Hub Plumbing & Mechanical

DATELINE: SOUTH BOSTON, MA…
So you’re lucky enough to be able to leave town for warmer climes this winter… What do you need to do to prepare your plumbing during your absence?

According to John Wood, founder and CEO of Hub Plumbing & Mechanical in Boston, warns that it is critical to protect your pipes. “Even occasional snowbirds who are only leaving town for a week or two need to take some commonsense precautions. Travelers look forward to escaping freezing temperatures without fully considering what happens at home when the temperature is plummeting and the coldest weather of the season is forecast while they’re away. ”

Wood offers some simple measures that can help protect pipes from freezing while homeowners relax in warmer climes.
•    Always leave the heat on. Never lower the thermostat below 55 degrees Fahrenheit no matter how well insulated your home may be.
•    Be prepared. Double check outdoor faucets, making sure that the interior shut-off valves leading to the faucets have been closed, and that the outside spigot was left open and drained prior to the arrival of freezing temperatures. An alternative to this procedure is to speak with your plumber about installing frost-free sillcocks where the shutoff valve extends inside the house away from the cold, eliminating the need to shut off the water supply to the outside spigots.
•    Insulate pipes that located on outside walls, particularly in an older home with minimal insulation.
•    Open the doors of kitchen and bathroom cabinets that are located on outer walls to let the warm air in to keep pipes that are located there from freezing.
•    Make sure that pipes in unheated basements, crawlspaces, or garages are insulated. Drain pipes that are not in use during the winter.
•    Have a contingency plan in place if a storm causes an extended power outage in your absence. Make sure that someone has access to your home and can monitor the inside temperature. In extreme cases, particularly if you have had pipes freeze before, instruct whoever is keeping an eye on things to keep a trickle of water running from the faucet since running water usually doesn’t freeze.
•    If your caretaker should find a frozen pipe during an extended power outage, they should turn off the main shut-off water valve and keep the faucet open to relieve pressure as the ice melts.
•    If a pipe has burst they SHOULD NOT try to thaw the pipe since this could cause electrocution. Leave the number of your licensed plumbing professional to handle this emergency.

Notes Wood, “With a little advance planning homeowners can enjoy peace of mind and escape the prospect of returning home to the devastating aftermath of burst pipes.”

About Hub Plumbing & Mechanical
Hub Plumbing & Mechanical was established in 1999 and now includes a staff of 16 full time employees. This full service plumbing company assists residential and commercial customers with code violations, sewer/drain clogs, garbage disposals, water heaters, water filtration, steam and hot water boilers, thermostats, leaky faucets, tub valves, gas pipes, appliance installation, outside hose faucets, and residential HVAC service.

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical was recently highlighted in a new book entitled “The Celebrity Experience” where Hub Plumbing & Mechanical’s Red Carpet Service was cited as an example of how it’s possible to create faithful life long customers by showering them with treatment usually reserved for celebrities.

Hub Plumbing and Mechanical’s signature Red Carpet service features experienced teams of licensed technicians who not only protect your floors with a red carpet, but also cover their work boots with stain-resistant booties, wear ID badges for security purposes, and arrive on time and smartly dressed in crisp, clean uniforms.

The company does not charge by the hour, but by the specific project. Hub Plumbing & Mechanical is available 24 hours a day and 7 seven days a week to provide immediate access and peace of mind. Dedicated 2nd and 3rd shift night dispatchers internally handle all calls at Hub Plumbing & Mechanical, not an answering service. The difference between the two enables Hub Plumbing & Mechanical to get real-time info on the customer 24/7 to expedite the call as efficiently as possible.

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical Inc. is located at 70 Old Colony Avenue in South Boston, MA 02127. For more information about Hub Plumbing & Mechanical call 1-866-HUBPLUMBING (482-7586), email services@hubplumbing.com, or visit www.hubplumbing.com.

Protect your pipes! Hub Plumbing & Mechanical advises homeowners to take precautions before leaving town for warmer climes.Read More

DATELINE:  SOUTH BOSTON, MA…
Do you gag at the thought of drinking water straight from your tap? Have you and your family become bottled water addicts as a result?  Or, do you hold your nose while you shower because of the smell of your water? Can’t rinse off that scummy soap film either?

