DENVER — We thought we had caught all of the deception on hidden camera after we confronted plumbing and heating technicians overcharging us for a minor repair on a water heater that just about anybody could fix.

We even busted a repairman breaking our water heater, apparently on purpose just so he could charge us $1,753.

But then we discovered we had been deceived by Plumbline services, the company we trusted to help us set up our test.

They disconnected a hose on our water heater so we could see which other companies would charge us a fair price to plug it back in.

After our story aired, we received several news tips accusing Plumbline of tipping off Applewood Plumbing, the company we thought “passed our test with flying colors,” because their technician was the only one who re-connected the hose for free.

At first we found the allegation hard to believe, after all why would Plumbline tip off their competitor, Applewood? But then we confirmed the two companies belong to the same marketing and training group, “NexStar,” and as part of their membership they share information.

We when we confronted Plumbline, the owner, Jeff Belk, came clean.

“In no way, shape or form were we trying to do anything malicious or hurtful to you or anybody,” he told us.

But Applewood initially denied any prior knowledge of our test.

The company later sent us a statement saying it “had heard from a number of sources that a sting story was in the works.”

Still, an Applewood representative insists even if they did know about the test, (the technician) “would not have handled that call any differently with prior knowledge or not.”

Rick Nierman disagrees.

Nierman told us Applewood tried to charge him more than $700 for a part he later bought for just over $45.

He is just one of dozens of viewers who emailed or called us following our first story, claiming they had been overcharged by Applewood.

Jeff Metz, owner of Done plumbing, was shocked that Plumbline let Applewood in on our investigation.

“That`s not fair at all,” he said.

Done is one of only four companies that legitimately passed our test. The other companies are: ARS, Heating Tech and Whipple.

We tried to test AAA Services plumbing, but when we called the company we were told they didn’t have a technician available until mid-March.

We called back with a different number and address and a dispatcher said they could come out “right away.”

We have since learned AAA Service is also a NexStar member and had been tipped off to our test.

Here are the Colorado Plumbing and heating companies that belong to NexStar:

• Golden West Plumbing: did not return our call inquiring if their technicians make commission.
• AAA Service Plumbing: refused to tell us if their technicians make commission.
• Dunlap Plumbing: technicians make a salary, plus “incentives.”
• Applewood: technicians make commission.
• Plumbline: technicians make commission.
• Precision Plumbing, heating and Electric: technicians make an hourly salary plus “bonuses.”
• Patriot Enterprises: did not return our call inquiring if their technicians make commission.
• Grand Lake Plumbing: technicians do not make commission.
• Wieronski Plumbing and Heating: did not return our call inquiring if their technicians make commission.

Call the professionals at Planet Plumbing and Drain today at 303-440-4330 to solve all your plumbing problems!

Hours and Contact Info

Monday – Sunday: 7am – 9pm
Emergency Service: 24 Hours, 7 Days
(303) 440-4330 (Boulder)
(303) 772-0206 (Longmont)

ALWAYS GET AT LEAST THREE ESTIMATES…you’ll be glad you did!

CALL THE PROFESSIONALS at 303-440-4330.

DENVER — FOX31 Denver wired a house with hidden cameras to put ten Colorado plumbing and heating companies to the test and what we discovered in our undercover investigation was unsettling.

To set up the scenario, we asked Plumbline Services to disconnect a hose on a combination water heater-furnace unit.

According to Matt Glick from Plumbline, the “repair” should have taken only minutes and should have cost no more than the $30 to $50 trip fee, which is what most companies charge for a house call.

The first repairman was from Applewood Plumbing and the technician passed the test with flying colors. He not only reconnected the hose, but he did it for free.

A Plumber from Whipple also found the problem right away. He charged us a $49 trip fee, as did most of the other plumbers we contacted.
But then we got what seemed like a “bait and switch” from Ben Franklin.

The plumbing company quoted us $49 on the phone, but soon after the technician reconnected the hose, he told us the actual minimum price for even the easiest job was $148.

Ben Franklin sent us a statement which says, in part, “because (the technician) ended up fixing the problem he charged a minor adjustment fee of $148 and waived the $49 appointment fee.”

Then there’s Bob from Roto Rooter, who connected the hose for $217. When the homeowner questioned the price, Bob said “I’ll go un-fix it.”
Roto Rooter’s general manager, Jeff Schnabel, admitted Bob made a mistake.

“He was so excited he found the issue, he just fixed it. The mistake he made is he didn`t go and find Linda and get her approval to do the job.”

We felt Action Appliance also overcharged us. For five minutes of work their bill totaled $208.

Still Action Appliance sent us a statement defending the cost.

“We charge a “fair” price for our professional service and quick (same day) response time.”

But no one compared to Tom from Appletree Plumbing Heating and Drains, who only had to glance at our water heater to know it was going to cost “big money.”

With our hidden cameras rolling, Tom quickly reconnected the hose and then fiddled with the water heater’s electrical system for more than 20 minutes. He then yanked out a wire, breaking the water heater’s circuit board–apparently on purpose.

Tom then told our homeowner the repair was going to cost $1,753.

