Before You Install a New Water Heater…

Just because you aren’t getting hot water does not mean you need a new water heater.  If your water heater is new or newer there are cheaper repairs that need to be ruled out first.  If your water heater is brand new, make sure your thermostat is set correctly.  It may need nothing more than to be turned up.  If your water heater is electric, check your breaker and make sure you have power to the unit.  Your heater has a built in safety device that will turn off the power if it is overheating.  Usually, a new thermostat is all you will need to repair the water heater.  If your heater is a gas unit, make sure the pilot is lit.  If it won’t light, a new thermocouple may solve the problem.  Take the time to cross an inexpensive repair off your list before you replace your perfectly good water heater.

CCB’s New Buyer Beware Site

You can check out a single contractor using the CCB website to see if they have ever had a violation using their name or CCB number, but now the CCB has made it even easier.  They have added a Buyer Beware page to their website to list repeat offenders, scammers, and contractors that have not paid their debts to homeowners or fines to the State of Oregon.  None on the list have licenses in good standing.  The CCB continues to get reports these bad contractors are still offering their services to the public.  If you are a homeowner or a subcontractor that has been burned by a contractor, report them to the CCB.  If they receive more than five complaints in one year, they will have to get a larger bond which is difficult to obtain.  If they do not resolve their conflicts, they will be put on the list as a warning to others.

Review Your Contractor Before They Do the Work!

Finding a qualified plumber or contractor 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 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 company, they can also be sued to pay for the medical bills and expenses if the worker 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 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 construction companies in Oregon, including plumbing companies, post their CCB number, but you may also search using the company’s name or the owner’s name.  Have they changed their name and number multiple times in a few years?  This may be a warning sign.  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 contractor wasn’t licensed or insured after  he injures himself or you find out the work has problems.

Winter’s Almost Over, but the Leaks Are Just Beginning!

Hose bibs, the faucets on the outside of your homes, are very handy. What people don’t know is that they can also cause a lot of damage if they freeze and break during the winter. When spring arrives and the pipe connected to the faucet thaws, it can leak and cause damage to the interior of your home. All hoses should be removed before winter, and drips should be repaired. If the hose bib was installed correctly, it should drain out leaving it dry throughout the winter and problem free come spring. Do a quick inspection inside your home after you turn on your hose bibs for the first time this spring, so you can catch any leaks before they cause major damage.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!