
Now, it certainly is a rare thing for a water softener tank to "explode" but, that is exactly what happened to a customer who called
AttaBoy for help yesterday. It turns out that this Fishers customer's name brand, budget grade water softener tank (not supplied or installed by AttaBoy Plumbing or another professional plumbing contractor) had ruptured under pressure litterally spewing water and resin all over the area and bending 3/4" copper water lines in the concrete slab. So much for saving a buck.
Though the tank was covered under warranty and the supplier was willing to not charge for installation labor, this Fishers customer insisted that they wanted "their" plumber to install a new professional grade water softener. And, from what I understand from our plumber, is that the other water softener company is reimbursing the customer for the new professional grade water softener professionally installed by
AttaBoy Plumbing . My hat is off to the water softener company for fitting the bill for the new softener, though, I believe it was smart business because the softener was less expensive then paying for the clean up. The Fishers customers got a high quality, dependable water softener from AttaBoy with no worries at no cost, though, they do have a pretty fair mess to clean up. And, my favorite part, AttaBoy got a new happy customer! Hey
Indianapolis,
Zionsville,
Carmel,
Noblesville,
Geist,
Avon, and
Greenwood; Call, Click, or Chat now to have an AttaBoy water softener expert examine your water conditioning needs.

I had a message on my voice mail from a person who stated only that they were a customer and wished for me to return their call (no name or reason given). When I returned the gentlemen's call he said with a smile in his voice, "I bet you think I have called to complain". I said something like "I sure hope you don't have a complaint with AttaBoy." He went on to explain who he was and how he decided to "try"
AttaBoy Plumbing but was not expecting us to fulfill on our claim of "Big City Service...Small Town Price" based on his experience with other plumbing companies. But he went on...I got to listen for almost ten minutes as he raved about AttaBoy Plumbing as compared to those "other guys". I have to admit that I asked him if he would consider writing an online review. Though I will admit that we are not always perfect or may not be the cheapest plumbing company you are looking for (we can not compete with "I have a friend of a friend's second cousin once removed who knows a guy that will do it for nothing" scenerio), I am proud to say that overwhelmingly customers who speak with me have the kind of reaction like this Indianapolis gentlemen and I am confident that whether you live in Fishers, Carmel, Geist, Noblesville, Zionsville, Avon, or Greenwood; you will not find a more "bang for your buck" when it comes to installing or repairing water heaters, sump pumps, toilets, dripping faucets, small water or drain line leaks all the way to replacing a main water or sewer line. Like this gentlemen, "try" us and you will see why
AttaBoy is an Indianapolis Best Value!

Yesterday was one of those days that I know all plumbing companies in
Indianapolis (and
Fishers,
Carmel, and
Zionsville for that matter) had to be very busy, I know that AttaBoy Plumbing was extremely busy; our plumbers were doing double duty and overtime. That extreme weather front that went through Indy not only brought a lot of rain (that's an understatement), but water heater and sump pump failures. I have explained before in other blogs how a low weather pressure (usually associated with storms) adversly effects a home's plumbing system...one major componet being your hot water heater. Basically, the expansion pressure caused by the low weather front adversly effects the mechanical...so if your water heater is on the verge of leaking...it is literally pushed to the breaking (or leaking) point by the weather. And as for sump pumps...well, all the rain pushes them to their breaking point. So next time you see storms and heavy rain forecasted...give
AttaBoy Plumbing a call and be on the front side of a plumbing problem or flooded basement. And tell'em Richard (that's me, your neighbor and owner of AttaBoy Plumbing Company) said take an additional 10% off for being so smart and proactive!

Natural gas that is.
AttaBoy Plumbing receives and performs more gas leak repairs in
Indianapolis than
Fishers,
Carmel,
Noblesville, and
Zionsville combined. The main reseason is simply that the gas piping is older. What starts to happen is the the old black steel piping and fittings once used for gas installations in Indianapolis start to pit and decay literally from the inside out. Finally, a consumer will detect a leak by smelling that natural gas smell (which is not natural, the ordor is injected in so we humans can detect it with our noses) or by a high gas bill. If you call the gas company they will come out and simply shut you off and tell you to call a plumber. Plumbers are licensed to install and repair gas line leaks. AttaBoy Plumbing plumbers are gas fix experts. Call, Click, or Chat now for gas repair service today!

