The Master Plumber

Honestly, I NEVER thought I would be a plumber, it wasn't even on my top 100 Things I Want To Be When I Grow Up list. Trash Man was like...number 8 (that was when the men would hang on the back of the truck and jump off...that looked fun to me when I was 7).  But, after a stint in the Navy as an Air Traffic Controller, through Providence I wound up working for a wonderful Christian family that owned and operated a large plumbing company in Dayton, Ohio; where I learned the plumbing "businesss".  Later, when I pursued a music career in Nashville, TN I wound up working for the plumbing company who did a lot of the plumbing jobs for the country music stars of the day.  Today, I have scars on my hands for work done in homes of some of country music's biggest stars and personalities during the early 90s.  Finally, with a dream of providing the BEST plumbing service possible in Indianapolis, a late model Dodge Van, and less than $500 I founded, along with my wife Laura, AttaBoy Plumbing Company.  I never could have imagined that I would wake up every morning to work with the BEST family of plumbers and co-workers, to provide the best plumbing service and value possible in central Indiana.  It is a dream come true.

The driving force and focus at AttaBoy Plumbing Company is to treat people the way I would want to be treated...fairly, honestly, and with respect.  And that my friends is what AttaBoy Plumbing Company is all about.  Treating people, both customers and plumbers, well.  This interdependent relationship is my daily focus and work at the helm of AttaBoy Plumbing Company.  From attracting the best professional tradesmens possible by providing a working environment where one is valued, respected, and able to provide for their family's needs and aspirations... to... serving customers who wish to be valued as more than just a dollar sign, have their property and trust respected, and desire to get the most bang from their hard earned buck.  At AttaBoy Plumbing Company, its not just about plumbing...its about people.

My bottom line: it is an honor to serve with the men and woman I work with.  And, it would be my pleasure to serve you.

God Bless You,

Richard  

"I just know that I smell gas, but my husband doesn't seem to smell anything" is a very common statement we often hear from our customers here at AttaBoy Plumbing.  And such was the case with one of our Noblesville customers who called to say she swore that every so often she could get a whiff of natural gas in her home, however, her husband didn't smell anything.  First, it is not uncommon that the "husband" doesn't smell anything.  The fact is, female sense of smell is "more tuned" than male's.  So to be honest, we plumbers tend to listen to the woman of the house more intently (experience has taught us to always listen to the woman of the house) when it comes to smells.  Well, in the case of our Noblesville gas smell customer it turns out that she really did have a small gas leak on the water heater/HVAC gas supply line.  Her AttaBoy gas technician had the leak fixed in a jiffy and was out her way.  Call, Click, or Chat now for the gas leak experts at AttaBoy Plumbing.

We received a call from a panicked Indianapolis woman who said she had just gotten home to find "water raining from my dining room ceiling".  

We immediately sent one of our plumbers right over to discover that she was not experiencing a super-natural weather phenomenon, but rather a really inconvenient, but, natural plumbing ploblem.  Plumbing materials age and wear out over time - right?  Water constantly eats away and deteriorates the plumbing mechanicals that are used to current and distrubute the water.  In the case of our new Indianapolis customer's raining dining room ceiling; in the bath above, a fitting had spit at the toilet fill-valve and water supply line allowing water to run down the line, across her floor (undetected), under the wall baseboard, dropping unto the dining room ceiling below, finally finding its' way out through the ceiling dining room light fixture.  Turns out, easy plumbing fix; nasty mess for customer to have cleaned up.  Though there is no sure-fire way to insure that this kind of plumbing problem does not occur, the odds of this kind of homecoming can be greatly reduced simply by having your plumbing mechanicals inspected each year.   Call, Click, or Chat now for your AttaBoy Plumbing Whole House Plumbing Inspection, today.

"I wish I had called you first!",  our Carmel water leak customer told his AttaBoy plumbing tecnician ...even though he didn't have a plumbing problem at all, he had a gutter/roofing problem.  Though this example from one of our service calls last week is a little extreme, it is a good example of how water can do crazy things.

