McNiff Plumbing & Heating

04/13/2012

A newly remodeled kitchen in a house in Stoneham, MA. The house was built in the 1920's.

04/03/2012

03/07/2012

How to Hire a Plumber

Even if you are a do-it-yourself er, there may come a time where you have a need to hire a plumber. After all, some jobs are simply too tough to do yourself or may even be unsafe for you to do without the help of a professional. If you have never hired a plumber before, however, you may need some guidance in how to find a plumber, what you should pay, and when you may need to hire one. Remember, plumbers are professionals and you are going to pay for their services, but there are ways you can still get the plumbing service you need and save money while doing it.

Decide on Ability

While many plumbers charge an hourly rate, finding the cheapest rate per hour is not the best way to decide on a plumber. It is better to choose a plumber or a plumbing company based on customer satisfaction and reputation rather than on costs alone. Ask friends and family for referrals for plumbers they have used and find out if they were satisfied with the service they received. Chances are that, if they had a good experience with the plumber, you will also.

Take Preventative Measures

Of course, the best way to save money on plumbing is to never have to hire a plumber in the first place. Therefore, the preventative care is key to saving money on your plumbing. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take in order to maintain your plumbing and reduce the need for hiring a professional. So, here are some things you can do to take care of and maintain good “pipe health.”

Clogged drains tend to be the most common plumbing problems for homeowners. Drains usually get clogged by grease or by hair. Grease clogged drains can be prevented by treating your drains periodically with products designed to reduce grease buildups. A home-remedy option to avoid grease build-up, on the other hand, is to pour boiling hot sudsy water down the drain periodically to reduce grease buildup. You should also take steps to avoid pouring grease down your drain in the first place.

In order to avoid hair clogged drains, try to clean the screen or drain cover after each shower. This will help to avoid the build-up of hair in your drain and can prevent it from getting clogged. If the drain does get clogged, there are commercial drain clog products that can help to resolve the problem. Choose one that is based on bacteria and enzymes, and treat periodically. The acid or lye based products can hurt people and drains. In the end, if one of these products does not fix the problem then you may have to call a plumber. If you used an acid or lye based product, tell the plumber, so he will be prepared

03/05/2012

HTP SuperStore 120 gallon high efficient indirect hot water tank in Gloucester,MA. This tank is eligible for a $400 rebate.

02/08/2012

95% efficient HTP condensing boiler in a newly constructed, eleven room house on the ocean in Gloucester .

12/15/2011

11/29/2011

High Efficient Burnham Alpine Boiler in Wi******er, MA. Natural Gas, 96% efficiency rating. Gas company offers $1500 rebate.

10/07/2011

Working in a historic house in Lexington. Re-piping a water and steam system to allow for a future remodeled basement.

09/18/2011

High Efficient Burnham Alpine boiler with an indirect Superstore hot water tank.