Welcome to our blog!
In celebration of our fifth year on the South Strand, we have started a blog for all things related to plumbing. Please feel free to leave comments and make suggestions. We offer plumbing services to the following areas: Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Garden City, Conway, Carolina Forest, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach, Pawleys Island, Horry County, and Georgetown County.
Tammy Fogarty
Please visit our website @ www.theplumberwhocares.com
October 20th, 2009
Fogarty & Fogarty Plumbing Co. installed a hot water re-circulating pump in our home and we no longer wait several minutes for hot water. The re-circulating pump is installed at the water heater and a bypass valve is installed at the furthest fixture from the water heater. In our case, this was our children’s bathroom sink. The bypass valve in conjunction with the re-circ. pump gently pushes hot water throughout the plumbing system. No return line is needed since the bypass valve connects the hot and cold under the children’s sink. No water is wasted while circulating the hot water since the cold line eventually goes back to the water heater.
Our average water usage for the nine months prior to installation was 216 gallons per day. Our average water usage for the next nine months after installing the pump was 154 per day. We average a savings of 62 gallons everyday. That may not sound like much, but multiply that by 365 days and we will have saved 22,630 gallons in a years time. The manufacturer suggests savings up to 16,000 gallons of water per year, per household. Based on that figure, our kids were obviously big water wasters!
We researched our options and confidently chose a Grunfos Comfort System. What we liked about this system was that it retrofits to existing plumbing, a return line was not required, it uses less energy than a 25 watt light bulb, and has a built-in timer. Since hot water is not needed throughout the entire day, we utilize the timer option. Our hot water circulates from 5:oo a.m. – 8:00 a.m. and from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. This is when we take our showers, run the dishwasher, and do laundry.
The entire system including installation was less than $500.00. We enjoy the water savings because it is the right thing to do, we like that we are not paying for water we are not using, and most of all – I love the fact that the H on my faucets reflect reality.
For some, there is a slight downfall to the system. Warmer water can work it’s way into the cold line. However, for us that is not a problem since warm water cools down quickly in the pipes. In Myrtle Beach, SC we never get truly cold water because our water lines are not that deep. For cold water we turn to another modern convenience, our automatic ice maker and filtered water in the door of our refrigerator. Life is good. :o)
http://www.theplumberwhocares.com/
July 28th, 2010
“It is unwise to pay too much, but it is worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money – that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot – it can’t be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run. And if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better.”
John Ruskin (1819-1900)
Incredibly, that was written over 100 years ago and the truth contained in that quote still applies to today. No matter what it is that you are buying, the same rules apply. No one likes to pay too much and no likes spending money wastefully.
Let me explain how that applies when shopping for a professional plumbing company. When a potential new customer calls our office, after inquiring about availability, some will ask how much it will cost. Unfortunately, answering this question is not as easy as it may seem and the honest answer sometimes puts us at a disadvantage.
Our pricing method varies depending on the job. Some tasks are billed at a fixed price because the task is identical no matter what home we are in. An example would be pulling and resetting a toilet. The other method is billing for Time and Materials due to the uncertain nature of the task and unforeseen variables.
Quoting a price over the phone is not fair to us, nor is it fair to the customer. The best we can do is offer a ballpark figure. There are plumbing companies in Myrtle Beach that will quote a lowball number just to get their foot in the door and then will try a bait and switch once they get into your home. Quoting an hourly rate does not give you a valid way to compare one plumbing company to another. Remember, the hourly rate is only one part of the equation. The amount of time required to do the task is the other half of the equation. Allow me to demonstrate:
Company A: Hourly Rate = $80.00/hr. - They are honest, but most of their plumbers have limited experience.
Company B: Hourly Rate = $100.00/hr. – They are honest and they employ the best plumbers in the industry.
Plumbing Complaint – Water meter is spinning indicating a leak.
Company A – Completes their diagnostics and determines the is a leak on the main water service. Since there is no indication of water outside, they begin randomly digging and hope to uncover the leak. Eventually they locate the leak and make the repair. From start to finish, the job takes 3 hours for a total of $240.00.
