The Baker’s Dozen

What does the Baker’s Dozen mean? Well, in baking terms it means you get more than you asked. You some extra delicious treat. Instead of 12 you get 13 or 14 of the item you’ve purchased.

Baker Crew

At Baker Plumbing Inc we take that exact same philosophy and apply to our trade. Not only do you get experience, reliable service and years of knowledge and training when you call Baker. You also get dedication, a smile and an attitude towards you project even your Dad would be proud of.

At Baker Plumbing we strive every day to provide our clients with the best products, the best service and of course the best attitude.

We use nothing but the best tools and equipment to get the job done quickly. We take the best training from industry experts that make and distribute the best products.

Come follow us on our daily journey of Plumbing excellence and a little more spice to your day by following us on IG. 

Service, Service, Service

Night or day, evenings and weekends are the moments that Baker Plumbing proves itself over and over again! Service is what we do! Service is what we focus on. Service is what matters to our client base.

What does Service actually mean? Service Definition

Every Plumbing out there has to make the decision of what will separate them from the rest. At Baker Plumbing, we decided decades ago that its service

What it means to Baker!

We’re there when you need us, no matter the time, place or circumstances. Here when you need us!

Need a reliable, professional plumbing company that’s focus is service? Then Baker is here and ready.

Contact us today to be added to our preferred client base and ensure that when you need us, we’ll be there with you guessed it! Service!

Service. For such a simple word it sure can mean a lot of different things to different people. For sports fans, a good service is a critical part of tennis success. For the religious, a service is a ceremony of worship. For the military, it’s their employment, i.e. military service. And in other vocations it’s the length of time that they have stayed with that particular employer.

For lawyers, service is the formal delivery of legal documents such as a summons. For homeowners, it can be a utility such as gas, electricity, or water. For car owners, it’s the annual maintenance of their vehicle. And (you can tell I’m running out of steam here), it could even be a set of matching crockery of all things.

So, service can mean different things to different people. And service in the context of our Plumbing company no different.

Mission Impossible for Plumbers

Mission Impossible for Plumbers. Its a common theme here at Baker Plumbing. Another plumbing has come in assessed the situation and given the client all the bad news and a outrageous bill. Baker Plumbing shows up with the knowledge, skills, experience and tools to save the day.

Case in point, client wanted a second opinion and we when showed him where the drain was located he was shocked. The previous company had missed the location by almost 6 feet!!! That’s why it’s Mission Impossible for Plumbers.

BAKER DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE

It’s hard to know what is going on inside your pipes with-out an inspection. We have some of the best drain camera inspection CCTV equipment in the industry. This allows us to record video of what is happening in your pipes hundreds of feet away and explain to you exactly what is going on. We can show you video footage of the issue and diagnose the pipe problem quickly with our drain cameras. This results in a laser focused solution to the issue at hand. With-out these specialized inspection cameras, many of them developed by Ridgid  equipment we would be taking a “best guess” as to where the problem is and that type of guess work is unacceptable at Baker Plumbing.

You can’t fix what you can’t look at;Baker gives you a range of options to find, see and pinpoint exactly where a problem lies with industry-leading precision. Our reels, imaging cameras, monitors, locators and recorders are designed together to work together on locates, we can provide fast and effective information about your job.

If you are experiencing a drain or pipe issue and think you need a camera inspection please give us a call. We offer 24 hours / 7 days a week (24/7) plumbing and heating services, so please call now (403) 800-3007.

John Wick of Plumbing

Baker Plumbing the John Wick of Plumbers

Hire the Best, Hire Baker

drain cleaning contractor

Baker Plumbing the John Wick of Plumbing

In a world full of pretenders with their stock photos, pressed uniforms and canned phrases Baker Plumbing stands apart with the experience, tools and the knowledge that makes the difference. Youtube feature Slaying Drains With 65 years of said experience, we much like John Wick who is highly confident in his abilities and carried a reputation of being greatly respected and feared by many within his field. Baker Plumbing enjoys many of the same associations. John Wick the Movie

Baker Plumbing continues its growth and development as a family owned plumbing service contractor. With the addition of Isaiah and Peter to the ranks, the 4th generation of plumbing in Calgary is well under way. Isaiah is months away from completing his journeyman’s ticket, only delayed by the COVID_19 shutdown. Pete’s freshly back from an LDS service mission the Philippines (and yes, he’s fully fluent in Tagalog) so test him if you’d like! We’re very pleased and excited that our scope of work and our ability to diversify is expanding!

