Pipeline

Top 10 Flagstaff Favorite Local Restaurants

2012-02-23T09:07:00.000-08:00

Question: "What's one of the best things to do in Flagstaff?"

Answer: "Eat"

One of the best things about living in our (quiet) mountain town is the food. So whether your roots in Flagstaff go back generations or you just got here, here is our list of local favorite eateries around town (in no particular order):

1. Granny's Closet
218 South Milton Road
http://www.grannys-closet.com/site/

A place where everyone can eat, Granny's offers great food with a little bit of Flagstaff history and flair. It's the perfect place for any occassion : dates, out with friends, or just watching the game. Their super juicy and tender steak and prime rib are to die for. Don't for get to grab one of Granny's infamous homemade pies.

2. Salsa Brava
2220 East Route 66
www.salsabravaflagstaff.com

Salsa Brava is perfect place to forget your troubles and just eat good food. Thanks to their salsa bar, they were voted "Best Salsa" by the Arizona Daily Sun. This Mexican food is the best you can get in Flagstaff! Salsa Brava has also been featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri on the Food Network.

3. Mike and Ronda's The Place
West: 21 S Milton Rd

East: 3518 East Route 66
Facebook page

Move over Denny's. Hop away IHOP. Mike and Ronda's is really the only breakfast "place" to be. The Place has large serving sizes and hometown feel food, making this a local favorite locals, visitors, and students alike.

4. Taverna Greek Grill
2420 S Woodlands Village
http://www.tavernagreekgrill.com

Only a couple years old, Taverna has become a hot spot for locals to kick back and have a nice Greek meal. Wait until the music kicks in and your waiters are dancing around the restaurant and the bartenders are blowing fire. Don't let this distract you from the fantastic reverse happy hour that starts at 8 and goes until close. Opa!

5.. Josephine's Modern American Bistro
503 North Humphreys Street
www.josephinesrestaurant.com

Here in Flagstaff, everything is more kicked back and casual. Josephine's allows us to eat good food in a fine dining atomosphere at a casual price. Their sandwhiches are excellent and you'll never have to see your glass empty. Check out their wine selection too!

6. Big Foot BBQ
120 N. Leroux In the Basement Marketplace, Old Town Shops
http://www.bigfootbbq.com

Big Foot BBQ is the best place to get BBQ in town. Located in a quirky spot in the Basement Marketplace downtown, the folks at Big Foot know how to give you your fill of all the tasty goodness BBQ has to offer at great prices. You can even buy their sauce and take it home with you.

7. Diablo Burger
120 n. leroux st, flagstaff
www.diabloburger.com/

Diablo burger is all about local, so everything is always fresh. This cash only establishment has the Flagstaff values of locality and their food reflects their high standard of where their food comes from. What most call a "hippie" mentality, I say, would a hippie eat a cheeseburger?

8. Dara Thai
14 S San Francisco St

What would a food list be with out some Asian food? While the Chinese or Japanese places around town are mostly decent, Thai food -- specifically from Dara Thai -- is the best place in town. The staff always greets you as a friend and makes sure your food is cooked to perfection. Don't pass this place up if you're looking for a great Asian restaurant.

9. Beaver Street Brewery & The Lumberyard Brewery

Beaver Street: 11 S. Beaver

The Lumberyard: 5 S. San Francisco

http://beaverstreetbrewery.com

http://www.lumberyardbrewingcompany.com

Putting two restaurants on one number is probably cheating, but hear me out. These two breweries are owned by the same couple; though they're sister breweries, they have very distinctive styles and food. Both are fantastic places to grab a beer (it is a brewery afterall) and Beaver Street has the best wood fire pizzas Flagstaff has to offer. The Lumberyard has great wings. Pick either one and you won't be disappointed.

10. Mama Burger

991 North Fort Valley Road

www.themamaburger.com

Mama Burger is the best place to get your old fashioned burger fix. From milkshakes to burgers, their menu has a variety. They just recently moved to a bigger establishment on the way to SnowBowl, but don't worry, they took their great recipe's and good service with them. Ooohhh mama.