Company B – Completes their diagnostics and determines the is a leak on the main water service. There is no indication of water outside; however, with their extensive experience they are able to pinpoint the most likely place the break occurred. They dig down, locate the leak and make the repair. From start to finish, the job takes 2 hours for a total of $200.00.
If you had shopped based on an hourly rate only, you would have spent $40.00 more for the same repair. The above scenario assumes both companies are honest. When shopping for a professional plumbing company whether it be in Alabama, South Carolina, or Maryland, the MOST IMPORTANT qualifications should be the company’s integrity, reputation, and warranty.
We will NEVER advertise that we are the cheapest plumbing company in town. As an associate once said “Good plumbing isn’t cheap and cheap plumbing isn’t good.” When we hire plumbers, we DO NOT hire the plumber wanting to make the least amount of money. If they were being paid a rate less than the average plumber, one has to wonder why. Two things come to mind – either their previous employer did not think they were worth more or the plumber lacks confidence in his/her ability. In either case, this applicant would not meet our high standards and most importantly, would not meet your standards.
What Fogarty & Fogarty Plumbing Co. offers is the BEST service and quality for the most competitive price. This is referred to as VALUE and we deliver everyday! We also offer 24/7 Emergency Service to our Service Contract Customers. All others are subject to availability.
http://www.theplumberwhocares.com/
July 27th, 2010
Prior to moving to Myrtle Beach, SC, I never had to wait too long for hot water. When I turned a faucet on hot, hot water quickly followed. When I turned a faucet on cold, the water was cold. Life was nice and everything worked just as expected.
When it came time to buy a home, we learned that plumbing is done differently in the south, especially in coastal areas. Giving up a basement wasn’t a big deal for me, I never liked the cold dark places anyway. However, I wondered where they put the pipes, the main shut-off valves, and water heaters. Upon closer inspection, I discovered a lot of slab houses (built directly on a concrete slab) where the piping was run underneath the slab, main shut-off valves were non-existent, and water heaters were located in garages (some were even located in attics).
Hmmm . . . that’s not how I would have done it.
After several months of searching, we became proud owners of a house built on a slab. It didn’t take long to realize that the H & C on the faucets had little meaning. On one side of the house the wait for hot water was a little longer than we were accustomed and the other side was a much longer wait. Luckily, our bathroom was located on the side where the wait wasn’t that long. Unfortunately, getting hot water in the kitchen took patience. Running the water for what seemed like forever to get hot water to run the dishwasher started to wear on my nerves. I would complain, but it would be quickly forgotten about until the next evening.
I knew the solution to our problem and like most Americans, I procrastinated as something else always seemed more important. Then one day something happened that was the last straw and it wasn’t waiting for hot water to get to the kitchen sink. It was one of our children complaining of not having any hot water for a shower.
How could this be? We had an 80 gallon water heater. Well after questioning our children, we found out that they would all do the same thing. Turn on the shower, set it all the way to hot, and walk away. At some point, they would make it back to the bathroom where the water was hot. Multiply that by three children and it’s easy to see what had happened.
The solution has saved us time and money! Our water usage went down significantly, so we not only saved money, we were also not wasting a precious resource. Best of all, no more waiting for hot water!
In Part II, I will let you know how we solved our problem and exactly how much we were able to reduce our water usage.
http://www.theplumberwhocares.com/
July 23rd, 2010
As a homeowner and/or property owner, there are definitely some things that you can do yourself to save money. Please keep checking back in the DIY section of this blog for more articles related to saving money.
Clogged toilets and running toilets are common complaints we hear from homeowners and/or property owners in Myrtle Beach, SC. Many times we discover a toilet flapper that has failed prematurely. Sometimes the cause is that the flapper was not of good quality to begin with or has failed due to the water in the tank.
Other times, we know immediately what caused the problem. Tablets placed in the tank to keep the toilet bowl clean will attack the soft material of the flapper. This is especially true in situations when a guest bath toilet is not flushed on a regular basis. Some manufacturers of products such as these claim they are safe, but why take a chance when there is a better and less expensive way to keep your toilet bowl clean.