With the ability to service both large and small commercial businesses and with a strong and vibrant residential client list. Baker serves not only Calgary and area but Lethbridge, Airdrie, High River, Okotoks, Bragg Creek, Springbank, Priddis and many others. From drain cleaning, emergency plumbing services, HVAC and furnace repairs to boiler maintenance, back flow or cross connection testing. If you need a 24 hour plumber in Calgary, we can tackle any project.

See what over 65 years of knowledge, experience and skills can bring to your project,

Check out our history

Baker Plumbing the John Wick of Plumbing

Turbo

When BC and Alberta plumbers collide

What happens when BC and Alberta Plumbers Collide?

When BC and Alberta plumber collide

When BC and Alberta plumbers collide. What could go wrong when two head strong and very experienced plumbers meet head to head. One from BC and one from Alberta? Interested in finding out the results? Watch the video above, spoiler alert the results are absolutely fabulous!!

The good and bad of social media can be debated for decades with the merits of each side validated and proven. Yet this week we understood and felt the powerful good that social media can provide with an amazing collaboration between to fantastic plumbers. When BC and Alberta plumber collide

Pete smiling as BC and Alberta plumbers collide

How it happened

We been in contact with Turbo Plumbing and Heating for several years and as he was passing through Calgary to visit some family. He decided to stop in for a visit. After asking if he had work clothes and steel toes, we immediately put him to work!! Watch the video above and watch in real time as Robbie puts Baker’s latest J-man and young apprentice through the paces of a pipe replacement. In the particular job we use 3 of 4 methods of joining pipe. First and my personal favorite, Victaulic, next is the latest tech and the use of Press tech.Finally we use the tired and true, mechanical threading. We could have used solder as well but considering the time we decided to skip it.

Commercial heating systems is one of the many fields that Baker Plumbing prides itself in being an expert in. As a 4th generation company you can watch the latest generation work with Rob. Completing some complex tasks in short order!!

Check Turbo on IG and on the web at TURBO PLUMBING and of course come check us out at BAKER PLUMBING

Have plumbing or heating needs in BC or Alberta these two companies have all the bases covered!!

Baker logo

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.

Every Renovation starts with the Demolition

Demolition is the fun part of the Renovations

Baker Boys in Action

Renovations begin with demolition!! Demolition is actually the fun of the renovations if you don’t know that then you’ve never done it. Few things more invigorating that smashing, ripping and tossing out the new in preparation of the new.

As always follow the links for more information on Baker Plumbing and the services we can provide for you and/or your company. Baker Plumbing Home Page

Before any renovations can begin the Demolition, is the first on the list of to do’s. Its known as the science and engineering in safely and efficiently tearing down of buildings and other artificial structures. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for reuse purposes.

For small buildings, such as houses, that are only two or three stories high, demolition is a rather simple process. The building is pulled down either manually or mechanically using large hydraulic equipment: elevated work platforms, cranes, excavators or bulldozers. Larger buildings may require the use of a wrecking ball, a heavy weight on a cable that is swung by a crane into the side of the buildings. Wrecking balls are especially effective against masonry, but are less easily controlled and often less efficient than other methods. Newer methods may use rotational hydraulic shears and silenced rock-breakers attached to excavators to cut or break through wood, steel, and concrete. The use of shears is especially common when flame cutting would be dangerous.

Renovations begin with Demolition

Demolition Described

Renovations begin with Demolition

Before any demolition activities can take place, there are many steps that must be carried out beforehand, including performing asbestos abatement, removing hazardous or regulated materials, obtaining necessary permits, submitting necessary notifications, disconnecting utilities, rodent baiting and the development of site-specific safety and work plans.

The typical razing of a building is accomplished as follows:

  • Hydraulic excavators may be used to topple one- or two-story buildings by an undermining process. The strategy is to undermine the building while controlling the manner and direction in which it falls.
  • The demolition project manager/supervisor will determine where undermining is necessary so that a building is pulled in the desired manner and direction.
  • The walls are typically undermined at a building’s base, but this is not always the case if the building design dictates otherwise. Safety and cleanup considerations are also taken into account in determining how the building is undermined and ultimately demolished.

In some cases a crane with a wrecking ball is used to demolish the structure down to a certain manageable height. At that point undermining takes place as described above. However crane mounted demolition balls are rarely used within demolition due to the uncontrollable nature of the swinging ball and the safety implications associated.

High reach demolition excavators are more often used for tall buildings where explosive demolition is not appropriate or possible. Excavators with shear attachments are typically used to dismantle steel structural elements. Hydraulic hammers are often used for concrete structures and concrete processing attachments are used to crush concrete to a manageable size, and to remove reinforcing steel. For tall concrete buildings, where neither explosive nor high reach demolition with an excavator is safe or practical, the “inside-out” method is used, whereby remotely operated mini-excavators demolish the building from the inside, whilst maintaining the outer walls of the building as a scaffolding, as each floor is demolished.