If so, John Wood, founder and CEO of Hub Plumbing & Mechanical of Boston outlines some alternative methods that can be used to clean up your water.

First of all, many consumers buy bottled water because they assume it’s safer or cleaner than what comes out of the tap from their municipal water source or well. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water used for drinking. While most consumers assume that bottled water is at least as safe as tap water, there are still potential risks. Although required to meet the same safety standards as public water supplies, bottled water does not undergo the same testing and reporting as water from a treatment facility. Water that is bottled and sold in the same state may not be subject to any federal standards at all.”

Wood urges consumers to take matters into their own hands by employing an in-home water filtration system. “If clean drinking water is your primary concern, a number of alternatives to buying bottled water are available. All offer greener alternatives to bottled water, reducing the huge volume of plastic water bottles that end up in landfills. Point-of-use (POU) systems treat water at a single tap. Point-of-use systems include pour-through products, faucet mount filters, counter-top manual fill systems, counter-top systems connected to sink faucet, or plumbed-in systems that are installed under the sink with a permanent connection to an existing water pipe.”

If your water woes are more widespread and include problems with rust or sediment, scale or odors, you might want to consider a point-of-entry filtration system explains Wood. “Point-of-entry (POE) systems treat water as it enters the house, providing filtered water for use throughout the house for drinking, bathing, cooking, laundry and dishwashers.”

Continues Wood, “POE systems can stop dirt, sediment, rust and scale. Both rust and sediment, left unchecked, can ruin appliances while scale creates unsightly build up on water fixtures, coats water heating elements thereby reducing their efficiency, wastes soap by reducing its lathering ability, and leaves an unpleasant residue on your skin, hair, and clothes when they are washed. Also, one of the most common chemical disinfectants found in municipal city water supplies is chlorine, which tastes and smells bad and can be removed with a carbon filter.”

Both POU and POE devices are based on various contaminant removal technologies including carbon filtration, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, and distillation. In addition, flow rate, filter size, filter life and port size are also important components in point-of-entry systems, which require professional installation. Whichever system is used, it should meet NSF/ANSI standard 53 and be certified to remove the contaminants of concern in your water.

About Hub Plumbing & Mechanical
Hub Plumbing & Mechanical was established in 1999 and now includes a staff of 16 full time employees. This full service plumbing company assists residential and commercial customers with code violations, sewer/drain clogs, garbage disposals, water heaters, water filtration, steam and hot water boilers, thermostats, leaky faucets, tub valves, gas pipes, appliance installation, outside hose faucets, and residential HVAC service.

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical was recently highlighted in a new book entitled “The Celebrity Experience” where Hub Plumbing & Mechanical’s Red Carpet Service was cited as an example of how it’s possible to create faithful life long customers by showering them with treatment usually reserved for celebrities.

Hub Plumbing and Mechanical’s signature Red Carpet service features experienced teams of licensed technicians who not only protect your floors with a red carpet, but also cover their work boots with stain-resistant booties, wear ID badges for security purposes, and arrive on time and smartly dressed in crisp, clean uniforms.

The company does not charge by the hour, but by the specific project. Hub Plumbing & Mechanical is available 24 hours a day and 7 seven days a week to provide immediate access and peace of mind. Dedicated 2nd and 3rd shift night dispatchers internally handle all calls at Hub Plumbing & Mechanical, not an answering service. The difference between the two enables Hub Plumbing & Mechanical to get real-time info on the customer 24/7 to expedite the call as efficiently as possible.

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical Inc. is located at 70 Old Colony Avenue in South Boston, MA 02127. For more information about Hub Plumbing & Mechanical call 1-866-HUBPLUMBING (482-7586), email services@hubplumbing.com, or visit www.hubplumbing.com.

What’s “on tap” at your house? Hub Plumbing & Mechanical offers clean and green alternatives to tackle water woes.Read More

DATELINE:  SOUTH BOSTON, MA…
For many homeowners, remodeling or upgrading their existing home remains an appealing option in an uncertain real estate market. The question is, which projects offer the best return on investment in the long run?

