Publish by: Powers Plumbing


Private Residence - Custom Sump Pump Lid

Homeowners had a large old pump system that was deteriorating and the lid was caving in causing the pump to fail. We replaced the pump, tank and had a lid custom fabricated to fit the hole pattern.

Dates of Service: January 16 - 20, 2012

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This was a kitchen remodel with an island sink in a high rise in San Diego. The challenge was that there was no access to the water and waste system from the middle of the room. We obtained permission from the unit owner below and exposed his ceiling to run the system. The scope of work changed but we kept the job on schedule by doing what was necessary even though it meant getting creative.

Dates of Service: November 27 - 28, 2012

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Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church - Bell Tolls for Thee ABS

The church was undergoing a major building restoration and renovation. We replaced the cast iron roof drains that run through the bell tower.

Dates of service: September 22, 2011 - September 23, 2011

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Cosmopolitan Hotel - High Tanks in Old Town

Replaced nine high tank toilets for the Cosmopolitan Hotel to Sunrise brand low flush high tank toilets as specified by the Department of Parks and do the work when rooms were vacant at the hectic beginning of the busy tourist season. We were the subcontractor on this prevailing wage job.

Dates of service: June 27, 2011 to July 28, 2011

Total Cost $17,378.25

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Mind Your Own Business!

Get Your Parents a Toto Washlet Toilet

 
Since the first outhouse that was built with a door, most people would agree that using the toilet is at best a private matter. But what happens when you face illness or injury or have a condition that causes you to need help before or after performing your regular bodily functions? Suddenly, the need for assistance does not allow you the privacy you were accustomed to any longer.  The stark realities of this became apparent on a recent visit home to see my mother.

My siblings took charge when our mom needed to transition to assisted living, I live out of state.  Coincidentally, my sisters own and work for Silver Connections, a business that helps provide housing and relocation assistance for older adults, or assistance for the elderly to safely remain in their own homes. Staying in place wasn’t an option for my mom any longer.  So my mom had expert assistance when she was faced with this major change in her life. 

On my last visit home, I was struck with the amount of help my mom needs now and the complete lack of privacy she endures when she uses the toilet. My mom has been fiercely independent her whole life, but now she needs assistance on and off of the toilet. Since I am in the plumbing business I knew of a practical solution. So I got my sisters involved and sent my mom a Toto Washlet.  My hope was that this would be something that would help mom feel clean because of the hygiene benefits, provide relief to the caregivers for some of the bathroom duties when Mom is at home and though Mom does not complain about it, give her back more independence with regard to doing her business and keeping it her own business.

Mom had not heard of the Toto Washlet. When she asked for details it became clear to her how useful it could be for her situation and beneficial to her caregivers. The Washlet is a high end product designed by Toto and retails from $880.00 to $1,985.00.  It converts your standard toilet to function better than a bidet. It also completely eliminates the need for toilet paper.  Mom got the Toto Washlet S300, which retails for $1,364.00

It takes the water supply for the toilet (before it enters the toilet) and pumps it through the Washlet, which creates a warm water spray that is both temperature and pressure adjustable for cleansing.  The Washlet needs a power supply to operate the heating units, for the fan that vents away unpleasant odors and provides for the dryer.  There are different models with different features.  For example, mom’s model has an air deodorizer that ionizes the air and a remote control.  All of the models come with a heated seat, great in the middle of a cold night.  After using the Washlet you are clean, warm and in a pleasant environment.

In my mom’s case she needs assistance to get up or down from the toilet.  She can at least retain some dignity with the most personal part of her routine before her caregiver is called in for assistance.   I discussed the applicability of the Washlet for seniors with Morgan Matias, the Toto representative in my area.  Morgan said “Helping seniors age in place is a perfect match-up of needs to benefits for the Washlet product.”  She continued, “Even in our tell-all reality TV age, it is still mostly taboo to discuss our needs for these most basic functions.  The actual use of the Washlet, however; can really give anyone who needs assistance with these daily functions a greater sense of dignity and privacy.” 

Being in the plumbing business, I talk about toilets and what goes down them on a daily basis and I also understand that there is some delicacy to this subject and personal habits can be intensely personal.  Because my sisters work with older adults they immediately understood the benefits of the product for my mom and for their clients. They helped me with the installation and getting my mom used to the remote control.

I recruited my sister Diane to install the Washlet.  Diane reported,  “I followed the template and it was easy and quick to install.  The controls are easy to use and easy to adjust.” Mom has electrical near her toilet but that may need to be re-routed or added for some bathrooms.  The seat comes off with a quick release mechanism for easy cleaning, which is a real plus.

When my mom first tried it the cool dryer air surprised her.  She made an easy temperature adjustment and adjusted all of the settings to way she wanted them. After a few weeks of having the Washlet, I asked my mom what she thought about it overall.  She said that she really likes it because she has a greater sense of privacy and it was very comfortable.  She feels cleaner and the bathroom is more pleasant with fewer odors.

The Washlet S300 comes with a remote control for those who want even more privacy. It can be operated from the other side of a closed door.  Obviously this takes some coordination with the person on the toilet.  But, it also allows you to provide assistance, if needed, and still allows your loved one to retain his/her dignity.