To control dust, fire hoses are used to maintain a wet demolition. Hoses may be held by workers, secured in fixed location, or attached to lifts to gain elevation.

Loaders or bulldozers may also be used to demolish a building. They are typically equipped with “rakes” (thick pieces of steel that could be an I-beam or tube) that are used to ram building walls. Skid loaders and loaders will also be used to take materials out and sort steel.

The technique of Vérinage is used in France to weaken and buckle the supports of central floors promoting the collapse of the top part of a building onto the bottom resulting in a rapid, symmetrical, collapse.[2]

The Japanese company Kajima Construction has developed a new method of demolishing buildings which involves using computer-controlled hydraulic jacks to support the bottom floor as the supporting columns are removed. The floor is lowered and this process is repeated for each floor. This technique is safer and more environmentally friendly, and is useful in areas of high population density.[3]

Fred Dibnah used a manual method of demolition to remove industrial chimneys in Great Britain. He cut an ingress at the base of the chimney—supporting the brickwork with wooden props—and then burning away the props so that the chimney fell, using no explosives and usually hand-operated power tools.[4]

Every Renovation begins with Demolition.

The Renaissance man of Plumbing-Hub Spotlight

Hub Spotlight: Bob Baker—Plumbing’s Renaissance Man

As the Renaissance man of Plumbing, we at Baker Plumbing are absolutely thrilled to be a part of the Mechanical Hub efforts to increase trade exposure. We truly believe that Eric, John and Tim are doing God’s work when it comes to education, exposure and trade excellence. Give them a follow on one of their social media accounts, you won’t be disappointed. Head to our home page for more information BAKER PLUMBING

Plumbing’s Renaissance Man

Bob Baker, Baker Plumbing, Calgary, Alberta, plumbing, Baker Barn, @bakerplumbing, heating, HVAC, water heating

 

If you’ve ever seen Bob Baker’s Instagram page (@bakerplumbing), you’ll notice a few posts sprinkled in that show the beauty in this world, the good in people and an optimistic underlying tone. “It’s really become a focus for me as it seems that much of what is ugly and unkind dominates the news and many feeds I see. Honestly, it is therapeutic for me to focus on the wonderful things that this life, the world and the trade has to offer,” says Baker.

While it’s hard to escape all of the negativity, Baker sees the more positive approach as more of a mental exercise more than anything, to keep him focused on the good, simple, beautiful things that surround him if only he took time to notice. “I try not to let that negative stuff affect my mood and relationships so positive posts are really reminders to say the world, my life and this trade are wonderful, and have blessed my life and the life of my family more than I realize.”

Baker Plumbing

Baker Plumbing started in 1956, as Bob’s grandfather was an aircraft mechanic during WWII, and after the war he moved from Ontario to Alberta to start a family and started rehab training—provided by the military—to become a plumber. He got his license in 1952, then went on his own in 1956.

He had four boys—three of which became plumbers—one went stateside to become an engineer, one started a plumbing business in Cardston, and Bob’s father, Gerry, stayed in Calgary running mostly new construction, remodel, and eventually was heavily involved in septic fields and water treatment.

Bob Baker now runs the company and he has been on his own since 1998, focusing on commercial service and renovations—multi-national restaurant and hotel chains. “It makes for an exciting and diverse scope of work. which frankly I love, and it keep me interested and highly involved in the day-to-day. The next generation is on its way as my two boys have taken to the trade as well. Isaiah just completed his journeyman tests (and passed) and Pete is half through his training.”

Bob Baker, Baker Plumbing, Calgary, Alberta, plumbing, Baker Barn, @bakerplumbing, heating, HVAC, water heating

Bob Baker with his two sons, Peter (l) and Isaiah (r).

Baker has never actually been out of the trade, really. With his grandfather, dad and several uncles trained as plumbers, he started out plumbing at three or four years old. Riding in the truck with his dad, making putty snakes, hauling garbage to playing gopher boy. That role continued until he finished high school and was accepted to university.

Baker spent a few years there, then switched to obtain a computer science degree. He got married and needed to make some money, took a job as a maintenance man for the several apartment buildings while continuing his schooling. “I actually realized that that all those years working with my Dad, I actually learned a lot and that I loved doing plumbing. I eventually quit computer science, went to trade school, got my ticket in 1997, and have been plumbing ever since.”

