Posted December 13, 2019 05:36:50

Ryan O'Flynn is a man with a pool he isn't allowed to fill with water, because his building surveyor can't sign off on the project.

Mr O'Flynn, a Melbourne plumber, is just one of many people who had construction projects underway when building surveyors ran into insurance problems earlier this year.

Surveyors are having difficulty renewing their professional indemnity insurance because of the building industry's flammable cladding crisis.

In Mr O'Flynn's case, his safety fence needs to be inspected once it is complete, so he can then fill the pool he has built at his home at Ascot Vale, in Melbourne's north-west.

But his surveyor has pulled out of the project.

"We may not be able to swim in summer it is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous," Mr O'Flynn said.

He said he was told by his surveyor that they had to change insurance policies during his pool build.

"Their excuse was that their insurance premiums have gone up so much that they had to make cuts on what [inspections] they could actually insure," he said

Philip Watt has a building surveying business in nearby Essendon and has been in the industry for 40 years.

Earlier this year he had to shut down his work for three weeks because he couldn't get professional indemnity insurance without any exemptions something insurers have become reluctant to offer surveyors.

For Mr Watt's clients, it caused all sorts of delays building their homes.

"They couldn't go past a mandatory inspection stage, so once they got to the end of the frame they couldn't go any further," he said.

In August a ministerial order was issued in Victoria, allowing surveyors to work with insurance even if it contained exclusions for non-compliant materials.

Similar moves were made in other states.

While that allowed surveyors like Mr Watt to return to work, it did not solve all of the profession's problems.

Mr Watt's insurance jumped by 800 per cent in a single year when he did find a new policy.

He said it had been usual for surveyors with small businesses to pay about $10,000 a year for professional indemnity insurance, but many are now paying close to $100,000.

Mr Watt's new insurance also comes with extra risks. His excess has jumped from $10,000 to $100,000.

"I don't think many businesses would sustain one or two claims of that amount it would certainly knock you around," he said.

The higher excess, and the associated risk, are affecting the kinds of projects his business will take on.

"There have been some projects we have not quoted, others we have been selective about how we have approached the project, because some projects are more risky than others," he said.

Mr Watt is now receiving calls from clients of a nearby surveyor who has been forced to close.

He said many surveyors were unwilling to take on projects that had already started, because they were worried they could become liable for the previous surveyor's work.

The Australian Institute of Building Surveyors (AIBS) surveyed 400 building surveyors across the country about the effects of changes to professional indemnity insurance on their businesses.

The AIBS said 11 per cent of building surveyors said they were no longer doing surveying work because of insurance issues.

A further 9 per cent of surveyors reported they had reduced the scope of work they would provide.

AIBS national president Troy Olds said the survey results revealed the scale of the industry's problems.

"It says we are in a crisis, and if 11 per cent of building surveyors are no longer able to work, we are starting to see the building industry no longer able to find professionals," he said.

The AIBS survey also found nearly 60 per cent of building surveyors had increased their fees to cope with rising insurance costs.

One surveyor wrote that he would be increasing his fees by 300 per cent next year to cover the additional insurance costs.

Mr Olds said he was aware of two firms that had taken on insurance premiums that they couldn't afford, just to stay in business.

He believes that trend will continue.

"It will get to the point where unrealistic insurance policies just won't be able to be taken and people will have to make the final decision to close their offices," he said.

Geelong builder Mark Little said it was becoming harder to find building surveyors.

"I am constantly getting calls from builders saying, 'Who did you use as a building surveyor?'" he said.

"It can create delays because of the volume of work getting pushed through to such small percentage of surveyors."

Federal Minister for Industry Karen Andrews will meet with her state counterparts on today to discuss surveyor insurance.

"Queensland and New South Wales have been leading work on possible solutions and this will be considered as a priority at Friday's Building Ministers Forum," Ms Andrews said.

"Insurers also need to step up and meet their existing obligations and lift their exclusions on professional indemnity insurance to ensure certifiers who are doing the right thing can continue to operate."

Both the insurers and the Victorian Government are calling for a national approach to resolving the insurance crisis.

Victorian Housing Minister Richard Wynne said the "only way to get real change is to deal with it a national level".

