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If you bring a 500 ml bottle of your water to Ruangsangthai Builders Merchants in Buriram, Mr. Picahi the owner has it sent via EMS to a water testing lab in Bangkok at no charge. He told me today that he has a water filter company representative who speaks English as one of the vendors of the Buriram Home Show on Tuesday October 14 and Wednesday October 15th. If you are near Buriram you can get a price quote from Pure Water Filter near the Big C and Toyo Tire shop,, a different water filtration shop just past Big C very near Makro, from Buriram Supply a Siemens Appliance Dealer, from Home Pro, Thaiwatsadu or Buriram IQ. They each sell different water filtration system brands. I think it is important to ask in advance the "refill" costs, including labor, of any water filter system you are thinking about installing in Buriram or any province in Thailand.

Eng911 might not need any of the three water purification metal tanks in the attached photo. But it is a good bet if he had a similar constant pressure water pump and at least a 1000 liter water tank with the proper, (not expensive) valves, bits and pieces) installed by a pro, he would have great water pressure for his hot water heater in Isaan. The prices of water tanks and proper Mitsubishi Water Pump or Hitachi water pumps from the independent family owned water pump specialists in most any province will be lower cost than a big Box retail store. In my personal experience having the right "team" of plumbers install your water pumps, water filters and water tanks, with an owner who will guarantee the workmanship for years to come, is worth seeking out. Buriram has such a water pump shop, but I can't imagine other provinces including Surin, Maha Sarakham or Nakhom Ratchasima Province do not have such a water pump shop with actual employees who do the installations. I know the price I paid in labor from Ruangsangthai was half the price quoted in writing by the Buriram HomePro for installation services. HomePro will give you a written price quote via e-mail for most any water pump installation. You may find a significantly lower price from a family owned lower overhead higher volume water pump dealer who has an actual repair team and actual repair shop inside the store in your Isaan province. "Put in a box and ship to Bangkok" is a poor excuse for customer after the sales service in my experience. You may also find the store owner who speaks and understands English at a family owned water pump shop in Buriram, Nakohm Ratchasima, Surin or Maha Sarakham Province.

In 2008 I bought six Stiebel Eltron Multi Point DHA 4/8 under the counter hot water heaters from Home Mega Mart In Buriram. The electrical sub contractors of my house building contractor did a fine job installing each hot water heater under a kitchen counter or respective bathroom basin counter. Each Stiebel Eltron water heater has a proper circuit breaker. The plumbers used VRH stainless 304 flexible hot water hose from the mixer tap to the ANA valve in the wall under the counter. They used P-PR green hot water pipe for the longer of the multiple runs in each kitchen or bathroom. No need to see the on demand hot water heater. After the original warranty period had ended three of the units had electronic component issues. I paid a nominal service fee to Ruangsangthai Water Pump shop in Buriram to have the faulty units removed. I placed them in a box, I mailed them to the Stiebel Elton repair service center in Bangkok. They e-mailed me a fee to repair each of the three units. It was fair enough, so I transferred the money and in about 5 more days the repaired same Stiebel Eltron water heaters arrived in Buriram Province. I then phoned Mr. Pichai the owner of Ruangsangthai Builders Merchants and he sent qualified plumbers to install the 3 hot water heaters. He discounts and repairs Toshiba wall mounted shower water heaters and Toshiba multi point under the counter water heaters in Buriram, but that large store was not built until August 2012. Stiebel Eltron is a fine German brand, with a major hot water heater factory in Thailand. I'd consider a Toshiba or a Stiebel Eltron of Panasonic Hot water Shower heater if one of these six units could not be repaired at a fair price in the future. Any brand requires a certain water pressure or water flow to "kick on". NO need to have a hot water heater mounted on the wall in your actual shower if you were building a new bathroom and could plan for the PPR green hot water pipe, the water valve, and suitable electric cable, to be below your bathroom counter vanity. We actually have one of the Stiebel Eltron water heaters provide hot water for basin taps in two adjoining bathrooms and one shower faucet. They do not seem to consume electric power until you turn on the mixer tap.

I have asked Mr. Pichai in Buriram about the seemingly overstaffed situation at some Hardware Stores and Builders Merchants. He explained to me that manufactures pay the full salaries of these seemingly clueless sales team members. Big Box stores also hire actual students for lower wages so the student can obtain work experience. I looked for "spirit house lights" at the Surin Global House on Tuesday this week. I was the only customer in that huge well stocked store form 6:30pm to 7pm. They had LFD lights for a spirit house. Not LED lights, but a house brand LFD light. To my wife, LED lights or LFD lights it makes no difference for the spirit house.