We were called by this new Carmel customer who explained that he had this leak in his basement ceiling and he had other plumbing companies out to take a look with no success in discovering what was causing the leak, and asked "would we like a shot at it?".  Well, after examining all walls and ceilings, water lines, some head scratching, and a refused-to-be-stumped attitude, I am proud to say that our AttaBoy plumbing professional hit a bulls eye! It turns out (now get this!) that a second story roof guttter had filled with leaves and debris causing it to dam and overflow up under the roof flashing, down the inside of the second story wall, across the wall seam some thrirty feet, down the first floor wall, back across the length of the home inside the wall, and finally dropping down on the basement ceiling where over time it had finally damaged the drywall reveiling the leaking water.  WHOA!

"When drips, leaks, and clogs annoy; call the plumbing (water) pros of AttaBoy!"

We just earned another new Fishers customer who recently tried to repair a drain leak himself and wound up creating more of a mess than solving the problem - his words, not mine.  We assured him that his story is very common...we're just thankful he chose AttaBoy to provide the right fix. 

Mr. Fishers (name is changed to protect the innocent) was experiencing a spuratic leak in the ceiling above his kitchen sink.  To keep the story short, Mr. Fishers had done a very good detective job by finally deducing that it was not a drain line leaking, but, a drain vent line leaking.  Vent lines allow your plumbing drain lines to breath so they will drain well.  If your drains lines don't "breath" they will react much like a straw filled with liquid when you hold your finger over one end...it holds the liquid.  Mr. Fishers had discovered that an 1-1/2 PVC fitting on the vent line was leaking when it rained and had tried to repair it with caulking silicone.  Great job on the leak detection (vent leaks are among the hardest to determine and find), not so great job on the repair.  After his third attempt, Mr. Fishers called AttaBoy out and his AttaBoy Plumber made the proper repair (actually replacing the section of improperly installed venting) keeping the rain outside and his drains breathing properly...and, Mr. Fishers "breathing" a sigh of relief.

I, personally, am a repair it kind of guy.  And, that's how our AttaBoy plumbers approach every job as well...usually a repair is less expensive for our customer, and it does the trick.  However, there are times when it can be more cost effective to install new instead of spending money on a repair and our AttaBoy plumbers offer those options to our customers to help assist the home owner in making an informed descision.  There are also those times, or certain repairs, that we will not perform a repair and only offer a new or replacement option.  Hose spigots are one such task.  AttaBoy had a long time Fishers customer call in a couple weeks ago to service a leaking hose spigot.  Our plumber evaluated the spigot, that was installed by AttaBoy 11 years ago, and determined that hard water deposits had built up on the "seat" of the faucet and was/had "eaten" up the bulb plunger assembly of this anti-freeze hose spigot.  Our plumber gave only a replacement option offering the installation of a couple different models.  Our long time Fishers customer told our plumber that he just wanted it repaired.  Our plumber explained that we do not repair hose spigots with that kind of sympton because our data/history as demonstrated that the repair does not "take", or simply lasts for only a few usages; and, even though our customers are/were made aware of the reality of the repair we found that customers were still "upset" with spending money on the "repair" that did not last.    Long story short, we wound up installing a new anti-freeze hose spigot.

We understand that no one wakes up in the morning and wants to spend money with a plumber...let alone more money for something new when one may be thinking it can just be repaired.  With that in mind, AttaBoy plumbers will always shoot straight with you using our combined experience, job histories, and expertise to provide you options that will provide you the greatest "bang for your buck"! 

So there you are lying in bed at night and you hear a faint "tinkling" sound.  The more you try not to hear it...the louder it gets.  Has that ever happened to you.  Well, that's exactly what one of our Carmel customers experienced last week.  He got up and tracked the sound to the master bath toilet...his toilet was "running".  This long time Carmel Indiana customer called us out to remedy the problem so he could get "a good night's sleep".  Our AttaBoy plumber examined the toilet and discovered that the toilet fill valve was weeping into the flush valve over flow...a very common sympton, a very common repair.  In less than an hour his toilet was repaired and quiet when not being flushed, and he finally got a good night's sleep.