Insurance Council of Australia spokesman Campbell Fuller said there was still a crisis of confidence in the building and construction sector.

"It would be irresponsible and impractical for insurers to reassess their risk appetites and their products, including cladding-related exclusions on professional indemnity cover, based on promises and not nationally consistent action," he said.

Topics:insurance,building-and-construction,fires,melbourne-3000,moonee-ponds-3039,essendon-3040,geelong-3220

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Building projects halted as surveyors face rocketing insurance costs due to cladding crisis - ABC News

Posted: Nov 27, 2019 / 10:25 AM CST / Updated: Nov 27, 2019 / 10:25 AM CST

SHERWOOD, Ark Tomorrow, Thanksgiving will be here followed by the biggest shopping day of the year.

However, did you know Black Friday is also one of the busiest days of the year for plumbers?

Eric Scroggins with Roto-Rooter says with a larger number of guests in your home and an excess amount of kitchen use its a busy day for him and his team.

We find a lot of grease, utensils, cups and food items such as bones. You know people think they can put anything down there, he says. Your garbage disposal is not designed to handle that type of stuff.

While sinks are a common call, it isnt the number one call plumbers get, says Scroggins.

Toilets and improper disposal, he says.

Scroggins says he sees an overuse of the restroom facilities because typically a home is made to accommodate 2 5 people but on holidays like Thanksgiving it can grow to a number of 20 or more.

The day after Thanksgiving can bring as much as a 50% increase in calls compared to a normal Friday for plumbers.

Here are some tips to avoid calling the plumber:

Lastly, creating and posting signs throughout your home helps guests understand what is the best practice for your homes plumbing.

Click here for more information about getting a plumber.

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Tips on how to avoid calling a plumber this Thanksgiving - WKRN News 2

When theres a plumbing problem in Savoonga, Scott Kingeekuks phone begins to ring.

Born and raised in Savoonga, Kingeekuk, 33, remembers when the village still used honey buckets. He was a teenager when the wastewater plant opened, ushering in a new era of indoor plumbing and sanitation.

Scott Kingeekuk repairs main pumps of a facility.

Today Kingeekuk is the lead water plant operator for the St. Lawrence Island community -- and the guy the neighbors call when theres a problem with their pipes.

Now they cant live without it, he said. As soon as a toilets down, Ill get a call. They want their toilets working again.

Clean water, better health

Before home water and wastewater service arrived in Savoonga, running water was previously only available at the community washeteria. The water plant was life-changing, Kingeekuk said.

Definitely made it a lot easier for people to stay clean, do their laundry, he said. Hygiene went up. I can tell kids have less cavities, theyre brushing their teeth more, washing up more.

The honey buckets were themselves an issue, he said. Some people werent throwing them away and theyd deposit them outside their homes. The dump site was pretty close to town, so the smell was kind of bad. I remember during the summers we had a blackfly infestation.

Elders in particular had a hard time if they didnt have anyone at home who could help them properly dispose of their waste, he added. The improvement to quality of life was significant for every person in the village.

Having clean, safe water -- potable water -- and having a sewer system is really important for the community, Kingeekuk said.

Kingeekuks workday starts at the water plant, but it takes him all over town.

I come to the water plant, make sure everythings running correctly, operating like it should, said Kingeekuk. I gather readings from all the pumps and components of the system, make sure theres enough chlorine for the incoming raw water. Kingeekuk and his staff also check the sewage lagoon twice daily, a round trip of about a mile each time.

Thats only part of what his team does, however. There are about 150 houses in Savoonga, and on any given day, Kingeekuk or a member of his crew -- he supervises a backup operator and two on-call staff -- is likely to be called to at least one or two of them. Kingeekuk said the plant generally takes a couple of service calls every day, frequently plugged toilets or leaky bathroom fixtures.

We have a pretty intricate sewer system, Kingeekuk said. Its a vacuum sewer system. When one toilet goes, it affects the whole system.

The toughest part of the job, he added, can be communicating with the public about system repairs, issues, and -- unfortunately -- shutoffs due to non-payment. Facebook is a handy tool to broadcast whats going on with the sanitation system, and billing is handled through the Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative, but it falls to Kingeekuk to manually terminate service. It can be uncomfortable to tell a neighbor that he has to come over and shut off their water until they get caught up on payments.

