CK Mechanical: Water Heater Giveaway

CK Mechanical is extremely thankful to be part of our great Casper Community. To show our appreciation we held a Water Heater Giveaway during the 2020 Holiday season. The lucky winner was awarded a brand new tank-style water heater, delivered and installed by CK Mechanical. Need help staying warm during the cold Wyoming winter? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay tuned for our next giveaway!

For more information on CK Mechanical, visit www.ckmechanicalph.com or call 307-473-8448.

CK Mechanical – The New CK

Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up. That’s a lesson that most of us have had to learn, in both our personal and professional lives. Sometimes we make mistakes. Sometimes we fail. Sometimes we fall. But it’s not the fall that defines us- it’s whether we get back up or not.

For Kevin Maston, owner and president of CK Mechanical, the past year has been about picking himself up, dusting himself off and reminding the community why CK Mechanical is Casper’s number one nationally recognized, local choice for plumbing services and so much more.

When Maston started CK Mechanical in 2004, he wanted to change the perception of what plumbers actually do. He knew how much work, knowledge, intelligence and passion it takes to be a trusted, effective plumber and he wanted to be an example of that in his own community.

“There’s a misconception about what a plumber is, and even some of our competitors still have the logo of the butt crack,” Maston laughed. “But that’s not what we are. It takes a lot of knowledge to do what we do and there’s a science behind it. The trade, in general, is looked down upon and it’s been one of my goals to change that.”

Changing the perception of the industry was a goal of Maston’s when he first forayed into the field, and it is a goal of his still. When he first started, Maston worked for a number of different companies but he knew, almost from the beginning, that he wanted to start his own company. As soon as he felt like he gathered enough experience and knowledge, that’s exactly what he did.

“The day I was eligible to take my master plumbing test, I did,” he said. “I had like $1,500 in the bank when I started CK Mechanical and I literally went door-to-door, knocking on doors and saying ‘Hi, my name is Kevin.’ I didn’t have any business cards. I didn’t know anything about business. I was a good plumber, and that was it. But that’s how I got started.”

Since that time, CK Mechanical has grown into one of Casper’s premiere plumbing companies. It has been featured in US Builders Review and was the recipient of the 2019 Readers Choice Awards for Best Plumbing Company, according to the Casper Star Tribune. It’s received countless 5-star reviews on Google and Facebook but, according to Maston, those accolades still aren’t good enough. In fact, Maston believes, CK Mechanical has yet to reach its true potential.

Like any business, success ebbs and flows due to a variety of reasons. And while CK Mechanical has always been successful, Maston said that there have been a few instances where he’s “taken his eye off the ball,” which has led to some issues within the company. And, he said, those issues fell squarely on his shoulders.

“I purchased an HVAC company in 2013 that was almost exactly the same size as my plumbing company,” Maston stated. “So, I literally doubled overnight. Prior to that, I had purchased three other plumbing companies that I was successful at integrating. So, I thought I could do the same thing this time and be just as successful. But turns out, I couldn’t. And I had some managers in place that I couldn’t count on. I had some personal issues going on and I was just in a funk. I had so much going on, that it was easier to ignore it than to deal with it.”

That is a position that most of us have taken at some point in our lives. When things get hard or overwhelming, sometimes it seems like it’s easier to just ignore what’s happening. Maston said he did that but very quickly realized how many people were counting on him- his family first, his employees and, of course his community.

“I don’t want to come off as meek or ‘oh, woe is me,’” Maston said. “But I want people to know that when I make mistakes, I’m going to say so and I’m going to stand behind it and I’m going to fix it. I’m going to make things right. We’ve let some people down and I want to fix that because I grew up here and if I see somebody at the store, I want to be able to look them in the eye and know that they appreciate having us in their community and that they appreciate the work that we do. But I want to work for that. I do believe that we’re the best at what we do. I believe we’re better than the other guy, but it’s easy to say that. Let us prove it.”

Sometimes, we’re our own harshest critic. But in order to be successful, we need to push ourselves to be better than our best day. That’s what Maston and his team strive to do at every opportunity. For Maston, CK Mechanical is more than just a job, more than just a business, more than just a way to make a buck. It isn’t just his livelihood; it’s his life, period. He views his employees and his customers as family, which is what he believes sets CK Mechanical apart from any other plumbing company.

“Family is the most important thing in my mind. Our company culture, from an employee perspective is about family. We’re based on family values. We’re a team, we’re a family and we have each other’s backs. From an employee perspective, I want my folks to know that I’m here for them all the time, and that goes for our customers too. We want to provide exceptional service every time and we want to do more than what’s expected of us.”