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'll start by saying, "I love it when AttaBoy is able to turn a negitive situation into a positive".  And that's exactly what our AttaBoy plumber was able to do yesterday on a Fishers new hot water heater installation job that after the new water heater was installed it would not fire up! 

So let me paint the picture here:  we have a customer (a first time AttaBoy customer) who called early afternoon upset that her water heater was leaking all over the floor and of course she had no hot water to boot..."will you come today?"  We worked her in the schedule immediately, our plumber did verify that her hot water tank was leaking and provided price and warranty options to her and her husband (over the phone at work)...they chose the better warranty option and our plumbing technician proceeded with the installion. 

Once completed...time to fire up the burner...NO IGNITION!  Turns out a safety electronic valve on the blower motor tested bad..."out of the box" and the manufacturer wanted to "over-night" a new part tomorrow...which means we would get it the day after tomorrow.  So here we have a first time AttaBoy customer who just spent money for a new hot water heater (no one wakes up in the morning a says I want to spend money with a plumber today), and they have no hot water!  Our plumber explained the situation and assured them that they would be taken care of and with hot water "first thing in the morning".  The customers were very patient with our plumber, but understandably a little nervous about the situation.

Here's where it gets good.  Our plumber was camped on the steps of the local supplier to be first in when they openned at 7:00.  We were just going to purchase the needed part (it is covered by manufacturer warranty) instead of the "normal" process of waiting on the shipped warranty part direct from manufacturer but they did not have it in "stock".  Well, long story short, because of our relationship with the supplier, and a little bit of arm twisting and begging, they "robbed" the part of a new water heater which we were able to purchase.  We had the customer in hot water by mid morning.  I called to follow up with the customer and make myself available to any questions or concerns.  Both the Mr. and Mrs. expressed how "happy" they were with their experience with AttaBoy and "trusted" we would stand behind our work and products.  "You have a customer for life".  A win/win!

Just like that cable program "Bath Crashers", we are installing a new basement full bath today in Fishers.  Before days end, two of our AttaBoy plumbing craftsmen will have jack-hammered the basement cement floor and installed the sewage ejector pit and all the "rough-in" portion (the water and drain lines) for the tub/shower, lavatory, and toilet.  This part of a new basement bath is pretty intense...especially on a day like today where it is going to be 95 degrees and humid.  But, these two AttaBoy technicians will get on in professional manner and have a new basement bathroom for these excited Fishers customers very soon.  Call, Click, or Chat to have that new bathroom roughed in...today!

You know, as a consumer myself, it's the small print stuff...or to be politically incorrect...the outright misleading by many companies and manfacturers that rubs me the wrong way..."we didn't say whether we did or did not". Or my favorite attitude, "well, of course, there is the wheel tax fee which generates the wheel tax fee fee, in which we have to add an additonal 10% handling fee for handling the wheel tax fee (which adds an additional 20% to your auto repair expense after the fact when you are at the window paying).  Now, I know I am exagerating and being a little silly...but, thats how it feel sometimes.

Take this Noblesville customer with a leaking water heater.  They bought a water heater from one of those big box do-it-yourself stores thinking they were "saving" money.  He thought he was covered by a good water heater warranty which stated that the water heater would be replaced should it leak anytime with in 9 years.  Well, as it happened, the water heater tank sprang a leak a couple years down the road so this Noblesville hot water heater customer called the store to say he needed to take them up on the warranty.  They notified him that they did not handle any warranty issues and that he would need to call the manufacturer direct.  A little put out and surprised, he called the manufacturer who in turn told him that they would give him a varification number and that he, the customer, would have to take the water heater back into the store with the varification number to redeem a new water heater.  Let me repeat that...the customer would have to drain the water heater, disconnect the mechanicals, run the 200 pound water heater up the basement steps and load it in the family truxter, and take it into the customer service counter of the do-it-yourself center he purchased it from  So much for the few dollars in savings...not to mention his broke back!

Call, Click, or Chat now to service your hot water heater.  AttaBoy plumbers are water heater experts.  And with AttaBoy Plumbing's water heater warranties if you experience any problem...you have no worries mate...and certainly, no hauling around a water heater yourself! 

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!