Bob Baker, Baker Plumbing, Calgary, Alberta, plumbing, Baker Barn, @bakerplumbing, heating, HVAC, water heatingBaker owes a lot of his success, in life and in his career, to his father. He spent a lot of time working with him, appreciating what he was teaching him as both a man and a plumber. “Since he’s been gone, in almost every situation I find myself in, I ask myself, how would dad handle this? The end goal really is to leave the same impression on my own children.”

Sadly, Baker lost his Dad to brain cancer in 2006, which was swift and brutal. “Prior to that experience I never really thought about legacy or traditions or even family as in generational stories, so in the midst of dealing with the emotions of loss, pride, sadness and gratitude, I felt the urge to create something meaningful to me, my business and hopefully to my kids,” said Baker.

Bob Baker, Baker Plumbing, Calgary, Alberta, plumbing, Baker Barn, @bakerplumbing, heating, HVAC, water heating

The Baker Family Crest

Hence, the Baker crest of arms was initiated. The Bakers have a lot of English and Scottish blood and have some prints of family crests dated back to those eras. “I stole some of those ideas and created a few of my own and the response has been exactly what I’d hope for. As for symbols it goes like this: Fire for Heating; Water drop for Plumbing, The Snake head for Drain cleaning; the Winged Foot, because we’re fast; The Skull, because we’re Bakers that are Plumbers till death; and the inscription is: If We Can’t Do It, It Can’t Be Done in Latin. Of course, we have Baker and 1956, which is our beginning.”

For the Love of the Job

For Baker, that’s an easy one. He loves the people he’s met and worked with, and he has created some lifelong friendships with some fantastic people all because they plugged their toilet or their pilot light went out.

“If you’re able to walk into a stressful situation and be calm and reassuring all while actually delivering on the solution, most people consider that heroic. It’s one of the absolute coolest feelings in the world.”

Bob Baker, Baker Plumbing, Calgary, Alberta, plumbing, Baker Barn, @bakerplumbing, heating, HVAC, water heatingBeing an effective problem solver, says Baker, is an addiction, and plumbing and heating provide almost endless opportunities to get that fix. “Over the years I’ve tried really hard to learn and know a person’s name and then use it every time we met—it’s a difference maker. All those piled together have made the plumbing trade for me, more than I had hoped for some 30 years ago.”

Yet, according to Baker, the biggest issue facing the trades is the oldest issue. “Trades in general are thought of as second-tier jobs. Yes, I mean jobs. Nobody outside of the trade thinks of it as a career.”

Just last year Baker went to the local high school to talk to the principal about contributing to trade education. “He took me to the shop class and proudly pointed to the toilet and sink they had set up and said, ‘We got the plumbing side handled.’ Great guy and really good at his job, and I’ve even worked in his home, but plumbing is NOT a toilet and sink.”

The technology that is being developed for plumbing and heating systems will require some of the brightest and motivated minds, says Baker. “The message from us all in trade should be we need you. We need to do a better job at promoting ourselves and not in a selfish way but by being fine, upstanding citizens involved in current affairs, coaching little league teams, being out and about in our communities. As with anything else, the message starts and ends with each of us. The question is what message do we send both in and out of the work vans?”

Social Media—A Game Changer

“Being self-employed with your mentors being your dad and granddad makes for a pretty small circle. While clients and contractors are amazing and great to work with, no one really gets plumbing and its problems like plumbers,” says Baker.

Bob Baker, Baker Plumbing, Calgary, Alberta, plumbing, Baker Barn, @bakerplumbing, heating, HVAC, water heatingThe social channels have brought dozens of plumbers into Baker’s life in the most positive of ways. Other than the salacious DOPE-GATE scandal, Baker can’t think of a single negative interaction online, unless you count the private no-names that try to ignite fires where ever they go.

The summer of 2019, Baker spend a fantastic week in Chicago and was given the first-class treatment and tour by several of the plumbers from the area. While others in his group were hitting tourist traps, Baker was in the heart of Chicago until 2 a.m. experiencing some of the most amazing things.

Baker also went to WWETT in March of 2020 and spent three “unbelievable days visiting with some of coolest plumbers and people I’ve ever met, and all because I post my work on social media. It’s mind blowing,” says Baker

Fitness First

Every tradesperson experiences aches and pain sooner or later, says Baker. Some of those can lead to debilitating injuries if not properly looked after. Having experienced all of them—shoulders, wrists, knees, back, etc.—one in particular in 2015 put Baker out of commission for several weeks. “It was a wake-up call that unless I started really keeping myself healthy, my time in the trade was ending soon. With a family to feed and being self-employed, I needed no further motivation.”