It really does get awkward, but its got to be done, Kingeekuk said. Im at the point where they know Im just doing my job, so that kind of made it easier.

In communities with water service, filling jobs like Kingeekuks -- and keeping them filled -- can be challenging. Some communities arent able to offer competitive wages. Training and certifications are required. Some systems are starting to show their age and can be tricky to maintain, as Savoongas was when Kingeekuk started working there as a relief operator in 2011. Kingeekuk said he was worried at first that he wasnt qualified to do the job.

I went in blind, he said. I didnt know anything about water and sewer.

His first year, he was immersed in hands-on training. Kingeekuk was already mechanically minded, having grown up helping his uncles with machine repair and attending motorcycle mechanic school in Arizona. He soon found he had an aptitude for working with the wastewater system.

Taking apart pumps and troubleshooting pumps or panels kind of came naturally because I had that mechanical background, he said. And as the years went on, he got more formal training in addition to his on-the-job learning; he now has five technical certificates and is a Level II wastewater operator. This year he was named Alaska Rural Water Associations Wastewater Operator of the Year.

But theres more to his position than knowing how to flush a line or fix a leak.

Its a pretty demanding job, Kingeekuk said. It can get really stressful. I myself say its not for everybody.

He recalled attending a water plant operators retreat at which a lot of operators talked about burnout that tends to hit after about five years on the job.

Its kind of an underappreciated job for sure, he said. They dont even think about you until their toilet clogs up or their shower quits working or something.

Kingeekuk said he has felt that same burnout, wondering at one point if he should leave his job. But he sticks with it -- partly because of Savoongas limited employment options, but largely because he recognizes the important role he plays in the village.

I came this far, he said. Why quit now? People need me.

And, he added, its satisfying to know that what he does really matters to his friends, family and neighbors.

The most rewarding thing is, Id say, helping people, he said. Just being able to serve the community in a way nobody else can.

This story was sponsored by Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, a statewide nonprofit Tribal health organization designed to meet the unique health needs of more than 175,000 Alaska Native and American Indian people living in Alaska.

This story was produced by the creative services department of the Anchorage Daily News in collaboration with Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. The ADN newsroom was not involved in its production.

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Pipes, plumbing, and public relations: The life of an Alaska water plant operator - Anchorage Daily News

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas Elias Villalobos is a master plumber with Neff's Plumbing, based in Alice, Texas, and he's seen his share of plumbing disasters. When he walked into reporter Nora Perez' kitchen, he spotted a problem.

"I saw this little cap, off a milk or water bottle [next to the sink]... you dump it in there, and it goes down your disposal. Of course, this will not grind up, it's going to jam."

He also talked about food scraps ending up in the sink, a big problem during the busy days of cooking and baking over the holiday season. In particular, he mentioned why plumbers love celery. "Celery is the plumber's best friend," he joked, "because of all the fibers in there. You just grind them up, and they become like a paste. If you don't run water it will stay under there, and then you're going to have an emergency."

In the next few weeks it will be hard to keep track of who is in your kitchen and what ends up in your sink. But you can always call for help.

"Unfortunately, you have lots of visitors. You have grandma and Aunt Betsy, and they want to help. But they dump a lot of stuff in there, and it causes clogs, so plumbers are very busy this time of year."

A final piece of advice: standing water clogs call for professional help. Avoid using chemical liquid drain products. When those acid-based items hit solid clogs, they can back up and cause serious injury to you and/or your family.

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How to Avoid Plumbing Problems Over the Holidays - KIIITV.com

MONTICELLO, Ind. (WLFI) As the temperatures start to drop, boats are coming out of the water for the season.However, one boat is still floating in Lake Freeman.

The party isn't stopping this winter on the Madam Carroll. For the first time since 1976, the boat will stay in the water during the winter.The boat will operate at the dock at the Luse Lounge.The boat now runs year-round all thanks to new legislation, and a new winterization process.

"So if all the appliances in your house had to work outside, that's kind of what we're going through here," said owner Chris Peters. "There's a lot of things to think about that need to continue to work in below 32 degree weather."

