Protect Yourself and Your Home from Contractor Rip-offs, Scams and Shoddy Work!

As winter comes to a welcome end and we enter the spring season, homeowners inevitably will be besieged by offers, promotions and come-ons from all kinds of home improvement contractors and installers – plumbing, air conditioning, doors, windows, remodelers, landscapers -- you name it. Most will be legit...but some won't be.

Unfortunately, fraudulent contractors are extremely common in the home improvement industry…and they really seem to come out of the woodwork around this time of year. Because this area is so specialized and intimidating to many homeowners, it is easy to get taken advantage of by a disreputable “professional.”

Whether you are looking for a home improvement contractor to perform routine repairs, install equipment or perform major reconstruction and remodeling, here are a few simple tips to ensure that your home improvement contractor or installer is on the up and up.


Get It In Writing
Make sure to thoroughly read and understand the written contract for your home improvement project before you sign. Discuss your questions and get clarification. If you are not given an estimate and a contract in writing, or if your contractor is unwilling to explain things to you clearly, hire someone else. If you don’t understand a contract, don’t sign it; you could obligate yourself to repairs that you are not prepared to pay for. And don’t give any oral commitments to any work; as Yogi Berra once said, “An oral contract ain’t worth the paper it’s written on!”


Cheaper is Not Always Better
When it comes to home improvements, you almost always get what you pay for. Be wary of contractors that promise things that sound too good to be true. If your instincts tell you something strange is is up, you are probably right. Cheap contractors usually use cheap materials, sell cheap equipment and employ cheap, inexperienced, low-quality labor. And that can cost you a lot more in the long run -- both in operation costs and in future repairs.

Fraudulent contractors often try to scare homeowners with news of urgent or emergency repairs…or fantastic deals that you must act upon immediately. Do not let anyone pressure you into costly repairs on the spot; seek a second or third opinion to be sure. Always shop around and get multiple estimates. Focus on getting the best value; not the best price.


Check Credentials
Is your contractor properly licensed? Can he get all the permits to legally perform your home improvement or repair? Does he have a favorable rating from the Better Business Bureau? Does he belong to professional and industry trade organizations? Does he follow the industry’s best practices? Reputable contractors can answer yes to all these questions.


Get a Referral
Word of mouth is crucial in hiring a good contractor, but you have to be sure your referral is coming from a reputable source. Never base your decision on the word of a solicitor or stranger. Instead, ask friends, family members and neighbors, or consult a referral service that provides the names and contact information for qualified, pre-screened professionals in your area. Do not just go for the cheapest price estimate—take the time to get a solid referral; you could save thousands, especially if that amazing deal offered by the door-to-door salesman turns out to be a fraud. The best home improvement contractors have been in the business for some years and have a track record of customer satisfaction.


Read Home Improvement Contractor Reviews
There are plenty of websites that offer unbiased customer reviews of local businesses and contractors – among them Yelp, Insider Pages, Angie’s List, Local.com – as well as business directory sites (Yellowpages.com etc.) and search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing. Take the time to go to these sites and check out reviews. Click Here to View a List of Customer Review Sites!


Beware of “Travelers”
“Travelers” are door-to-door solicitors that come knocking in hopes of gaining your trust and your business; this is one of the most common contractor frauds. These scam artists will talk fast, promising steep discounts on everything from roofing to bathroom remodeling. They will often cite their exclusive access to overstock building supplies as the reason for their great deals. The best way to protect yourself is to politely decline the sales pitch from the start, but you can also check the yellow pages for the name and number of the contractor at your door. If you cannot find a listing, tell him to hit the bricks.


Never Pay Up Front
No reputable contractor or installer will ever ask for payment until after the work is completed to your satisfaction, and will never require cash payment. If your contractor asks for payment up front or insists on doing a cash-only business, find a new contractor.


Do Not Get Your Own Building Permits
Another common tactic employed by fraudulent contractors is to request that you secure any necessary building permits yourself. A good contractor will do this for you — that is why you are paying him to do the work.


If You Are a Victim of a Fraudulent Contractor...
If you think you have been a victim of a fraudulent contractor, take immediate action to fix the situation. Consult a lawyer to find out if you have any legal recourse and report the incident to your local Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau. You may also need to involve local law enforcement if you believe a crime such as larceny or identity theft has been committed.


Check Out Our Contractor Checklist!
Horizon Services offers a 21-Point Contractor Checklist covering all the primary questions you need to ask BEFORE you select any home improvement contractor. It’s MUST-READING for all homeowners thinking of making any home improvement. Click Here!



