Questions to Ask A Home Repair Contractor (Besides "How Much Do You Charge?")

Everyone in the service business cringes a little when people call and ask, "How much do you charge?" No, it's not because we charge too much. It's because, deep down, we know we cannot completely answer the question.

Most service firms will quote an hourly rate over the phone, but does that really tell you anything? What any home owner really wants to know is, "How much will it cost me to fix my problem?"

To answer that question, the service company needs to know

1. the exact nature of the problem, which cannot be described with certainty over the phone, and
   
   
2. how long it will take to fix it.

Quoting an hourly rate might seem to provide a rough estimate. Yet how often have you seen home repair jobs drag on for hour after hour with "the meter running"? Too many variables come into play, including the exact nature of the problem and the skill of the service technician dispatched to your firm. Some are more experienced and work faster than others.

With this in mind, I would like to suggest some other questions that you as home owners might wish to ask of the people you call for home repairs and service who quote you hourly charges over the phone.

• Can you guarantee a maximum price to do the job?
  
  Expect to hear a lot of stuttering and stammering with this one. Some contractors will laugh out loud.
  
  However, there are a few progressive contractors like Rapid Service out there who do quote exact prices, guaranteed, once they perform a diagnosis. Usually they charge a modest upfront fee for the diagnosis, though many waive the charge if they get the job. Nonetheless, it does remove the guesswork.
  
  
  
• Do you charge for time driving to and from a supply house?
  
  Some jobs might require only 15 minutes of labor to perform, but you'll see the service technician disappear for an hour or more to go pick up parts not stocked in the truck. Supply houses are some of the favorite hangouts of many service techs. Many serve free coffee and snacks to their customers, and it's a great place to catch up on the latest industry gossip. Rapid Service trucks arrive fully stocked and ready to work but if there is a special need on your project, you will not be charged extra for the technician to get anything required to meet your needs.
  
  
• Who will be doing the work?
  
  Sometimes it will be a master mechanic with many years of experience. At other times, though, it could be a youngster with less than a year under his belt - maybe even an apprentice filling in during an absence. Who does the work has a lot to do with how much you end up paying when rates are quoted on an hourly basis. With Rapid Service, you can rest assured that an experienced, licensed, and insured tradesman will complete the work.
  
  
• If the problem persists or reappears after your mechanic leaves, will you come back to fix it at no extra charge - immediately?
  
  Most companies will answer yes to this questions, but watch out. Most labor guarantees extend only a month, which is not very long when you think about it. Also, call-backs tend to be the lowest priority when service firms get busy. When you choose Rapid Service as your contractor of choice, you can be confident that we stand behind our work and will be here next week, next month, and next year if you have any questions or concerns.
  
  
• Can you show me proof of a license and insurance, both general liability and worker compensation?
  
  This is a big one. Most people don't realize that if an uninsured worker gets injured while working in a home, the home owner can be held financially responsible.
  
  On the flip side, in some states where licensing is required, a home owner is not obligated to pay for any work done by an unlicensed contractor.
  
  All of Rapid Service's technicians are licensed and insured with many years of experience. Don't hesitate to ask for proof of both from our people.
  
  
• What time will you show up?
  
  Most service companies can't pinpoint their time of arrival closer than "morning or afternoon." This can get expensive if the home owner has to take off a full or half-day of work.
  
  Progressive service companies like Rapid Service can many times pinpoint within an hour or two when their service technician will be at the door. We will call to before the technician's appointment to confirm the time and let you know we are on the way and when you can expect us to arrive. If he or she does get delayed, we will call with an updated time of arrival.
  
  
• Another useful gauge of a service firm's value is if there is even anybody available to answer these questions.
  
  Many contractors try to do business using answering machines, promising to return calls at some undetermined time. This isn't much help to someone who needs an emergency repair right now. When you call Rapid Service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you will speak to a real live person, not a machine. You can have confidence that your needs are a priority with us.
  