Maston said that the goal of CK Mechanical is to go above and beyond in every single aspect of what they do. “If you call me to change out your water heater and I notice that your trash is full, I’ll take out your trash. If your walkway is snowy, I’ll shovel your walk for you. We want to do more than what’s expected, every single time. That’s how you build trust and that’s how you build value and that’s how you get customers for life.

Nobody likes to call the plumber. Usually when you have to call a plumber, it’s an emergency situation. Our goal is to turn that stressful situation into a positive one.”

The way to do that, Maston said, is to demonstrate integrity in all aspects of the job. “We’re going to be there when we say we’ll be there. We’re going to give you a price and stick to that price. We’re not going to surprise you with extra charges. We’re going to offer you options and we’re going to let you be in charge of what we’re doing for you. We’ll tell you what’s wrong and we’ll offer solutions, but we’ll give you options too. We want to give you options so that you can make the best decision for your budget, for your family and for your future.”

Kevin Maston always has his eyes on the future, but he recognizes the importance of the past as well. He said that he’s learned from past mistakes and is intent on not repeating them. He wants to be held accountable by the community he loves. More than anything, Maston knows that if and when he falls (and we all do), he is a part of a community that won’t hesitate to help pick him up.

For more information on CK Mechanical, visit www.ckmechanicalph.com or call 307-473-8448.

CK Mechanical: How to Choose an Emergency Plumber

How to Choose an Emergency Plumber

John Lennon once said “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.”

We spend countless hours of our lives making plans. Whether it’s planning family vacations, the birth of our children, parties, shopping lists, you name it! We even usually know, down to the smallest side dish, what is going to be on our table for Christmas Dinner.

But how much time have you spent planning what you’re going to do when your sewer backs up? When the water heater leaks? When your boiler heat goes out? The definition of an emergency is “a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action.” By definition, it is difficult to plan for an emergency.

The first thing to cross most peoples’ minds when they have an emergency repair at home is, generally, “How much is this going to cost me?” What happens when we combine a lack of forethought with an emergency situation is that we throw out everything that is hard-wired into us as planners, and we resort to the important, but often risky, response of  “I have to find the cheapest way possible to fix this right now!”

When you’re dealing with a plumbing emergency, you can’t afford a cheap fix. A cheap fix today often results in an expensive repair tomorrow. Plus, you’ll feel like you’re always waiting for the proverbial “other shoe to drop.” Aren’t you tired of waiting? Life doesn’t wait for you, nor should you have to wait for the other guy to show up, give you a cheap estimate and even cheaper work, and then tell you that “you get what you pay for” a week later when the emergency arises again. Before you find yourself ‘Still Waiting’ for the other guy to show up and offer cheap, but ineffective solutions, consider these 5 points.

  1. Know who you’re talking with. Pay attention to who you talk with when you call to schedule a plumber to come to your home. Are you talking with an answering machine or does the person on the other end of the line care about you and genuinely want to help fix your problem? You can tell a lot about a company by how they answer the phone. If you find yourself still waiting on hold for 10-15 minutes, you can trust that you’ll be waiting a lot longer for them to actually come to your home.
  1. Be wary of over-the-phone pricing. Some have learned this one the hard way. The price you get over the phone is generally a base price and it can increase significantly once someone gets to your house and really sees what’s going on. Plumbing problems simply cannot be diagnosed over the phone – especially if you aren’t talking with an actual plumber when you call. Over-the-phone estimates are designed to give you a pretty number that gets them in the door. Then, they give you the actual price once you’ve more or less already hired them.
  1. Look for a plumber who offers 24-hour emergency service. If the problem arises again, it’s important to know that somebody will be there for you, regardless of the day and time. If you’re spending days at a time waiting for the other guy to show up, there’s no telling how much damage (both to your home and to your psyche) could actually take place.
  1. Consult online reviews. You’re probably not the first person in town to need a plumber. Rely on Google reviews and other websites that have a bank of real reviews written by real people in your community. Word-of-mouth is a big deciding factor, even via online reviews. You can’t trust everything you read online, but it’s generally a safe bet to check out reviews of plumbers. 
  1. Check the background. Ask if the technician coming to your home is drug-tested and background-checked. Your home and your family are your priority. A company that invests significant dollars in making sure that employees are trustworthy and safe in your home tells you that your home and family are a priority to them, too.