John Wood, founder and CEO of Hub Plumbing & Mechanical of Boston offers some suggestions on upgrade and remodeling projects that involve his area of expertise – anything that involves plumbing or HVAC considerations, including, of course, bathrooms and kitchens.

First of all, it’s important to decide what your goal is – maintenance and repair or a lifestyle improvement? Do you want to simply upgrade tired fixtures or do you want to invest in a lavish gourmet kitchen, or a spa-like retreat to replace an existing bath?

Notes Wood, “Plumbing is tricky; it’s not just a matter of running a few pipes to accommodate new fixtures or appliances. Depending on the age and condition of your home, you may be facing a hodge-podge of materials and plumbing “fixes” that have been incorporated over the years. You need to realistically determine what you can afford, establish a budget, and stick to it.”

That said, which projects not only provide comfort and style, but also offer a good long-term return on your investment? Using Remodeling Magazine’s 2007 Cost vs. Value Report for the New England region as a basis, a minor kitchen remodel, which would include a mid grade replacement of existing plumbing fixtures, would recoup an 86% return on investment (ROI.) A major mid range kitchen remodel, with features such as a double stainless-steel sink and a center island, would deliver a 77.7% ROI. An upscale kitchen remodel, utilizing elements such as designer fixtures, and a built-in water filtration system, would have an ROI of 76.7%

A mid-range bathroom remodel that would include the replacement of all plumbing fixtures, would deliver a 74.8% return on investment, while a midrange bathroom addition would yield an ROI of 65.8%. An upscale bathroom remodel, which would expand the bathroom within the existing footprint of the house, relocating all fixtures to accommodate a whirlpool and separate shower, would result in a 64.3% ROI, while an upscale bathroom addition, increasing the footprint of the house, would have an ROI of 64.1%

Once you decide what improvements you would like to pursue, don’t forget the basics when planning an upgrade or remodeling project. Research contractors by license number to make sure that they ARE licensed, and to see if any complaints have been filed against them. References should also be readily available and should be checked for verification. Also, don’t forget to ask for a copy of the contractor’s insurance binder.

About Hub Plumbing & Mechanical
Hub Plumbing & Mechanical was established in 1999 and now includes a staff of 16 full time employees. This full service plumbing company assists residential and commercial customers with code violations, sewer/drain clogs, garbage disposals, water heaters, water filtration, steam and hot water boilers, thermostats, leaky faucets, tub valves, gas pipes, appliance installation, outside hose faucets, and residential HVAC service.

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical was recently highlighted in a new book entitled “The Celebrity Experience” where Hub Plumbing & Mechanical’s Red Carpet Service was cited as an example of how it’s possible to create faithful life long customers by showering them with treatment usually reserved for celebrities.

Hub Plumbing and Mechanical’s signature Red Carpet service features experienced teams of licensed technicians who not only protect your floors with a red carpet, but also cover their work boots with stain-resistant booties, wear ID badges for security purposes, and arrive on time and smartly dressed in crisp, clean uniforms.

The company does not charge by the hour, but by the specific project. Hub Plumbing & Mechanical is available 24 hours a day and 7 seven days a week to provide immediate access and peace of mind. Dedicated 2nd and 3rd shift night dispatchers internally handle all calls at Hub Plumbing & Mechanical, not an answering service. The difference between the two enables Hub Plumbing & Mechanical to get real-time info on the customer 24/7 to expedite the call as efficiently as possible.

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical Inc. is located at 70 Old Colony Avenue in South Boston, MA 02127. For more information about Hub Plumbing & Mechanical call 1-866-HUBPLUMBING (482-7586), email services@hubplumbing.com, or visit www.hubplumbing.com.

