Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Happy Holidays!

Here's to a very, very Happy New Year!

(and may whichever gods you believe in smile on you and yours!)

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Shut-off in Lake Samish

Had a electric water heater replacement in the Lake Samish (Bellingham, Whatcom County) neighborhood. The old water heater was 26 years old, as was the piping, so your first response would be that the owner is one lucky fella, right?

Well, Lake Samish is very special (and they know it) because most homes get their water directly from the lake. I mean, pulled directly from a recreational lake into their homes. The water pumps have regular whole house filters at a minimum and some homes have very sophisticated water purification systems.

Long story short, the picture shows his water heater shut-off on the right and a new one on the left. His pump brings in 90 p.s.i, so that crud in his valve is hard as stone.





Saturday, December 15, 2012

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.




Ad Sales Representative:
Ball Plumbing Inc
Bellingham WA 98225
Company ID: 2018330
Reviews 
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1 to 5 of 11 
        
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.

OverallA
PriceA
QualityA
ResponsivenessA
PunctualityA
ProfessionalismA



Review Date: September 14, 2012
Member: 

Bellingham, WA 98225
Category: 
Plumbing
Services Performed: 
No
* 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: 
No
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.

OverallA
PriceN/A
QualityN/A
ResponsivenessB
PunctualityA
ProfessionalismA



Review Date: July 26, 2012
Member: 

Bellingham, WA 98225
Categories: 
Plumbing
Water Heaters
Services Performed: 
No
* 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: 
No
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.

OverallD
PriceD
QualityN/A
ResponsivenessN/A
PunctualityN/A
ProfessionalismD



AlertThis 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: 
I
Page Of Happiness Nominee

OverallA
PriceA
QualityA
ResponsivenessA
PunctualityA
ProfessionalismA
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