A Day in the Life

2012-02-16T09:43:00.000-08:00

Here at the office, we CSRs answer the phones, help customers with questions, and send tech's out on jobs. (It's harder than it sounds, people, trust us). But what most people don't realize is exactly what CSRs do. What is in the CSR job descripton?

I won't bore you with the details, because the job description is a full 1 1/2" 3-ring binder with Sections A-Z of material our expert CSRs master. There's a lot that goes into this job and we're more than just a voice waiting for your call on the other side of the line.

We man the schedule, make sure the most emergent calls are taken care of first (sorry, drippy faucets...exploding toilets kind of win), and then we call you (the customer) and make sure we get the tech there on time.

Our customers are like this after talking to us
(at least we like to think so)

Have you ever been cheery at 8 a.m.? I'm not the greatest morning person but being an expert CSR requires me to help you not worry, which means I need to be happy. And that can be hard, but a day at the CSR office is always a happy one, even when we woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

No Grumpy Bear's here!

So how exactly do we get to this cheery, helpful, expert status of CSR? We review our job description and reflect on our mission statement while we file away the paperwork and think about that jump in the air our customers do after talking to us.

My personal favorite part of my job? Helping you with your problems. It's in our mission statement, and Marty does a fantastic job of hiring and training people who can take it seriously.

What is our mission statement?

"Lifting others up with life changing solutions to their burdens"

A big part of that is being a good customer service representative and knowing both our customers and our company.

It doesn't stop there. Marty allows us to help with our marketing department. Who better to know how and who to market to than those who know the customer best? Tech's get to know you, but they're so busy working on the plumbing it's hard to get to know them like we can. Believe it or not, we do talk about how amazing our customers are at our company meetings.

Which we end in a company jump.

The people behind the phone really care about your problems. We're not here to just pass the buck and make a paycheck. But, if you're shy (admittedly, we can be a bit too bubbly sometimes...), you can always fill out a Service Request form on our website here and we'll give you a call the next morning and help you out.

Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

2012-02-08T18:38:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! We hope you had a great Superbowl Sunday! Did anyone make the Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pulls? Let us know what you thought if you did! This week we're focusing on goal planning, since this is around the time many people have given up on their New Year's Resolutions. How are you doing with yours?

Have a Wish List

Running a functional company takes a lot of effort, and here at Mortensen Custom Plumbing we enjoy helping our employees and our customers achieve their goals. That's why we ask on every call if there is a "wish list" you'd like to fulfill at some point for your home. Visit us here for more details.

One thing that we have our new employees do is fill out 30 things they want to Do, 30 things they want to Be, and 30 things they want to Have.
Dr. Richard Harris of BusinessExpertsWebinars.com wrote this about the Do-Be-Have goal setting:

BE focused. This is a state of “BE-ing”. Without focus your future, whether it is for today, tomorrow, next week or next year is foggy.

DO target. Targetting requires action or “DO-ing”. A target is specific and often has associated time commitments. In business a target is often stated as something that is set so that all efforts can be made to achieve that on the way to goal i.e. a target is a short-term specific step on the way to a longer-term goal. Sales targets are commonly set in business.

HAVE a goal. The end result. Something to be achieved. BEING focussed and DOING targetting lead to HAVE-ing that goal.

Pretty wise words, Dr. Harris.

So once you set your sight on a goal, how do you achieve it? This is where most people get stuck.

Step it up & backtrack

Goal achievement is difficult. What you do is "backtrack' which means you evaluate your circumstances and then write out a to-do list leading up to your goal. There are several technological resources that can help. See the links at the bottom for them.

After you have your to-do list, there you go. Just work your way down it and adjust accordingly. Remember, just because there is a setback doesn't mean you should quit entirely. It means you need to adjust your to do list to get over the obstacle and succeed.

