It’s the Plumber!!

If you’ve been the trade long enough you always end up with a few stories about these types of situations. It’s the Plumber can bring forward a host of feelings good, bad and indifferent.

From uncomfortable to comfortable

Check out these links from Family Handyman!

You Should Shop Around for a Plumber

If you have a major fix to deal with in your home, shop around for a plumber to do the work. Obtaining at least three bids helps you determine the range of the project, so you can weigh the pros and cons of price and the reputation of the plumbers. Get references and contact them.

Also, a good plumber knows his craft and won’t nickel and dime you. For the smaller jobs, check out these 11 plumbing tricks.

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Its the Plumber

Turn Off Outside Faucets for the Winter

Want to avoid frozen pipes? Prevent them easily (and and expensive call to a plumber) by disconnecting your outside hoses in the fall. Make sure to shut off the water from the inside as well. Drain the hoses and store them until the following spring.

Check out these ten plumbing fixes to save your wallet. Plus, buy this highly rated garden hose to solve most of your hose issues.

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Replace the Toilet Handle: No Plumber Needed

If you constantly fuss with a loose toilet handle, it means the flap valve needs to be replaced.  Instead of a plumber charging you $100 for the job, you can get the part at a hardware store for a mere $6 and install it very easily yourself. See how to fix that flap.

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Baker Plumbing logo

Plumbers Need a License

No plumber will admit that they don’t have the required license to work for you. So if you know a great plumber, but doesn’t have a license, hire them at your own risk. Licensed plumbers have proven knowledge of the local building codes and regulations, have completed a certain number of hours on the job and are insured.

Want to become a master plumber yourself? Here are 28 tips. Plus, always have a roll of this on hand for DIY plumbing projects.

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Its the Plumber

Plumbers Don’t Clean Up

While their job involves making sure your pipes work like a well-oiled machine, it doesn’t include rebuilding the wall they had to demolish to make that happen. So, while you’re going to get that water problem fixed, you’ll want to discuss in detail what kind of “mess” they might leave behind prior to the start of the project so you can plan accordingly.

Remember, there are some jobs you can do yourself. Here’s how to solder copper pipe joints!

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Where to Find a Quick Plumber Recommendation

If you need a plumber stat, don’t just go with the first person or company you come across on Google. Call a plumbing supply or fixture store, as they usually refuse to work with bad plumbers.

Here are four plumbing repair tips you need to know, even if you DO hire a plumber!

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Its the Plumber 

Your Plumber Might Not Have the Right Part

Need a quick fix? If a plumber tells you he needs a week to get the part to fix your toilet or sink, don’t be too amenable if you can’t wait. There’s no shame in working with another plumber who can get the part and do the job when you need it.

If you’re doing the job yourself, be sure you know these tips for completing a plumbing fix like a pro.

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Its the Plumber

They Can Move That!

Plumbers may not go out of their way to let you know that a toilet or sink can be moved. But if you’ve been working with them on a renovation and they tell you something can’t be transferred to a new space, ask them to explain to you in detail why not.

Speaking of things people don’t want to tell you, here are ten things your neighbor isn’t being up-front about.

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Its the Plumber

You Have a Choice With Parts

Some parts cost more than others to do the same job. If a plumber doesn’t give you an option, ask—or better yet, do your own research if you have the time. Chances are, you can use PVC pipe instead of copper and save some money. If you’re DIYing, here’s how to connect a PVC pipe to ABS pipe.

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Fix a Running Toilet Cheaply by Yourself

Help! The toilet won’t stop running. It’s a bummer, sure, but not something you need to call your plumber about. In fact, DIYers should take note that this quick fix costs you just $5 in parts and materials. For instance, solve a sticking handle by spraying some lubricant where the handle meets the porcelain.

Ready to DIY? Here’s how to fix a running toilet. Need a new flap? Get one here.

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Its the Plumber

Spend More Now, Save a Lot Later on Plumber Work

Not all plumbers deliver the message that installing better fixtures reduces the likelihood of future house calls.

Case in point: Rubber washing machine hoses burst far more frequently than the more expensive and durable stainless-steel ones. Check out these other 35 ways to save money around your home.

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Its the Plumber

Keep That Allen Key

Garbage disposals usually come with an Allen key. Find a good place to store it. When the disposal jams, you can follow the directions in the owner’s manual to fix it yourself. It’s as simple as inserting and twisting.

Doing this yourself saves you the hassle and fees from a service call to the plumber. Speaking of tool storage, check out these clever tool-storage ideas.

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Why is Plumbing so expensive?

Why is Plumbing is Expensive?

Baker Plumbing at work
                                                                     The Bakers hard at work

Plumbers are expensive because it is a highly specialized trade requiring thousands of hours to master. Additionally, they make house calls meaning they spend time and money investing in vehicles, tools, equipment and gas to bring to you. They also carry insurance and have other overhead expenses. Labor shortages in the field also contribute to premium pricing.

How do I find inexpensive plumbers?