Indiana's largest boat is usually pulled out of the water on a dry dock during the winter. It was built by the same man who built the Madam Carroll.

"Like a giant set of railroad tracks," Peters described.

Keeping the boat in the water presents all kinds of engineering challenges, including the plumbing, which usually runs on fresh water from the lake.

"We've engineered an induction system that will introduce antifreeze and a cleaning agent into that as it draws everything in," said Peters. "So our plumbing, at any time for that system, can never freeze no matter how cold it gets out here."

But that's not all.

"A whole new ceiling, and then above that, it's insulation that runs through the structure," said Peters about the upper deck of the boat.

He says up top, the deck will work like a heated patio.

"We have these transparent, secular wall systems," said Peters. "So we can put these walls up but you can still see through them. They're kind of like giant windows to keep out the wind."

House Bill 1518, that went into effect July 1, allows for year-round alcohol sales on the boat.Previously, the boat could only sell alcohol an hour before a cruise and during.

Owners are also happy because, as you can imagine, pulling Indiana's largest boat out of a lake isn't easy.

"300 tons," said Peters. "It's the same as a Boeing 747."

This isn't the first time the Madam Carroll is staying in Lake Freeman for the winter.Captain Bill Luse kept the boat in the water for a few years after it was built in 1976.

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After new legislation and plumbing, Madam Carroll to stay in water through winter - wlfi.com

November 28, 2019, 12:37 AM

2 min read

The Latest on a Hawaii man accused of sending hundreds of unwanted service providers and others to a Utah home, including plumbers and prostitutes.

(all times local):

2:30 p.m.

A man arrested in Hawaii wants a detention hearing in Utah, where hes accused of sending hundreds of unwanted service providers and others to a home, including plumbers and prostitutes.

Loren Okamura was in federal court in Honolulu Wednesday for a detention hearing. Federal defender Sharron Rancourt says he wants to have that hearing in Utah, where federal prosecutors say he tormented a family with what they described as extreme cyberstalking.

Okamura was indicted last month on charges of cyberstalking, interstate threats and transporting people for prostitution.

Rancourt says Okamura has been mourning his wife, who died earlier this year.

Okamura will be detained in Honolulu until hes taken to Utah.

Authorities wont disclose the relationship between the victims and Okamura, but say it was not random. Rancourt declined to comment after the hearing.

Midnight

U.S. prosecutors say a Hawaii man tormented a Utah family for over a year by sending more than 500 people to their house for unwanted services, including plumbers and prostitutes.

Loren Okamura is scheduled for a detention hearing Wednesday in Honolulu, where he was arrested.

Authorities say Okamura targeted a father and her adult daughter, sending the woman threatening messages and posting her picture and address online. One posting said the homeowner wanted drugs and prostitutes at the house in a quiet, middle-class neighborhood in a Salt Lake City suburb.

Okamuras federal public defender, Sharron Rancourt, didnt immediately return a phone message and emails seeking comment.

Authorities wont disclose the relationship between the victims and Okamura, but say it was not random.

McCombs reported from Salt Lake City.

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The Latest: Extreme stalking case hearing to be held in Utah - ABC News

Demand for skilled labor and plumbing trade workers expected to grow at an increasing rate over the next few years and companies need to offer the best to employees, says Four Seasons Plumbing.

ASHEVILLE, N.C., Nov. 27, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --According to the Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook, the demand for plumbers is growing at a faster-than-average rate, and by 2026 you should expect to see an additional 100,000 jobs in plumbing and HVAC-related fields. There's been a recent trend with skilled labor companies investing in recruitment to spread awareness about their incredible career opportunities that do not require experience to alleviate any potential barriers to entry. One such company is Four Seasons Plumbing, a family-owned plumbing company based in Asheville, NC. As a result of its enticing company benefits, vibrant culture and even relocation assistance, the team has on-boarded several new members this year alone.

"When someone chooses to train and get a skilled paid job, such as construction, HVAC or plumbing, you can be on the job and earning a living much faster," says Max Rose, owner of Four Seasons Plumbing. "The wages for jobs in skilled trades are higher than average. The average hourly rate for this type of work is upwards of $20 per hour after participating in on-the-job training through an apprenticeship."

