Mrs. Rooter Blog

Our Mr. Rooter Plumbing technicians do a lot more than unclog drains and repair plumbing fixtures. I would like to share with you Mr. Rooter Plumbing’s Top Recoveries of 2009:

1. $70,000 Wedding Ring

Mike Roberts, general manager of the Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Phoenix franchise, made national headlines in January when he recovered a $70,000 wedding ring that was accidentally flushed down the toilet.  It was an eight-hour process that included removing the toilet, searching the line with a video inspection camera, and digging up the floor to retrieve the ring. From CNN and Fox News to the National Enquirer, more than 500 stories were published, aired or posted online about this remarkable recovery. Mr. Roberts, thank you for being a world class representative for Mr. Rooter Plumbing!

2. Seven Baby Ducks

George Jessup, a commercial service technician at the Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Pittsburgh franchise, saved seven ducklings that were stuck in a storm drain in July. With the help of the fire department and police, it took 30 minutes for Mr. Jessup to safely return the baby ducks to their mother. This was a story that made headlines across the country (thank you, Associated Press and Mr. Jessup!).

3. Wedding and Engagement Rings Flushed by Toddler

Dan Kraby, a Mr. Rooter Plumbing technician at the Salem-Mass. franchise, recovered a woman’s wedding and engagement rings that her toddler son flushed down the toilet when she wasn’t looking. (What a fantastic story this mom will get to tell when he’s all grown up!) The three-hour recovery in May was featured on CNN’s Morning Express with Robin Meade. Kudos to you, Mr. Kraby!

4. A Daughter’s Diamond Ring from Dad

It was déjà vu for Mike Roberts in April when a second customer called about the same ring-down-the-toilet scenario. This time it was a $6,000 sapphire and diamond ring that was a gift from her father. Mr. Roberts dropped a video inspection camera down the ventilation pipe, and just five minutes into the search, he located the ring in a pipe below a closet off the hallway. Because of Mr. Roberts, she gets to pass this sentimental piece of jewelry down for generation to generation.

5. Secret Engagement Ring Rescue

At a Mr. Rooter shop (I can’t mention where), one of our technicians recovered a one-carat diamond engagement ring that had slipped off our customer’s finger.  She didn’t notice it had fallen into the toilet until she had already pushed the handle to flush.  Our Mr. Rooter technician made a remarkable recovery, and she didn’t have to tell her fiancé that she almost lost her ring. (Her secret is safe with Mr. Rooter!)

6. Karma the Cat

In March, Robert Plantic, a technician at the Mr. Rooter Plumbing franchise in Toronto, found a much-loved pet named Karma. (What a fitting name!) The cat was missing for hours when Mr. Plantic’s search with a video inspection camera began.  It took him two hours to find the cat, which had found its way down in the floor boards that renovators were putting down to cover up holes in the customer’s house. To make sure the scared cat came out Mr. Plantic put food by the opening and called for the cat.  Here’s a shout out to Mr. Plantic for being courteous.  

7. Diamond Down the Drain

Mr. Rooter of Central Texas plumber Jim Hauk didn’t need a video inspection camera (which is used in most recoveries) to find a diamond that went down the kitchen sink drain in Waco over the summer.  After disconnecting the drain line close to the garbage disposal, he spotted the diamond – which our customer has proudly worn in her wedding ring for the past 16 years. And because of Mr. Rooter Plumbing’s Mr. Hauk, she will be able to wear it for the next 16 years and more!

I sure do hope that none of this happens to you…but if it should, Mr. Rooter Plumbing is just a phone call away.  

Here’s wishing you a world class New Year’s!

From jewelry to pets, our Mr. Rooter Plumbing service professionals have saved the day for customers all across North America this year.  While some of the recoveries only took our plumbing technicians minutes, other rescues took them hours upon hours. 

I really appreciate and enjoy the letters and compliments our customers have written over the years, thanking our heroes in the plumbing world.  I would like to take this moment to give kudos to our Mr. Rooter Plumbing professionals who recovered something sentimental for our customers.  You have been part of some really great stories written about Mr. Rooter Plumbing saving the day. Bravo!

In my next blog posting, I will share with you our top recoveries of the year.  To give you a peek into our amazing recoveries, they include a cat, ducks and diamond rings.

Here’s wishing you a world class day.

I want to share with you a poem I received last year from a fellow Marine. Being a former Marine myself, this poem really touched my heart.

