Although it’s tempting to hire the contractor who submits the lowest bid, there are other factors to consider. Here are Michael’s Plumbing Heating & Air’s tips for finding a trustworthy contractor:
1. Make sure they are licensed.
It is always in your best interest to hire a licensed contractor. Contracting or advertising without a Nevada State Contractor’s license is a misdemeanor for the first offense, a gross misdemeanor of the second offense and a Class E Felony for the third offense. If you are considering hiring a contractor and they have a license number listed always make sure that license number is valid and current. You can check NV State Contractor’s licenses at http://www.nvcontractorsboard.com/
2. Make sure they are properly insured.
Ask the Contractor if they carry Worker’s Compensation and General Liability insurance. Ask to see their certificates of insurance.
3. Check the contractor’s rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Make sure the contractor you are hiring is highly rated with the Better Business Bureau. Does the contractor have an excessive number of complaints? If the contractor has any complaints were they resolved?
4. Conduct your own background check.
Ask the contractor for references. Any contractor who is trustworthy will gladly provide them. Ask the contractor for examples of previous work. Check the contractor’s online reviews by doing a google search for “contractor’s name + reviews”.
5. Get a written contract
And read it! Make sure the job includes permits if necessary for the type of work being done. Make sure the contract includes the mandatory verbiage regarding the Residential Recovery Fund. This information is there to protect you in the event an issue arises. Be wary of a contractor who requires you to pay 100% upfront for work.
Michael’s Plumbing & One Hour Heating & Air are teaming up again to raise food for our less fortunate neighbors in Northern Nevada. Last year we raised over 850 lbs of food by donating over $3,000 in plumbing and heating repairs to our customers. This year we plan on surpassing that amount.
To save $10 off your service today and $10 off a future service just donate 5 cans of food when your technician arrives at your home. With your help we can do our part to help ease hunger in our area.
Occasionally we will feature a product / service that our customers have been asking to learn more about.
Currently our featured product is the Rinnai RC80HPi tankless water heater. Some of the features of this unit are listed below. Michael’s Plumbing Heating & Air is factory trained and authorized to install Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters as well as all other tankless water heater brands including Noritz, Bosch and Takagi.
Some of the benefits of installing a tankless water heater vs a conventional storage tank style water heater include:
Conventional storage tanks are always on, heating and reheating water to a set temperature, a tankless heats water on demand.
Conventional storage tanks have a set capacity, typically between 30 and 60 gallons depending on your model. Once you use that amount you have to wait for the water heater. With a tankless water heater you have endless hot water.
Conventional storage tanks are big and bulky, A tankless water heater hangs on the wall, about the size of a small suitcase, freeing up valuable square footage in your home.
The life expectancy of a conventional storage tank water heater is 12-15 years. Tankless have a expected life of 20+ years.
The most efficient storage tank has an energy factor of about .67, but, according to Energy Star, some tankless units have energy factors as high as .95
Most tankless water heater models qualify for up to $1500 in federal tax credits.
Tankless is a green technology, saving energy and resources. Also because the unit is significantly smaller in size when the time comes to dispose of a unit it takes up much less landfill space.
Upfront cost is higher on a tankless water heater due to the cost of the unit and installation. This cost will be recouped in energy savings over the life of the unit.
To learn more about tankless water heating technology or for a free in home consultation and custom quote call us at (775) 355-1611.
Michael’s Plumbing Heating & Air is teaming up with Habitat for Humanity to complete plumbing for a Habitat home on Kings Row in Reno. This house is being built for a family with a quadriplegic child. Because the child is wheelchair bound special accommodations are being made including a large roll in shower with handheld shower head. We are also completing gas piping for an emergency backup generator so the family will never be without power for their medical equipment.
Michael’s Plumbing Heating & Air is donating the plumbing materials and our employees have been generously donating their time on Saturdays to complete the installation of all the plumbing systems.
We look forward to seeing the family move in when the house is completed in Summer, 2010!
Michael’s Plumbing Heating & Air and One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning have raised 850 pounds of food for local families in need, by donating over $3,000 in plumbing & heating repairs to their customers. Each customer received $20 in services in exchange for food donated during this drive.
Michael’s Plumbing Heating & Air and One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning capitalized on their 13 service vehicles, which visit customer’s homes every day, to make the program a success. The campaign wraps up tomorrow with a donation to benefit the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.
“We saw an opportunity to use our fleet of service vehicles to help fight hunger in our area,” said Michael Jared, owner. “Through this effort we were able to raise enough food to help a lot of families in Northern Nevada”
A Michael’s Plumbing Heating & Air service vehicle donated the food raised at the “Share Your Christmas Drive-By Food Drive” on Friday December 11, 2009 at the Grand Sierra Resort.
“During these tough economic times we realize the need is greater than ever.” said Jared. “With the generosity of our caring customers we are happy to be able to give back to the community this holiday season.”
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Wonderful Service. Will use you again! — Rhonda H., Reno, NV