Rose mentions that company culture and work-life balance are also important factors, and many times the final determining factors for candidates. As many Americans struggle to find variety and balance in their work lives, skilled trade could become increasingly viable as a career choice.

"We understand the competition and demand for skilled employees, which is why we have created a culture fit for anyone who wants to feel cared for, valued, and doesn't want to be stuck behind a desk all day," says Rose. "There's not an abundance of jobs where you can get a paid vacation, 401k, benefits, 100% paid health care, and paid holidays, while also having the opportunity to make more than $75,000 a year."

About Four Seasons Plumbing: Four Seasons Plumbing is family-owned and operated. From the very beginning, we believed putting the best tools in the hands of the best people would be the key to our success. Today, our people are still our most important asset. Four Seasons Plumbing has established itself as the leader in providing reliable, professional plumbing services throughout the entire Asheville and Hendersonville area and surrounding communities. We pride ourselves on a commitment to customer service and can answer any and all of your plumbing needs, even emergencies. To learn more about career opportunities and to apply online, visit https://callfourseasons.com/careers/.

SOURCE Four Seasons Plumbing

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Skilled Trade Worker Demand Means Companies are Upping the Ante in Recruitment - Yahoo Finance

ABILENE, Texas According to the City of Abilene, countless amounts of fats, oils and grease are poured down the drains every day.

Over time, this grease builds up and cant pass through the sewer system.

The City of Abilene is made up of 650 miles of sewer pipes. Now, imagine all that grease from holiday cooking being disposed of at the same time.

Overflows are large, messy and smelly. Now who wants that?

And, did you know that when grease hardens in pipes it turns into logs that are hard as cement?

Not only is it unsanitary, but if this happens at your household it's expensive.

Follow these three steps to dispose of your grease.

Cool itCan itTrash itPrevent a drain wreck from happening in your own home and the rest of the Big Country - and remember to keep grease out of your sink.

RELATED: Brown Friday: Day after Thanksgiving is most popular day for plumbers

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Brown Friday: Busiest day of the year for plumbers - myfoxzone.com

Mark Young of North Vancouver was happy with his 5K time of 23:19 in Sunday's WECHCPC Vancouver Historic Half at sunny Stanley Park. He was eighth overall and second in the 50-59 men's age class. He takes part in all the TRY EVENTS races and continues to get faster.Gord Kurenoff / Postmedia News

Hear about the plumber who went to Las Vegas and couldnt believe a full house was better than a flush?

Watching Mark Youngs eyes roll like wild casino dice suggests he has perhaps a few times too many.

The classy 58-year-old North Vancouver resident, fresh off posting a 5K time of 23:19 in Sundays WECHCPC Vancouver Historic Half at sunny Stanley Park, appeared satisfied with his eighth overall finish, and second in the 50-59 mens age class. And he should be.

The owner of a small plumbing company and father of four only started running three years ago to stay in shape to live as long as possible for my kids. Since taking the plunge hes wasting no time making his new passion look much easier than it is.

FOR SUNDAYS UNOFFICIAL RESULTS, click HERE

FOR MY FUN SUNDAY PHOTOS, click HERE

Even though Young took it easy Saturday morning in the fifth Movember Moustache Miler a gentle 5K effort at 26:20 to show support for mens health and save my speed for Sunday hes still beaming after enjoying a superb weekend at the Humana Rock N Roll Las Vegas earlier this month where he posted a personal best 23:16 in the 5K and a gentle 53:01 a day later in the Sin City 10K.

The man with the megawatt smile has been a regular fixture in the TRY EVENTS road race series I always do them all and is no stranger to the age-class podium. But he still remembers Vegas in 2016 and that inaugural 5K crawl.

More than 700 runners took part in Sundays half marathon, 10K and 5K races, but not many of them were as excited as these bubbly women! (Gord Kurenoff)

Hey, I thought it was a great idea since we were all there and got a few other friends to run. I could barely walk after that 5K! But Ive never regretted it. I keep meeting great people at every race and that makes it all worthwhile. Running for some great causes, supporting the communities and friends where we live is also a bonus, says Young.

Asked about his next local challenge, Young grins ear-to-ear and offers: The Big Elf Run in Stanley Park (Saturday, Dec. 14), where I look forward to beating you again!

