Q. Is it better to hire a designer to draw a plan or will most reputable tile installers know what they are doing from clients description? I want to turn a bathtub into a full tiled body shower, and I dont know how to/the best way to start??

A. First get a reputable contractor who has good references (promise me take the time). Then describe what you want to him, and let him be interactive in your design. He will want you to choose colors, etc.. If you need help with colors, then and only then bring a designer into it. For the most economical installation, keep the designer out of it. The key is finding someone you can trust to do the work. Be sure and have him upgrade your plumbing while he is in there. Replace the fixtures whether you think they need it or not. To answer your immediate question - yes, a contractor (if he is worth his salt) will know how to do the installation without a designer in his way to increase the cost and difficulty of the job.

Q. My house is a new construction and the outgoing plumbing is just being installed. We are familiar with the type of pipes we need to get to the outside of the house but which type of pipes do we need to go from there to the septic tank? We assume they are different and we need to pass inspection.

A. If you are asking that kind of question, i feel you should ask the "inspector" what he would like to see. If you don't know what type of pipe, you will not know the other laws pertaining to the proper installation of said sewer lines and you will likely fail anyhow. ask your inspector or a licensed plumber in your area. all jurisdictions may vary.

Q. Benefit of gas vs. electric. Do they save money over normal water heaters?

A. Yes they are more efficient but when I figure in the cost of installation and the fact that gas is the only type that is really practical I wonder about the actual payback with changing to one. The only way I would consider one would be for a new installation where I had no plumbing yet installed and even then I am skeptical about actual savings when you consider the actual loss that occurs in a tank type water heater that is well insulated as they are now coming from the factory. Just an opinion

Q. We need a new water heater very soon as ours has started to leak. Locally they cost around $300, then there's the installation fees as well. Does anyone know of a place were we can purchase one and have it installed, and they take monthly payments, like a 12-month payment plan, etc? Obviously Home Depot and similar stores would probably offer that, but I'm talking about a contractor or other service provider that say, does repairs but also installs, etc. We live in Northeast Ohio.

A. Endurance, I'm sure some contractors do that--you just need to ask when seeking free estimates. In fact, sometimes the big department stores charge more--they put a premium on the price of the product and the installation contractor they refer to you as a third-party middleman, which you want to avoid. Your best bet is to get an assessment from a local plumber in your area, who can visually see what's going on with your water heater. With that said, many local plumbing contractors are willing to provide free estimates with no obligation, and you should utilize this to answer your cost question. So, to help you out, here is a great link to a handyman site that offers free very resourceful information to assist you in your water heater fix, and, eventually, finding a local plumbing contractor with intention of getting a good deal for you: INFO ON LOCAL PLUMBING CONTRACTORS: http://yourhandymanzone.com/Your_Handyman_Zone_Free_Estimates_Plumbing.htm I'm sure you'll find the information you need, specifically the tips, useful as it relates to being treated fairly by contractors and exploring the consumer-wise approach of getting free written estimates to find the best contractor in your area. . Source(s): The Internet. Just whatever is available online and what I have on my mind, including the inclusion of relevant sites, like the one cited above that came about from my efforts, which is intended to be useful. Helping people get the relevant info they want is great.

Q. My father has requested me to repair two rental properties of his that were extensivly damaged inside & out. He has paid for 95% of Materials which is all good, However since i have completed the jobs one has been rented the other awaits to be occupied. he has paid me $1,100.00 for both rentals and there was never a set price. I was thinking another $1,000.00 would be a respectful amount for all the repairs, such as removing all left behind debri's, 100% Interior Painting, Sub Floor Patch work, Drywall, Plumbing fixture installation (Toilet), Vanitys, Vinyl Bath Floor covering(1), Water Heater installation(1), Electrical Fixture Installation (Several) and various Maintenance & other repairs. I asked him for a few hundred dollars & he said all the work is done and that he has allready paid me up to date. I am really upset with this and in my eyes another $1,000.00 is not unreasonable to say the least. what should i say or do, he is my father but..............???????

A. Even from relatives, get things in writing. Now learn by your mistake and don't let this happen again.

A. Yes, we specialize in tankless water heater installation, and are certified Renai installers. We are also the local Takagi installer.

A. I looked into this too and this is what I found. Yes, you can do plumbing but you cant certify it. In other words, you can build the whole plumbing, but then you will need a licensed plumber to come over and check it out and do all the peperwork. For example, you cannot install a boiler of a furnace, only licensed people can do that, but you can set all the pipes that go from the furnace to the house. If you have a freind and hes a licensed plumber, you are all set. Ask him if he would certify your work for some money in exchange. The whole job needs to be certified before home inspection comes.

Q. Today we had a new water heater installed. The plumber/installer had to turn the water off temporarily to install the water heater but then he turned it back on. Since the installation (about 9 hrs ago) we've noticed that two of our faucets have extremely low water pressure. The rest of the faucets are fine so what is going on? Should I call back the plumbing & heating place that did the install? Why would this happen?

A. Remove aerator on faucet and clean out. What is happening is the junk in the pipes and new tank is getting caught up in the faucet aerator. Just unscrew it flip over tap on counter and reinstall. Flush line before you reinstall.