The Plumber's Gift

The books never say one thing; they never say that creating a living from doing what one loves often seems like taking the easy way out. We're taught from elementary school on to really work hard and put our noses to the grindstone to get anywhere in life. We're told not to "cheat" or be lazy, not finish our work too early or too easily, not get ahead of the rest of the class. We're told not to let "the team" (the team being whoever reaps the most benefit) down, to get out and sell those Girl Scout cookies, that gift wrap or those candy bars.

They never say that, when people ask how much we'd charge to do a thing we love and are naturally good at just for them, it's really logical given our upbringing to think, "Ah, that's a piece of cake!" and lowball the price in order to play fair. It feels sneaky somehow, as though we'd be in danger of attempting actual fraud, to charge them a fee which would provide real profit. In our minds and hearts, we know it's an easy task and because it's so easy, we wind up with an amount that doesn't begin to pay our expenses. We put the needs of the other person first as we were so thoroughly taught to do and allow others to plumb our skills to their advantage, not to our own.

As little girls we were expected to help Mommy cook, clean and watch children. As teenagers, we were either paid a token amount for babysitting or, as I was, paid by an uneven sort of barter system. (I often watched up to 7 of my siblings at a time in exchange for fabric to sew clothes from or for my freedom on Saturday nights. Sometimes, my 6 cousins were added into the total too!) At the time, it was the norm. Every one of my friends babysat for money or time to themselves. Our mothers did not teach us how to create lucrative businesses out of using our gifts and talents. How could they have? We were being groomed for a future life like theirs, not for becoming entrepreneurs who work from a home office.

As grown up girls we've learned to support ourselves by going off to work every day; fitting into the corporate or academic worlds, thinking we have "made it" but still coming home to all the domestic tasks that sit and wait for us. The braver or luckier of us have managed to create businesses that allow us to work from our home offices or studios, scarcely daring to hope or believe that we are powerful, magical, or lucky enough to make it work. We wave our magic wands of talent frantically over our business plans while muttering prayers to the Angels and the Goddess to watch over us and protect us and make it all profitable.

But then, the awful thoughts come creeping again. "Well, I did do that work while wearing my bathrobe." Or "I did that at the same time I was (pick one) doing the laundry, rocking the baby, driving to the post office, etc. how could I really charge them so much for that?"

We've all probably worked with more than one woman who held a job similar to ours who told anybody within earshot how hard she worked, how much effort it took to achieve an assigned task, how many papers she took home to complete and how late into the night her candle burned. Would we choose to become like her (if only in our own mind) in order to justify the fee we charge?

Recently, I observed my plumbers as they replaced the pipes for both water and gas in almost my entire house. At no time did they sweat. At no time did they grunt or groan with physical exertion. At no time did they move with the speed displayed by almost every other contractor I've seen; certainly not with the speed of a waitress or cleaning lady or nurse or school teacher.

I observed them submit their estimate, which gave me heart palpitations and then, their bill, which made me catch my breath and gave me heart palpitations again. Did they display any signs of guilt at the huge sum because their job was easy? Did they lowball the fee because they enjoyed their work? Did they feel odd because they came late and left early? Did their voices waiver and their gazes wander about the room as they spoke?

Not on your life. They looked me in the eye and spoke slowly and calmly. In fact, attached to the bill was a paper attesting to 20 reasons why it was fair to charge what they did. The list, complete with decorative icons, included their technical education, work to stock the truck, travel to the job site, office expenses, licenses, taxes and all the rest.

Certainly, it could be fairly argued that anybody working has similar expenses.

Believe me, my plumbing is now beautiful, is in excellent shape, the gas leaks are gone and the house is no longer in danger of exploding when I light a candle while doing an Angel Reading. I have, curiously enough, relaxed as I can now stop prowling the house looking for the source of "that awful smell." I am happy with the work they did.

And I am grateful that they left me with their gift of showing me how to calmly value my work to a greater extent. I know now that I do not have to turn my work into something I perceive to be difficult to do in order to allow myself to value it more highly. The work I do is of high value precisely because it is simple for me to do yet it does not mean that anybody else can do it as well or in a similar manner. If it's a "cinch" to do, it means it's coming from the depth of who I am and who I am is highly valuable.

Work that's traditionally undervalued on the pay scale is typically the work that's perceived as being simple, something "anybody" can do. Therefore, the trick to increase our incomes is to do work that's easy but perceived by others to be impossible to do for themselves and also highly in demand. The plumbers knew I didn't have a clue about how to fix a gas leak and they took that fact all the way to the bank. Gas leaks must be fixed and that's that. I obviously place a high value on not being blown to bits.