We received another great review from a customer in Fishers today that I wanted to share:
"Atta Boy came out to help us with our plumbing needs within hours of our phone call!!! The tech was very professional & friendly. Most important, he gave us 3 pricing options to fit our budget needs. They are now going to be our 'go to' plumbing service."
I just love and appreciate getting such great feedback from our customers. It is always our goal to give each customer options when faced with a plumbing repair and then leave it up to the customer to decide what will work best for their needs and budget. It is also our goal to be professional, friendly and quick to respond and then, to get out of your hair!
So whatever the plumbing problem, whether it is hot water heater issues, toilets running, drains backed up, or a dripping faucet, call AttaBoy and let us exceed your wildest expectations! You'll be glad you did!
Mrs. AttaBoy
As always, proudly serving the
Indianapolis,
Fishers,
Carmel,
Noblesville,
Zionsville,
Westfield,
Greenwood,
Avon,
Broad Ripple and
Geist areas.
Saying that all water heaters are the same...like comparing water heaters found in those "big box" do-it-yourself stores to the water heaters supplied by a professional plumbing company like AttaBoy Plumbing, Heating and Cooling is like comparing those little box cars you see in communist Russia with a free-market, American made Ford, Honda, or Toyota...we just aren't comparing apples to apples. Yes, they both have wheels (the cars that is), a motor, and will get you from Zionsville to Greenwood...but that is just about all they have in common. So it is with water heaters. Yes, those water heaters you buy at the big box hardware store will get the water hot...eventually. But, will cost you more in the long run (really, in the short run) both in cost in operating and maintenence. So, if it is important to you to have hot water for your family, and in the most efficient and cost effective manner...Call, Click, or Chat AttaBoy Plumbing today!

There is no doubt about, these are cautious if not difficult economic times. My current life experience tells me that every household is feeling the financial pinch. And so is
AttaBoy Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. As the owner, I have had to make difficult cut backs and have worked closely with suppliers so as to continue to meet our customers needs and expectations...a very difficult task the past couple years. While our competition has raised prices in order to maintain the status quo, AttaBoy Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has been able to lower our prices while continuing to provide excellent service. Maybe that is why one of our customers called us the plumbers with "Big City Service, at a Small Town Price". I like that. I think that customer described AttaBoy perfectly. So, whether you are in
Indianapolis,
Fishers,
Noblesville,
Geist,
Carmel,
Zionsville,
Avon, or
Greenwood; have a leaking hot water heater, clogged drain, gas leak, flooded basement, running toilet, or water softener thats just not getting the job done...you will not find a better value than AttaBoy Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. Call, Click, or Chat today for service!

Sump pumps are just not something we think about...but, wish we had when one morning we step off that bottom step and "skwish" unto the basement carpet! At
AttaBoy Plumbing, Heating & Cooling we get calls asking for help from
Geist,
Fishers,
Carmel,
Zionsville,
Avon,
Greenwood, and
Indianapolis customers who relate just that same story all to often.
I have to admit...the same story happened to me and my family last Spring...and I should know better, I'm a plumber for goodness sake! The good news is, it only take a little bit of preventative attention to keep from experiencing the scenario we just spoke of having to spend a few thousand dollars in restoration costs and emotional hit with loss of valued property and personal effects. Simply have the sump pump experts of AttaBoy Plumbing, Heating & Cooling give your sump pump a "check up". We do that kind of thing often with other things in our lives. Before the start of the year - and my new get back in shape commitment - I saw a doctor to make sure my body was fine to handle the stress I was going to put on it. Last summer when I took my family on a vacation out west, before we left I took the family "truckster" to the mechanic to have it check out to make sure it was prepared for the road stress I was going to put on it. We should think of our sump pumps and sump pump systems in the same way. They may have been sitting dormant for quite awhile and now, all of a sudden, they are going to get a hard "work out" and put some "miles" on the motor. And, if your sump pump is not up to the task...SKWISH!
AttaBoy Plumbers are sump pump and back up sump pump system experts and are standing by to insure that you stay dry.
The weather forecasters are predicting extremely low temperatures this evening with the wind chill below zero. Yikes! Spring can't come soon enough for this plumber!
Just a friendly reminder to all of our friends and valued customers to leave a faucet slighly turned on to reduce the chances of your water pipes freezing. Also, open up the cabinet doors under your kitchen sink and bathroom sinks to allow heat to reach those pipes.
If you do end up with frozen pipes or water lines, call AttaBoy Plumbing, Heating and Cooling and we will get you unfrozen lickety split!
Your plumber,
~Buddy~
Don't forget we service all of Marion and Hamilton counties (including
Indianapolis,
Fishers,
Carmel,
Broad Ripple,
Geist,
Noblesville,
Westfield,
Zionsville,
Beech Grove,
Greenwood and
Avon).