Bob Baker, Baker Plumbing, Calgary, Alberta, plumbing, Baker Barn, @bakerplumbing, heating, HVAC, water heating

A new chapter — beekeeping

It started out simple with a few back exercises but exercise has grown into something Baker really enjoys. With the onset of COVID, I got serious about the home gym and the Baker Barn was born. “It’s been a life saver, both physically and mentally, to have a place where I can burn some calories and relieve some stress. I generally try and spend 90 minutes per day in the barn, and at 50 years old, I honestly have never felt better. If you’re not working out, then all of the fancy tools in the world won’t work by themselves,” says Baker.

To the Future

According to Baker, for the past 28 years or so there really wasn’t much of a work/leisure balance. Raising five kids was truly a 24-hour endeavor, but Baker has been humbled as his kids have turned into men and women to start their own lives. Both Baker’s boys have chosen the plumbing trade path, and they can now start to take over some of the duties. “My new passion has fallen to bees. This past year was my second full year as a beekeeper and so far it’s been a lot of fun learning something totally new. The hope is to turn bees into the next Baker Empire over the next five years, but I’m just enjoying the nuisances of the new craft,” says Baker.

Bob Baker, Baker Plumbing, Calgary, Alberta, plumbing, Baker Barn, @bakerplumbing, heating, HVAC, water heating2020 was a hell of a year. COVID wreaked havoc on a lot of what Baker does. Being mostly hospitality focused proved to be challenging, but Baker has some tremendous relationships with many of his clients, and as he has supported them, they have supported him back. It’s also given the company a chance to zero in on its 3,000 residential clients that use Baker’s services once or twice a year. “With the boys taking a more active role, we’ve been able to provide faster and more efficient service to those sequestered at home. Of course, it’s also provided ample opportunity to reflect on the blessings of being considered essential, and helping those that need some assistance as things appear to get a wee bit darker.”

Bob Baker, Baker Plumbing, Calgary, Alberta, plumbing, Baker Barn, @bakerplumbing, heating, HVAC, water heatingBut as the calendar flips to 2021, Baker expects a banner year. He’s secured some great new contracts, and with the help of his boys, the ability to serve even more continues to grow. “We’re grateful that everyone is healthy and progressing through the challenges that our little moment in history is giving us the opportunity to participate in. We’re optimistic about the future and truly believe that there is no better time to be in the trades. We wish everyone, everywhere all the best in 2021. I’m especially delighted to start the year off by answering these questions and contributing to the foundational work Mechanical Hub provides at no charge. I do mean it: I think you and the team are doing great and important things,” says Baker.

Finally, when asked the last time he said, “today is a great day,” Baker can honestly say that he says that almost daily. “Maybe not in the moment of things going sideways, but the days of discouragement and disappointment are few and far between. I am a blessed man, mostly because I’ve worked hard to be so.”

Dirty Deeds Done

BAKER PLUMBING DOES DIRTY DEEDS

It comes as no surprise to anyone, plumbing is considered almost as the premiere career of dirty deeds. From septic fields, blocked sewage lines, grease traps, and plugged toilets. All would be considered the dirtiest of deeds. Tasks most people would rather run from, let alone actually talk about.

Dirty Deeds

Done, Properly

At Baker we dont just talk about doing dirty deeds, we actually perform those deeds for our clients every single day.

Baker gets Dirty

As shown by the video embedded anyone can see that we are prepared and ready to tackle the dirtiest of deeds that may arise in your life both planned or unplanned.

A thousand years ago our ancestors travelled over the island of Scotland and Ireland. They believed as we do today that Fortune Favors the Brave. Need a brave/bold plumber to discreetly handle your nastiest of plumbing problems then Baker Plumbing is the drain contractor, plumber and/or service team you need to get your through. Whether it’s a commercial or residential plumbing contractor then call us today. We’ll deal with all those dirty deeds, happily.

If you’re havin’ trouble with the high school head
He’s givin’ you the blues
You want to graduate but not in ‘is bed
Here’s what you gotta do
Pick up the phone
I’m always home
Call me any time
Just ring
36 24 36 hey
I lead a life of crime
Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap
Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap
Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap
Dirty deeds and they’re done dirt cheap
Dirty deeds and they’re done dirt cheap
You got problems in your life of love
You got a broken heart
He’s double dealin’ with your best friend
That’s when the teardrops start, fella
Pick up the phone
I’m here alone
Or make a social call
Come right in
Forget about him
We’ll have ourselves a ball
Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap
Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap
Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap
Dirty deeds and they’re done…