Now, you may be patting yourself on the back because you have never put those nasty tablets in your tank. Instead, you bought the toilet bowl cleaners that hang over the rim of the toilet. Well, let me congratulate you on not risking damage to your toilets internal parts. However, I’m not letting you off the hook entirely. Can you think of any reason that it may not be a good idea to use this style? It may not happen often, but it has happened enough to warrant a warning. We have had calls where the plastic or metal hangers were accidentally flushed down the toilet! I’m certain you know what happened next . . . yes, it resulted in a clogged toilet.
So, how can you save money?
1. You save instantly by not buying these products which are expensive.
2. You avoid creating a situation of premature wear on your toilet’s internal parts which may lead to a plumbing service call if you don’t know how to do it yourself.
3. You avoid wasting water from a slow leaking toilet and the money you pay for your water.
4. You avoid unnecessarily clogging your toilet.
So, let’s assume you understand all of the above, BUT you really don’t want to give up your tablets because you HATE scrubbing toilets. Guess what? Our maid hates scrubbing toilets too! Being that I am our ‘maid,’ I looked for a better solution and found one with Flylady http://flylady.net/. Basically, it’s quite simple. She calls it Swish and Swipe. Keep a toilet brush at every toilet and once a day when you use the bathroom, do a quick swish with the toilet brush. This will keep your toilet looking good.
For bathrooms you do not visit on a regular basis, put a capful or two of household bleach directly into the bowl and do not flush. This will discourage germs from multiplying.
This information has been provided as a service to Fogarty & Fogarty Plumbing Co.’s customers and residents who live in our service area: Myrtle Beach, SC; Surfside Beach, SC; Garden City Beach, SC; Murrells Inlet, SC; Litchfield Beach, SC; Georgetown County, SC; Horry County, SC; and Conway, SC.
Fogarty & Fogarty Plumbing Co., Inc. guarantees 24/7 Emergency Service to our contract customers and offers it to new customers on an availability basis.
http://www.theplumberwhocares.com/
July 22nd, 2010
Hmmm . . . Let me think about that one for a minute. Okay, I thought about it. The quick answer is ‘NO,’ and if you are like me, you are wondering “Why not?” After all, Liquid Plumber and Drano have been around for years, so it must work, right?
Let me share a few things with you.
If Liquid Plumber and Drano work so well, why won’t you find either of them in a Professional Plumbers service truck? We get a lot of calls for clogged drains in Myrtle Beach and I can tell you we do not carry any chemicals whatsoever to treat clogs. A professional drain cleaner is your best bet when you have a clogged drain.
The main reason is that harsh chemicals can damage your pipes and there are better ways to clear a drain without risking damage to your plumbing. Store shelves are stocked with all sorts of chemicals claiming to clear virtually any clog. What we have found is that when someone purchases a chemical to attempt to clear a drain line on their own and it does not work, since they have already invested time and money, they will go back to the store and buy another brand and/or chemical altogether. This is when a DIY job can go terribly wrong.
Unless you are a chemist, you should not be mixing chemicals! Mixing the wrong chemicals can lead to a visit to the emergency room. Some drain cleaners contain hydrochloric acid and others contain sodium hypochlorite (bleach). When these chemicals are combined, they create chlorine gases. Chlorine gas has been used as a weapon in chemical warfare.
You can read for yourself the story of a man who accidentally mixed these two chemicals while trying to clear his drain. http://www.healthreformwatch.com/2010/05/02/why-you-should-never-mix-two-kinds-of-drain-cleaner-together/
If you are interested in what others are saying about this subject, this may be of interest to you as well http://www.yelp.com/topic/chicago-so-is-it-wrong-to-put-draino-and-such-down-the-drain.
If you just cannot help yourself and attempt the chemical route without success, when you do call a Professional Plumbing Company like Fogarty & Fogarty Plumbing Co., Inc. PLEASE let them know that you have poured chemicals down the drain. This is important for several reasons. Mainly, the plumber will take extra precautions prior to working on the drain to protect himself from chemical skin burns and most importantly his eyes. If the water with chemicals accidentally splashes into a plumbers eyes, the reaction and result could require immediate medical treatment.
One other thought to consider. If cabling becomes a necessity, depending on the chemical in your pipes, you will be charged an additional charge because chemicals are involved. This is not done to punish you. Chemicals that can eat away at pipes will also eat away and cause damage to our cables.