This morning I recieved a call from a
Zionsville customer who believed they smelled gas at their water heater so they did what most people do and called their appropriate
utility company. The utility company came out, shut their gas off (so no heat for the house), and told them to call a plumber who is certified to test gas lines. You see, plumbers are the techicians trained and certified to work with natural gas lines and mains on your property, not the utility authority...imagine that.
After performing the needed pressure test, locating the leak, and making the needed repair (in this case replacing a decayed fitting) for minimal cost, this Zionsville customer was able to have the gas utility back out to turn their gas on and were back in hot water...and heat.
Another satisfied
AttaBoy Plumbing, Heating & Cooling customer!
Say your water heater is leaking or all of your drains are clogged or you are in need of having a gas leak repaired. Maybe your basement is flooded from all of the melting snow and your sump pump or back up has failed or you finally are going to get a new water softener and get rid of that hard water. You know you need a plumber, but where do you find one you can trust?
Just a few short years ago, we all "Let our fingers do the walking in the Yellow Pages", but times have changed and the majority of us turn to our computers or smart phones and let our fingers do the clicking. We all know that we can find just about anything (and then some) on the Internet, and that includes plumbers.
Finding a good plumber online is takes some time. Anybody can put up a website and get themselves listed online. Check out the reviews for the plumbing company on the major search engines. Positive reviews written by actual customers are a great way to feel confident about a local plumber. While it's not possible to please all the customers all the time, make sure a large majority of the reviews are positive.
Also check out the plumbing company's website for money saving coupons. Some companies offer coupons, but you have to sign up for their newsletter first. AttaBoy has a link to
numerous coupons right from our website and these days all of us could use some savings!
So whether you're in
Indianapolis,
Fishers,
Carmel,
Noblesville,
Broad Ripple or
Zionsville, don't drag out that five pound phone book, just pop open your laptop and get Googling! Or better yet, just call
AttaBoy Plumbing, Heating and Cooling. You'll be glad you did!
We’ve had a lot of fun over the years, conveying our message on central Indiana (including Indianapolis, Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Greenwood Geist, Avon and Zionsville) radio and television. We tried to make leaking faucets, water heaters, drain clogs, broken water lines and toilet problems fun, well as fun as they can be. (Hey, our plumbers think they are fun!)
Some of our commercials have been "retired", so I thought maybe some of you might miss seeing some of these classics or just needed a fun plumbing pick-me-up, so
here's a link to all of commercials. (But beware, you'll be humming our song all day!)
~Laura~
Here are some simple things you can do to improve the efficiency of your basement plumbing. Don't forget to do regular maintenance checks of the mechnicals in your basement.
- To prevent sewer gas issues, which typically stem from basement floor drains, occasionally pour a bucket of water down the drain to keep the trap seal full.
- Check your water meter when no water is being used, note the reading and check it 8-10 hours later. If the meter has moved, it may be due to an undetected leak within your home.
- If you are experiencing water hammer noises, you can install shock absorbers, which will absorb the vibrations in water lines.
- Check your washing machine hoses for abnormalities, if there is a bulge, leak or weak spot you should most definitely consider replacement.
- Your septic tank should be inspected and pumped every 3-5 years, which ultimately should save you from a costly filter field replacement.
All of these items (and many more) are included in the AttaBoy Plumbing "Peace of Mind" Home Inspection. Our plumber can check all the plumbing mechnicals in your home to insure they are in proper working order and if there's any problems, we'll provide solutions. For more information or to schedule service, call your local plumber,
AttaBoy Plumbing, for all the details.
Indianapolis - 317-522-0596Fishers - 317-863-3999Carmel - 317-708-6008
Noblesville - 317-565-1665Zionsville - 317-973-0387Westfield - 317-399-5109Avon - 317-241-2882Greenwood - 317-215-7293~Buddy~