Related Contractor Information from Horizon Services…

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• Watch Out for Bogus Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Contractors This Spring and Summer!
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Natural Ways to Protect Sewer Lines and Septic Tanks!

If you're a homeowner, it is extremely important to take care of your sewer line system or septic tank to prevent costly damage. Root infiltration is one of the most common causes of damage sewer lines, pipes and septic storage tanks. Over time, sprawling roots from trees and shrubs can make their way through thin cracks and holes in pipes, lines and tanks. Once they've penetrated, they can continue to grow, creating a major blockage that cause unsanitary sewage and waste water to back up into your home...or to leak and soak through the soil in your lawn.

To avoid root infiltration damage, try to avoid planting trees and plants with long root systems or that require a great deal of moisture within the vicinity of your main sewer line or septic tank. These plants will seek out and gravitate toward pipes, lines and tanks. Instead, stick with these sewer and septic safe alternatives.

• Grass: Plain old lawn grass is one of the best (and safest) things you can plant over your septic tank or main sewer line. The roots are very short and grass is relatively easy to care for. Try Kentucky bluegrass or Rye grass, be sure to mow regularly, and treat yearly with a weed-killing formula.


• Perennials: Perennial plants and flowers -- like daisies, daylilies, and poppies -- come back year after year. These plants are a good choice because they are low-maintenance and inexpensive. When planting perennials over a septic tank or the path of a sewer line, lay down topsoil at least six inches deep and cover with a layer of mulch to keep the soil from eroding.


• Wildflowers: Wildflowers also have short root systems that won’t reach deep enough to damage your sewer line or septic system. They provide great color, thick coverage, and a distinct look to any area of your yard. You can purchase individual packets of wildflower seeds in coordinating colors to give your planting structure or choose mixed seeds for a more casual, random garden. Be sure to put down an inch or two of good quality top soil so your wildflower seeds will sprout.


• Septic Tank Mix: Septic tank mix, or prairie mix, is a blend of wildflowers and wild grasses. It’s easy to plant, sprouts quickly, is super-low maintenance, and doesn’t require a bed of topsoil in order to flourish. Septic tank mix is often recommended by professionals because it absorbs excess moisture from the ground and has a very short root system. You can find prairie mix in any lawn and garden or home improvement store.


• Ornamental Grass: Ornamental grasses are also easy to grow and don’t require much maintenance. They tend to spread but don’t grow deep, so there’s little chance of the roots damaging your sewer lines or septic tank. The simplest way to start growing ornamental grasses is to purchase a starter plant in a small container from your local garden center. Once it’s replanted in the ground over your septic tank or sewer line, it should start to spread out within a few weeks. There are plenty of colors and varieties to choose from, making it easy to create a custom look for your home.


• Container Gardens: Most septic tanks need maintenance or repairs at some point. If you’ve invested a lot of time and money planting in this area, you could face a significant loss if the ground must be disturbed. An easy way to avoid this while still adding beauty to your yard is by arranging container plantings over the septic tank. Flowers, grasses and other plants can be potted in attractive containers and set over a layer of pea gravel. That way, if you ever need access to the underground parts of your septic system, you can simply move the containers out of the way until the work is finished.

Repairing and replacing sewer lines and septic tanks can be quite expensive and usually requires digging and tearing up large patches of your yard. Adding these plants can not only help you avoid these costly and destructive repairs, they can also give your yard added beauty and attract songbirds and butterflies.



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Don't Let Obstruction Lead to Destruction!

Blocked sewer lines and drains can wreak havoc with any home, causing the bath, sink or toilet to back up and fill with waste water and sewage. That's if you're lucky. A really bad blockage can cause your tub, sink or toilet to overflow, ruining floors, rugs and carpets and creating a highly unsanitary situation for all members of your household.

Major drain and sewer line backups and problems are not for the faint of heart. When they occur, you almost always need to call a professional drain cleaning or sewer line company like Horizon Servcices...especially if the blockage is particularly tenacious and a long time in the making.

Build up of scale and rusting, years of accumulated gunk and waste, even invasive plant roots are the major causes of blocked drains and sewer lines. The good news is that with proper usage and maintenance, most drain and sewer line disasters are unnecessary and avoidable. A few sensible precautions can prevent most drain and sewer line blockages from ever occurring.

Just like your car, your home's plumbing and drainage system needs some level of basic regular maintenance to keep it functioning properly. As well as regular checks by yourself, a professional plumbing or drain cleaning specialist should be called in each year to snake your drain lines and keep them clear.

