Bear and I had the amazing opportunity to tour Rinnai headquarters and two manufacturing plants in Georgia.
All of the noncondensing tankless water heaters are made in the USA for North America. I just wanted to share a few things that really stuck out to me.
The company puts a lot into culture and efficiency, and it showed. The buildings were all super clean and welcoming, and the teams really seemed to enjoy working there at all 3 facilities.
They build a product that is streamlined, and every single water heater is tested before it is packaged for shipping. Not many companies go that extra step, and it matters.
When you make an investment in your home, choose a solid product and make sure you have a licensed professional install it.
The biggest issue we were told when a customer has a problem with a tankless water heater is installations. We get calls all the time from homeowners who used a non licensed plumber to install their plumbing and now need a professional. Save yourself time and money by calling us the first time.
Bear’s Plumbing in Spring, TX is a Rinnai Pro Network installer. When you are ready for endless hot water, call us for solutions that will fit your families needs.
Nine times out of ten when we get a call from a customer stating they have an inspection report showing that their water heater vents are not connected it is due to recently having a new roof put on their home. If you are not buying a new home or selling yours, why would you have your home inspected? It is very important to make sure your water heater is up to code, for your families health & well being.
The water heater vent when properly installed keeps carbon monoxide from entering your home. If you have had a new roof installed and would like your water heater vents checked out we would be glad to help you out.
While you are checking your vents, check the date on your water heater. The last thing you want is to have an older heater rust out and flood your home. If you need help figuring out how old your heater is this previous blog post might help.
When you need a repair at your home or business what is your go to? Google? Once you have done your research how do you prefer to contact the business.
We are standing by to answer your call, reply to your email and text you back.
Can you guess what number 1 was? Plumbing! Number 11 & 13 were also items that a license and insured plumber should tackle. Here is what they said:
In recent years, do-it-yourself home improvement projects have surged in popularity. Nearly 80% of homeowners report that they’ve tackled a project themselves, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.
When done correctly, DIY home projects can be a great way to save money on labor while adding value to your home. It seems like a financial win-win, and it often is.
1. Plumbing work
Plumbers undergo intensive training and complete apprenticeships before entering the field, and there’s a reason for that: Plumbing is complicated work.
While some DIY projects are a great way to save money on a tight budget, this isn’t one of them. If you don’t have plumbing experience, then this DIY task is best to skip.
13. Water pressure repairs
If you have a water-pressure issue, trying to fix it yourself is tempting. After all, there are a lot of products that promise simple solutions.
But at the end of the day, it’s not worth the risk of messing up your plumbing system. If installing a new faucet doesn’t help, it’s probably time to call an expert.
Bottom line
Some home projects are perfect for the do-it-yourself enthusiast. Homeowners can usually finish those projects during a weekend or two.
But other projects require specialized skills and might pose a safety risk if done incorrectly. In the end, fixing your DIY mistakes might cost more than the initial repair.
For complicated projects, hiring outside help is the best way to avoid wasting money. Your house and your wallet will thank you.
We get calls every week from customers who either hired a handyman or non licensed technician to do some plumbing work on their home to save money but are in worse shape than when they started the project or repair. The technicians at Bear’s Plumbing are trained and licensed with the State of Texas. There is no job too big or too small for our team.
Resetting a toilet on a second floor done improperly can leak toxic waste to the room below. In a lot of cases with our customers it is the kitchen. That is just gross. Don’t take those chances call Bear’s Plumbing for toilet installation.
Water heater damage can cause extreme water damage to your home. Checking your water heater on an annual basis should be just like changing the oil in your car. Check for corrosion or leaks at least once a year. If you have two water heaters in your attic and you have a problem that has not been addressed and end up with one or both leaking that could lead to 80 to 100 gallons of water in your home.
AC drain lines we get multiple calls a day for this during the summer months. Even when you maintain your drain lines by putting bleach or tablets in your ac drain pan or lavatory sinks you can still have sludge build up. These extreme heats and cool ac drain water is the perfect recipe to grow slug in those plumbing drain lines.
Shower remodels . Bear’s Plumbing Services works with several remodelers in the area. The number one thing we encourage our customers to do is make sure when remodeling their bathrooms to use a licensed plumber. Licensed plumbers are trained to install shower pans, shower valves, etc. We have customers call all the time with the problem of the shower leaking into a closet or the floor below because a tile man installed the shower pan. That the Amazon shower fixture I bought is loose and leaking. Price matters, quality matters, using a qualified licensed plumber matters.
We are receiving a lot of calls for gas line estimates for gas generators. There are a several areas of plumbing that truly protect the health of the nation. All with severe issues if not handled properly. Sewer waste which is toxic. Backflow prevention which keeps your potable water clean. Natural gas, well in my mind it can explode. That may be the extreme but it is true. Hospital oxygen and natural gas both are flammable and again in my mind can explode.
I know I talk a lot about using a licensed plumber, so let’s compare it to the medical field. Do you want a foot surgeon working on your heart? I don’t think so. So why would you allow someone not licensed and insured to install, test, and make sure your gas line to your generator is working as it should.
I am all for getting the best bang for your buck, but I draw the line with gas that can go BANG.
This is one corner I would never cut short. Use a generator company that has a licensed plumber on staff or that outsources to a licensed plumbing company.
We know and understand that your home is your most valuable investment. That is why we at Bear’s Plumbing have invested in systems that will help take the worry of remembering to schedule annual maintenance off of you and on to our system. We have the ability to set you up on a recurring schedule for any annual maintenance you may need. The system at Bear’s Plumbing will email you two business days prior to the appointment. If you would like us to get you setup please call us at 281-350-2327 shoot us an email at info@bearsplumbing.net, text us at 281-870-7973 or fill out a contact us form.
