Plumbing Company Archives - City Wide Plumbing

May 09

Note About The Water Break In Tempe AZ!

By City Wide Plumbing local news, Plumbing Company, water break No Comments

You’re very likely aware of the 24” water main break that flooded the US60 this weekend.

The latest report is that the City of Tempe along with ADOT are working to get the line repaired, but have no immediate timeline for the restoration of travel on the 60 while they work on the repairs. Note: The City of Tempe has released a statement saying that this is not disrupting water supply service to the area for commercial or residential customers. My intention in this email is to make sure you’re aware just in case it does become an issue, not to alarm our customers in any way.

Tempe’s Most Recent Update – https://mailchi.mp/tempe/tempethisweek42522-357514

I wanted to reach out just as a recommendation to check a few things at your home in Tempe. There is a small chance that some of the dirt, rocks, road debris have been introduced to that water line while the break occurred and whilst they repair it. We’re not 100% sure if that water line is a main supply for your neighborhood, but I would recommend taking some precautions anyways. If you experience any drop in water pressure, or notice any discoloration “dirty water”, I would recommend the following:

Full-Open front hose bib, closest to where the water line enters your home from the city meter, let that blow out water for a few minutes.
Removing the aerators from your kitchen and bathroom sink faucets, shower heads if you are able. These can sometimes catch particles and get clogged up, reducing water flow to those fixtures.
Running your bath tub faucet for 5-10 minutes in Hot & Cold. Most of the time, tub spouts do not come equipped with aerators and have the largest inside diameter pipe for flow.
Flush your water heater – These are often full ¾” supply lines and debris can get into that tank relatively easily.
Always feel free to call our office if you have questions or aren’t able to do any of the above yourself.

We’re hoping that the water main break didn’t affect you directly, and that this is all for naught, but want to make sure that if we can take some inexpensive preventative maintenance to avoid a larger scale repair – that we certainly do so. All of these are items you can do yourself, depending on your comfort level.

Wishing you well and please reach out if you have any questions or need something from us!

Thanks, and have a great rest of the weekend!

Bill Harden

City Wide Plumbing & Service

Dec 06

College Education vs Skilled Trades

By City Wide Plumbing education, Plumbing Company, skilled trades No Comments

You’ve heard the advice: Get a college education so you can get a good job.

While that’s great advice, it’s not always easy to follow. After all, it takes time and money to go to school. Even if you get your associate’s degree, you’re still looking at a $10,000/year bill to pay, and when you graduate, there’s no guarantee you’ll have a job waiting for you.

Despite the advice, college isn’t the only route to a good career. In fact, the skilled trades are one of the best ways to get started on the next chapter of your life. “Give me someone who can show up on time, have a good attitude, and be willing to learn,” said a local machine shop owner. “I can teach them the job…but they have to be ready to do the work.” She’s had unfilled job openings for the last three years.

“I can’t find younger workers,” she said. “As an owner, that means I have to use the staff I have and pay more overtime so I can fill my orders. It’s frustrating to know the company can accommodate more work but we don’t have the staff. As a result, we’re turning down orders or delaying them.”

Her corporation isn’t alone, either. Right now, there are “Help Wanted” signs posted across the United States, but not nearly enough people to fill the positions. Predictions only show the gap widening. According to a study conducted by the Department of Labor in January 2019 , there was a deficit of 1.1 million skilled laborers.

The lack of workers means if you’re a skilled tradesperson, you’re in a great position to find your dream job. If you’re interested in becoming a skilled tradesperson, however, you’re in a great place to acquire the necessary skills. “If you’re reasonably mechanically inclined, we could find you a place and train you on-the-spot. Our starting salary is very competitive!” The machine shop owner said.

It’s not just her place, either.

Most employers who rely on the skilled trades will provide on-the-job training. And in many cases, they’ll pay you while you’re training. “An apprentice can make a fairly decent paycheck, depending on who they work for,” a local plumber, Norm Oke of Norm’s Plumbing, said.

“They’ll learn on the job, and develop the skills they need to be successful. It may take a few years to develop that experience, but the whole time, they’ll be earning a paycheck and be well-equipped to handle any certifications or licensing required.”

Once skilled tradespeople are licensed and certified, they’ll see a jump in pay and have some freedom that a desk job may not be able to provide. “Every day is different,” said Norm. “Even when I was an apprentice, I always liked how much variety there was. And I can make my own hours. A lot of time, that means I work longer. As a business owner, though, it also means I control my workflow…and I like having that control.”

When asked about whether skilled trade jobs could be outsourced by artificial intelligence, thereby eliminating those positions from the job pool, the machine shop owner and Norm both replied with a resounding “NO!”

Norm elaborated, “There really is no substitute for hands-on, skilled people at the job site. A lot of times, the job requires collaborating with others to determine the best way to plumb a sink or provide a vent. It means knowing what questions to ask, how to read the blueprints and even coordinating eyes, ears, touch and smell – as awful as that sounds – to detect a leak. Today’s robot can’t do that.”

The machine shop owner agreed, “Right now, we have a lot of processes automated, but there’s no replacement for a trained eye. Will a part fit? A lot of times, it will in theory but in practice? It’s a bust. And a skilled machinist can think outside of the box to find a specialized solution. There’s no way to program creative thinking.”

Follow that advice: Get your education and get a good job. The skilled trades are willing to train, and able to pay while you learn. Take your apprenticeship to the next level and you can be your own boss, make your own hours and even control your workflow. That sounds like a great start to a great career.

Nov 17

Exciting Announcement – Change of Ownership

By City Wide Plumbing Owner, Plumbing Company No Comments

To our valued customers,

To start, I wanted to express my thanks for all our customers, friends, and partners for turning to City Wide Plumbing over the years for your plumbing needs. We’ve built a great many relationships in our community over the years and all of us at City Wide are very grateful for the trust our clients place in us.

We have some very exciting news to announce: In September 2021 we finalized a change in ownership! Bill Harden, a Tempe native, and Fraternity brother of Tyler, Kevin and myself, purchased City Wide Plumbing and has immediately gotten to work serving our customers. Bill has worked for over a decade in Real Estate with his family here in the Phoenix Metro area and has run many home repair, flips, and remodels jobs in his time. The transition has been incredibly smooth, as all our staff will be staying in place at City Wide and are each dedicated to new growth at the highest level of quality and service.

Bill will be adding some new technology to City Wide’s daily operation – tracking invoices, receipts, job details and photos for every new job which will make your service history readily available every time you call. I will be sticking around with City Wide as an advisor to Bill, so please feel free to reach out to the office if you have any questions for me.

City Wide Plumbing has been a great constant in our family and everyone here is committed to keeping that high level of service and care for our customers as our main priority. Thank you again for years of your trust in City Wide Plumbing, we appreciate all of you immensely.

– Larry C Quinn