Clearwater Plumbers - September/October 2019

September/October 2019

Straight from the

PIPES

ClearWater Plumbers

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The Secret to Attracting and Retaining Clients

That gets really nasty, and I don’t wish it on anyone. I also feel it is ClearWater’s responsibility to look out for our folks and their families. We have good people. Preemployment Screening: We do phone interviews, and then we run a stringent in-person interview process, and we have a waiting line to get hired. Prospective employees have to pass a collaborative review by a panel of six women with finicky taste and then a long interview with me. I am a cautious guy with a good read on people and a technical master plumber. Texas-Licensed Plumbers: We only send Texas state-licensed plumbers to homes and businesses. That means they went to Austin or the likes to take a test, along with completing verified hours to prove they have been in the trade and possess the basic skills the state determines necessary to perform certain tasks. Almost all companies nowadays are breaking that rule (and the law). I’ve seen plenty of helpers with one year of experience “running a truck” for “competitor” plumbing companies. Not only is that against the law, but it is flat-out dangerous. One of our large lines of business is fixing handyman/unlicensed work. Maybe I should be thankful for all the impostors running around with the wrong can of glue and primer. These unlicensed guys split like roaches in the light when there is a problem, and the problems are much more expensive the second time around. Attracting and retaining customers is a simple principle, but it is easier said than done. Different people buy for different reasons, but having capable and talented employees is one of the best ways to improve customer experience. What drives me to have the best people working for ClearWater is my family’s safety, comfortable living conditions, a happy wife, freedom from worry, and enjoyment of life. Oh, and I want you to like me too.

Drug Tested: Do you know how many metroplex plumbing companies have a known drug culture? Let’s just say you would be surprised. We test before we hire and maintain a watchful eye to make sure we have an A-team culture. Most plumbing companies nowadays only care that you have a pulse and can open your eyes. That may be an exaggeration, but not by much. Weekly Reviews: We have a weekly leadership meeting to go over each employee individually. It involves things like customer feedback, progress, licensing, and the general vibe of everyone on our team. We will not send a plumber to your house if I wouldn’t send them to my house with my family. Some plumbers start great and fade. Some folks start great and stay great. In the meeting, you hear a lot of things like, “I just love Jacob …” (Please don’t tell Jacob; the ol’ boy is great, but he will let it go to his head.) If there is a negative, we coach them or free up their future to work elsewhere. Workers’ Comp: Our employees are employees, not subcontractors. ClearWater provides workers’ comp insurance. What this means for you is if our employee gets hurt — or worse, gets hurt at your home — you are safe. I know of uninsured guys falling off roofs and dying. The family goes looking to get paid.

– Jeff Longspaugh

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ClearWater Plumbers | 817-296-0670 | clearwaterplumber.com

IS IT BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT? There are certain situations in which sending food down the garbage disposal is greener than sending it to the landfill. It can take a lot of energy to transport food waste to a landfill, especially if it’s far away from the city or town you live in. In addition, food waste in landfills can create methane gas more quickly than it can at a wastewater facility. The best option for food disposal is to compost everything you can. Compost allows food waste to decompose naturally and be used later as fertilizer. You can start a compost of your own in your backyard, or you can donate your food waste to a community compost. If you’re unsure of what method to use, you can reach out to your local water treatment plant or landfill to see which captures the most methane and produces efficient energy.

Garbage disposals are an important part of the kitchen. Their primary purpose is to keep your kitchen clean, make sure it smells fresh, and reduce the number of harmful bacteria that could harm you and your food. However, arguments about whether or not the disposals are eco- friendly have come up more than once. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WASTE? People looking to reduce the amount of food waste in landfills often send their scraps down the sink. This food is sent to a wastewater treatment facility where it is strained to remove larger pieces of waste that are then converted into fertilizer, landfilled, or digested by microorganisms. While most foods can be sent down the drain without resulting in problems, there are some foods that shouldn’t. Refrain from putting fats, grease, starches, bones, fruit pits, and oils down the drain. These types of foods not only clog drains but can also damage the garbage disposal itself as well as the pipes.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Garbage Disposal Use THE DO’S

ARE YOU PROPERLY UTILIZING YOUR GARBAGE DISPOSAL? FOLLOW THESE SIMPLE HACKS TO FIND OUT!

THE DON’TS

It is important to avoid putting the following products in your garbage disposal:

• Keep your garbage disposal clean. Pour a little dish soap down it and let it run for a minute. Use cold water because it will solidify any grease and oils inside the unit, so they can be chopped up before reaching the trap.

• • • • • •

Rice, Pasta, and Bread

• • • • • • •

Grease, Oils, and Fats

Stringy Fruits and Veggies Fibrous Fruits and Veggies

Onion Layers

• Run your garbage disposal regularly to prevent rust and corrosion.

Egg Shells

Anything in Bulk Harsh Chemicals

Nuts and Shells Coffee Grounds Pits and Seeds Animal Bones

• Always grind up the food waste with a strong flow of cold water.

Use ice to clean blades 1–2 times per month.