I hope this information is of use to you. Just knowing how dangerous mixing chemicals is may save you from an unfortunate mishap.
http://www.theplumberwhocares.com/
July 21st, 2010
In Myrtle Beach, SC we have a LOT of vacation and rental properties with absentee owners. If you are an out of state owner with vacation and/or rental property in Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Garden City, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield, or Pawleys Island, please be very careful when hiring contractors to work in your vacation and/or investment property. Over the years we have seen substandard work, contractors go out of business, and unsuspecting owners lose deposits.
The most important advice I offer is that when you need a professional plumber, PLEASE make sure you hire a professional plumbing company like Fogarty & Fogarty Plumbing Co., Inc. Hiring a maintenance company that is a ‘jack-of-all-trades’ is NOT the same as hiring a licensed plumbing contractor. To insure that our customers get what they are paying for, we only hire career plumbers! Professional plumbers may cost a bit more up front, but in the long run much more economical. When you hire someone who is not qualified to do the job, it usually ends up costing you much more to have it redone at a later date.
One of the easiest ways to locate a professional plumber is to call local plumbing supply houses and ask for a referral. Since most professionals buy from local supply houses, the supply houses know who has a great reputation and if they are in good financial standing. Most of your handyman don’t stock inventory and shop at Home Depot or Lowes every time they need materials for a job.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask for local references. If a plumbing company or plumber won’t give you this information, you must ask yourself ’why?’ and go with your instincts.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Big Box Stores and shop there myself on occasion when I want to be a “Do It Yourself ‘ er.” However, when I want the most reliable products and information, I deal with professionals.
Local Supply Houses:
Gateway Supply – 843-293-9372 (Rick, Andy, or Abbey)
Palmetto Parts – 843-444-0811 (Bill)
Winnelson – 843-293-7839 (Troy, Dana)
We are located in Murrells Inlet, SC and service Myrtle Beach and the surrounding areas.
Out of state owners call us most often for clogged toilets, slow drains, condo ‘mystery’ leaks, high water bills, no hot water, busted water heaters, and jammed garbage disposals. We would love to have the opportunity to serve you.
www.theplumberwhocares.com
July 20th, 2010
This past fall Rheem, a leading provider of water heaters since the 1920’s, introduced their NEW hybrid heat pump water heater. Due to demand, Rheem has come out with a 40 gallon model as well.
Now you might be wondering “What is a heat pump water heater?” and “Will Myrtle Beach, SC plumbers install them?”
To answer the first question . . . a heat pump water heater has a heat pump mounted on top of the water heater. The heat pump pulls heat out of the surrounding air and utilizes a compressor to intensify the heat, this heat is then transferred to the water, and the cooler air is exhausted. To visualize the process, think of a refrigerator operating in the reverse.
In Myrtle Beach, this is a very efficient way to heat water since the average temperature in our region is over 40 degrees. Installing in an attic or garage carries the added benefit of cooling the area where the water heater is installed along with dehumidification. Rheem recommends air space around the heat pump of 1,000 cubic feet (10′ x 10′ x 10′ room). In other words, laundry rooms and closets would not be suitable for the Rheem Heat Pump Water Heater.
The Rheem HP50RH Heat Pump Water Heater is Energy Star approved with a 2.0 Energy Factor. It offers twice the efficiency of a standard tank type electric water heater which can save you every month on your electric bill! Using Santee Cooper’s published rates of $.0.0888/kWh for Non-Summer season and $0.0988/kWh for Summer Season, annual expected savings for a homeowner are in the range of $228.00 – $254.00 depending on individual usage.
Need more convincing? The Rheem Hybrid Electric Water Heater qualifies for Federal tax credits up to $1,500. The Federal tax credit is limited to 30% of energy efficient building property and cost of installation through 2010, with a total limit of $1,500.
Need more? 10 Year Limited Tank and Parts Warranty from the Manufacturer.
Need more? See Rheem’s attached Estimated Homeowner Payback Chart!