Plumbing projects that pack a punch. Hub Plumbing & Mechanical looks at which projects offer the highest return on investment.Read More

DATELINE: SOUTH BOSTON, MA…
The thanksgiving table groans under the load of traditional dishes, and tummies growl and gurgle in anticipation when, suddenly, this Norman Rockwell scene of tranquility erupts into chaos with the realization that the groans, growls, and gurgles are actually coming from the drain of the kitchen sink…

Guess who’s coming to dinner? Your friendly neighborhood plumber! John Wood, founder and CEO of Hub Plumbing & Mechanical in South Boston, MA is well acquainted with this familiar Thanksgiving tableau as he girds himself and his crews for the annual Thanksgiving onslaught.

The long Thanksgiving holiday weekend is the busiest time of the year for a plumber, according to the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association. Why? It’s simple explains Wood, “A 1 ½ inch diameter drain can’t be stuffed with the detritus of a Thanksgiving meal without fighting back and literally erupting and overflowing. A garbage disposal can’t handle the overload either and often grinds to a halt. More than once we’ve literally had to cut out eight or nine foot sections of pipe that are packed to the gills with compacted waste.”

Wood’s colorful descriptions of the sights he has seen should serve as fair warning for Thanksgiving revelers. “Imagine the rich smells and colors of a typical Thanksgiving dinner; then imagine all of those foods mixed together, compacted in your drain, ready to burp back up with the addition of a little water…”

Hub Plumbing and Mechanical’s clog busting team is at the ready 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but if you’d like to avoid a Thanksgiving visit, Wood offers some common sense tips.

•    Grease congeals and solidifies, the same way fatty deposits block an artery and cause a heart attack. If you want to avoid a drain attack, pour grease into a tin can and toss the can into the trash after the grease hardens.
•    A garbage disposal isn’t a wood chipper. Turkey bones splinter (that’s why you can’t feed them to your dog), while turkey skin and fibrous vegetable skins can wind around the blade, causing the disposal to come to a screeching halt.
•    Always turn on the water before starting the garbage disposal, and keep it running for a minute after turning off the disposal to move the waste through the pipes.
•    Keep utensils away from the sink if at all possible. There is nothing like a piece of silverware accidentally dropped into a garbage disposal to bring an ear-shattering end to your Thanksgiving festivities.
•    If you don’t have a garbage disposal, the remains of a Thanksgiving feast can present even more perils. Leftover trimmings, including gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, vegetables, and pie need to be scraped off of plates and deposited into the garbage. Rinsing plates and letting clumps of food slide down the drain is a recipe for disaster as food builds up and compacts, firmly clogging the drain.
•    Also, dishwashers are not garbage disposals. Dishes need to be scraped before they are placed in the dishwasher. Also be careful that the dishwasher isn’t overloaded– glasses break easily and a dishwasher drain clogged with glass is a sure fire way of ensuing that you will be washing dishes by hand all evening!

About Hub Plumbing & Mechanical
Hub Plumbing & Mechanical takes the plumbing industry to the next level, utilizing a professional, friendly, customer-centered approach. In addition to protecting your floors with red carpet, Hub Plumbing and Mechanical’s experienced plumbers also cover their work boots with stain-resistant boot covers, wear ID badges for security purposes, and arrive on time and smartly dressed in crisp, clean uniforms.

The company does not charge by the hour, but by the specific project. Hub Plumbing & Mechanical is available 24 hours a day and 7 seven days a week to provide immediate access and peace of mind. Dedicated 2nd and 3rd shift night dispatchers internally handle all calls at Hub Plumbing & Mechanical, not an answering service. The difference between the two enables Hub Plumbing & Mechanical to get real-time info on the customer 24/7 to expedite the call as efficiently as possible.

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical was established in 1999 and now includes a staff of 16 full time employees. This full service plumbing company assists residential and commercial customers with code violations, sewer/drain clogs, garbage disposals, water heaters, water filtration, steam and hot water boilers, thermostats, leaky faucets, tub valves, gas pipes, appliance installation, and outside hose faucets.

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical Inc. is located at 70 Old Colony Avenue in South Boston, MA 02127. For more information about Hub Plumbing & Mechanical call 1-866-HUBPLUMBING (482-7586), email services@hubplumbing.com, or visit www.hubplumbing.com.

Thanksgiving bounty overflows for plumbers.Read More