Nonfood Stuff Like Glass, Plastic, Metal, or Paper

THE BENEFITS When used properly, your garbage disposal helps you avoid using plastic bags, and it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, since they are not required for the transport of waste.

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ClearWater Plumbers | 817-296-0670 | clearwaterplumber.com

Meet Your Support Team! Belinda WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO JOIN THE TEAM? I worked in the chiropractic field

INGREDIENTS Filling: •

for over 20 years when, out of the blue, one of the owners of

3 tbsp all-purpose flour 2 tbsp maple syrup 1 tbsp lemon juice

5 lbs Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped

ClearWater Plumbers reached out to me. They needed a customer service representative/dispatcher. I was terrified to leave the job I was in because that’s all I’d known for so long. However, the idea of working 1.5 miles from my house and 2.5 miles from my daughter’s school sounded awesome! I

• •

1/4 cup pecans, finely chopped

Topping: •

• •

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/3 cup brown sugar

was working in North Richland Hills, which was 40 minutes away with traffic. I worked Monday through Thursday 9 a.m.–6 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m.–12 p.m. I had been tossing around the idea of finding something closer to home but hadn’t started the process. ClearWater approached me at a perfect time. I was sad to leave my chiropractic family and all the sweet patients I had developed friendships with over the years, but I was happy to begin a new journey. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB? As an animal lover, I enjoy being able to have 2–4 dogs and 1–3 kittens in the office at any given time. I also enjoy taking breaks to bottle-feed newborn baby goats every three hours. That’s something I’ve never had the opportunity to do in a typical 8-to-5 office job. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES? I enjoy spending time with the loves of my life: my first love, Peter Garcia; our two girls, Giada, 9, and Arianna, 2; and our boxer, Zeke, 5. I also enjoy singing, participating in 5Ks, playing golf, and salsa dancing. IF YOU COULD BE ANY TYPE OF VEHICLE, WHAT WOULD YOU BE? I’d be a maroon-colored Nissan Micra convertible because it is easy to get along with, tiny, and cute. I like to think that I’m a close and personal type of gal. I am touchy-feely and passionate. The car also has curves in all the right places and large headlights set high up.

6 tbsp chilled butter, cut into pieces 1/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

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1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS: 1. Heat oven to 350 F.

2. In a mixing bowl, mix all filling ingredients together. Transfer to individual serving ramekins. 3. In a different mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt for the topping. Mix in butter until it forms lumps roughly the size of a pea, then stir in pecans. Sprinkle topping over filling. 4. Bake for 35–40 minutes, let stand for 10 minutes, and serve.

SUDOKU

I like to look forward in a positive manner! I don’t sweat the small stuff because life’s too short!

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE SUMMER DRINK? A spicy michelada!

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN YOUR LIFE? The most important things to me are faith, family, friends, and laughter.

WHAT IS SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT YOU THAT WE DON’T KNOW? I am honestly not sure ... I’m an open book!

Answer on Page 4

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ClearWater Plumbers | 817-296-0670 | clearwaterplumber.com

6954 Boat Club Rd. Fort Worth, TX 76179 817-296-0670

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

ClearWater Plumbers

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The Secret to Attracting and Retaining Clients

Helping the Environment Stay Green

The Do’s and Don’ts of Garbage Disposal Use

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Meet Your Support Team

Classic Apple Crisp

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The Secret to Attracting and Retaining Clients

The Secret to Attracting and Retaining Clients

Please keep this between us ... but back in the day when I was doing out-of-town motel/hotel remodels and commercial construction work, I thought I had to rely on folks in dire straits to come work with me as my first motley employee entourage. I did not have much to offer them except for my amazing personality, sporadic work, and daily $10 advances. Generally, they were not bad guys, and I got along with everyone, and we had our fair share of laughs. However, I’m here to tell you I had short leashes on them, and there was direct supervision. Heck, with guys you pick up on the work corner, you cannot even leave spare change in your ashtray or feed parking meters; those little silver colored coins disappear. Cigarettes, the 99 cent menu, and generic Saltine crackers from the dollar store are where most of my ashtray money probably went. One of my motley employee’s careers at ClearWater was short-lived with him telling me, “So, I guess we is enemies now …” while I was cruising down the road. I followed with, “So, I guess we is.” Then I directed him out of my work truck on Rosedale and 8th Avenue in Fort Worth. He probably walked to get a couple of Jack in the Box 2-for-$1 tacos I paid for involuntarily from my ash tray fund and then forgot about me.

One more fella was intellectual and much better with words than I am. See, I had this little cooler, like a lunch bag, I had given him as a gift. The cooler was empty at the beginning of the day, but by clock out time, it was bulging from being packed full. He went shopping at my little warehouse shop … he took two rolls of toilet paper, a light bulb, a toilet supply line and some miscellaneous fittings. Probably $30 worth of stuff. Turns out the guy liked to smoke crack and needed toilet paper. Here’s how to hire better people . Background Check: We run a national background check on all employees. What does that mean for you? It means I am comfortable with ClearWater employees working with my wife and three young daughters when I am not home, and I’m not basing it off a feeling.

Continued on Cover ...

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