When your water isn’t good you know it. It may have an unpleasant odor or taste, or leave stains on appliances or clothes. Too many minerals in the water can shorten the life of appliances, requiring more maintenance and replacements.

Sometimes, once-good water “changes”. Well water may be affected by what your neighbors are doing on their land.

Enjoy pure drinking water out of your tap, lower plumbing maintenance, and use less water for clean rinse laundry and dish-washing.

Western Reserve Plumbing offers FREE WATER QUALITY TESTS & recommends water treatment solutions. Call 330-212-7639.

PLANNING

Measure your space carefully; remember clearances required for baseboard trim, back splashes, windows, doors and plumbing placement (here’s where a plumbing professional can make a difference in your planning phase – you don’t want to buy something that won’t fit or will need major re-plumbing you hadn’t budgeted). When considering new cabinets and fixtures, remember to note finishes and how they will fit in with the parts of the room that cannot or will not be changed.

If you have specific color schemes in mind, try to carry swatches with you, along with the measurements. You want to be prepared to act when a bargain presents itself.

PATIENCE

This is key to saving: be on the lookout for specials on craigslist, at appliance and supply stores, or closeout notices. It helps to know what you want; even better if you can be flexible. Always check the sale areas for custom pieces were refused, perhaps due to an error in measurement or color code. We snagged a $1000.00 two-lavatory custom countertop in an unusual size (the one we needed!) for $300.00. A closeout cabinet in the color and style we wanted was reduced from $750.00 to $350.00.

PERSISTENCE OF VISION

We’d been thinking about a bathroom remodel since we moved into our home 7 years ago, and it all came together within a couple of weeks. If you work with a trusted plumber, clue him in on your plans, as he has access to trades-only suppliers, where high-end fixtures (floor samples, “changed-their-mind” special orders) can sometimes be found for less than half their retail cost. Of course, it is the proper courtesy to engage that plumber to install the fixtures he may help you procure.

Bargains abound. Affordable fixtures are available in attractive styles and finishes. What you save on hardware you can invest in professional installation, and still come out ahead. Happy remodeling!

Water damage is number one when it comes to costly home repairs. Ask any insurance agent. In the form of flooding rains, ice dams or melting snow, water damage ruins property, invites mold and compromises your home’s comfort and safety.  The good news is you can install systems and practices to guard against it happening to you.

For example, you can install an emergency battery back up on your sump pump “just in case” the primary system should fail due to age, lightning strike, interruption in electric service or another unforseen event.

Western Reserve Plumbing will come show you how to drain down water, learn how to restore water and gas service upon your return, and perform a whole house check for general safety so you can leave home with peace of mind. 

It is why you can rest assured that a contractor who is “licensed, bonded & insured” demonstrates his responsibility to protect you by investing in safety tools to cover errors. Sure, your friend’s son who once worked for a plumbing company and does side jobs is handy (and, let’s face it, cheaper), but who really pays the price if a tool slips and an expensive appliance or plumbing system is damaged? While the worst case scenario is not often likely to happen, how many rolls of the dice are you willing to take until it does?

Did you know that the state of Ohio requires licenses only for plumbers, electricians, roofers and heating & cooling contractors? The licensing procedure requires the contractor to pass a test on trade knowledge as well as code laws. Annual continuing education requirements keeps the contractor current with technologies and safety practices. The contractor pays for the classes, textbooks and test, in addition to the license, which must be renewed each year. You should feel more secure knowing your contractor has satisfied the state’s basic requirements to practice his trade.

Want to feel really secure with a contractor – ask if he’s insured! While a bond is a temporary insurance policy required for specific larger projects, a contractor who carries liability insurance (generally up to $1 million) does so as a safety measure, hoping never to have to use it.

The biggest reason to choose a licensed, bonded & insured contractor is that he is accountable. He has demonstrated his competence through licensing, and his reliability by being able to obtain insurance. If anything should go wrong shortly after he leaves the job, you will be able to find him to fix it.

Does he cost more than cousin Al’s nephew? You bet. In the long run, you’ll find his workmanship and your peace of mind are worthwhile.

$99 Whole House Plumbing Inspection

• Inspect plumbing systems to all appliances & fixtures in Kitchen, (up to) 5 Bathrooms, Water Heater, Laundry Room, Hose Bibbs
• Clear sink, lavatory & tub traps
• Visual check for any areas of concern
• Free estimate for any repairs, appliance or fixture installation/update, or remodel considerations, upon owner request
• Expires May 31, 2012