Measuring Success

A lot of people set deadlines for their goals ("I want to lose 30 lbs in 3 months") and measure success that way. I see deadlines as a good way to have motivation, but success is measured by how much is done within a certain amount of time, rather than if you "made" your deadline.

If you only lost 15 lbs in 3 months, celebrate that you're 15 lbs lighter and can adjust your to-do list to lose more weight and reach your ultimate goal of losing a total of 30 lbs.

Visit our website to find discounts!

Links:

43 Things

How to make a Vision Board

Mint.com for financial tracking

My Life List

Lifetick

Changes around the office & Superbowl

2012-01-25T14:48:00.000-08:00

Hello all!

We hope you're staying warm in the cold winter weather. Just bundle up and it'll all be over soon. And by soon, we mean May...

Last week, we said goodbye to our CSR Sarah, who started in September of 2010. Sarah left Flagstaff last Friday for her new adventures in Tucson! It makes us sad to know we won't be seeing her every day, but we're thrilled that she was able to help many of you with your plumbing problems. She's a bright little ray of sunshine, so she's fitting in just right in sunny Tucson.

Good luck to you Sarah in all your endeavors!

With Sarah's exit came the opportunity for another Flagstaff local to have the chance at being an expert CSR. Amber started last Wednesday and has spent the last week getting acclimated to her position (and doing great at it.) Should you call, don't forget to welcome Amber to our little Mortensen Custom Plumbing family!

Welcome, Amber!

One thing I know Marty and Clay are ready for is the Superbowl! Okay, I am too... in fact, I'm so excited I'll share a little recipe I came across and love to make for Superbowl parties! These aren't for the novice football watcher, since they're so tasty you'll eat them throughout the whole game. Enjoy and don't say I didn't warn you!

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pulls (a.k.a. Crack Bread)

Printable recipe

Click here to find out where I found this wonder

1 unsliced loaf of (round is preferable) sourdough bread

8-12 oz cheddar cheese, thinly sliced
3 oz bag Oscar Mayer Real Bacon bits
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 Tbsp Ranch dressing mix

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1. Using a sharp bread knife cut the bread going both directions. Do not cut through the bottom crust.

2. Place slices of cheese in between cuts. Sprinkle bacon bits on bread, making sure to get in between cuts.

3. Mix together butter and Ranch dressing mix. Pour over bread.

4. Wrap in foil the entire loaf in foil and place on a baking sheet.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Unwrap when done.

6. Bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

No Superbowl required, just a ton of people, or one big appetite.

Enough about food, that's making me hungry. Did you know that we have a Facebook now? Click here to get a super sweet deal. Don't forget to "like" us!

Hope everyone has a great week and we'll see you next Wednesday! Stay warm out there!

Prepare for cold weather now.

2011-09-09T10:39:00.000-07:00

Frozen pipes last winter caused havoc in Flagstaff. Homes, business and schools that were not prepared for the cold snap were faced with an emergency situation.

According to Insurance industry experts, the average homeowner insurance claim for water damage and freezing is nearly $6,000 (most are must higher, like the picture below), making frozen pipes one of the most costly problems facing homeowners every winter. Come wintertime, homeowners can take precautions to keep the pipes intact and avoid pouring thousands of dollars into home repairs.

I'm not a Physicologist, but this is what I see from the outside looking into these situations. Homeowners will plan every detail of a holiday trip when they’re headed out of town, but they often don’t think to prepare to prevent their pipes from freezing. Even in the early fall, there are measures you should take to protect your home from water damage when a cold snap hits.

What Can Flagstaff Homeowners do to Protect Their Property?

· If you suspect problems this winter have a professional ensure your plumbing system is designed correctly now, before cold weather hits. Pipes in attics, crawl spaces and outside walls are extremely vulnerable to freezing.

· Have an easy turning main water disconnect valve inside your home. Know where it is and how to use it. Outdoor water valves are buried deep in the ground, required special tools to operate, can be difficult to turn and are often covered by thick snow and ice in an emergency.