There are all kinds of Do-it-yourselfers....
- Those who enjoy a challenge
- Those who have a tremendous knowledge and ability for a particular task
- Those who LOVE taking things apart and putting them back together....just to see how something works
- Those who find the work relaxing
- Those who are trying to save money
Sometimes, the DIY jobs go smoothly without incident, but other times,.....not so much. That's when AttaBoy can come to the rescue as a customer in Indianapolis reports on
CitySearch:I was finishing my basement and had roughed in all of the plumbing except for the final phase of "stubbing out" the supple pipes, to be connected up after drywall. No matter what I did I could not get those final fittings (including a shower valve) to not leak. I was out of ideas other then to call AttaBoy.
They came out within 2 hours of my call and was able to fix my "DIY" issue before the end of the day.
I was very happy with the the service and the fact that the plumber answered a few of my other questions while he was working on my issue. I will call only Attaboy for any other plumbing problems.
So if you are a DIY-er and and your simple plumbing repair turns into a plumbing problem, call the expert plumbers at AttaBoy Plumbing. We won't even mind if you take credit for the work....we'll never tell.
~Buddy~
Don't forget we proudly serve Marion and the surrounding counties including the communities of Indianapolis, Fishers, Carmel, Geist, Noblesville, Westfield, Zionsville, Greenwood, Avon, Brownsburg and Fortville.