  Also, how many of you have had this experience - you call one contractor and leave a message on an answering machine. Then you call someone else to do the work who is available at the moment.
  
  A day or two later, the contractor with an answering machine calls you back. You inform him that you had someone else do the job. Then he asks, "How much did he charge?" You tell him, and then the guy says, "You got ripped off. I would have done the job for half that price!"
  
  Reminds me of the old story about the customer who goes into a store to buy a toaster. The owner rings up a $25 sale.
  
  "That's outrageous!" the customer complains. "A store down the street sells the same toaster for $15."
  
  "Well, why didn't you buy it there?" asked the owner.
  
  "Because they're out of toasters."
  
  "Heck," replied the owner, "when we run out of toasters, we only charge $10."
  
  Let the buyer beware.
  
  
  
  

CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning has been one of the more under-publicized household hazards until two recent events put it in the spotlight. One was the accidental death in September 1994 of tennis star Vitas Gerulaitas, who succumbed to CO while sleeping in a rented home. The other was an ordinance that went into effect October 1, 1994, in Chicago requiring CO detectors in all residences heated by any fossil fuel burning equipment - in effect, all except solar or electrically heated homes. The Chicago law was in reaction to a tragedy that occurred in 1991 when a family of 10 was wiped out by CO poisoning from a faulty furnace installation.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that "at least" 250 people are killed each year from CO, a very conservative estimate. The American Medical Association says it's more like 1,500 people a year, with another 10,000 or more taking ill.

There is a lot of uncertainty because CO is tasteless, colorless and odorless - undetectable except by sophisticated gear. Also, the main symptoms of CO poisoning - fatigue, headaches, dizzy spells and nausea - resemble those of the flu and many other common illnesses. Thus CO poisoning is easily misdiagnosed, and people can succumb to it with very little physical discomfort, almost like falling asleep. (Early news reports treated Gerulaitas' death as mysterious and were filled with speculation about drugs or foul play.)

CO is given off by incomplete combustion of flammable fuels such as natural gas, oil, wood, coal or kerosene. Common household appliances such as furnaces, boilers, water heaters and stoves are all potential sources of CO gas. All of these products are designed with elaborate safeguards and under normal operating conditions all the CO produced from combustion will be harmlessly vented to the atmosphere.

Poor venting, due to leaks or blockages in the vent system, is the most common cause of CO build-up in the home, followed by cracks or corrosion in a furnace's heat exchanger. Here are some danger signs and steps you can take to minimize the danger:

* Most important, have your furnace or boiler regularly inspected, at least one a year, by a licensed, competent heating professional. The technician should check all connections to flue piping and vents for cracks, gaps, rust, corrosion or debris. Likewise the inspection should cover the combustion chamber and heat exchanger for cracks, holes, metal fatigue or corrosion, as well as the filters and filtering system for dirt and blockages. Debris should be cleared off the burner and safety switches tested.

* A yellow, lazy-looking flame in a natural gas furnace indicates inefficient fuel burning, and consequently higher levels of carbon monoxide. An inefficient oil furnace will give off an oily odor - but remember, you can't smell CO itself.

* Chimneys and vents ought to be inspected regularly for blockages caused by debris, animal nests or cave-ins. Also beware of cracks and holes. Inspect fireplaces for blocked flues, excess soot and debris.
* Be sure all vents are properly installed - including those leading from the clothes dryer, water heater and wood-burning stoves.

* Never use an unvented space heater indoors. Never burn charcoal inside and do not use your gas stove as a heater. When cooking, keep the oven door closed.

* Avoid running both a furnace and fireplace simultaneously for long periods of time. This can create serious backdrafting that prevents CO gas from exiting the home.

* Never install a boiler, furnace or water heater in an airtight enclosure.

* Look for the following signs that may indicate CO problems - streaks of soot around the service door of a gas appliance; rust spots on flue pipe, boilers, furnaces or water heaters; excessive moisture on basement windows, which may indicate poor ventilation; generally stale air throughout the house, another sign of poor ventilation.