We are doing everything we can to provide excellent customer service.
The top items for annual maintenance are tankless water heaters and traditional tank water heaters.
Like traditional water heaters, there is no guarantee how long a tankless water heater will last. However, these systems are estimated to last between 10 to 20 years. The actual life expectancy of a unit will depend on how well the system is maintained, how often it is used, and the quality of the water in your house.
Tankless water heater manufacturer warranties will be voided if an annual maintenance is not performed. We provide email receipts so you will always have your proof of maintenance in your email inbox.
We appreciate all of our current customers and look forward to working with new customers every day.
You can also find information about our Tankless Water Heater Services on our website under Tankless Water Heaters. www.bearsplumbing.net
All I keep thinking of is Bill Nye the Science Guy – What happens when water freezes?
Glass shatters….Pipes burst
My husband is so smart (My Daughter said don’t let dad hear you say that HAHAHA!!) he called it. He said once the sun comes out the houses are going to warm up and the pipes are going to start bursting.
Pipes are bursting all over Spring, even ours.
We are doing our best to get customers scheduled. Please be safe out there. The weather is going to drop again tonight. If you have not wrapped those pipes and you don’t have a leak, count your blessings. Help a neighbor out if you can.
Fill the bathtub with water if you can so that you can flush your toilet later and shut the water off to your house if you have an active leak.
If you can get on a list for a plumbing company that is the best thing to do unless you can fix it yourself. Plumbing companies are doing all they can to help customers as quickly as they can.
Going out of town for the Christmas Holiday and worried about the inclement weather we are preparing for.
1. Turn off the water to your home at the street
2. Open a bathtub hot and cold water to empty the water from the pipes. Keep in mind sometimes the pipes in your attic and walls could look like spaghetti and you will not be able to get all of the water out.
3. If you have a tankless water heater on the exterior of the house do not turn the water off to it. If it does not have water running to it, it will burn up when its self-circulating pump kicks on because of the cold temperature. Built in safety feature when it freezes to circulate water so that it will not freeze.
4. Tankless heater in your home will not kick on unless you turn hot water on. They stay in a sleeping state until water is requested. You do not need to do anything to the unit itself.
5. All tank type & tankless water heaters can be left on. This includes gas & electric.
If you are watching the weather for this week please make sure to wrap your exterior pipes. Here is a post from 2014 & 2021 I wrote for preparing for a freeze. Baby its cold outside……
If you have noticed that your water is not as hot as it used to be, it could be an aging water heater. The plumbing in your home is not always screaming at you when something is going out. We wish all our customers were in that situation. So, if you notice the small hints that you could have a plumbing issue don’t delay and get a licensed professional out to investigate.
Working inside our outside, we are happy!
The team here at Bear’s Plumbing loves working this time of year. The fall just seems to make everyone happy. We are a team of happy plumbers and want to share that happiness with all our customers.
One way to improve your water heater’s efficiency is to have it flushed annually. However, if your water heater is older than 8 years old we do not recommend flushing it, as it could cause a potential leak.
Over time, minerals like magnesium and calcium build up in your water heater’s tank. These minerals eventually settle at the bottom of the tank and harden, forming sediment. When sediment settles in your tank, it can force the system to work unnecessarily harder to heat your water. Eventually, that extra work forces pressure to build up in the tank, causing overheating and even ruptures. You can easily drain water heater sediment by fully draining your tank and flushing it out with cold water at least once per year, (up to 3 times if you have hard water) for optimal efficiency.
Removing sediments will help your heater run much more efficiently and prevent the more costly repairs that can occur as a result of their buildup. Flushing your water heater is a relatively simple project that you can do yourself if you have the right tools. You can also hire a professional to do it and we at Bear’s Plumbing would be glad to help you.
When you’re ready, call the happy plumber aka Bear aka Bear’s Plumbing at 281-350-2327
Plumbers have been protecting the nation for decades. New things are invented and patented every year to protect you & your home. We have been helping our customers extend the life of their water heaters for years. We recently received a flyer from the manufacture of the Scale RX.
I couldn’t wait to share this image with you!
The image is the result of a case study. Which shows proven performance of the Scale RX.
ScaleRx has been shown in tests conducted by IAPMO R&T to prevent 76% of limescale deposits. In side-by-side comparison testing it was four times more effective than the leading electronic scale reduction device.
In June 2019, two gas tank 40 gallon water heaters were installed by the same contractor in two residential homes in Houston, TX.
After 1 year, the heater without Scale RX produced nearly 1 liter of scale deposits, while the heater with ScaleRx produced zero scale deposits.
I don’t know about you, but that is gross!!
Scale Rx is an Ion polarization scale reduction system. It protects water heaters from limescale build-up and keeps them running efficiently. ScaleRx requires no power supply, batteries, chemicals, or filters. It is maintenance-free.
ScaleRx uses a patented turbulent galvanic polarization system to disrupt the formation of calcite crystals. After passing through ScaleRx, calcium carbonate crystalizes as aragonite, which doesn’t stick to plumbing components.
The ScaleRx works with tank and tankless water heater. If you have hard water you need Scale Rx.
Call Bear’s Plumbing today to schedule the installation of the ScaleRx. We can also get you scheduled for an annual flush of your tank or tankless water heater. We have systems in place to send you a reminder two days before your recurring annual appointment. Providing excellent customer service and quality workmanship is of the utmost importance to our team.
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