This time of year, just as in the spring, we experience several calls about outside faucets leaking. That usually means someone has forgotten to disconnect the hose on the nights we have a light freeze. Why does this happen? First of all, most faucets are not designed to allow a hose to remain connected during a freeze. Even a “frost proof” faucet is not designed to have a hose connected during freezing weather. A “frost proof” faucet is designed to allow the water to drain out of the faucet when turned off. The stem is usually 6″ to 8″ back in the wall, allowing the water to drain out. When a hose is left hooked up, it allows the water to siphon back into the pipe. The water freezes and the pipe expands, usually causing a split in the pipe. Many people don’t realize the hose was hooked up for just one evening, and always tell us there was no hose hooked up. We know otherwise, as the faucet would not have frozen and split. SO DISCONNECT THAT HOSE EVERY TIME YOU USE IT.

• Meyer Plumbing

It’s a good time to have your furnace system serviced and your fireplaces serviced. Nothing worse than realizing a small amount of preventative maintenance could have saved an uncomfortable evening and an expensive service call for a replacement part.

• Chapman Heating and Cooling
• Prudential HVAC
• Energy Control

All fireplaces should be checked to make sure they are in good working order and are safe to use. Even the engineered gas fireplaces should be checked and serviced.

• Fireplace Distributors

We also recommend the electric panel be looked at yearly. Why? Where the main wire feeds enter the electric box and are inserted into a lug, these can work loose over time, as the wire can expand slightly and contract slightly, allowing the lug to loosen somewhat. This can lead to an unsafe situation, and can allow for the main breaker to get hot and burn out. It sometimes leads to the entire panel box needing to be replaced.

• Crider Electric

Sump pumps occasionally get a breather in the winter months. However, if the water table rises, and we have a wet fall and winter, it still has to do its job. We recommend you test the sump pump(s) every 30 days, allowing you to know it is in working condition.

• Meyer Plumbing

This is also a great time to check your septic tank if you are on a septic system. The growth over or around the septic tank is more easily accessed this time of year than it is in the spring. It also gives you the opportunity to make any repairs if required, and get any areas ready for seeding in the spring.

Find a HBAL member who can help. www.hbal.com

Having just changed our clocks to EST, change those batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

If you have any questions concerning the above, give us a call at (502) 244-0114, email me at perry@pllyons.com or fill out our handy Ask a Question Form. I might even write a blog post to answer it!

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As we always do, I completed a drawing, followed by an itemized cost estimate based on that drawing. I quoted the job and was asked several questions by the homeowners in regards to the estimate. They asked if they could use my scope of work and plans to have a “contractor friend” quote the job also. I agreed to let them use the plans and scope of work, with the understanding that they would pay for the plans if their friend got the job.

After they met with their “contractor friend” they asked why they needed me, a licensed contractor, to do their work. The “contractor friend” said “he was qualified and did this type of work without a permit all the time”. He has been doing this type of work on the side while he was laid off.

I explained the following:

1. We are professionals, and this is a service we provide to make sure you get what you requested.

2. We are licensed; as required by law, and are required to have Workers Comp and Liability Insurance. He isn’t licensed and does not have these types of insurances. What happens if your house sustains damages, due to his neglect, while he is working in your house. You may not be protected by your insurance because of the permits that are required, and because you have not disclosed to your carrier what you are remodeling.

3. If that unlicensed contractor does any work including ANY electrical and or plumbing in the house without permits, this could result in fines in excess of $1,000.00.

4. We get all necessary permits required to complete this work, and it is inspected by the local building officials. Therefore you as homeowner get all inspections as required. When it comes time to sell, you’ll need these inspections and may have trouble getting them otherwise- which can lead to much more costly fixes down the road.

5. When remodeling a home or basement, what you think doesn’t really matter. Having a license and obtaining permits do matter regardless of whether you agree. Most every remodeling project requires a permit; regardless of who is performing the work, even if it’s the homeowner.

6. We offer a warranty, similar to the new homeowners warranty offered by the HBAL. Unlicensed contractors often have no warranty.

Part 2 coming up. How did this story unfold?

1. I recently became a Certified Renovator, as required by the EPA Renovating Repair and Painting law that takes effect in April 2010.
2. We recently took courses dealing with drywall specifications and finishes along with painting finishes for new and remodel construction.
3. I just completed a course concerning ICF forms, and the part they play in the Green Building process.
4. We will be attending the International Builders Show later this month. We will be attending educational courses concerning upcoming codes and standards changes, green building practices, and other issues. We will be introduced to many of the new products and practices we’ll be using in the future.

Want to work with a design build firm on the leading edge? Contact us today regarding your custom project.