* DO INSTALL A UL-APPROVED CO DETECTOR. The UL standard requires home CO detectors to sound a warning before CO levels reach over 100 parts per million (ppm) over 90 minutes, 200 ppm over 35 minutes or 400 ppm over 15 minutes. These warning should allow the average person to safely evacuate the premises. (CO levels over 200 ppm lasting for 90 minutes can cause headaches in healthy adults. At 300 ppm the healthy adult may experience drowsiness, at 400 ppm might collapse and 500 ppm exposure could result in brain damage or death.)

Approved CO detectors are now available for around $50 or less. They are similar to smoke detectors in both appearance and installation. The best place to install a CO detector is near bedrooms. Don't install one in the boiler or furnace room the garage or the kitchen, where it may go off in reaction to temporary elevated levels of CO.

Cheap CO-detection patches that sell for under $10 are not of much use. These devices are based on chemical reactions that change the color of a spot in the presence of elevated CO. They register many false positives and tell you nothing unless you are looking at the spot for a telltale change of color. What you need is an alarm that alerts you to danger as soon as it arises and wakes you up if you are asleep.

What do you do if the alarm sounds? Vacate the house quickly, opening doors and windows as you leave in order to provide ventilation. Then contact a local emergency service crew - usually the police or fire department - for advice. Depending on your community, they may have a CO measuring device on hand to take a reading inside your home in order to determine if it is safe to move back in.

Keep in mind that the act of ventilating your home may make it safe for immediate occupancy but won't fix whatever generated excess CO in the first place. As soon as possible you need a professional inspection of all possible CO sources. This should be someone equipped with CO measuring gear able to detect concentrations as small as 5-10 parts per million. The measurement test should be conducted over at least a 24-hour period.

It is possible for a CO alarm to be triggered by a single unusual incident that presents no lasting threat. However, if one ever goes off in your home, you won't rest easily until you take all the precautions possible to safeguard yourself and love ones.

Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

Caring for Your Faucets

Be Good to Your Faucets, and They’ll Be Good to You!

No one likes cleaning their bathroom or kitchen. Hey, it’s hard work! But did you know that you can make your faucets last longer, and that all faucets, old and new, can help conserve huge amounts of water? It’s true, and below you’ll find the proof.

A faucet is something you turn on and off. Turn it on, you get water. Turn it off, the flow of water stops.

Alas, if only it were that simple. But faucets, bless their little hearts, have moving parts, and anything with moving parts is prone to need a repair…maybe later than sooner, but there’s no avoiding the inevitable.

So what can you do to extend the life of your faucets? Actually, quite a bit:

• Treat them gently…when turning water on and off, use normal hand pressure only;

• New houses often have dirt or metal in the water lines, which can damage faucet washers. So keep a supply of various size washers on hand…that way you can change them when your faucets start dripping;

• Clean your chrome fittings with a soft cloth moistened with vinegar, rubbing alcohol or glass cleaner;

• For lacquered brass faucets, use a mild detergent…for un-lacquered brass faucets, brass cream will do the job nicely;

• If the brass lacquer coating on your faucets gets scratched, you can prevent tarnishing by coating the scratch with clear nail polish;

• Lemon rind works wonders with tarnished brass or copper;

• Older steel faucets and fittings can be scrubbed clean with a mild scouring powder.

Eventually, as we said, preventive medicine alone won’t do the trick. In fact, a faucet that drips, on average, one drop of water per second can waste up to 100 gallons of water in just a week.

Before you think of buying a replacement faucet, the professionals at Rapid Service LLC suggest you first try replacing the washer. But this time, leave those rubber washers on the hardware store shelf and purchase a supply of ceramic disc valving, instead. These offer a lifetime of drip-free performance, which saves you money on maintenance and water.

Of course, faucets do eventually call it quits, great washers or not. Or, you might simply want a different look in your kitchen or bath. In that case, we suggest you buy faucets with aerated flow restrictors which incorporate air into the water stream. The result is a bubbling flow that provides excellent rinsing action while reducing water usage.