Oh yeah, did we mention he likes to trash talk friendly and slower race rivals? A plumber with a potty mouth? Go figure! (Bet he still has a picture of actress Farrah Faucet on his wall!)

Drew Nicholson of Surrey, with friend Dora Velazquez, right, brought the heat Sunday in the Vancouver Historic Half, finishing second and third overall in their respective categories. (Gord Kurenoff photo)

While Young drained a lot of energy Sunday, the event suffered a total power failure with its electronic timing device, which created a few headaches for race organizers who otherwise staged another great show for more than 700 runners. The annual event also helped raise funds and awareness for the West End-Coal Harbour Community Policing Centre, whose volunteer members do some incredible work plus provide road closure assistance for running events like RUNVANs Granville Island Turkey Trot.

New York runner Ryan Thoreson didnt suffer any power problems in winning the half marathon in 1:16:21 20 seconds ahead of Surreys Drew Nicholson, whose recovery from summer injuries appears nearly complete.

That was my fastest half of the fall season, said Nicholson, who will be competing in the California International Marathon on Dec. 8 in Sacramento. And the best part today was that I helped get my good buddy Hans Zimmerling a personal best and third overall (1:17:27).

Nicholson was also proud of his good friend Dora Velazquez who finished third overall in the womens half in 1:31:09.

The other ladies in the half were insanely good. I fought really hard today for third, said Velazquez, who jokes that her short legs really have to motor to keep up to the taller runners. Im a very happy camper with my time and all the support along the course.

Postmedia News reporter Derrick Penner at Sundays finish line in Stanley Park, where the completed his first half marathon attempt in a respectable time of 2:18:26.

Another happy camper was my colleague Derrick Penner, a quality reporter with Postmedia News, who thanks to a successful weight loss program and dedicated training has gone from newbie to zoomer in no time. Penner started to notice improvements in the 2019 St. Patricks Day 5K, then the Vancouver Sun Run and this fall clocked a 62-minute 10K in the Granville Island Turkey Trot.

He completed his first half Sunday in 2:18:26, finishing 314th in the 377-runner field. He said his running journey will likely include more halfs and fast times to take over the office bragging rights. Sounds like a challenge buddy!

TRY EVENTS will launch an expanded road race series in 2020, starting with the popular Vancouver Chilly Chase on Sunday, Jan. 26 with a half, 15K, 10K and 5K at Stanley Park.

The final leg of the 2019 TRY EVENTS road race series served up picture-perfect weather for more than 700 runners on Sunday (Gord Kurenoff photo)

FINISH LINES: Ill have another blog this week highlighting popular and new December races, including the fifth annual Big Elf Run on Saturday, Dec. 14 and the 36th annual Gunner Shaw Memorial Cross Country Race on Saturday, Dec. 7. Well take a look at the 2020 PEN RUN Fraser Valley Trail Run Series that opens Wednesday, Jan. 1 at Crescent Park in Surrey, the popular Steveston Icebreaker 8K and New Balance 1K Kidsrun on Sunday, Jan. 19 and a few other surprises.

Gotta run

gkurenoff@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/ohgord

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Fun On The Run: Plumber Young taps into running to go with the flow of podium placers - Vancouver Sun

Adam Jacoby learned from his parents how to help people and now that his small plumbing business is growing he has been reaching out to the community. Paul Kuehnel, pkuehnel@ydr.com

A Facebook postcaught Adam Jacoby's attention:A man's car battery died, and he didn't have money for a new one.

"It was the Wednesday before payday, so I didn't know how I was going to get to work the next couple of days," said Rob Austera, who commutes 40 minutes each way. His post attractedcar advice about whether it was the starter or thebattery, but Adam saw it differently.

Adam thought, "I can help this guy."

Austeralives 30 minutesfrom Adam in New Freedom, so Adamcalled an Auto Zone in Hanover for help that evening. Ten minutes after closing time, Austera pulled up to findthe Auto Zone crewstill on the phone with Adam, purchasing the battery.

"They waited for him. He got there, they put it in, and his car's been running great since," said Adam, 35.

This wasn't unusual for Adam. If he can help, he will.

