The Wrights Go to Washington

• Bathroom
• Bathroom Safety
• Heating
• Plumbing Problem
• Water Quality

Customer Corner

by Holly Haining -Zulieve

What’s on your Priority List?

A person in the United States is expected to move 11.4 times in his or her lifetime.  Though I consider that to be overly ambitious (unless you are military) it speaks to the fact that life is a progression of ever changing needs that dictate what we look for in a living environment as we go along.  So it’s safe to say that when we are in our sixties, we look at a house through a completely different lens then when we were in our thirties.  For instance, in our sixties instead of asking the number of bathrooms, or if they feature granite countertops, we’re apt to consider the location of the bathroom (hopefully near the bedrooms).  Instead of being blinded by the beauty of a large garden landscape, we probably stop to consider how much work or the cost it would require to maintain.  Instead of worrying about the proximity of schools and shopping, we are more concerned with the location of the closest hospital.  Instead of requiring the ambiance of a fireplace, we may pay more attention to the homes central heating system, and whether or not it’s adequate to keep us comfortably warm, effectively and efficiently over the long haul.

 

The Wright’s go to Washington

MCES customers Sharon and David Wright knew they needed a more manageable home.   Their old house in Otis was very large and became far too much for the couple to care for.  The search for lower maintenance was satisfied in October of 2017, when the couple found and bought a house in Washington.  The quaint 1980’s Cape Cod reproduction fit a lot of their requirements.  For one thing, it is much closer to the VA Hospital in Togus where Sharon’s husband David must pay regular visits.  The 2 hour trip from their old house in Otis was impractical at best.

Heating System Considerations

Since the Washington house had no central heat (just a pellet stove), the Wrights were unable to leave for any extended period of time.  Luckily, Sharon and David had a previous experience with MCES when they lived in Waldoboro before moving to Otis.   At that time MCES foreman Tim Harriman just happened to be their neighbor.  When they needed service, Tim introduced them to MCES.  Soon after the move to Washington, Sharon invited Tim and his wife Kris over to see the new house.  During dinner and while getting reacquainted, they casually discussed the need for a central heat source to supplement the pellet stove.  Tim suggested they call the MCES office and ask Sales Manager Gina Philippon to provide an estimate.  After Gina assessed the couple’s lifestyle, their particular needs and considered the limited space in the basement where the heating unit would be located, she suggested a Maytag warm air furnace.  The Maytag system was the best overall fit for their needs and lifestyle.

There’s a solution for nearly everything.

Besides the central heat issue, the Wrights had a few other concerns which they posed to MCES.   Sharon had noticed brown sediment in the toilet every day and feared that it would continue to stain new fixtures.  A water test determined the water was high in manganese and iron, so Gina recommended installing a Water Right® Impression + Water Conditioning System.  MCES regularly recommends Water Right® products because they are considered the best equipment in the industry.  For the Wright’s situation, MCES installed the Impression Plus Series^® that provides clear, soft water.  The system features an easy to read, backlit LED screen and user friendly console that allows the homeowner to monitor all operating functions. Now the Wrights enjoy water that is conditioned, won’t stain fixtures and is great to drink.

 

 

 

 

And then – there’s the issue of bathrooms.

The Wright’s house had the all too common issue of a bathroom located on the second floor with a deep bath tub and no shower.   Creating a safe and accessible showering area for the Wrights proved difficult due to the roof line and limited space.  According to Gina “It took weeks to find the exact right fixture and shower base.  Because of the space constraints we needed every tiny bit of space available to make this work. “  Gina conducted an extensive search for an exposed shower system rather than the normal valve that’s roughed in behind a wall.   An exposed system would save room and allow for just the right amount of space needed. Ultimately, Gina found a Hansgrohe brand shower valve unit that turned out to be the perfect answer.  It not only fits the space, but is also quite handsome.  Gina also took considerable thought to come up with just the right shower base to fit the odd space.

The Report Card….

With the heating system installed and the water treatment in place, once the electrical work is completed, the upstairs bathroom will be completely finished. Technician Eric Morgner installed all of the plumbing, including the water softener and furnace.  Technician Brian Warren installed the electrical and lighting and reworked some of what was there to make it safe and more convenient.  When asked to grade her overall experience with MCES thus far, Sharon offered these comments “Things have gone well and people show up in a timely manner. Gina has been great in making these transitions happen and the technicians have been very pleasant and polite.” Though the furnace has been very recently installed, Sharon says she has had to use the furnace a few times, and is happy with the performance.