If new fixtures happen to be on your current shopping list, give us a call and also visit the Rapid Service Website for a $25 coupon good for any new installation or repairs.

Thanks for sharing some time with us…“Around the House.”

Bright And Refreshing Home Improvements

Bright And Refreshing Home Improvements

A few thought starters for your next home improvement project


When you’re in a decorating mood, consider an alternative to the furniture, department or home store – consider your friendly local electrician or plumber. They’ve got some great ideas that add beauty, comfort and convenience to your home.

Lighting can add as much impact to your home as painting it, maybe more. By installing tract lighting, you can add depth and soft shading to your walls while accenting decorations. Sconce lighting can also make a room appear taller while splashing comforting light tones along walls and hallways. Spot lighting can illuminate everything from framed photos to your favorite reading chair, while basking the rest of the room in warm, soothing shades of light.

Lighting also makes the great outdoors even more magnificent. Outdoor lighting adds curb appeal to passersby while it accentuates your home, lawn and outdoor décor to the delight of your guests. Landscape lighting lends beauty to trees and plants at night while featuring your home’s focal points. Light the walkways for safety, security and charming visual effects. You’ll find lamps specifically for porches, pools, cabanas and gazebos. Hanging lanterns lends even more allure to your evenings.

Somehow, the kitchen always becomes a social gathering center for guests, plus it’s crucial for resale value. The right lighting can make a big difference, however it has to combine task lighting functionality for food preparation with soft, general lighting for a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. An older kitchen may not be equipped for this new decorative, yet versatile lighting, so consider a modest electrical upgrade to open up new worlds of possibilities.



You probably associate plumbing with functional indoor necessities, but think again. Consider making a splash in the backyard with a cool, refreshing fountain. Or how about a relaxing, soothing hot tub under the stars? Add an entertainment center and wet bar and your back yard is like a vacation destination.

For the great indoors, install a whirlpool tub in your present tub space. Indoor rock fountains provide a calming effect and come in every size, from pebble basins to wall size. Bath and kitchen fixtures can add both style and resale value to your home. Replace your current faucets with matching styles throughout the home for a consistent and polished appearance. Pedestal sinks lend a distinctive look, but if your bathroom is small, you might opt for a cabinet mounted sink with a stone countertop. Install sconce lighting for both soothing illumination and the illusion of more space.

If your kitchen and/or bath appliances are old, they also show your home’s age and they consume too much energy. Today’s innovations add convenience, style and energy savings. Imagine a tap solely for instant hot water so you no longer warm up water on the burner for coffee, tea, soup or cocoa. A soft water system actually improves the appearance of your basins, serving ware and laundered items as it removes minerals and improves the cleansing performance. It also prolongs the life of your appliances. From refrigerators with door-mounted TVs to smart ovens you control while you’re away, today’s high tech creature comforts are astounding, efficient and affordable.

All your options are fun, but they can be dizzying. Just give us a call and we can help you assess your needs, your home’s opportunities and the best ways to give your home a comfortable, convenient and beautiful makeover.

Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

Programmable Thermostats

Get With the Program, And Watch your Energy Savings Grow.

Install a programmable thermostat and by setting the temperature back by 10 degrees for eight hours every night will lower your heating bills by 10%. A digital thermostat can pay for itself in less than a year.

Set your thermostat at 68 degrees during winter days, and 78 degrees in summer.

The whole point of a programmable thermostat is to keep your home nice and cozy when you’re in, and not waste energy when you’re out.

With more than one programmable thermostat, you can save even more money by keeping comfortable temperatures only in the rooms where you spend time.

What’s more:

• Programmable thermostats allow you to program and pre-set separate temperatures for the various seasons of the year;

• They can also be set to coincide with your daily living, working, and sleeping schedules.


