Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for plumbing companies that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For D A Reed Plumbing Company, the key to keeping customers happy is simple: always put community first, no matter what. “We’re not the kind of company that only focuses on profits—we genuinely care about the communities we serve,” says Office Manager Maria Vargas. “For example, sometimes we’ll get a customer who’s a senior citizen on a fixed income, and we’ll end up charging less because we know they can’t afford much. We’re more concerned with making sure our customers have hot water than making a few extra dollars.”

D A Reed Plumbing Company has been providing plumbing services for residential clients in Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano Counties since 1980. The company is qualified to handle everything from fixture repairs and water heater installations to complete gas line replacements and whole house repiping projects, and it also has the training and equipment to locate and test elusive plumbing leaks.

Unlike less experienced plumbing companies that take a “one size fits all” approach to every job, D A Reed Plumbing Company goes the extra mile to address the specifics of each project and ensure the client is completely satisfied. “Our reviews attest to the quality of our service and how far we’ll go to make sure everything is taken care of,” affirms owner David Reed. “We have a lot of respect for our customers’ homes, so we thoroughly clean them after our work is complete. By the time we’re finished, it looks like no one was ever there. That’s one of the reasons we get so many referrals—our clients see the value in the services we provide.”

Ultimately, Mr. Reed sees D A Reed Plumbing Company’s detail-oriented approach to its workmanship as one of its most important attributes. “We really take pride in our work, which goes a long way toward quality assurance. Our technicians aren’t in a rush to get the job done—they take the time to ensure every step is performed correctly.”

Knowing where to find the important components of your home’s plumbing system will prepare you for dealing with an emergency.

Many of the calls that plumbing companies receive are for emergencies such as leaking water lines or backed up sewer systems, and even though they’re trained to respond to such calls as quickly as possible, a lot of property damage can occur in a short amount of time. Most homeowners don’t realize that with a little preemptive knowledge, they can take simple steps to immediately stop back-ups and leaks. Here’s some information about three plumbing components that every renter or homeowner should know about:

Water valves

Instead of trying to plug or seal a leaking water pipe at the break, it’s far more effective to stop the leak at its source by shutting off your home’s main water valve. To locate your water main, go to the sidewalk and identify your water meter box (the lid will be clearly marked). From the meter box, you can usually walk in a straight path and find the water meter against your house. There are two valves on the meter, and either will shut off the water to your home. You probably won’t be able to turn the valve by hand, so make sure you have access to an appropriately sized wrench.

Gas shut-off valves

There are two types of gas shut-off valves: street-side main, which is located next to your PG&E meter, and house-side valve, which is usually located where the gas pipe enters your house. With newer systems, the gas shut-off valve might be located inside the house (near the water heater). It’s beneficial to know where these valves are located, but in the event of a gas leak, it’s never a good idea to turn them off yourself because of the risk of an explosion. Unlike a water leak, a gas leak should be left to a professional. If you notice a gas leak, get yourself and your family out of the house and call the gas company to come handle it.

Sewer clean-out

To avoid the damage that can be caused by a backed up sewer system, it’s important to know how to find your system’s clean-out. Essentially, a sewer clean-out is an outlet that allows sewage to overflow into your backyard instead of inside your home. It can be located in several places, but you can usually find it by going to your sidewalk and looking for an “S” stamped into the concrete or painted on the curb near your street. This indicates the spot where your home’s sewer line connects with the city sewer. The clean-out should be no more than three feet from your house, aligned with the “S” marker. Other times, the clean-out will appear as a “Y” or “T” in what looks like a dead-end pipe. If you have a septic system, the clean-out should be located somewhere between the house and septic tank.

Q: Will I talk to an actual person when I call your office?

A: Yes, if you call during business hours, the phone will typically be answered by someone in our office. Sometimes we’re away from the phone or helping other customers, but if you leave a message, we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Q: How quickly can you come to my home?

A: We’re often booked a week or two in advance, so if you’re calling about a non-emergency, we’ll schedule you for the next available date. However, if it’s an emergency situation, we’ll do our best to squeeze you in as soon as possible, even if it’s just for a temporary fix that will tide you over until a later appointment.

Q: Can you give me a price estimate over the phone?

A: Typically, yes, but it depends on the job. We have set prices for straightforward jobs like toilet or water heater installations. If it’s something more complicated like a repair, we’ll give you our hourly rate.

Q: Can you recommend a good brand for a plumbing fixture or appliance?

A: Yes. One of the main things we look for in plumbing products is a good warranty. Problems can occur even with high-quality brands, so you want to make sure the product is covered by a strong warranty.

Q: Can you help me diagnose a plumbing problem over the phone?

A: We’ll be happy to troubleshoot with you over the phone and see if we can find a simple solution to your problem.