We then came out from behind our hidden cameras and asked Tom if he was “ripping people off?”

Tom’s response? “No, we are not.”

We then showed our footage to the owner of Appletree, Brad Apple, and he said, “I do have an issue with this. It will be addressed and if (Tom) is with us, something like this will never happen with him again or with anyone in our company in the future.”
The day after our interview, Apple called to inform us Tom had been fired.

His lawyer sent this statement which reads in part, “AppleTree has successfully served over 100,000 client calls over the last decade, doing so with honesty, integrity and outstanding customer service…We stand behind our work and remain committed to providing trustworthy services through accurate diagnoses, quality workmanship and competitive pricing.”

The list of the plumbing and heating companies that passed our test include:

• Applewood Plumbing
• ARS
• Heating Tech
• Whipple
• Done

We felt the following companies overcharged us during our hidden camera investigation:

• Ben Franklin
• Roto Rooter
• Action Appliance
• AppleTree

Jan Zavislan, with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, says you should do your research on plumbing and heating companies before you’re faced with an emergency.

“Ask your neighbors who they recommend,” Zavislan said. “And search online for any complaints.”
He also told us you should never leave a repairman alone.

“Show them where your problem is and watch what they are doing,” he said.

If you suspect you’ve been deceived, then file a formal complaint with the attorney general’s office and the Better Business Bureau.

“If contractors are in the house and they are misrepresenting the need for service, the scope of service or the price of service it is a violation of the Consumer Protection Act,” Zavislan said.

Call the Plumbing Boulder experts at 303-440-4330.

Call the professionals at Planet Plumbing and Drain today at 303-440-4330 to solve all your plumbing problems!

Hours and Contact Info

Monday – Sunday: 7am – 9pm
Emergency Service: 24 Hours, 7 Days
(303) 440-4330 (Boulder)
(303) 772-0206 (Longmont)

ALWAYS GET AT LEAST THREE ESTIMATES…you’ll be glad you did!

CALL THE PROFESSIONALS at 303-440-4330.

Call the Plumbing Boulder experts at 303-440-4330, .

Call the professionals at Planet Plumbing and Drain today at 303-440-4330 to solve all your plumbing problems!

Hours and Contact Info

Monday – Sunday: 7am – 9pm
Emergency Service: 24 Hours, 7 Days
(303) 440-4330 (Boulder)
(303) 772-0206 (Longmont)

ALWAYS GET AT LEAST THREE ESTIMATES…you’ll be glad you did!

CALL THE PROFESSIONALS at 303-440-4330.

(CNN) — One person is dead and five others unaccounted for after an explosion believed caused by natural gas leveled several homes in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the city’s fire chief said Thursday.

“We’re actually looking for victims from the two homes that were leveled by the explosion and a victim from the third house, which suffered severe fire damage,” Chief Robert Scheirer told CNN.

“I believe we’re dealing with a recovery at this point,” he said. “The fire is out. The gas line has been shut off. We have all the shelter victims being returned to their homes, the homes that can be habitable at this point.”

Backhoes and other heavy equipment was being brought in to the area where the fire occurred, said reporter Jaccii Farris of CNN affiliate WFMZ.
1 dead, 5 missing in Allentown fire Allentown ablaze

Need your Boulder Gas Lines inspected? Call Planet Plumbing and Drain at 303-440-4330.

“Officials believe that the death toll will rise as the morning progresses,” she said.
The blast was reported just before 11 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.
A pair of homes were flattened and burning after the initial explosion, with six more being consumed by the resulting fire, according to the fire chief. An additional 16 homes were affected by the blast.

The cause of the explosion wasn’t immediately known, but Scheirer said utility crews came to the scene and shut off a gas line that was fueling the flames.
“We don’t have anything confirmed yet at this point,” Scheirer said when asked about the cause of the blast. “We believe it to be a natural gas explosion. We don’t know if the leak was inside the home or out on the street. That all has to be investigated.”

In winter, he said, “Gas lines are like water lines. As the ground freezes and thaws, you know, it tends to shift. And sometimes, it cracks the pipes … the cause of gas leaks and water leaks.

“If gas is leaking out into the street, you know, it’s going to follow the path of least resistance and it could seep in the ground, into your home and stuff,” Scheirer said. “And any ignition source inside the home could create that explosion.”

Are you concerned about a possible Gas Leak in your Boulder home? Call Planet Plumbing and Drain at 303-440-4330.

The blast occurred a short distance from the Gross Towers senior center, which was evacuated. About 500 people were in shelters immediately after the explosion. They were returned to the center Thursday, Scheirer said.
Firefighters’ efforts were hindered by wintry weather, Scheirer told CNN.
“It’s very cold. I was very concerned with my firefighters getting frostbite last night. We set up tents and stuff to try to keep them warm. We were relieving them as rapidly as we could. (It’s) very difficult with the amount of snow that we’ve had here in the city lately …. And of course, once we start throwing water, everything turns to ice.”