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,                                 I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,                           Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn’t loud, and it wasn’t too near,                                   But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn’t quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,                               A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

“What are you doing?”, I asked without fear,
“Come in this moment, it’s freezing out here.

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,                       You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve.

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,

To the window that danced with a warm fire’s light.                       Then he sighed and he said “It’s really all right,                                                                                                 I’m out here by choice. I’m here every night.”

“It’s my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me.”
“I’m proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at ‘Pearl on a day in December,’                               Then he sighed, “That’s a Christmas ‘Gram always remembers.”

“My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ‘ Nam ‘,                             And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I’ve not seen my own son in more than a while,                                 But my wife sends me pictures, he’s sure got her smile.”

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,                              The red, white, and blue… an American flag.

“I can live through the cold and the being alone,                                  Away from my family, my house and my home.”

“I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,                          I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.”

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.”

“So go back inside,” he said, “harbor no fright,                              Your family is waiting and I’ll be all right.”

“But isn’t there something I can do, at the least”,                              “Give you money,” I asked, “or prepare you a feast?”

It seems all too little for all that you’ve done,
For being away from your wife and your son.”

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
“Just tell us you love us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we’re gone,                          To stand your own watch, no matter how long.”

“For when we come home, either standing or dead,                              To know you remember we fought and we bled.

Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,                                 That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.”

I would like to take this moment to wish those serving in our military a very happy holiday.  We appreciate the sacrifices you are making – including spending holidays away from your families – to keep us safe.  

Here’s wishing you safe passage home.

Everyone at Mr. Rooter Plumbing wishes you a very happy holiday.  If Mr. Rooter Plumbing technicians were to rewrite the 12 days of Christmas, it would go something like this:

On the first day of Christmas my plumber fixed for me a clogged drain running slowly.

On the second day of Christmas my plumber fixed for me 2 stuffed disposals.

On the third day of Christmas my plumber fixed for me 3 frozen pipes.

On the fourth day of Christmas my plumber fixed for me 4 water heaters.

On the fifth day of Christmas my plumber recovered for me 5 diamond rings!

On the sixth day of Christmas my plumber fixed for me 6 root intrusions.

On the seventh day of Christmas my plumber fixed for me 7 shower drains.

On the eighth day of Christmas my plumber fixed for me 8 septic tanks.

On the ninth day of Christmas my plumber fixed for me 9 gurgling drains.

On the tenth day of Christmas my plumber fixed for me 10 water softeners.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my plumber fixed for me 11 bathroom fixtures.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my plumber fixed for me 12 toilet bowls.

I hope you have some fun singing this one!

With the holidays upon us, it is always nice to take time to reflect on what matters most in our lives. Being with family is very important, and I am happy to celebrate the time with my husband and children. To make our day go a little bit smoother, I follow these helpful suggestions.

• Ask family members to bring their specialty dish so all the work does not fall to you.
• Do your staple shopping a few weeks ahead to avoid the rush.
• Assign the task of setting the table to the younger children who can get creative with decorating with leaves or pinecones from the yard. Have them color pictures of each guest to use as place settings.
• Remember to let the turkey sit for a few minutes before carving to prevent losing flavorful juices.
• Always have an “extra” wrapped gift should a surprise visitor arrive. Chocolates or a popular book are always nice.
• Wrap gifts as you purchase them to avoid feeling overwhelmed at the last minute.

This December, we at Mr. Rooter Plumbing® wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.

During the holidays I happily open my home to family and friends. As many of you can relate to, it is a busy time filled with gift buying, decorating the tree, parties, and preparing the perfect turkey.

My favorite part of the holiday are those precious moments with my family spent enjoying quiet time together.  I just love watching the original Christmas special “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss and that moment his heart grows “three sizes too big” when he remembers the true spirit of the holiday. Here’s wishing all of you that holiday spirit this year and some time to remember the important parts of the season. 

Having a plumbing problem certainly can dampen the spirit so I thought I’d share with you some tips to at least keep your plumbing running smoothly while your home is filled to the brim with people.

With extra visitors in your home, you may find these bathroom reminders useful:

• Wait ten minutes between showers.
• Avoid flushing items that don’t break down easily: cotton balls, paper towels, facial tissue and sanitary products.
• Know how to use the water shut-off valve behind the toilet bowl in case of an emergency.
• Remove small objects from the top of the toilet tank that could fall in, causing it to clog.

