TOPICS

Here at Casey's, we like to refresh your memory occasionally on Tips For Hiring A Contractor. You have choices on who you hire to do your contract work, and these tips can save you money, time, and headache.

Tips For Hiring a Contractor

• Verify the contractor is actively licensed. This means the contractor can legally work in Oregon, has a surety bond, provided proof of liability insurance at the time of application and insurance renewal*, and assures that you have access to the CCB (Construction Contractors Board), Dispute Resolution Process.
• Check the contractor's history of complaints (disputes) and any other licenses associated with the contractor's name.

Get more than one bid from licensed contractors before making a decision.

Don't automatically accept the lowest bid. A higher bid may be worth the price in better materials or workmanship. If you get a very low bid, the contractor may have made a mistake or not bid everything. If the bid is too low to make a profit, they may use cheaper materials or take shortcuts.

Ask for references. Check with previous customers. Were they satisfied with the work? Was the work completed on time? Did the contractor return phone calls?  

Check the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and Angie's List for records of complaints and / or praise.  

Learn as much as you can about the contractor you are hiring.

Read "Building/ Remodeling Checklist" and "16 Ways to Avoid Remodeling, Repair and Construction Problems" for a more comprehensive list of issues to consider when hiring a contractor.

*Many insurance companies do not contact the CCB when the policy is cancelled since they are not required by law to do so. Consumers may want to verify coverage is still in effect.

If you have any questions or need to schedule a plumbing service call, please contact us at...

503-620-9111

Casey's is proud to support Breast Friends, an organization devoting resources to women and their families who are in various stages of treatment for breast cancer. Their mission: that no woman goes through breast cancer alone.

Breast Friends started here in Portland in 2000 over lunch at St. Vincent's Hospital. Founders Becky Olson and Sharon Henifin are both breast cancer survivors, with Becky surviving the disease on three separate occasions. These women decided that connection to each other, along with support for a woman's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, when facing the most frightening time in your life can make a world of difference.Since 2000, Breast Friends has launched affiliates in Florida and Pennsylvania in addition to it's Portland office.

They set up their non-profit to provide the following resources for women facing breast cancer:

Help For Patients

Breast Friends connects patients with support throughout each step. There are support groups and events for women who have just been diagnosed through post-treatment recovery and beyond.

Public Speaking

Breast Friends also reaches out to the community with education, keynote addresses, workshops, and presentations.

Services For Family and Friends

Providing guides for family and friends is another part of Breast Friends mission. It can be difficult to know what to do to help a woman in your life who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and Breast Friends has education and support available for loved ones.

Workshops and Retreats

Providing women with hope, laughter, connection, and community through Breast Friends' workshops is yet another way they connect with breast cancer patients and survivors to help see them through every step of the way.

To find out more about Breast Friends and how you can help support their mission, visit the Breast Friends website.

"Helping women survive the trauma of cancer, one friend at a time."

Happy Cinco de Mayo! The most gorgeous weather we've had so far this year is forecasted to continue through the weekend, even reaching the upper 80's. So, let's get outside and enjoy some Cinco de Mayo festivities and some other great goings-on in Portland this weekend.

1. The 29th Annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta

May 3rd, 4th and 5th,     11:00 am - 11:00 pm

Come to Waterfront Park and enjoy three days of celebrating Mexico's freedom, food, culture and crafts. Highlights at this year's festival include:

• Carnival Rides - a perennial fan favorite! Consider eating AFTER riding the Kamikaze.
• Artisan's Village - a new feature, come see artists at work and available to answer your questions.
• Mariachi and Ballet Folklorico Mexico En La Piel - Bringing together traditional music and regional dances. Check website for performance times.
• Many well-known bands bringing you the sounds of Mexico and other Latin styles of music.
• FOOD. Don't miss some of the region's best Mexican food all in one place.
• Friday night only - come see a huge fireworks display beginning at 9:55 pm.

Click on the link above for pricing information and more. Portland's Cinco de Mayo celebration is always a good time.

2. Cinco de Mayo 5k/10k/Half Marathon

An increasingly popular race in the Rose City, join other runners Sunday morning at Pioneer Courthouse Square for the fun and challenging Cinco de Mayo 5k/10k/Half Marathon. Participants get tasty beer from Lagunitas, great food from Pepino's restaurant and live mariachi music at the after race party, all included in registration. May 5th, "doors open" at 6:30 am. It's not too late to register and pick up a race packet. 

