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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.

Winter in Calgary

Winter in Calgary can Sting

Poetry in Motion

How cold does winter in Calgary get?

Occasionally it can get very cold in Calgary, temperatures have been known to dip to -30 degrees Celsius! However, usually the average temperature in Calgary during winter is between -5 and -10°C. In general, January is the coldest month in Calgary.

Surprisingly enough, when the Chinook Winds blows temperatures can suddenly increase with as much as 15°C! Furthermore, while it’s cold in winter, Calgary is the sunniest large city in Canada. And nothing beats being outside on a cold and sunny day…

Is winter in Calgary colder than Toronto or Ottawa?

Yes, winter in Calgary is generally colder than in cities on the East coast of Canada. However, locals describe the cold as a ‘dry cold‘ making it easier to cope with than with the ‘wet cold‘ of the east.

And, as mentioned above, Calgary is also the sunniest Canadian city so on many winter days going outside is still very enjoyable.

WHAT TO DO IN CALGARY IN WINTER

There are many places to visit in Calgary in winter, which isn’t surprising for a city that experiences winter for almost six to seven months a year. While the Calgary Stampede is the biggest draw when visiting Calgary in summer, the Calgary winter season has no shortage of festivals and celebrations either.

From the High-Performance Rodeo (Calgary’s international art festival) to the BIG Winter Classic (music, arts, and local craft beer) and Glow (a family-friendly Winter Light Festival held in downtown Calgary), there are lots of Calgary winter events.

What can wrong when Winter hits

School is in full swing, the leaves are changing color, and that pumpkin spice latte just isn’t enough to stave off the morning chill. It’s time to switch your HVAC system over to Heat. Check the following list to be sure your furnace is ready for the coming winter.

1. Turn on the thermostat.

Switch from cooling to heating and set the temperature a couple of degrees higher than the current room temperature. If you don’t hear the heat kick on within a minute, pull off the cover and make sure the wire connections are secure (if you feel comfortable doing so). If the connections are snug, make sure the power source to the HVAC system is turned on. If it’s still not working, you could check the furnace fan, blower or heat pump — but it likely makes better sense to call in a professional.

2. Change the air filters.

You probably have air filters behind a vent grill in the wall or ceiling, or a single filter in the HVAC system itself. Change these filters every few months. Or, if you have a permanent electrostatic filter, you can wash and reuse it. Cleaning or replacing your filters regularly keeps particles out of your HVAC system and can prolong its life. While you’re at it, change your humidifier filter and set the humidistat, if your HVAC includes a humidifier.

 

3. Cover the AC condenser.

Unless your HVAC is a heat pump (in which case, don’t cover it at all because it runs all year), cover the condenser to protect it from falling icicles. “A large trash can lid secured with bungee cords works quite well for this function,” says David Kenyon, training manager for Sears Home Improvement. You can also use a board to cover the fan — but don’t wrap it in a moisture-trapping plastic tarp.

4. Clean the heat exchanger.

“The heat exchanger should be brushed and vacuumed out annually by a trained professional while the unit is disabled,” Kenyon says. While it’s being cleaned, a Sears technician will look for cracks, which could lead to a dangerous carbon monoxide leak into your home.

5. Lubricate and clean the blower motor.

First check the owner’s manual to see if your motor is the kind that needs lubricating. If it does, turn off the power, open the cover and clean the caps covering the bearings. Then remove the caps and lubricate the bearings.

6. Test the igniter switch.

On an old system, you might have to relight the pilot. Newer systems have electronic ignitors. If the ignitor isn’t working, push the reset button. If that doesn’t do the trick, check your breaker. Still not working? Call in a professional.

7. Inspect the chimney and carbon monoxide detectors.

Chimneys can house carbon buildup or even small animals. “A professional should inspect them periodically,” Kenyon says. Routinely test or replace carbon monoxide detectors as well, as they help protect you from the “silent killer.”

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.”

Tankless heater maintenance and repairs

The world of technology and plumbing are forever mixed together now. Your search in finding company that can both install and service these high tech tankless units can be challenging!! At Baker Plumbing we are fully trained in both installation of tankless and the maintenance of these units. One visit provides you with years of knowledge and experience few companies have access too. In Calgary? Call Baker Plumbing and get the information and assistance you need today!!

WATCH BAKER MAKE THOSE REPAIRS

 

Big boilers in Calgary

Boilers today are complex systems that require professional maintenance provided by skilled and trained tradesmen. Winter in Calgary can wreak havoc on these systems if that maintenance is neglected! Here is a perfect example of what can happen when a boiler system is left unchecked and neglected. Luckily, no one was hurt or any of the equipment damaged, we were able to repair this boiler by replacing the burners, cleaning the orifices, adjusting the gas manifold pressures and inspecting the combustion products via electronic analysis. We treat boiler maintenance, commercial or residential, like a patient. For any boiler service requirements in Calgary, call Baker Plumbing, we come to you!!! Watch a quick clip via hyperlink of how this job went down!!

See more information

 

Commercial Gas Fitting

Boiler maintenance in Calgary. Laars boiler and Watts PRV

BOILER MAINTENANCE IS KEY!

Replacing this PRV got a little complicated!

 

Client sent in a video of a pump screaming. Arrived to find the PRV plugged and inoperable. It’s the small things that can cause big problems.

In Calgary and own Commercial property, give us an opportunity to look after your equipment, you won’t be disappointed! If We Can’t Do It, It Can’t Be Done!

One of the biggest thieves of efficiency in boiler operations is the accumulation of soot and/or scale on heat exchanger surfaces. It does not take long for soot to start causing significant loss of energy efficiency.

In a matter of just a couple of weeks, there could be a potential of 1/8 in. of soot on equipment stemming from regular usage, which means lost efficiency and overspending in utility costs.
Scale can also accumulate quickly and add unnecessary operational expenses.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, fuel consumption could increase as much as five per cent in firetube boilers as a result of scale.

Routine maintenance and cleaning is the most beneficial way to keep boilers healthy and running efficiently. Performing this maintenance at least once a year is an investment that will pay off.

 

TIPS FOR A HEALTHY BOILER

  • Stick to an Inspection and Maintenance Schedule – At least once a year qualified on-site personnel or a third party should inspect and clean all parts of the boiler. Contractors may create a maintenance plan to be done internally or do the work themselves. It is important to have a solid schedule in place to keep clients on track.
  • Review the Chemical and/or Mechanical Cleaning Solutions – You will notice a significant reduction in operating costs by removing the contaminants on both the waterside (scale formation) and the fireside (soot and scale formation) of boilers. While mechanical cleaning typically utilizes moving brushes to remove scale from the walls of tubes and pipes, the chemical process uses a chemical solution to flow through the tubes dissolving and flushing out the scale.
  • Maintain Daily Logs – Most problems develop slowly, therefore a log is the best way to detect significant changes. Have the facility manager keep daily logs on the following: type and amount of fuel used; flue gas temperature; makeup water volume; and steam pressure, temperature, and volume. Ongoing logs will help monitor for any potential issues that might develop or identify problems that could be fixed with proper cleaning.
  • Perform Visual Inspections – Look at the boiler tubes and conducting a visual inspection to check for scale accumulation on a more frequent basis to help ensure the boiler tubes are free of scale and buildup.

 

Replacing this PRV got a little complicated!

CREDIT TO

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.