Do-it-yourselfers can often clear minor blockages to sinks, tubs and toilets with a plunger. But the kind of blockage that leads to a back-up situation usually requires much more aggressive means. Special chemicals like acids and other corrosive products can effectively clean drains and clear sewer lines...but they can be very dangerous and destructive to your body, your clothing, your floors and surfaces, even your pipes. Be extremely careful when pouring these corrosive chemicals down drains. Before you try the chemical route, call a drain cleaning or sewer line specialist. Most have tools and techniques ranging from snaking devices to high-powered hydro-jetting that can safely clear almost any obstruction. Companies like Horizon Services even employ state-of-the-art cameras that can identify the cause and pinpoint the exact location of the blockage. Chemicals are used only as a last resort.

Major toilet and tub back-ups will often give you warning signs. Like a volcano or a geyser, toilets and tubs will often make gurgling, bubbling and belching noises several days before they erupt. If your toilets and tubs start doing this, call a drain cleaning or sewer line specialist immediately...they'll clear the obstruction BEFORE you have a messier situation on your hands.

If sewage does start backing up into toilets, sinks and showers, call a drain cleaning or sewer line professional immediately. After making the call, use bleach and water to sanitize any areas that have been affected.

Of course, an ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure. Here are some simple things you should do to prevent any of these drain and sewer line disasters from occurring in the first place:

• Make sure that a strainer is in place in your kitchen sink to stop large, cloggable waste products from getting into pipes, drains and lines.
• Never pour cooking oil or grease down the drain.
• Don’t use too much toilet paper (the main cause of toilets blocking up).
• Don't flush ANYTHING down the toilet besides toilet paper and human waste. This includes tissues, paper towels, baby wipes, sanitary products, cotton balls and hair. Even seemingly harmless products like soap, shampoot and hair gel. All these things can coagulate and block drains and sewer lines.
• Pour boiling water, or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, down drains regularly to help to keep them clear.
  
  

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We Separate the Minor Inconveniences from the Major Headaches!

Got a backed up or slow moving drain? A toilet that won't flush? Waste water that comes back up your sink, shower or tub drains? A foul smell in your yard or basement? JOIN THE CLUB! As the weather gets cooler, we at Horizon Services usually begin to see an increase in drain, sewer and water line service calls. For many homeowners, the recent intense rainfall and flood conditions in the Mid-Atlantic states -- particularly our service area of Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland -- have brought latent drain, sewer and water line problems that have been lurking invisibly in the shadows out into the open in a very dramatic fashion.

Face it...there are many things that can go wrong with your home's drain, sewer and water line system. For example, years of accumulated waste can cause major obstructions in pipes and lines. Old pipes and seals can crack, corrode or collapse. Tree roots can even infiltrate sewer and water lines These are the kinds of drain, sewer and water line problems that can require significant repair and expense.

The good news is that the majority of drain, sewer and water line issues are not that severe. Most are easily and inexpensively repaired. And most are preventable.

The vast majority of drain, sewer and water line problems are usually caused by minor incidents such as something falling down the pipe, clogging due to inappropriate matter being sent down the sink or toilet, and frozen pipes in colder weather.

Identifying the problem is the first step. Visually inspecting your sinks, tubs, showers, toilets and pipes will usually reveal the source of the problem. If the problem isn't deep down in your drains or lines, there's a good chance that you can resolve it yourself...or at least save time and money by pointing your drain or sewer/water line repairman in the right direction when they arrive at your home.

In the case of clogged sinks or toilets that won't flush, if the problem isn’t solved by using a plunger to unblock it, then the cause is probably due to an obstruction further down the line. You can use a plumber's snake or coiled wire (available at most hardware stores) to probe into the drain and get to where a basic plunger cannot to remove the obstruction. If this doesn’t work, your next step may be to remove the toilet bowl or sink to get access to the main pipe. This can be a delicate job, so it is best to call in a professional plumber or drain professional at this point.

In cold weather, frozen pipes is one of the most common causes of backed-up or slow moving drains. This is especially common when homeowners have been away for some time and turned the thermostat right down. Water moving slowly and at a low temperature causes ice to form and expand, causing blockages that exert increasing pressure on the pipes. Wrap the pipes in special wrap heat tape and leave it in place for at least 24 hours or until the blockage is cleared. Also consider leaving the thermostat at a higher setting to keep warm water circulating whilst you’re away for a while.