These are the settings most models include:

• The ability to program your thermostat one day at a time;

• With weekday/weekend programming, you can set one set of temperature control for weekdays, and another for Saturdays and Sunday;

• Or, you can have one fixed schedule for the five weekdays, a separate schedule for Saturdays, and a separate schedule again for Sundays;

• Full seven-day programming that permits a different setback schedule for each day of the week.

Now that’s a lot of flexibility. Depending on the manufacturer and model, here are other available settings:

• Vacation Override, which allows temporary override of the programmed settings;

• Keyboard Lock, which prevents unauthorized changes to the preprogrammed settings;

• Low battery indicator;

• An Energy Monitor that can keep track of how many hours the HVAC system has run for any selected time period;

• An Auto Season Changeover that automatically provides heat or cool air once the seasons change;

• A Filter Change Indicator.

What are the bottom line benefits to you? Now these you’re going to like:

• Greater accuracy for improved indoor comfort;

• They contain no mercury;

• When used properly, you’ll save $100 or more each year on your energy bill.

And that’s as bottom line as it gets!

So for improved indoor comfort and increased energy savings, call Rapid Service LLC to help you start saving money and the environment, today.

Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

Just one more way we’re able to assist you…“Around the House.”

Wiring a Pool or Hot Tub is No Day at the Beach

Pool and hot tub wiring presents unique challenges that require more than a little bit of wiring experience. In short, this is no job for amateurs.

Common sense dictates that the most dangerous wiring jobs are those that involve water…two elements that definitely do not play nice together…at least not without constant supervision.

There are very specific rules, for example, on how close wiring may be placed to water, and where GFI (ground fault interrupters) outlets are required. GFIs protect against shock by interrupting electrical current caused by a ground fault.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the American Red Cross, there have been 60 deaths and nearly 50 serious shocks reported over the past several years involving electrical hazards in and around swimming pools and hot tubs.

And the usual culprits are as follows:

• faulty underwater lighting;
• aging electrical wiring that hasn't been inspected in years;
• ungrounded sump pumps, power washers, and vacuums;

• electrical appliances (such as radios and TVs) and extension cords falling or being pulled into the water;
• the absence of GFIs.

"The best protection for families is inspection, detection, and correction of electrical hazards in and around swimming pools, hot tubs and spas," says CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton.

If you already have a pool or spa, here are several safety measures you can implement right away:

• Know where all the electrical switches and circuit breakers for pool equipment and lights are located and how to turn them off in an emergency.
• Ensure that all electrical wires and junction boxes are at least five feet away from water.
• Test GFIs monthly to assure continued protection.
• Post an emergency plan within clear view of those using the pool.
• Ensure that overhead power lines and junction boxes are safely positioned away from the pool or spa.

At Rapid Service LLC, we’re always available to assist you on any electrical matter, especially where your family’s safety is concerned. At the same time, we’re always happy to help good customers like you save money.

Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

Just one more way we’re able to assist you…“Around the House.”

The 10 Most Common Household Repairs

The 10 Most Common Household Repairs

"Old reliable" churns away in your basement or utility room day after day, month after month, year after year like a farm mule in days of yore. Except this one doesn't eat as much - nor do you have those ugly, malodorous piles laying all around the place!

Except every once in awhile, like a cantankerous old mule, the modern water heater doesn't do what it's supposed to do. That's when you call a plumbing contractor saying "no hot water."


This is the top reason why people call a plumbing or heating contractor, according to a survey taken a few years ago by the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Information Bureau (PHCIB) in Chicago. A related problem, a leaking water heater, came in at number 5 out of the top 10.


Looking over the list, I can't help but shake my head at all the waste of time and money these emergency service calls represent. Most people don't pay much attention to their household "mule team" - the mechanical systems that provide so much comfort and convenience in our modern lives. We take for granted our water heaters, toilets, faucets, furnaces and air conditioners, until they stop working. Then comes the panicked call to the service company, and a repair job that always ends up costing more than we expect.