To answer the second question . . . a resounding yes! Fogarty & Fogarty Plumbing will be offering it’s customers both Rheem Heat Pump Water Heaters. However, due to demand and availability, please allow at least one week to get your water heater in.
www.theplumberwhocares.com
July 19th, 2010
It’s truly amazing what our plumbers at Fogarty & Fogarty Plumbing located in Murrells Inlet, SC find in clogged toilets. Within the last few weeks, The Plumber Who Cares has retrieved a few items from toilets that could not be retrieved until the toilet was pulled.
A cell phone – YES, we retrieved a cell phone from a clogged toilet in Garden City, SC! This was in a rental unit and no one claimed to have flushed the cell phone. If you ever drop your cell phone in the toilet, DO NOT FLUSH! Flushing caused the phone to lodge in the toilet trapway and it would not budge. Unfortunately, this was determined after breaking open the toilet.
Soap – Yes, soap can clog a toilet! We have come across several cleaning crews that have been guilty of flushing partial bars of soap, only to have them interfere in the flushing performance of the toilet. Soap that floats seem to cause the most problems. I’m certain we are not the only plumbing company in Myrtle Beach that has encountered this.
Popsicle stick – Small children should be supervised while in the bathroom. We have ‘rescued’ Polly Pocket dolls, McDonald’s toys, dinosaurs, and balls among other things over the years.
When you have a clogged toilet, it is very important to let the plumber know if anything was flushed that should not have been flushed. Giving a professional plumber all the pertinent information can save you a lot of money. Ordinarily plunging a clogged toilet is recommended. However, depending on the item flushed, it may not be wise to push the item further down the waste line.
www.theplumberwhocares.com
July 18th, 2010
It never ceases to amaze me that in plumbing service, water heaters will act up in cycles. This past week could very well have been deemed water heater week at Fogarty & Fogarty Plumbing Co., Inc. located in Murrells Inlet, Sc.
We received a call to check a water heater that was not heating in a vacation rental property located in the city of Myrtle Beach. When we arrived, we noticed the breaker was off. Further diagnostics revealed the lower element was not functioning. Under normal circumstances, this would have been an easy repair requiring a drain down of the water heater.
Prior to presenting the owner his options, we checked the manufacture date of the water heater. The water heater was 21 years old! Draining down the water heater was no longer an option due to the age. When water heaters are not maintained and flushed as recommended by the manufacturer, rust and debris accumulate on the bottom of the tank. Draining and recharging the heater would put undue stress on an older tank. The recommendation was to replace the water heater.
The water heater was a Table Top model. We were able to save the owner a lot of money by converting over to a standard LowBoy water heater. Table Top units are typically 2 – 3 times the cost of a standard water heater.
Within three hours of the initial call, a new water heater was installed and the renters were happy that they were going to have plenty of hot water.
Please visit our website to see what additional services we offer.
theplumberwhocares.com
June 27th, 2010
Insinkerator’s new Evolution ProEssential garbage disposal promises a lot, but does it deliver?
Taken straight from the box, you know you are holding a quality garbage disposal. We were immediately impressed with the overall look and feel of the unit. It makes the Badger V look dated and inadequate. The 40 oz. stainless steel chamber and components mean added life. Looks are nice, but how does it work?
If you want to grind more and hear less, this garbage disposal delivers on both counts. Insinkerator’s new MultiGrind technology utilizes a two-stage process to quickly grind food waste finer than any previous disposer. Also, the ProEssential has AutoReverse which helps prevent jams by automatically reversing the grind direction each time the disposer is activated. Your grind elements wear evenly therefore, extending disposer life. Potato peels and rice which are particularly problematic for garbage disposals are no match for the ProEssential. Finer food waste helps prevent clogged drains.
Insinkerator didn’t just stop there with improvements, they added SoundSeal technology so you hear 40% less noise. With today’s kitchens being the center of entertainment, you’ll appreciate this feature.
Another benefit that impressed us was the extended warranty on the Pro Series. We can’t imagine you will need to utilize the warranty, but it is GREAT to know that it’s there if you need it!
We have installed many ProEssentials and we are happy to report we have not had any complaints nor any sink clogs.
Insinkerator has built more than 100 million garbage disposals over the past 78 years, so it is no surprise why they are leading the industry and rank #1.
theplumberwhocares.com/insinkerator.html
November 10th, 2009
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