We may all be in a position to need some assistance as we age or if we suffer from an illness or injury.  Mom’s caregivers immediately appreciated that the Washlet made their working environment more pleasant and that it took away some of the most unpleasant part of taking care of my Mom’s needs after using the toilet.  Since the job of a caregiver is already so intensely personal it works out better for everyone.  For me, knowing that I am helping return some independence to my Mom is the greatest reward of all.

Powers Plumbing now has a Washlet at their shop.

 
Janet O’Dea is owner of Powers Plumbing and sells and installs the Washlet and Toto products in San Diego, CA, 92103  www.BestSanDiegoPlumber.com. 619-295-2115

 
For senior living and relocation assistance contact Pat O’Dea-Evans and Diane O’Dea Silver Connections ASilverConnection.com  866-421-8266


For more information on Toto products visit:  www.totousa.com

 

Publish by: Powers Plumbing

Plumbing Emergency - Does your tenant know who to call?

A tenant calls the Powers Plumbing emergency line because she has sewage backing up into her bathtub from her toilet.  If she is on the bottom floor, the back up may  not even necessarily be from anything she did but could be further down the line and get worse as the people upstairs run their laundry or use other drains.  What does she do?  She picks up the phone to call us and offers to pay.  

Ultimately the plumber who received  the emergency call wants to be of help in an emergency. .This is a terrible situation for the tenant too.  She is trying to do the right thing by limiting any further damage to the property but is it how the owner wants her to handle it?  Does the owner work with this plumber or another plumber up the street who knows the building and that thw owner trusts?

Calling the closet plumber to the property  may be the exact proper protocol if the owner or property manager of the property has taken steps to provide information to the tenants about what to do in case of emergencies.

Emergency Contact Numbers

As an owner or property manager this situation can be mitigated if you provide the tenant with an emergency contact number  to reach you directly or an agent  who will be available for such calls so the tenant can be assured of a response in an emergency.  

In most cases the tenants lease prohibits the tenant from taking on repairs without your permisison and also holds the tenant responsible for damage to the property --so the tenant has some responsibilities in these matters.  However, without the owners direct authorization and by  the tenant contracting with a plumber she found online  to the property  (even with the assurance that she will pay), but  without the proper permission brings about liabilities for the emergency response plumber and the tenant.  These liabilities can be easily avoided by setting up the protocol in advance. 

If you are a tenant or owner/property manager putting this information in the lease is a good idea but during the emergency the tenant  is not likely going to go digging for the paperwork.  Instead, we recommend that you leave the best emergency contact number on the refrigerator or on the inside of a kitchen cabinet so that it is easy for your valued tenant to find in an emergency.

Property Management is about Relationships 

It is also a great idea  for owners and property managers to set up a relationship with your  local plumber and as a back up give that name to the tenant.  That way, if for some odd reason (your phone is shut off at the movies, you are flying on a plane, you are in church) the tenant can't reach  the plumber that the owner works with.  In these situations, Powers Plumbing still calls the owner or property manager to let them know but because we have a working relationship that is set up in advance if we can't reach the owner or property manager either we take the risk if it means it will reduce property damage for the tenant or owner.  The fact we have a working relationship provides some reassurance  that the owner gave the tenant our number.  Setting up this relationship with your plumber  provides the emergency response plumber a certain amount of implied permission that will reduce the plumbers liabiliity should they take the risk to respond without preliminary communication.  

Other ways to address this  for owners/property managers who get the emergency call from the tenant is to call the emergency plumber directly with the issue - this works when the owner/property manager provide clear direction to the tenant as to what to do in an emergency.  The owner or property manager may not even know all of the details but this permission can include the name and phone number of the tenant so that the plumber can take it from that point forward.  

Use your Voice Mail Message or Answering Machine to Help You

The owner or property manager can leave an outgoing message with their plumbers contact information on an answering machine or voice mail.  That way the tenant knows by this outgoing message who to call.  

Either way works efficiently and is helpful to the tenant by reducing the stress on him/her when put into the an  uncomortable and unexpected situation.   It is also helpful to the plumber so that they know they have permission to enter the property.

Setting up a few simple systems for handling emergencies are part of the service to your tenant.  With these protocols in place emergencies can be addressed promplty. 

Publish by: Powers Plumbing

Powers Plumbing is now collecting client satisfactions surveys through the month of October and early November in order to stay on top of its client services and skills.  "So many companies are prompting their clients with requests for surveys". Quesitons often are biased towards a specific answer which may be helpful to the companies for marketing but not really provide them with valuable client services insight. 

"Our survey is aimed at our service to our clients"  said Janet O'Dea, "We value our long term relationships with our clients but we don't want to take them for granted. Powers Plumbing's client survey is set up to make this an easy way for them to find out what they are doing right and also just as important what they may need to improve upon.  They have been around since 1914 so they must be doing something right.   Powers is asking questions such as: "Do you feel that  Powers provided respect for your time? or   Did you feel that you were listened to?"  

Taking this step allows the company to focus on areas of improvement.  

Powers invites all of their clients to take the  client services survey and posted it on their home page website  at www.BestSanDiegoPlumber.com to make it as easy as possible.