What fun to use ability do you have that you can offer to the rest of the world? What can you do that others cannot or don't have time to do? What have you discounted and perhaps not even recognized that is actually a marketable skill? Pretend you're a plumber and give it some thought!

Catherine M. Kasper.

SPECIAL: Limited time only! Receive 7 valuable, FREE BONUSES worth $$$$ plus in-depth Angel insights, answers, guidance and more! Have an Angelic Abundance Angel Reading with Catherine and Find out NOW!

10% of the profit from all Angel readings by Catherine Kasper is donated to the charity of your choice.

Empowering, Effective, Enriching Angelic revelations on Wealth and Prosperity, Catherine Kasper's Dynamic book-Angelic Abundance Treasure Maps Click Here Now!

5 Ways To Get The Most Bang For Your Buck When Hiring A Plumber

For just about any homeowner the day will come when you need to hire a plumber, and it can be quite a costly phone call to make. There are ways, however, to get the most bang for your buck out of your plumbing.

1 - Reduce the risk

One approach to reducing plumbing costs is to avoid them before they happen. Among the most routine of plumbing calls are those pertaining to drain problems and frozen pops. Lots of houses have a drain or two that is a troublemaker while the rest are fine. Kitchen sinks commonly have a grease buildup in them. Counter this by being careful about what is poured down the drain and occasionally running some boiling hot soapy water down the kitchen sink. Hair in bathroom sinks is another common problem. If your bathroom sink doesn't have any sort of screened drain cover, invest in one and clean it off regularly. Frozen pipes the problem? If your water pipes aren't all connected to a heated portion of your house then make certain that you have these pipes insulated well. If it's late into the season and outdoor water isn't going to be used anymore, then disconnect any outdoor water connections.

2- Buy your own materials

One high-profit area of plumbing is the sale of hardware and fixtures. If you already know what the problem is or you know what your plumber is going to be replacing, then do some price-comparison shopping and purchase the items that will be needed ahead of time. It may be worth your while to make sure that the products you buy are of good quality and your plumber knows how to work with the brand, make, or model of fixture/hardware that you've purchased.

3 - Know your enemy to save chargeable time

No, the plumber isn't your enemy, plumbing problems are the enemy. Make a checklist of anything in your house that leaks, is clogged, or needs plumber attention. When the plumber arrives have him fix everything that is in need of repair at once rather than piecemeal repairing things when they get really bad and requiring multiple trips from the plumber. This will also help the problem get work done more quickly since they will spend less time hunting and diagnosing problem areas of your residence.

4 - Shop around for the best quality rates

Often times the only criteria people use for selecting a plumber to hire is their hourly rate. While saving money on the hourly rate can be helpful, use common sense and make sure that the plumber you hire is qualified and insured. Ask how the hourly rate is calculated. If a plumber offers you a good rate, but they are far away from you and charge for driving time, it may work out to be easier on the wallet to hire a plumber that is closer to your home.

5 - Use water-saving fixtures

Whether your residence makes use of a local sewer system or utilizes a cesspool, lowering water usage will do much to lower long-term plumbing related costs for you. If you have a sink or faucet that is old and uses a lot water, consider replacing it entirely rather than repairing it. The less water you are passing the less you will be charged for water and the less wear and tear your water disposal system will take.

Aaron is a writer for Find Plumbers at PlumberSpot.com

Saving Money And Time With American Plumber Products

American Plumber is a company that makes a professional plumbing system. Their products can cut down on your need for frequent plumber calls. The system runs at all times making sure all is functioning well, often without human involvement. This can be a major time and money saver in regard to the plumber's involvement.

Among the many renowned products produced by American Plumber are many kitchen and bathroom water treatment systems, water filtration systems, piping, and other water delivery needs. They basically help you, the customer save money on your long-term plumbing investment while preventing you many additional expenses associated with frequent plumber calls.

Some of their most well-known products are their water filtration and treatment systems. One of the most famous is their under the sink reverse osmosis system. It's received numerous awards and is proven to help do away with piping congestion among other troubles. Reverse osmosis is one of the higher end water treatment systems, and American Plumber has put themselves ahead in this market.

The American Plumber water filter is another very popular product and is made by professional water filter makers such as Pentek and Culligan. The systems differ from many found in the water filter market in several ways. These water filter systems carry extended support for replacement filters and other parts. The filter system is available in under sink, countertop, and central full house configurations.

Today more than ever, people are finding the need for additional products that improve the quality of their water. With the many contaminants, natural mineral excesses, and other water problems, water treatment and filtration systems are showing up everywhere.