Here's a great review that can be found on
Yahoo! from Karen, an AttaBoy customer:
The Attaboy team is composed of real professionals! The friendly receptionist got us scheduled for the next day. Our plumber was timely, wore a clean uniform, and fixed our toilets with ease. He even took the time to answer our questions. I would recommend Attaboy to anyone who wants stress free plumbing repairs and great customer service!
Thanks, Karen, for your kind words and recommendation!
And Karen is right! For stress free plumbing, great customer service and plumbers you can trust,
AttaBoy Plumbing is your plumbing company! Let us handle all your plumbing needs from drain cleaning to tankless water heaters, we do it all! And we cover it all....from
Avon to
Zionsville,
Carmel to
Fishers,
Indianapolis to
Noblesville,
Greenwood to
Westfield. AttaBoy IS central Indiana's local plumber.
As always, when drips, leaks and clogs annoy, call the plumbers of
AttaBoy!
Most of the time you probably don’t give much thought to your plumbing system, that is until it's
not working correctly. Nothing will get the attention of a homeowner quicker than a rupture in a water line or fixture that starts pouring water onto their floors. Understanding a few basic facts about how your plumbing system works and what to do in case of a pipe break or system leak can prevent plumbing headaches and even property loss in the future.
First, the location of the main water shut-off is important to know. If a pipe breaks and is flooding your house, the main water supply may be the fastest way to shut off the flow of water. As your plumbing system enters your home either through a municipal water supply or private well you will find a main shut-off at the municipal water supply meter or the pressure tank of a private well. You should also find shut-off valves inside your home. Many times these are located near the water heater or coming through a basement wall. Newer homes will have emergency shut-off valves for every fixture and appliance. However, in some cases older homes do not have these shut-offs and owners should plan to have them installed.
If after having tried to find and identify the important valves in your home, you are still confused as to where and what they are, you can give AttaBoy Plumbing a call and we'll send out one of our plumbers to locate and identify them for you. While he is there he will also let you know if he finds any valves (or other plumbing components) that may be exhibiting any problems that may be a concern to you.
Remember, we serve all of the Indianapolis metro and surrounding area including, Carmel, Fishers, Greenwood, and Zionsville.
Your Plumber,
-Buddy
We are asked all the time if AttaBoy Plumbing is a national franchise. Rest assured, that AttaBoy is locally owned and operated and not a part of any national franchise. But we did find out a number of years ago that there are other AttaBoy Plumbing Companies in a few other
states (NY, TX, LA and WA). While we are in no way affiliated with those AttaBoy's, we think they've got a GREAT name!
Although they probably perform plumbing services and repairs in their neck of the woods, we are the only local AttaBoy plumber that tackles plumbing problems such as leaking water heaters, gas leaks, clogged drains and water softeners in Indianapolis, Fishers, Carmel, Zionsville, Noblesville, Westfield, Avon and Greenwood. AND, the other companies don't have Buddy!
Tankless water heaters, also known as demand or instantaneous water
heaters, are an excellent alternative to conventional tank heaters. AttaBoy Plumbing has been installing them for years.
Tankless water heaters heat water on demand rather than keeping hot water in reserve. Because they don’t have to keep a volume of water hot indefinitely on standby, they require less energy than tank heaters and generate lower utility costs. The difference can be as much as 30%. Tankless water heaters have very high efficiency ratings at nearly 99%. With more and more attention being paid to energy conservation and environmental issues, tankless water heaters have become very popular. Even though tankless water heaters typically cost more than tank heaters, if you compare their initial cost to the cost of high efficiency tank heaters, they are comparable. Additionally, there are tax credits available that can help make a tankless water heater attractive. Installing a tankless water heater will also add value to your property, as these are very desirable features in new homes.
The average tank heater has a life span of 10 years. Tankless water heaters will last twice as long or longer. They are not exposed to the same type of corrosion that dooms tank heaters. Because tank heaters don’t last all that long, a lot of them end up in the landfill where they are not biodegradable. All that waste could be drastically reduced if everyone used tankless water heaters.
Interested in finding out if going tankless is a good fit for your home? If you live in the Indianapolis area, including Carmel, Fishers, Avon, Geist, Greenwood, Zionsville, or Noblesville, just give us a call at AttaBoy Plumbing and we’ll be happy to send one of our expert plumbers out to equip you with information to help you make your decision.
- Buddy the Plumber
Okay, I'm a sucker for trivia, so you'll just have to bear with me for the next few posts. This will be the first of three installments.
- Water pipes used to be made from Lead. In fact, the word Plumbing (and plumb, and plumber) actually derive from the Latin word for Lead, plumbum. (Incidentally, the periodic table element label for lead, Pb, is based on the same word).
- Pipes haven’t always been made of metal. In the 1800s, both Boston and Montreal used wooden pipes; they were logs that were hollowed out and tapered at the ends.
- Lead solder was used even after lead was found to be harmful to humans, all the way through the 1980s. It was believed that the amount of lead that could potentially leach into the water was too small to matter. We’ve sinced smartened up.
- There are actually two common types of plungers – a toilet plunger and a sink/shower plunger. Toilet plungers narrow at the bottom to fit into the toilet drain, while sink and shower plungers have a flat rim.
- Sir John “the john” Herrington is credited with inventing the flushable toilet in
1596. He called it the “Ajax” a shortened version of “a jakes.” “Jakes” was a common old slang for toilet at that time. Unfortunately, Sir John’s designation for the flusable toilet didn’t stick, but his name did. Thomas Crapper (baptised 28 September 1836 – died 27 January 1910) was a plumber who founded Thomas Crapper & Co. in London. Contrary to widespread misconceptions, Crapper did not invent the water closet (toilet). He did, however, do much to increase the popularity of the toilet, and developed some important related inventions, such as the ballcock.
While you may have been able to make it through your day without knowing these not-so-important plumbing facts, it is important to know which plumbers to call if you have a clogged drain, gas leak, or water heater problems in Carmel, Fishers, Zionsville or Indianapolis. . . and that would be AttaBoy Plumbing Company.
Your Thought-full Plumber