In September, a natural gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, California, killed eight people. The explosion and the resulting fire injured 52 people and destroyed 37 homes. The blast sent a 28-foot section of the gas pipeline 100 feet into the air and blew in the doors of a grocery story a quarter-mile away.

Last month, a gas main explosion in Philadelphia killed a utilities worker and injured five other people.

Call the Plumbing Boulder experts at 303-440-4330. If you are up to doing the things mentioned above about your gas leak, call a professional plumber who can fix your gas leak problem.

Call the professionals at Planet Plumbing and Drain today at 303-440-4330 to solve all your plumbing problems!

Hours and Contact Info

Monday – Sunday: 7am – 9pm
Emergency Service: 24 Hours, 7 Days
(303) 440-4330 (Boulder)
(303) 772-0206 (Longmont)

ALWAYS GET AT LEAST THREE ESTIMATES…you’ll be glad you did!

CALL THE PROFESSIONALS at 303-440-4330.

Each winter in America, a 250,000 families have their homes severely damaged and their lives disrupted due to frozen water pipes in their home, as reported by State Farm Insurance. Fixing a frozen pipe can be a incredibly difficult. An 8-inch crack in a pipe can release as much as 250 gallons of water in a day.

How to prepare for frozen pipes. Thankfully, there are many steps you can take to prevent frozen pipes in Boulder and Longmont Colorado.

Insulate and wrap your home’s pipes. Pipes that are exposed are the most susceptible to freezing up. You can get commercial foam or insulation that fits around the majority of pipes. Even wrapping newspaper around a pipe provides some insulation. Where should you look for pipes that may need insulation or are in danger of bursting? Begin with the crawl spaces and attics inyour house – these are areas where the home’s heating system doesn’t warm the pipes effectively. Other places to inspect your pipes include the basement, garage, and exterior walls that are exposed to the winter weather.

Seal Cold Air Leaks. When temperatures are very cold, a small leak in a house can cause pipes to freeze. Seal leaks that are allowing frigid air to gain entry to your Boulder home. You can inspect for leaking air spaces around electrical wiring, dryer vents and other pipes that exit the house. You can stop the leaks with caulk or insulation. If you are very concerned about your home’s pipes, consider insulating the pipes with approved heat tape or heat cables.

Turn Off Water. Turn off the water supply to any outside faucets and disconnect hoses. Once you have turned off the water, the Boulder or Longmont homeowner should open the faucet and leave it open all winter which prevents any remaining water water in the pipes from freezing up.

Here are a few more tips can help prevent frozen pipe disasters in your home.

Allow heat to get to uninsulated pipes near walls by opening cabinets below your sink and bathroom sink areas.

Always keep the garage door closed.

If you think your pipes to the outdoors may have water in them still, turn the water on enough to let water drip overnight, ideally from an outside faucet. Doing this should prevent the pipes from freezing.

If you are taking a vacation or will be out of your home for an extended time during winter weather, set the thermostat at 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

If your pipes do freeze:

Be careful. If you turn on the faucets and no water releases, this is a sign you may have frozen pipes. If you have determined that your pipes have frozen, turn on the water to a trickle. Put a space heater in the area where the pipes are frozen and slowly heat the pipes up, and monitor the faucet. You may even be able to thaw a frozen pipe with a hair dryer. Start by warming the pipe with the hair dryer as near to the faucet as possible and continue warming the pipe down to the coldest section of pipe. Once the water begins to flow again, inspect the pipes to insure they have not developed any tiny leaks. Inspect the pipe thoroughly through the entire length of pipe as there may be small leaks in other areas of the pipe.

Be smart. Never use any type of open flame or torch to heat up a pipe. If you there is standing water in your home from a broke pipe, do not use electrical appliances where there is water – you don’t want to suffer from an electric shock or electrocution.

Call the Plumbing Boulder experts at 303-440-4330. If you are up to doing the things mentioned above about your frozen pipes, call a professional plumber who can fix your frozen pipe problem.

Call the professionals at Planet Plumbing and Drain today at 303-440-4330 to solve all your plumbing problems!

Hours and Contact Info

Monday – Sunday: 7am – 9pm
Emergency Service: 24 Hours, 7 Days
(303) 440-4330 (Boulder)
(303) 772-0206 (Longmont)

ALWAYS GET AT LEAST THREE ESTIMATES…you’ll be glad you did!

CALL THE PROFESSIONALS at 303-440-4330.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube

Call the professionals at Planet Plumbing and Drain today at 303-440-4330 to solve all your plumbing problems!

Hours and Contact Info

Monday – Sunday: 7am – 9pm
Emergency Service: 24 Hours, 7 Days
(303) 440-4330 (Boulder)
(303) 772-0206 (Longmont)

ALWAYS GET AT LEAST THREE ESTIMATES…you’ll be glad you did!

CALL THE PROFESSIONALS at 303-440-4330.

We are a local Boulder plumbing company serving the plumbing needs of Boulder, Weld, and Broomfield counties since 1997.

Call the professionals at Planet Plumbing and Drain today at 303-440-4330 to solve all your plumbing problems!

Planet Plumbing & Drain
303-440-4330 (Boulder)
303-772-0206 (Longmont)