Should I Hire a Plumber?
My short and direct answer is NO! We do not recommend installers... and especially plumbers. Most plumbers work under the idea that they need to bill you at least $500 an hour, including parts and labor. Some plumbers are at $600 to $800 per hour. Of course, you can't do that charging for labor only, so when they show up, the usually say something like "Oh my God, you didn't buy that did you?" Then they proceed to try to sell you their water treatment system (which is always an inferior system and one they generally know little about). All they know is that they get a commission for selling it and their boss is happy that they are billing you at $500 to $800 per hour.
Plumbers are also famous to us for installing equipment backwards and breaking parts, because they won't (or can't) read the directions. Our systems are simple to install - we have videos, manuals and tech support 7 days a week. We have the least problems with installation from homeowners who care about their work. However, if you are not the mechanical type and want someone to install a system, I suggest calling a Handyman Service. If you Google "Handyman Service" you will have a multitude of options. Hire someone who is not afraid to call us and ask a few questions.
Don't get me wrong. Plumbers are necessary and I personally know many good plumbers, but many are not that good and are trained to "sell you stuff" and bill at $500 to $800 per hour. All of the big name brand plumbers in your area are likely of that type. "Mom-and-pop" plumbers are not so much like that. The guy who does my HVAC is a "one-man-band" but he gives me great service and has saved me thousands of dollars. When my neighbor had his heat pump go out, he asked for his name. The other companies quoted from $6,600.00 to $8,800.00 for the job that he did for $3,600.00! Cheap is not always better, but getting ripped off is not good either.
You need to remember that when you buy from US Water Systems, you are buying direct from the manufacturer and cutting out the middlemen. So, if a plumber has something for close to the same price, it is generally dramatically inferior. There are many reasons, why you may not want to hire a plumber to install your water treatment system, however, the best payoff in not hiring a plumber is not having to see their buttcrack.
6 Comments
Are you allowed to reveal your HVAC guy’s name?
I would in a private e-mail. Are you in the Indianapolis area?
I am a “one man show” plumbing contractor who wanted to refer a customer to your website until I read THIS article! FYI; I only charge $76.00/hr and I receive NO commissions from product manufacturers. Not even Roto Rooter charges $500/hr! I have a 4.76/5 rating on Home Advisor.
Tim,
I also understand you were live chatting with some of our Customer Service Personnel. It is a fact than many plumbing companies want to bill at $500 to $800 an hour. That is not just labor, but “parts and labor.”
I know that because I am a plumber too and I did write this:
“Don’t get me wrong. Plumbers are necessary and I personally know many good plumbers, but many are not that good and are trained to “sell you stuff” and bill at $500 to $800 per hour. All of the big name brand plumbers in your area are likely of that type. “Mom-and-pop” plumbers are not so much like that. The guy who does my HVAC is a “one-man-band” but he gives me great service and has saved me thousands of dollars.”
I did not lump all plumbers into this category and said that “Mom-and-pop” plumbers are not so much like that. However, the fact of the matter is that we have fewer installation problems with homeowners and handymen than with plumbers. I have been in the plumbing and water treatment business for 42 years and that is my experience. I am merely speaking the truth and maybe you are one of the “good plumbers” I mentioned.
Due to chlorine in the city water the resin beads in our water softener have broken down in just around 5 years. When this occurred our water pressure dropped to a trickle during the first minute showering. So the system was expensive and I would hate to throw it away just because the resin is done for. Is there a filtration system that would help get chlorine/ chloramine free to increase the equipment longevity? If it’s chloramine will that even come out of the water? Then is it even worth it to have a system to protect the softener and at that point considering a conditioner instead as I’m also concerned that salt is corroding my drain pipes. Thanks for any ideas on my situation.
We have our Bodyguard system that has a special blend of carbon that removes both chlorine and chloramine. Install it ahead of the water softener. https://www.uswatersystems.com/us-water-bodyguard-whole-house-chemical-removal-filtration-system.html You can replace the resin with 10% cross-linked resin which also lasts about twice as long as regular resin: https://www.uswatersystems.com/aquatrol-premium-grade-10-water-softener-resin.html