Adam Jacoby, right, installs a flag for Shirley Puente on Manchester Street in Glen Rock.(Photo: Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record)

"If somebody asks for help, I try not to judge anybody. Everybody has their own story," Adamsaid. "If there's something I can do to make their life easier ... just like the guy with the battery, 130 bucks, and he can make it to work for the rest of the week."

Compassionate. That's the word his mother, Dawn Jacoby, uses to describe him.

When he was little, he spotted a homeless manasking for money. His grandmother explained that sometimes a person isn't actually homeless. Adam's answer:"Nope, he's true blue." Then, Dawn remembers, he handed the mana couple of dollars.

So when a woman recently posted on the Southern York County Facebook page that she was looking for building scraps, Adam jumped in again. He would donate supplies so she couldconstructan outdoor playhouse for her daughter's birthday.

At Starbucks a couple of weeks ago, he bought coffee for someone behind him in line, and she then paidfor others.

"All it takes is one person to show care for other people, strangers. It's like the butterfly effect," he said. "One person does it, then before you know it, everybody wants to give."

Shirley Puente with a flag that was just installed by Adam Jacoby in Glen Rock.(Photo: Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record)

When Adam and his sister, Jennifer, were kids, they really wanted to go to Hersheypark. Knowing how important it was to them, their mother pawned her wedding ring to pay for the trip.

"She's a giver," Adam said. "My dad's the same way. He'd give you the last dollar he had and the shirt off his back if he had to."

Terry and Dawn Jacobydidn't have much money, so they did what they could for their kids and others. (Dawn went back for the ring after she got her paycheck. It was still at the pawn shop, and she bought it back.)

"They never really asked for help," Adam said. "So, I guess we would have been further ahead or in a different spot if they would have asked for help, but they didn't. It was always: 'We'll get through this.'"

When Adam was 15, a plumber visiting their house for serviceasked the teenager if he wanted a summer job. That began Adam's career path.

After more than a decade working for others, Adam decided to start his own plumbing business eight years ago, Jacoby Plumbing & Heating. Another business owner had told him: You'll never get rich working for somebody else.

With $1,800 in the bank, he took the dive, using his Chevy Tahoe to run plumbing jobs. Today, there are six employees in his company, including his dad.

"It takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes a village to support a small business, too," Adam said.

Adam was in his early 20s, playing softball for a church team in Shrewsbury, when the ball, thrown to get him out at second base, hit him in the temple. He finished the game, but a doctor in the stands took a look at his head. It wasn't swelling, which worried him.

It turned out to be a fractured skull and artery damage, which required surgery.

"They told us: 'He's not gonna make it unless we do this now," Dawn said. "He was literally dying."

Dawn was distraught, but Adam was calm. He knew he would be OK; it wasn't his time, he told his parents.

Late at night, during surgery, aminister appeared to talk to the Jacobys. Dawn remembers his counsel: "Adam Jacoby does not need your tears. He needs your prayers."

His Pentecostal parents prayed, and their son with the sense of humor and gift for giving survived.

Adam Jacoby has patriot wrist bands he uses in his plumbing business.(Photo: Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record)

Adam remembers driving through York County as a kid and seeing flags flying from front porches, but he doesn't notice it as much these days.

So, last week, he went back to Facebook with this: "I'm a very proud American and I love my country so I'm gonna order 25 American flags and porch mounts tonight and donate them with free install for hopefully this weekend if they come in by then. If you or someone you know wants one either like this post or message me and let's get patriotic."

The requests came in, and Adam drove through his southern York County "village" to mountflags for his neighbors on Sunday.

"I love America and love that I can go out and start my own business without a blink of an eye. If it takes off, great. If it doesn't, I still had that chance to do it," Adam said.

He doesn't weigh in on politics, but he does hold on to this: "When it comes down to it, in God we trust. He's got it. We'll be fine."

Keeping the faith: She lost her husband then her son, daughter and mother. But she holds on to faith.

York County: In 95 years, these twins have never lived more than a couple miles apart

Subscribe: 12 reasons to subscribe to the York Daily Record

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Read or Share this story: https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2019/11/20/southern-york-county-plumber-helping-neighbors-need/4227647002/

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'All it takes is one person': Meet the plumber who is full of good deeds to help strangers - York Daily Record