Regular care and maintenance can forestall most of these breakdowns at a fraction of the cost of repairs. Have your plumbing, heating and air conditioning inspected, cleaned and checked at least once a year. Progressive service companies offer service agreements in which they automatically come out to take care of these things for a modest annual fee.

Homeowners also should consider replacing ancient water heaters, toilets, furnaces, boilers and other appliances with new high-efficiency or water-saving models. Most of us are in the habit of squeezing out every last day of service out of such equipment. Yet any unit more than 12-15 years old probably can pay for itself within a few years through reduced energy or water usage.

Here are the rest of the top 10 household repairs identified by the PHCIB.

#2 - Clogged drains. Many of these calls could be avoided by taking greater care in what you put down drains - especially the kitchen sink drain, the most used and most clogged drain in the house. I also recommend regular treatment with Bio-Clean, a biological drain cleaner sold only through plumbing contractors and available at Rapid Service LLC



#3 - Dripping faucets. This is an annoyance that most homeowners have to deal with from time to time as the washers in the faucets wear out with use. You can extend the life of your faucet washers by not turning them off with too much force.

You may also consider replacing your older faucets with those that feature washerless valve cartridges instead of rubber washers. Since the valve mechanism is contained in one cartridge, these faucets are easier to repair and replace. In addition, cartridges are generally more durable and do not leak because they do not deteriorate with friction or age as washers do.


#4 - Leaking pipes. In extreme cases, these can cause expensive damage to floors and belongings. To stop a small leak from turning into a big one, take a look at your pipes periodically to check for rust or white lime deposits that may indicate a leak is starting.





#5 - Leaking water heaters. Most often when you have a leaker, it's time to get rid of the water heater. Usually leaks indicate rusting through at the bottom of the storage tank, for which there is no good repair. By the time this happens, the water heater is usually so old you'd benefit from replacing it with a more energy-efficient model anyway.



#6 - No heat. When your furnace or boiler stops operating, it can make for a long, cold winter night. An ounce of prevention here is worth of ton of cure. It's important to make sure your heating system is functioning properly before the first cold snap hits. Have a competent contractor do a thorough examination and cleaning in late summer or early fall every year.

#7-8 - Running & leaking toilets. This is not only an annoyance, but a waste of water and money. Leaky toilets can cost you upwards of $100 a year on your water bills. If you hear a low humming noise, or if the toilet continues to run into the bowl after the toilet is flushed, it indicates that some part of the mechanism is out of order. Sometimes a little jiggling of the ballcock or flush valve mechanism solves the problem with cost. Otherwise you may need to replace the entire mechanism.

#9 - New faucet installation. Many homeowners replace faucets not only when they break down, but for decorative reasons as well. This is the ninth most common reason for a service call, according to the PHCIB.

A few people buy a faucet from a home center and then call a plumbing firm to do the installation. This is okay, but be forewarned that in doing so, the plumbing firm will warrant only its workmanship, not the faucet itself.

#10 - Malfunctioning food waste disposer. This can be a messy headache for homeowners. Here are several tips to keep your unit in good working order. First, always run cold water when grinding to move the waste all the way down the drain lines. Fats and grease congeal and harden in cold water and can be flushed through the system. Hot water should not be used because it can dissolve fats and grease, which may then accumulate in the drain line.

Almost all bio-degradable food waste can be fed into disposers. However, they should not be used to grind clam or oyster shells, corn husks or other material with a high fiber content. Under no circumstances should you put glass, plastic or metal non-food materials through a disposer. This includes bottle caps, tin covers or aluminum foil, which are some of the items service technicians commonly find in clogged or broken disposers.

Maintenance is easy. Grinding small bones and egg shells actually helps clean the disposer by scraping away stubborn deposits or citric acid and pulp. Grinding a little ice is another way to clean deposits and get rid of odors. For the most part, though, disposers are self-cleaning.

Visit our website at rapidservicellc.com for a $25 coupon that can be used toward any repair work or new installation.

Just one more way we’re able to assist you…“Around the House.”