If you find that your boiler starts making a noise, this is probably because of hot spots forming due to a build up of steam, caused in turn by air building up in the system. The hot spots sometimes make banging noises when they get too hot, which is where the noise in the boiler comes from. The root cause of the build up of air is a lack of water in the system, but it can also be caused by a build up of scale on the inner surface of the boiler, in which case feed a boiler cleanser into the expansion.

Drainage pipes helpfully tend to run in straight lines, which facilitate the sorting out of problems. Inspection chambers covered by manhole covers are placed at each joint, and these covers can be lifted with a crowbar to check for blockages and to clean the manhole of accumulated debris where necessary. If you find the inspection chamber empty, the blockage must be closer to the house, so move on to the next one in that direction, and if it is full move in the opposite direction to look for the blockage. Once the blockage area has been isolated, you can insert the plumber' snake down the pipe in the direction of the blockage to clear it.

The drain cleaning and sewer/water line repair professionals at Horizon Services encourage all homeowners especially cognizant, vigilant and proactive in the maintenance of their home's drains, pipes and lines. Be aware of what you are putting down sinks, garbage disposals and toilets -- particularly large solid objects, grease and hair. Keep your eyes and ears open for the signs of drain, sewer and water line damage or obstruction. Insulate your pipes in cold weather. If you suspect a problem, don't delay -- call a drain cleaning or sewer & water line contractor immediately to fix the problem before it becomes large and expensive.

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Let the Season Be Your Guide to Fixing and Maintaining Your Home Heating and Air Conditioning Systems!

At some point in your homeownership, you’re going to have to call an HVAC technician to service your home’s heating and cooling system. Whether you need furnace repair, someone to take a look at your air conditioner, or a professional opinion on the state of your ventilation and ductwork, a reliable HVAC technician is your best bet.

But how do you know when it’s time to call? This handy guide gives you some suggestions for seasonally appropriate repairs and maintenance, which should help you begin the conversation. Remember; always shop around for a reputable technician even if you need immediate assistance. There are few things that feel worse than being taken for a ride by a shady contractor in times of desperation.


Spring HVAC Repair and Maintenance:
Early spring is a great time to have your HVAC system cleaned and inspected. If there are any problems or necessary repairs, you can have them completed well before the warm summer weather sets in. That way you can rest assured that your air conditioner will kick in without issue when you need it most.


Summer HVAC Repair and Maintenance:
It goes without saying that summer is one of the busiest times of year for HVAC technicians. But if you’re having trouble with your system there are a few simple do-it-yourself tricks to try before you call a pro. Make sure your air conditioner is clean from dust, dirt, and debris. Change the filter monthly. Check your thermostat to ensure it’s working properly. If you still can’t figure out the problem, call a professional HVAC technician but expect a bit of a wait, as summer schedules can fill up quickly.


Fall HVAC Repair and Maintenance:
Toward the end of summer and into the fall, think about calling an HVAC technician to schedule a furnace tune-up and ductwork cleaning. Postponing this crucial step can put you at the end of a long line of other customers or worse—stuck in the cold without a working furnace on that first chilly autumn morning.


Winter HVAC Repair and Maintenance:
If you need service in the winter it’s likely that your furnace has stopped working. But before you call a professional, do a few quick checks on your own. Start with the furnace pilot light and make sure it hasn’t gone out. Then check the thermostat to see that it’s working properly. Be certain that all floor and ceiling registers are open.

Sometimes, simply replacing the filter furnace can improve your system’s function. You’ll certainly have to hire a pro if none of these produce results. If you do need to call a technician, don’t delay. Putting off furnace repairs can lead to even more serious (and costly) problems like frozen or burst pipes, carbon monoxide poisoning, and system-wide damage. You can generally expect a quick response to a call for help during the winter, as HVAC professionals understand the urgency of furnace problems at this time of year.



Related HVAC Repair/Maintenance Information from Horizon Services...

Properly maintaining your home’s heating and cooling systems can improve energy efficiency, reduce your utility bills, and prevent the need for costly repairs. The best time to check your systems is in the spring and fall, before a heating and air conditioning contractors’ busy summer and winter seasons.

You can do many general maintenance checks yourself and then report potential problems to a trusted heating and air conditioning professional. It’s also a good idea to hire a professional to do a thorough inspection once or twice a year. A typical checklist should include:

• Reviewing your thermostat settings to make sure the temperature inside your home makes things comfortable when you’re there and saves energy when you’re not.


• Tightening electrical connections to make sure your appliances are running safely and to prolong the life of system components.