AttaBoy Plumbing does a lot of toilet repairs.  It's what we do...and we do it daily.  AttaBoy plumbers have seen every toilet problem there is and if there is a toilet causing havoc anywhere in or around Indianapolis,  our plumbers will most certainly save the day.  Your AttaBoy toilet expert can find and repair that nagging leak to providing and installing today's state-of-the-art water closets.  For toilet relief today Call, Click, or Chat now!

As I sit here in the AttaBoy office to write this blog the rain is still pouring down.  There was no morning meeting for the plumbers...just get on with it and to all the poor folks with flooded basements.  I could hear my sump pump just cycling one after another this morning before I left for the office...which a normal Fishers to Castleton "rush hour" drive time takes me about 20 minutes...this morning...and hour and half!  Roads were flooded in every direction we were forced to detour.  By the time I got here the phones and schedule were a buzz with poor or failed sump pump calls.

Sump pumps are one those things we just don't think about...until it's too late.  when asked up front (and when standing in ankle to knee deep water) what are the best considerations when purchasing a sump pump I quickly state: "buy a heavy duty, professional grade pump and have it installed by a licensed plumbing expert.  Now I know...I literally can hear people all over Indianapolis, Zionville, Carmel, Westfield, Noblesville, Fishers, Geist, Greenwood, and Avon saying, "a sump pump is a sump pump right?" "And, my neighbor's second cousin once removed knows a guy who changes his own oil on his '68 Oldsmoble and will install my sump pump for free because I'm a nice guy."  This is when I usually say something like yes, you can save a hundred bucks by buying that cheap sump pump at the local big box hardware store and having the neighbor install it for you for next to nothing.  That being said consider this, to have your flooded finish basement cleaned up will cost somewhere between $7000-$15,000...and thats before replacing the "stuff".  But here's the thing...it's the personal stuff that is now floating around that can not be replaced and hits the heart (not the wallet) that really hurts.  So, a hundred bucks...really?

Call, Click, or Chat now with an AttaBoy Plumbing sump pump specialist to discuss the sump pump and sump pump back up sytem particulars and value...and don't let a rainy day rain on what is valuable to you.

Broad Ripple is an Indianapolis gem!  From the art and music fests, quaint stores and shops, to all the great eating and entertaiment spots.  Laura and I love it.  But, when I think of Broad Ripple I also think "plumbing".  That may sound funny but I can't help it.  AttaBoy plumbers do a lot of faucet, toilet, water heater, sump pump, clogged drains, and leaking pipes repairs.  Just like our bodies, your home's plumbing ages...and Broad Ripple plumbing is at "that" age. So, when your plumbing causes you pain...Call, Click, or Chat the Broad Ripple plumbing experts of AttaBoy.

Hey Indianapolis, do you ever think, " I just need a break"?  You know, something good to go your way when something unexpectantly not so good arises.  Well, thats exactly what AttaBoy Plumbing's half off second same task deal is!  Purchase any plumbing task and product at regular price and get each additional same plumbing task and product for 50% off!  For example, purchase one drain clog opening at regular price - get the second drain rooter at half price.  Repair one leaking faucet at regular price - repair another for half.  Catch one running toilet...catch a second for half the cost.  You get the idea.  We know you were not expecting that bad plumbing break...but Call, Click, or Chat AttaBoy Plumbing today and we will give you a great savings break to heal your plumbing break.

So, I answer this call from an Indianapolis customer who immediately asks, "do you do bathroom plumbing?"  I have to admit that that kind of plumbing question always makes me smile.  Oh I know it is a good and fair question...I mean, doctors and mechanics specialize...so it very well can make good sense that plumbers would specialize in areas of the home too.  As it turned this Indianapolis plumbing customer had three distinct concerns in his bathroom: a leaking toilet, a clogged tub drain, and he was interested in having us install  two new sink faucets.  All three jobs we can handle with ease.  So, after a short conversation, we scheduled a service call to take a look at his needs and to give him an exact price for the job(s).  Turns out we did all three jobs and earned a new customer...attaboy!  If it leaks, drips, or clogs...in your bathroom; your AttaBoy plumber has seen it before and can get the job done.

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!