· Keep bathroom and kitchen cabinet doors open during a cold spell to let warm air circulate around the pipes.

· Seal any leaks in your home, attic, basement or crawlspace that might allow cold air inside where pipes are located.

If your home had has problems in past winters and only the minimal repairs were made you can expect it to happen again. (It's sad, but true.) It is similar to a doctor that only treats the symptom, but not the sickness. Use a plumber who can look at the larger picture. Permanent solutions solve the problem completely so it will never reoccur, even when colder weather is in the forecast.”

Mortensen Custom Plumbing helps their customers year-round to prevent frozen pipes during cold temperatures. Proactive homeowners can call Mortensen Custom Plumbing at 928-774-HELP(4357) to schedule an inspection of their plumbing system. Their expert technicians can find problems before they start and offer permanent solutions with warranties that extend for years, not just days. For more information visit www.MortensenCustomPlumbing.com

Want you never wanted to know about your septic system.

2011-08-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

You can not beat the rural lifestyle.
The howling coyotes, the bugling elk and the "black and white cats" . Another commonality that homes outside of the city limits have is a septic system.
We would rather not think about it. So most of us do not, until you come home from a 3 week vacation and find that washing a batch of clothes forces few a decades worth of filth to make comeback though your drains onto your floor. It's not a pretty picture.
No problem. We help people with their septic systems everyday. We can even stop by and monitor your system twice a year so you never have to relive the another septic system nightmare.
Even if your drains are working good today and you just want to confess that taking care of your septic system has slipped your mind for the past 13 and half years, that okay too. We can still help. Just give us a call at 928-774-4357 (HELP) or visit us on the web at www.mortensencustomplumbing.com.

Fall is not far.

2011-07-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,

It’s great to be back in touch after a busy few weeks. For a lot of families, Fall will usher in a new “learning season.” As kids head off to new classrooms, sometimes you can’t help remembering your own school days. During my time in school, I learned a lot – and forgot a lot – but I’m in good company. As Albert Einstein said, “Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.”

I don’t always remember the history dates, mathematical calculations or scientific theories that showed up in textbooks, but somewhere along the way, I learned some basics that have stuck with me year after year. For example, there will always be someone who knows more than I do. And there will always be someone I can help.

Those two facts are a big part of running this business. Our team around here is committed to learning more ways that we can make your home more and more comfortable. And we’re committed to sharing our knowledge with you and helping you in whatever way we can.

If you have any trouble with your plumbing, just give us a call and we’ll get there as quickly as we can. Or if you want peace of mind about your plumbing’s inner workings, call and schedule a plumbing inspection. We’ll identify any areas under strain.

Hope to see you soon!

Marty Mortensen

Rare pictures of baby Bald Eagles.

2011-07-08T09:55:00.000-07:00

Our plumbing customer Teryl G. Grubb Scientist and Wildlife Researcher gave us these pictures to share with others in Flagstaff who follow this blog. Teryl has spent his entire career studying Bald Eagles. I would assume that these pictures require a great deal of work to collect and are a rare sight for most of us to see. Thanks for sharing with us Teryl. Very appropriate for the 4th of July.

Bring on the rain!

2011-07-06T12:16:00.000-07:00

We got a little taste of the rainy season. Did anyone else forget how good it smells during a rain storm? Did you ever stop to think why? One reason is because rain water is better.
White spots, dry skin and scratchy clothes are the results of our "hard" mountain water. You can even call the Flagstaff Water Department 928-779-7637, Doney Park Water 928-526-1080 or Kachina Utilities 928-525-1775 to find out what the level of your water "harness" is.

Treated Water = 0

Slightly hard = 1-2 grains per gallon

Medium Hard = 3-7 grains per gallon

Hard = 7-10.5 grains per gallon

Extremely Hard Water = 10.5+ grains per gallon

No need to worry if your water is not as good as pure rain water. We have some great ways to solve the problem. A good system can cut the amount of soap your use in half, soften your skin and never level a hard water again. Just give us a call 928-774-4357 (HELP). Or visit www.mortensencustomplumbing.com

Stay Safe Around Water.