3. Neighborhood Mexican Restaurants

Take a look around your neighborhood and chances are you will find a local, family-owned Mexican restaurant celebrating Cinco de Mayo. Nuestra Cocina on NE Division was voted Best Mexican Restaurant in Portland in 2012, and perennial West Side favorite, Chez José on SW Terwilliger are great places to check out.

For some variety in your weekend, take a look at these other cool things happening in the area this weekend:

4. 4th Annual National Food Blogger Bake Sale

A benefit for Share Our Strength, food bloggers from all over the region are coming together to bake and make their very best to raise money to help end childhood hunger. May 4th, 10:00 am - until sold out! (Come early!) Held at the Oregon Historical Society, there will be a variety of foods available, including vegan and gluten-free yummies.

5. Hillsdale Spring Fest

Hillsdale, along Capital Highway in Southwest Portland, is celebrating spring with a family-friendly event that includes live music, bouncyhouses, and an opportunity to check out the local businesses that make up Hillsdale's Main Street. Hillsdale is a re-blossoming neighborhood with restaurants, food carts, a co-op grocery store and a wine bar. Buy Local!

If none of those choices grab you, this weekend is perfect for a hike in the Gorge or a bike ride along Willamette Park. Our region is rich with beauty and fantastic things to do. Enjoy!

Galvanized pipes are usually found in homes over 40 years of age. Commonly, these pipes will rust from the inside out. The pipes will corrode over time and this rust accumulates, restricting the flow.

Sometimes, if the water is not in use for long periods of time and then turned on, you will see that the water is brownish in color or that fixtures have become rust-stained.

Doesn't it make sense to have your systems upgraded on YOUR schedule, before they rupture and cause damage?

FAQ

*Will my house be torn up and left with holes in the wall?

Answer: No. We take special care to cover furniture and protect all of your property during the process. And, with our re-pipes, we include sheet rock repair as an option.

*Will we have to move out or be without water during the process?

Answer: Absolutely not. We are very sensitive to your comfort while we perform our work. You may be surprised at how "non-intrusive" our re-pipes are! At no time are you without water overnight.

*Won't this kind of extensive work cost a fortune?

Answer: Although cost is really subjective to each individual, the cost to upgrade your home's plumbing system is an investment that will have benefits for many years to  come. Water that's safer to drink, more water pressure, less faucet and fixture maintenance and, in the worst case, avert the possibility of catastrophic failure.

Finally, schedule a Premier Plus re-pipe package within the next 90 days and receive a free 50 gallon 6-year Standard Water Heater Package.*

*Not good with other offers or work previously performed.

For questions or to schedule a plumber to come out, please call:

503-620-9111

image: Spunky Buddy

Grilled Tequila-Lime Shrimp

Recipe: Allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons tequila
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 pinch garlic salt
• 1 pinch ground cumin
• ground black pepper to taste
• 1 large lime, quartered
• 6 (10 inch) wooden skewers

Directions:

1. Whisk together the lime juice, tequila, olive oil, garlic salt, cumin, and black pepper in a bowl until well blended. Pour into a large resealable plastic bag; add the shrimp, seal bag and turn to coat evenly. Refrigerate 1 to 4 hours before grilling.
2. Soak skewers at least 30 minutes in water to prevent burning.
3. Preheat outdoor grill for medium-high heat. Lightly oil grill grate, and place about 4 inches from heat source.
4. Drain and discard marinade from shrimp. Thread shrimp onto prepared skewers, 5 to 6 per skewer.
5. Cook, uncovered, on preheated grill until shrimp turn pink, turning once, for 5 to 7 minutes. Serve with lime wedges for garnish.

Enjoy!

Monday, April 22nd was Earth Day. The first Earth Day was held in 1970 as a grass-roots effort to challenge the environmental politics of the time. It has since blossomed into a day of awareness and celebration of all the ways that we can - and do - give back to the earth.

Here at Casey's, we are strong advocates for water conservation, energy efficiency, and we love to compost. Here are a few ideas that we think are fantastic, and you can implement in your own homes:

1) If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with a water-efficient model.

2) Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fixing it can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.

3) Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save 25 gallons a month.

4) Catch water in an empty tuna can to measure sprinkler output. One inch of water on one square foot of grass equals two-thirds of a gallon of water. (Then recycle the can when you're finished!)

5) Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks.

6) Try installing a timer on your indoor and outdoor lights.

7) Unplug your appliances when you aren't using them. The plugs are still drawing energy even when the item it powers is not in use.

8) Consider solar chargers for items like smartphones and tablets. We DO get enough sun in Oregon to power your phone, we promise.