There are honest, reputable, trained, trustworthy plumbing companies out there. Are they the cheapest? Probably not. Knowing what is important to you before you invite someone into your home is essential, especially in an emergency. If you know what you want in a plumber before you pick up the phone, you don’t have to worry about being bound by the cheapest option. Certain things are worth investing in. At CK Mechanical, we invest in you because you invest in us. If you’re still waiting for the other guy to show up (or even just answer the phone), maybe it’s time to consult the professionals at CK Mechanical. You can trust us to be there when life happens because we know you’re tired of waiting… you can count on us.

For more information on CK Mechanical, visit www.ckmechanicalph.com or call 307-473-8448

CK Mechanical: Don’t Get Left on ‘Read’

Murphy’s Law states “anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” Never is this more evident than when it comes to your plumbing. It’s inevitable that, after a long day at work, PTA meetings, kids misbehaving, spouses being sassy and a dog that refuses to stop barking, once you are finally able to get under the covers of your long-awaited bed and close your eyes, that’s when a pipe will burst and your basement will start to flood.

You’ve been down this road before. Last time this happened, you called the local plumber, let’s call him ‘The Other Guy,’ because you were assured that he would pick up. He even gave you his ‘personal’ phone number. “Gimme a call, day or night!” he said. You believed him. “You can even send me a text,” he offered. You felt confident that, when Murphy’s Law struck, you would be taken care of. So, when something actually did happen and you dialed ‘The Other Guy,’ you were no doubt disappointed when he didn’t pick up and you were told that his voice mailbox was full. Not to be deterred, you sent him a text: ‘Send Help Pls.’ And you were left on ‘Read.’

You’ve been left on ‘Read’ for 7 years.

If you’re tired of waiting on ‘The Other Guy,’ let the professionals at CK Mechanical tend to all of your plumbing and heating needs. With 24/7 service, they are available day or night (they really mean it, too) for whatever leak may spring, whatever pipe may burst or whatever drain may clog. Come what may, the certified, award-winning technicians at CK Mechanical will always answer the call.

This local family-owned and operated plumbing and water solution company has unrivaled experience with water softeners, backflow prevention, tankless water heaters, gas piping, clogged drains, and more. They provide guaranteed options that work with you, not against you. When it seems like the world is against you and nothing is going right, when Murphy enacts his stupid, inevitable law and everything that could go wrong does, don’t panic. Now, there’s a plan for that.

The CK Mechanical Family Plan is a monthly subscription service that protects your home’s entire water system. It includes yearly checkups, service, discounts and 24-hour support with nationally recognized local leaders in plumbing, heating and water systems.

Only $14 a month buys you peace of mind, comfort and the confidence that when Murphy’s Law goes into effect, you can count on CK Mechanical to answer the call and bring you solutions in a safe, efficient, and cost-effective manner. Don’t wait on ‘The Other Guy’ anymore. Don’t settle for less. Don’t get left on ‘Read’ ever again.

When you need immediate assistance, whether it’s morning, noon or night, dial the experts at CK Mechanical. They will always, always answer the call.

CK Mechanical COVID-19 Temporary Risk Management Procedures

As we continue to monitor the unforeseen situation that is present with the coronavirus (COVID-19) and associated illnesses, CK Mechanical has developed this policy to maintain a safe and healthy environment for all team members, visitors, customers, and stakeholders.

CK Mechanical wishes to ensure all customers that we have continuity plans in place to deliver uninterrupted service and support to customers as we navigate the uncertainty of COVID-19.

CK Mechanical Team
CK Mechanical has implemented an extensive COVID-19 Policy accompanied by CK Mechanical COVID-19 Temporary Risk Management Procedures. We have implemented additional sanitization and cleaning protocols in our office, warehouses, fleet vehicles, and work locations. We have equipped field staff with the necessary equipment to ensure safe working procedures in homes and businesses of our customers. We have increased options for remote work where possible. The policy and procedures set in place are largely precautionary and will be constantly monitored and adjusted.

CK Mechanical Plan
No employees showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be working while showing symptoms, and will not return until medically cleared. Prior to each home visit, your technician will call to confirm the appointment. At this time, the technician will describe the increased sanitary measures and confirm nobody at the location is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or has experienced symptoms within the past 48 hours. We encourage those who are well to keep their appointments and respect customers who are ill or high risk and wish to reschedule. Every effort to reschedule appropriately will be made.

We ask all customers to respect the health and safety of our team and community. Should you be experiencing any symptoms, please contact our office right away to reschedule.

As we continue to monitor the situations, further communications may be updated.

Should you have any questions regarding this policy or wish to discuss our COVID-19 practices, please contact Terra Nevins at 307-473-8448 or terra@ckmechanicalph.com

Thank you,

Kevin Maston
CK Mechanical