American Plumber's product line also offers alternatives to conventional plumbing solutions that often require a lot more maintenance. Plumbing calls can become quite expensive, especially when failures occur during off hours, weekends, and especially holidays. Whether the charges are hourly, or per job, they can add up over time.

In modern times, many are forced to do a lot more themselves, and with conventional plumbing, this can become quite a tedious task as well. The products of American Plumbing can provide a sound system that cuts out piping congestion and minimizes the potential for leaks and the problems that go with them. Once in place there isn't much to be done, and the plumber can be left to sleep late at night.

It's easy to say American Plumber can give you peace of mind at all times with less worry about your plumbing. Even when you do need to call a plumber things should be more standardized, and easier to deal with. That means a smaller bill if they ever have to be called.

In the end, if you spend less time and money on your plumbing; you definitely have more resources to deal with other things. With better potential health from good water and rest as it functions fine on its own; you definitely want to have a good look at the systems and products from American Plumber.

You can learn much more about plumbing by visiting the House Plumbing Site which provides comprehensive and up to date help and advice on all plumbing issues. Clive thoroughly recommends this site so make sure you check it out today here: - http://www.houseplumbingsite.com

Top Ten Reasons For Becoming A Plumber

Have you ever been told you need a college degree if you want a high paying career?

Do you know over 25% of all college graduates work in jobs that don't require a degree?

Do you know you don?t have to go to college to get a great job or a great salary?

It?s true, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics; eight of the top ten fastest growing occupations do not require a bachelor?s degree.

One of the hottest job opportunities right now is plumber. Here are the top ten reasons why you should pursue a career in plumbing:

1. It?s a hot opportunity- Human resource issues are a serious threat to the plumbing industry. There is an ongoing shortage of skilled workers and the coming wave of Baby Boomer retirements will cause the current large problem to explode into a gigantic one.

2. The great pay- Plumbers are one of the highest paid construction occupations. Pay rates of $20-25 per hour are common. And depending on your
location, you can earn up to $35 per hour and more.

3. Awesome benefits- The competition for quality plumbers is causing employers to put together amazing benefit packages including; paid vacations, retirement, and medical coverage including dental and vision insurance. If you join a union, the benefits are even better.

4. Incredible training opportunities- Most people enter the plumbing trade through an accredited apprenticeship program. By training as an apprentice you?ll earn a living wage, train with a seasoned veteran, and depending on the program you join you can earn college credit for the classes you take and the work experience you gain.

5. Employment stability- Employment of plumbers is less sensitive to changes in economic conditions than other construction trades. When construction activity declines; maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement of existing systems provide many jobs for plumbers.

6. Job advancement- Starting out as an apprentice and then reaching journeyman status you can accelerate your career by becoming a foreman, general foreman or even a piping superintendent. With additional training you could move into construction management or building inspection.

7. Create something that lasts- Plumbers help build homes, offices, hospitals, factories and sports facilities. You can be a part of something that lasts for generations.

8. Never be bored as a plumber- As a plumber you can work with gas piping, medical gas, water supply, waste water treatment, vacuum piping, underground utilities, residential service, residential and commercial construction? the possibilities are endless.

9. Make lifetime friendships- The construction community is a close knit group that serves and protects its members better than almost any group. Working as a plumber, you?ll make lasting friendships with other plumbers as well as members of other trades you work closely with.

10. Recognition- Get the recognition you deserve by doing quality work in the plumbing trade.

If this article has helped you and you think a plumbing career is the right fit for you, then visit the www.escoweb.com for more information.

J.K. Stephenson helps people find jobs that pay more than $20 per hour. Visit www.escoweb.com for more information

Plumbing - U-Trap Pipe Replacement

A few weeks ago, our family noticed water coming out of the cabinets around the kitchen and bathroom sinks. With a little inspection, we discovered the same problem in each case was at fault. The U-trap pipe was leaking due to being worn out from years of use. The pipe as its name suggests is U-shaped.

The importance of the U-trap other than keeping your floor dry and getting rid of water is that because some water is in the bottom of the pipe at all times, this helps prevent sewer gases from entering your home and harming you or your loved ones.

After diagnosing the problem, the next step is to go to the hardware store and get a replacement. Other than a flashlight (no matches or open fire source!), you will need a pipe wrench(only if you can't use your fingers to remove the nuts holding the pipe) and replacement pipe (either metal or PVC). You should check the pipe to see if you can remove it without a wrench, thus saving you some money if you don't need one, providing there is not one in the toolkit already. A word about pipe wrenches: You know that number they give such as 18"? That refers to the handle length AND the full opened width of the wrench jaws. Confusing, huh? Just be sure you pay for what you need.