9) Recycle your old batteries. Check out Metro for information. Safe disposal of old batteries will help prevent soil and water pollution.

10) Compost your waste. There are so many things you can compost. Take a look at our previous post about composting: Ten Things You Can Compost And Five Things You Can't.

"Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end." ~Scott Adams

First, let us say to our friends in Boston and all those affected by the recent bombings that our thoughts are with all of you. We are with you in heart and spirit.

It seems that adversity can sometimes take us to dark places: fear, pain, grief. It serves all of us well to look outward toward the light. This light can often be found in our fellow human beings who refuse to stay down when they fall. Let's take a look at the heart and spirit of 78 year-old Washington runner Bill Iffrig, a person you may have seen in the media coverage this week.

Mr. Iffrig was the runner in the orange running tank who was jogging up to the finish line when the first blast occurred. The power of the blast knocked him to the ground. He was scraped up, but with only minor injuries. After he was assisted to his feet by members of the Boston Police Department, he turned toward the finish line, and ran through it. He sent his would-be helpers on to help others.

In interviews, Mr. Iffrig has said that he will not stop running marathons, and that he would like to run the Boston Marathon again. This person and his attitude, is the light that I'm referring to.

Right on our home page we promise: "The Picky People's Plumber." What does that mean? Well, as owner Brenda Casey explains in her introduction video on our home page, Casey's Plumbing strives to be the plumbing company you have on speed dial because you know you can count on us for the best customer service in town.

Some of the highlights of our service that make us the best in town:

Seven Days A Week:

Plumbing emergencies are never convenient. Casey's comes through with appointments available not only Monday through Friday, but also Saturday and Sunday. The best part? You don't pay more to have one of our background checked and drug-tested plumbers make a house call on weekends. 

Real, Live People Who Answer The Phone:

Need us? We're there. Not sure if you need us? We're here to answer your questions. Maybe that water you see dripping ISN'T from your upstairs bathroom sink. We'll help you figure it out. We're a phone call away.

Pay By The Job, Not By The Hour:

Casey's looks at your plumbing job as a complete picture, not just hour by hour, and charges accordingly. You won't over pay when you use Casey's for your plumbing needs.

Best-In-The Business Warranty:

We want the products we use to work for you AND last. That's why we give a two year warranty on anything we install in your home. Our warranty makes Casey's and our service stand out and above the rest. We won't leave you high and dry (or soggy and wet!) with a product that fails you. 

Ready to put us on your speed dial? 

An easy, popular weeknight favorite around our house, this Bourbon Chicken recipe is in heavy dinner rotation. Serve with steamed rice and sauteed green beans, and it's a winner every time.

Bourbon Chicken

(Image: Caroline Cooks, recipe from food.com)

Our warranties and service!

The average life of a water heater ranges between 8 to 13 years. If your water heater is newer than this, Casey's Plumbing can probably service it. (Note: we do not service tankless water heaters). Older water heaters should be replaced as it’s usually not cost efficient to service them.

Why use Casey’s Plumbing for your new water heater?

Simple - We are the best! We don’t just install water heaters - we install water heating systems. Of course this includes a new water heater but depending on which system you choose, your system can include a number of options including unparalleled warranties.

Warranties

Our warranties are indeed second to none! For example, when you compare our warranties with those offered by any of our competitors, the most common one you’ll find is the standard six year warranty. However, what’s usually not explained well in this warranty, is that the expensive part of any potential problem, labor, is only warrantied for one year- six years on the parts only. If you bought your water heater from one of the big box stores and have a problem after the first year, they’ll probably not even make a service call, they’ll just mail you the part!

At Casey’s Plumbing, we offer 3 different heating Systems:  Standard, Deluxe or a Premiere system.

With our Standard System, you’ll get not only the average six year on parts but we cover the labor for six years as well!

Our Deluxe System comes with an expansion tank (shock absorber for water heaters), a 10 year parts AND labor warranty and 10 years of service. In order to ensure an efficient water heating system, we come out every year to adjust, maintain and even replace if needed, whatever the system may need during this time frame.

The Premiere System includes everything that’s included in the Deluxe System as well as a water alarm that sounds in case of a leak, and the warranty is for life! That’s right, with a Premiere Water Heating System from Casey’s Plumbing, we’ll service that water heating system for as long as you live in the home. And, you can transfer this warranty once, for up to 10 years.

Clearly, I think you can see why people choose “The Picky People’s Plumber” for their water heating systems. Contact us today for more information. Is it time to replace your water heater? Call Casey's!