimate? right on

How does the value of the work compare to the price? I got exactly what I paid for

How far in advance did you schedule the work? same day

Did you find the company through Angie's List? no

If no, what was the other source? Google, yellow pages.

Why did you choose this contractor? other, Like their ads.

Have you used this company before? this is the first time I've used this company

What did you like most about this contractor? Showed up, price was fair and didn't change.

What did you like least about this contractor? Who likes plumbers?

What surprises came up during the course of the work? They use the newer pipes and faucets, but it looks good.

What words of advice would you give other members considering this contractor? Don't talk too much to the plumber. "One track mind" as Robert told us.

What words of advice would you give this contractor? Be more talkative.

2 comments:

virat kohli said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; January 26, 2013 at 3:25 AM
virat kohli said...: argest Manufacturer of Water Balls Ready Stock, Payment on Delivery. air duct cleaning boca raton fl; February 7, 2013 at 8:51 AM

About Barkley Plumbing

Thursday, December 26, 2013

A Plumber's Christmas

Monday, December 23, 2013

Happy Holidays from Ball Plumbing

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Frozen pipes

Monday, December 9, 2013

Missing Google Reviews

Friday, November 29, 2013

Sedro-Woolley Septic Tank

Friday, November 15, 2013

Plumber's Service Charges

service charge

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Sudden Valley toilet replacement

Monday, November 11, 2013

Wrong County listed in Craigslist Ad

Plumber (Ball Plumbing)

360-647-2255 (BALL)

Friday, November 8, 2013

Ball Plumbing's Reviews

Ball Plumbing Angies List Reviews

2 comments:

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