For more tips on keeping your plumbing trouble free during your holidays, check out http://www.mrrooter.ca/AskTheExpert/PlumbingTips/SeasonalTips.aspx.

Here’s wishing you a special holiday season!

I just love fun trivia questions.  What about you?  Let’s see how well you know jolly old St. Nick and his flying reindeer!

Can you name Santa’s reindeer? (There are 9!)

What state has a town called Santa Claus?

In which state is Santa located?

And the answers are…(Scroll down to find out!)

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and the most famous of all, Rudolph.

Santa Claus, Indiana

Santa, Idaho

Here’s wishing you a world class holiday.

While I really love having big, beautiful trees in my yard, I understand those lovely trees with their big roots may someday cause my home’s pipes to back-up. This actually causes more problems than you’d think. Did you know your pipes can be damaged by a tree that is hundreds of yards away or even in a neighbor’s yard several houses down the street?

When roots grow into your pipes it is called root intrusion (at least in the plumbing world). But the roots really aren’t to blame; it’s actually cracked pipes or bad joints that allow roots to break into pipes.

Roots actively seek out pipes because they like to lap up the moisture from the pipes. Because condensation forms around pipes, tree and shrub roots are naturally drawn to pipes even when they are not broken. Older pipes are the most susceptible due to cracks, deformations and leaks. This often leads to blockages in your pipes.

Mr. Rooter® service professionals can use video inspection cameras to locate roots in your pipes.  Here’s wishing you a world class day.

With temperatures dropping, do you know how to keep your pipes from freezing?

If not, I would like to share these tips with you:

- Cover your faucets and exposed pipes with insulation – most home parts places stock up on outdoor faucet covers around this time of year

- Or you can wrap them with thick towels

- Secure your basement doors, windows and crawl space openings

- You can apply electrically-powered heat tape (be sure you follow the – manufacturer’s instructions)

- Keep your faucets running (I recommend either a small trickle of water or a constant drip.)

- Open your cabinet doors to allow heat to circulate to keep your interior pipes warm

- Remove your garden hoses from outdoor faucets

- You should also open outside hose taps so water can drain

Be sure you know where the main water shut-off valve is, and learn how to use it. This is important to know in case your pipes freeze.

So if your pipes are frozen, I have some information you need to know:

• First, you need to turn off the water at the shut-off valve.
• Next, open the faucet at the lowest point in the house. If you have a basement, I recommend a faucet there. When you do this, it allows water to drain out as the ice melts. (I suggest a basement, because this allows water to drain from the entire house to the lowest point.)
• Finally, you can heat the exterior of the pipe with a hair dryer. Be sure you apply heat slowly, and you don’t keep heat in one spot.

Do NOT attempt to thaw exposed frozen pipes with an open flame, such as an acetylene torch. This could generate a spark or cinder that could cause a fire, especially in enclosed areas.

Some of our Mr. Rooter shops up in the North and in Canada have electric thawing machines. These machines are great, because they slowly defrost a frozen pipe by sending a low voltage electric current through the pipe. This gently thaws the ice with no danger of fire from a torch or other open flame device.

If you end up with burst pipes this winter, and you need immediate repair, call a qualified plumber. Our plumbing technicians are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week as well as on holidays, and there’s never an overtime charge.

Here’s wishing you a world class day.

There are many things I really enjoy about this season; one in particular is the spirit of the holidays.  It just warms my heart to see people give back.  Mike Geddings, our Mr. Rooter franchisee in Rock Hill, S.C., is doing just that, and I want to share his story with you.

When Mr. Geddings opened his Mr. Rooter shop earlier this year, he set a goal to bring back a special Christmas tradition he participated in when he was young.  He shared with me that as a 7-year-old child, he had the chance to experience the joy that comes from this special event, and he wanted to re-create it for others. (Mike told me he still remembers getting a plastic bowling pin set and a yoyo, which is one of his favorite childhood Christmas memories!)

So on Dec. 20, Mr. Geddings will bring back the Christmas Tree Celebration, and give toys to 350 children in his community.  It’s a tradition that began in 1932, but it ended in the 1960s.  Way to go Mike.

To read more about the Christmas Tree Celebration, its unique history and its resurrection, visit www.ChristmasTreeCelebration.com.  Here’s wishing you a world class holiday.