• Lubricating moving parts to reduce damaging friction and strain on your home’s electrical supply.


• Inspecting condensation drains if your home has central air, a furnace or a heat pump. Blocked drains can lead to water damage and mold infestation.


• Checking system controls to make sure everything is working properly. Be sure systems start, run and shut down as they should.


• Cleaning and changing air filters on your furnace, air conditioner and heat pump regularly. Dirty filters increase utility costs and can damage equipment. Most filter manufacturers have recommended replacement schedules clearly printed on product packaging.

If your home has central air conditioning or if you use portable window air conditioners, the following are some routine maintenance issues you should be aware of. (If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself, it’s best to consult a certified professional heating and air conditioning contractor such as Horizon Services):

• Clean the evaporator mechanism and condenser coils. Dirty coils will restrict the air conditioner’s effectiveness in cooling your home, making the system work overtime to compensate. This will cost you more on your utilities and can significantly shorten the life of your system.


• Check refrigerant levels and adjust fluids as necessary. The wrong amount of refrigerant chemicals circulating through a system can cause irreparable damage and will increase your energy usage.


• Have blower components cleaned and adjusted if needed. This ensures that the proper amount of air is flowing through the system at all times, which makes for more comfortable temperatures. Airflow restriction can decrease your energy efficiency by as much as 15 percent.

Heating systems require regular inspection and maintenance, too. No matter what kind of heat source you use, the following checklist can help your system work as effectively and efficiently as possible:

• Check all connections, especially if your heat is supplied by oil or natural gas. Loose or malfunctioning connections create a fire hazard and can lead to serious health risks like carbon monoxide poisoning.


• Make sure pilot burners and heat exchangers are functioning properly. Dirty, damaged or malfunctioning burners and exchangers can impede the operation of your system and may cause heating quipment to run less safely and less efficiently.
  

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Your main sewer line is the largest drain in your home. All other household drains lead into this line which runs underground from your house and connects to a city sewer line or a septic tank. Your home's sewer line might have been placed properly at the time your house was built, but over time, it can become subject to a wide variety of damage, including:

• Breaking, cracking, collapsing due to shifting soil or frozen ground.


• Clogs and blockages due to household waste, debris, grease and foreign objects.


• Corrosion and leaky joints and seals due to age


• Obstructions caused by tree root infiltration.

When your sewer line is blocked or damaged, not only are you at risk for messy flooding throughout your house, you are exposing yourself to leaking sewage...which can contain diseases and hazardous chemicals, as well as serve as a magnet for rats and insects. For the sake of your home and your health, damaged and obstructed sewer lines must be identified and repaired as quickly as possible.

Here are the major signs of a damaged or obstructed sewer line:

• Slow-running or backed-up drains (sinks, tubs, toilets)


• Frequent back-ups of basement drains or laundry tubs


• Gurgling drain noises


• Toilet bowl water levels rise and fall


• Sewage odor inside, outside and around your house


• Raw sewage on ground surface


• Rats or rat holes in your yard


• Sink holes or soggy wet areas on your property


• Water stains around the floor drain in the basement


• Cracking and structural damage along walls, floors and foundations

If you observe any of these indicators, call a sewer line company like Horizon Services as soon as possible. A sewer line technician inspect your sewer line by running a high-tech video camera through the line. It's kind of like a colonoscopy for your sewer line! This will enable him to determine if there is any damage of blockage and to pinpoint its location.

If the problem is just due to a simple blockage, your sewer line technician can cut through the clog with a rooter machine and clear the sewer line down to its inner walls.

If your sewer line technician identifies more serious damage to the main sewer line, it will need to be repaired or replaced. In the old days, that meant digging up your entire yard and destroying your landscape. Today, companies like Horizon Services employ a trenchless method of sewer line repair and replacement that is quick, inexpensive and requires no or little excavation. There are two major ways he can accomplish this.

• Pipe Bursting: With this method, your sewer line technician makes small access holes where the damaged pipe starts and ends. Using your damaged sewer line as a guideline, he uses a hydraulic machine to pulls a long-lasting replacement pipe through the old sewer line path, breaking up the old damaged pipe as it moves into place.


• Pipe Relining: Here your sewer line technican places a fiberglass liner into the damaged sewer pipe -- ie. a pipe within a pipe. This creates a durable, damage-resistant inner wall that restores all flow and function to the line.
  

More Info...

• Learn More About Sewer and Water Line Repair and Replacement from Horizon Services!