A Dirty White Boy doing Dirty Things

Finding inexpensive plumbers is often a mistake. If you have a cousin or friend in the trade, they may work cheaply for you. However, it’s a highly specialized skill developed over years of training and experience. Their fees are a reflection of their skill, overhead and demand.

Commercial vs. Residential Pros


Commercial plumbers average $100 per hour. Residential plumbers average $80 per hour. Commercial contractors rarely do residential work and vice versa. Building codes, equipment and skill sets vary between the two types.

Service call fees range from $100 to $350 and usually include the first hour of work. Service calls cover a wide range of common services including clogged drains, leaking pipes and fixture repair.

See our Website for details

Trip or Call Out Fees

Trip fees range anywhere from $50 to $300 depending on your location and the distance they need to travel. Unlike a service call, this fee is in addition to labor charges.

Minimum fees and trip charges help offset the time and materials of travelling to and from job sites. Plumbers spend much of their time travelling to a jobsite and a supply house to pick up materials for your project.

Most offer a flat fee within a certain radius of their shop with additional mileage pricing past that.
Alternately, some skip the trip charge and simply charge a 1- or 2-hour minimum. So, if they spend only 15 minutes working, you’ll pay the minimum amount of time.

Baker Brothers furnace upgrades, timelapse

Baker Boys in Action

Here at Baker plumbing we want to provide the best tech while using the best tech!

The choice of who works on your furnace, the heart of your HVAC system and the very appliance keeping Old Man Winter at bay, should be made carefully. There is alot of smoke and mirrors out there and you can trust Baker to clear the air!

Types of Furnaces 

While worldwide there are many different types of furnaces, in Alberta there are generally only 2 based on fuel source.

  • Natural gas
  • Propane

Once past the fuel the field becomes much more cluttered with such verbiage as first and second stages, PSC or ECM motors, exchanger metal types and on and on.

The government legislation mandating the efficiency ratings, the minimum allowable is 92% has left manufacturers and sellers to add new components at a furious rate to gain a percent here and one there!

Baker recommendations

While new technology is impressive and even amazing, our belief is still to keep things as simple as possible. We recommend the following

  • the basic 92% efficiency model
  • single stage gas valve
  • PSC motor
  • stainless steel exchanger

Those components will give you the 92% efficiency rating, low operating costs and the least potential for an expense repair bill in the future.

Still confused or have questions?

At Baker we can answer and solve any of your questions or problems.

 

Contact us at www.bakerplumbing.ca today 

 

Big changes in Gasfitting!!

MEGAPRESS ACTION!!!

Baker is always looking to do its job faster, cleaner and more effectively. Today we changed the way we do gasfitting forever. With the latest pressing tools, we can now complete gas work oil and fume free.

MegaPress

MEGAPRESS ACTION!!!

 

CREDIT TOO

 

Boiler Service Calgary

Winter has Come Calgary

Now is the Time

Calgary Boiler ServiceWinter has come again to Calgary, it seems like we just thawed out from the last ice age, but here we are. Few components of your home or business are as critical to your well being as your furnace or boiler.

Freezing temperatures work your heating equipment hard and in order to keep them running smoothly an annual inspection and servicing is a must. This will ensure peace of mind and a problem free warm winter. We have been doing this important heating service work in Calgary for over 60 years and we have the knowledge, tools, and skills required to keep everything running as it should.

In the meantime, if you notice any of the following you should contact us right away for an appointment.

              • Odd odours such as gas or burning plastics
              • Strange sounds such as loud vibrations, humming or screeching
              • Visual clues such as chalky debris, soot or metal shavings
              • Flashing codes on control boards or gas valves

These indicators are telling you service is needed and soon! Call us today.

Need a New Gas Stove?

If you have ever cooked with gas stove top, you know that it delivers a consistent, reliable heat that has immediate temperature control. If you are thinking of installing a new gas stove to realize your chef cooking dreams call Baker Plumbing. Contact us at 403-279-7554 or email info@bakerplumbing.ca

NO HOT WATER, NOTHING WORSE

Cold showers may be the newest fade going around these days. Yet we suspect no one actually wants to take one unexpectedly. Start your morning with an unexpected shock? At Baker Plumbing we can restore the options of whether you’d like a hot or cold shower. Live in Calgary or the surrounding area? Call Baker today and be sure you control when you take that cold shower and when you don’t!! Day or night Baker is prepared to answer the call.

Commercial Water Heater Calgary

Hot Water Check Ups

CHECK THAT HOT WATER TANK

At Baker Plumbing we can ensure that you have don’t have any surprises come that early shower. No on wants to be surprised with a blast of freezing cold water (unless you are into that sort of thing) or worse yet soak your socks on that trip to the basement and discover your tanks been leaking for days. Baker Plumbing can respond quickly and efficiently by getting that hot water tank swapped out the same day you discover it. Better yet, let us come give that tank a solid 18 point inspection and ensure that none of the above ever happens. Call Baker Plumbing at  403-800-3007 or contact us at info@bakerplumbing.ca and we will be on the way.

Commercial Water Heater Calgary