2011-06-21T13:46:00.000-07:00

It’s only 75 outside. But it’s still H-O-T.

Five minutes in the sun with a hat, sunglasses and water bottle is still hotter than a “snakes butt in a wagon rut”.

Here in Flagstaff we might not have swimming pools with self closing gates to worry about but our Water Heaters can become a concern. Each hot water system is required to have a safety system that acts as a line of defense to keep a malfunctioning system from becoming a “hot water hand grenade”. We often see when these systems are not maintained they become stuck in a dangerously closed position. A use and care guide for a commonly used system states the following.

“Manually operate this safety system at least once a year to make sure it is working properly. Standing clear of the outlet (discharge water may be hot), slowly lift the release lever handle to allow the valve to operate freely and return it to its close position. If the valve fails to completely reset and continues to release water, immediately shut off the manual gas control valve and the cold water inlet valve and call a qualified technician.”

Summer time is busy for all of us. But let’s not forget to stay safe this year.

And if you are not able find time to fix a plumbing project yourself just let us know. We are always here to help 24/7. Just call us at 928-774-4357 (HELP) or visit us at www.mortensencustomplumbing.com

-Marty Mortensen

Can I use "Drano"?

2011-06-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

Can I use "Drano"?

People ask me this all of the time. Can I blame them? Not at all.

Clogged drains are not full of unicorns and rainbows. They are full of dirt, grease, lint, old soap and hair. (Yuck.) We would all just rather pour down a bottle of "Supper Dupper Plumbing Drain Bubbles" and call it good. But here is the problem with that. These types of liquid drain cleaners can offer only temporary relief and permanent damage. They use poisonous chemicals to burn holes in the gunk and sometimes in your pipes!

But if you do feel like you must have a new bottle of "Plumbers Little Magic Drain Helper" from aisle 7 in the supermarket, then make sure to read the label first. If it says it can burn your skin or eyes then you want to keep it away from your drains.

Other more permanent and safer solutions for drain cleaning are mechanical cleaning equipment, hydro scrubbing and natural drain safe treatments.

Good luck with your slow drains. If you find any mythical creatures in your drain make sure to let us know. But if the nasty gunk is to much to handle you can let us know too. We are here to help. 928-774-4357 (HELP).

How to stop the Flooding in 3 Seconds.

2011-06-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

It has been almost a year since the Timberline and Doney Park areas were filled with water from the Monsoon rains after the Shultz Fire. I pray that all of the efforts made so far in that area will prevent any uncontrolled flooding this season.

Although I do not have a solution for solving the flooding of East Flagstaff’s low lying areas I do know how a surprise plumbing leak (that can become a flood) can be stopped in its tracks in less than 3 seconds.

Ask yourself these questions about your own home.

1. Do I know where you Main Water shut-off is?

2. When was the last time I used it?

3. Is it easy to turn?

4. Will it shut off 100% of the water in my home.

5. If there is a winter storm with several feet of snow and ice outside will I be able to turn the water off in 3 seconds or less?

I hope that every home in Flagstaff has a safe a dry monsoon season, even the homes that are not downhill of the burn area.

Marty Mortensen. 928-774-HELP or 928-774-4357

What to Do About Water Damage.

2011-06-08T12:47:00.000-07:00

Water is the sort of thing you can’t live without that can turn your home unlivable in a matter of moments. It’s the most common source of home damage in Flagstaff– whether from ice dams or leaking pipes, roofs and appliances. The preferred way to deal with water damage, obviously, is to prevent it from occurring at all. For example:

• Check household appliances regularly, including water heaters, washing machines, dishwasher, refrigerator and air conditioner. Inspect hoses. Look for leaks and signs of wear.

• Check doors and windows to see if water is able to seep through.

