Spring Isn’t Here Yet!

Blue, sunny skies and near 60 degree weather make us yearn for warmer days, but spring is not here yet!  In Central Oregon, the weather can change rapidly, and it is best to be safe rather than sorry.  Even on the warmer days, the nights can fall well below freezing, so remember to do what you can to prevent freeze breaks.  Don’t turn the heat off to your home completely even if you turn it way down.  Leave your vent covers on to protect the pipes under your home, and remember to remove your hoses from the hose bibs after washing your car or doing your other chores.  An ounce of prevention is worth  a pound of cure!

Protect Yourself

Finding a qualified plumber can be a challenge under any circumstance, but you can do more to protect yourself than just check reviews and testimonials.  You need to make sure that the plumbing company you hire has all the proper licenses, insurances, and bonds in the event there are any problems with the job or on the job.  Not only can the homeowner be responsible for any damages created by an unlicensed, uninsured plumber, they can also be sued to pay for the medical bills and expenses if the plumber does not have workers compensation insurance and is injured performing the work.

Homeowners can log onto the Construction Contractors Board, CCB for short, and go to the licensee search to obtain a more comprehensive view of the plumbing company they are hiring.  The CCB will provide the current insurance and bond information, tell you whether or not the contractor’s license is active, and let you know if the company has any outstanding claims or fines against them.   It is mandatory that all plumbing companies in Oregon post their CCB number, but you may also search using the company’s name or the owner’s name.  Be wary of any contractor that does not have a CCB number posted, gives a bid that is unusually low, or demands to be paid in cash.  Although the extra footwork may seem like a hassle, you don’t want to find out your plumber wasn’t licensed or insured after  your plumber injures himself or your house floods.