After getting what you need from the store, unscrew the collars or nuts around the pipe, gently move it a bit to see if it moves, then pull out of position, and insert the new pipe and appropriate hardware. See that it is secure. Turn on the water. Check for leaks. If you have anymore problems with leaks from the same source, recheck all pipe connections for the U-pipe and P-pipe. The P-pipe is the one that leads from the U-trap pipe into the wallpipe connection, which, as the name suggests is the pipe leading into the wall and from there the sewer.

C. O. IRBY, III
bingle42@yahoo.com
I learned home improvement by doing it myself, but since I'm still learning I would be glad to hear from you any tips you have. I live in a 50+ year old house.

Things To Know Before Looking For A Plumber

It will never be easy to find a plumber, especially in the big city. Looking through the phone book will get you a lot of plumbers’ names but not their capability as good plumbers. In an emergency plumbing situation the plumber you get on the other end of the line needs to be not only fast, he has to be good as well. Consider yourself lucky if after finding this miracle worker he can even see you on the same day as you call. If you are in desperate need to have your problem solved, follow these tips to help you contact a plumber quickly.

Agree To Be Flexible

In an emergency, you may have to try people who are moonlighting. You will almost assuredly have to adjust your timetable to fit their availability schedule. In some cases, the plumber has a regular job and a full work schedule for the day and may only be able to help you in his off-hours. However, given little choice in the matter of your emergency, your best bet is to accept whatever time slot the plumber can fit you into on his schedule.

If the only available appointment is after dinner or very early in the morning, it would be in your best interest to accept the small inconvenience to your schedule and allow him to come and fix your problem. Your only other option is to stick to your guns and keep trying to find available plumbers willing to work around your schedule. It is always going to be hard trying to find an available plumber when all you hear is water dripping within your walls or basement.

Agree To Pay A Bonus

You can always bet that the best way to ensure the job gets done is to offer a bonus as an incentive. Put away your pride and your thoughts about your budget and try to focus on the importance of getting the problem fixed and over with. In the end, if you wait too long searching for a plumber, the cost to clean up the water damage will far outweigh any bonus you might have offered. Provided the plumber you find is reputable enough and can come right over, the bonus is always going to be worth it to pay. Always remember, the longer you wait, the more expensive the water cleanup costs will be.

You can also find more info on Plumbing Repair and Toilet Plumbing. Sressmanagementmethods.com is a comprehensive resource to known about stress management.

Call the Plumber?

We all know the story of the homeowner who tried his own plumbing repairs and ended up paying more since the plumber had to fix the repairs. Recognizing when the job is too big or too complicated for the ordinary homeowner is not easy-handyman egos are too easily bruised. However, plumbers are notoriously expensive so you want to make sure you really need one before you call him. There are a number of things you can do to make sure you will keep your costs of plumbing repairs at a minimum.

First of all, don't compare the prices of plumbers based solely upon their rates. Make sure you know all of the costs involved. One plumber may have lower advertised rates, but charge mileage which will increase the price of the job. Some plumbers start the clock when they get to your house, others may start it as soon as they leave their shop. Find out if they charge by the quarter hour; if they charge by the hour, you may have to pay for a full additional hour even though the job only went a few minutes over. Make sure you are fully aware of the real rates, so that you are comparing apples to apples. Another good idea is to ask around with friends and families for a reputable plumber instead of relying on advertisements.

Keep your plumbing jobs down altogether by taking good care of your plumbing. Most plumbing emergencies are caused by backups. Avoid having items such as grease or hair, which are responsible for most clogs, go into your drains. Putting vinegar, followed by boiling hot water down the drain is said to cut through grease clogs. Use a mesh catch in all of your drains to catch hair and avoid it going down the drains. Use a drain cleaning product once a month to keep the drains clean.

If you do hire a plumber to install a fixture, save money by buying your own fixtures. A plumber will add a premium to any fixtures he has to obtain for you. Just make sure you agree upon the type of fixtures you will use. Some plumbers won't guarantee certain cheaper brands.

If you keep all of your plumbing fixtures properly maintained, you can almost eliminate the need for a plumber. Make sure fixtures are attached properly and tightened. If you do call a plumber, make sure you know exactly what the problem is so the plumber can fix it and get out; don't forget he charges by the hour so you don't want to spend precious time discussing the problem. Keep a list of plumbing problems, so that if you have to call a plumber for one thing, you can have him fix everything in the same visit.

Ray Walberg repeatedly edits reports on issues corresponding to pickup tool boxes. Sharing his passion in detailed writings, he affirmed his deep knowledge on topics like kennedy tool boxes and truck tool storage.