• Check the plumbing, including sinks, showers, bathtubs and toilets. Are pipes leaking? Is water collecting in any place? Are there cracks or holes?

• Inspect your pipes. If they’re behind walls, under floors or above ceilings, look for signs of water stains on walls, floorboards and ceiling panels. For a thorough review, schedule a professional plumbing inspection annually.

• Inspect the roof for lost and cracked shingles or other signs of deterioration. Keep gutters and drains clear of debris. If significant water damage does occur in your home, you’ll need the help of professionals for repairs, as well as an insurance adjuster to file a claim. But there are several things you can do in the meantime to contain the damage:

1– Stop the source of the water. If it’s coming from a pipe or hose, shut off your home’s main water valve. If it’s coming from the roof and you can access your attic, use something to catch the water like a large plastic sheet or pans and buckets.

2– Beware of the risk of electrical shock. Turn off the breaker, and unplug or remove any electrical devices in the water-logged area.

3– Open windows and turn on fans or heating and air conditioning systems to prevent the growth of mold and mildew and also to promote drying.

4– Remove furnishings or items that may rust or stain carpet or break during restoration. Lift draperies away from wet carpet.

5– Take photographs of the damage.

Marty Mortensen, Mortensen Custom Plumbing. 928-774-4357

Not making a "Joyful" noise.

2011-06-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what it is about the word "Noise". It just has a negative ring to it. We would never say "I love sound of that noise!" or "I can't wait to hear that loud noise again".

If it is squealing brakes, a screaming child or a tornado siren for the most part a "noise" lets us know that something is wrong. Our homes in Flagstaff are no different. The noise that we hear the most as we visit homes in town is from Hot Water Heaters. You may have heard it before. It sound like a snap, crackle, POP (heavy on the pop). In Flagstaff we start to notice this when two things come together. Our Flagstaff mountain water and a Hot Water system that have not been maintained.

Think back to Chemistry Class. When we all wore those pastic goggles and protective aprons. One thing that you could do to separate elements was to heat it up a little. Our water in town is no different. When you heat it up "stuff" separates out of it. It's not a huge deal as long it is addressed on a schedule where it can be removed before it becomes a noisey problem.

Not to worry. We have some great solutions for the noisy water heater torture. In fact we can help with any noises your plumbing system can throw at us. Just call us at the same old number any time you would like. 928-774-4357 that's also 928-774 HELP. Your home will be a quiet as it was the day it was built. As for the train noise...you're still on your own.

Marty Mortensen
http://www.mortensencustomplumbing.com/

A "Green Thumb" Plus" Wet Mess" Equals "No Fun."

2011-06-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

Our beautiful Flagstaff weather is here once again. We can finally put the snow shovel in the attic and take out the garden rake. It's a good thing too because our weather beaten landscape needs some TLC. Are you ready to unwind the garden hose and turn on the faucet? You might want to take an extra minute and do a "60 Second Test" to make sure that your are not going to walk back inside to a soggy mess.

Because of our sub zero winter weather Flagstaff uses a special type of outside hose connection. When it is maintained and installed properly it works great. When it's not it creates a very soggy "situation" on your living room, bedroom or kitchen floor. Try the "60 Second Test" the first time you turn on your hose faucet after winter.

First, screw on a hose bib cap (found at a local hardware store) or a closed spray nozzle to the end of the faucet. Slowly turn on the water. Within a second you should hear total silence, no noise of water running. Then watch your water meter usage for 60 seconds. If your meter shows no spinning dials or running numbers you have passed the test. You can water your trees and plants without worry. If you do hear running water when you turn on your capped faucet or see water usage at your meter you may have a leak that is running into your concealed wall, crawl space or kitchen cabinet. No problem, your have avoided any major water damage for now. If making the necessary repairs are going to cut into your therapeutic garden time just give us a call 928-774-HELP. We would love to see your garden grow greener and your home stay dry. That's Mortensen Custom Plumbing at 928-774-4357.