At Ruangsangthai in Buriram located on Highway 2074 there are around 110 employees. Mr., Pichai the owner said that the man in the Nippon House Paint booth, the VRH plumbing fixture sales rep, the DeWALT Power Tools technician, the Zinsano Pressure Sprayer salesman, and the Pigeon Tools salesman are paid by the manufacturers. Mr, Pichai told me that those salesman are to help with any brand, are to NEVER speak poorly of another brand, and they have some product knowledge training. I feel they are on smart phones way too much but the Zinsano salesman seems sharp and he also seems to work on the welding machine booth and I have seen him help the owner of a Welpro MIg Welder get warranty repairs. I thought Global House had stunning tile displays, jacuzzi type spas made in China,and some amazing wood doors on display. The prices at Global House in Surin on some items were far higher than I had paid for the same name brand tool or same water heater in Buriram. Now what I have seen in Buriram is unique uses of porcelain tile that was to be installed at the "Lake Buriram" gazebo overlooking the Buriram Ready Mix Concrete batching plant by staff of a builders merchants store during a lunch break. I've been told that same sort of porcelain tile after a good hot water washing, can be used to roll pizza dough for the Buriram Home Show Pizza on Tuesday October 14th.

That Mitsubishi Super pump is a fine product. I bought one for my inlaws. I asked Mr. Pichai the owner of Buriram Ruangsangthai Buildes Merchants and he said that Mitsubishi would be able to tell you on the telephone the dealers in your area that are authorized to sell and service the "super pump" line. Not every Mitsubishi dealer can order that water pump. The Mitsubishi Super pump will be on display inside the Buriram Home Show next Tuesday October 14th and I plan to visit that booth after I enjoy complimentary fresh baked Pizza from Roma Pizza in Buriram. The Mitsubishi rep does speak and understand English so I can ask him the name of the dealer in your area and I'll post the answer on Thai Visa.

The Buriram Building Boom is has created actual demand for some house building materials not normally used in years past. When a Thai building contractor and an Expat building contractor both order a safe brand portable job site construction worker toilet you know they are serious about house building worker conditions. I will have these portable toilets on display at the Tuesday October 14th Buriram Home Show, I have rented a portable toilet bus for guests to have available near the Lakeside Gazebo where they can dine on fresh baked Roma Italian Pizza and Shrimp Tempura courtesy of Jack's Resort in Buriram. The bus toilet looks like a prison toilet for a country club prison. My "project manager" Khun Lady often travels to a Buriram House Building site to help translate for a Thai building contractor and an expat home builder.

Even expats in Buriram participate in a building boom. I have customers originally from Northern Europe who are willing to invest money to build a 14 room rental housing complex in Buriram. Certainly not on the scale of the local Thai families in Buriam who can afford to build and furnish a 60 room rental building, but my point is that there are expats who believe in the Buriram Real Estate Market. Do not get me started about banks in Buriram and how they want to offer my hard working employees credit and sell life insurance products. I am more focused on stocking the building materials that both Thai Citizens and foreign expats will see the value proposition, not only at the Tuesday October 14th Home show, but the other 51 weeks a year. I am proud to say that Roma Pizza Restaurant will be cooking fresh pizza and lasagna on Tuesday October 14 to be served absolutely free to expats and Thai spouses near the Buriram Ready Mix Concrete plant at the rear of Ruangsangthai Hardware. The expats eating fresh baked pizza can judge for themselves who is buying concrete deliveries and building materials in bulk in Buriram as they relax in the "George Clooney Lakeside Gazebo".

Mr. Pichai Ruangsuksriwong the owner of Ruangsangthai Ltd Builders Merchants Store in Buriram mentioned to me today he will carry and oversee installation of Solar Panels for Buriram Homes and Buriram commercial applications. He asked me if there are other solar panel uses that expats living in Isaan would like to see his vendor showcase at the Buriram Home Garden irrigation Expo and Sale on Tuesday October 14th where he has arranged free pizza and complimentary beverages to be served. The now 30 different vendors, including a solar panel firm will all have at least one technical person at the booth who speaks and understands English.

While Mr. Pichai is very experienced at selling name brand power tools, name brand lawn mowers, and name brand water pumps, he is requesting solar product requests from Thai Visa members. A reasonable priced and dependable LED security light powered by a small solar panel seemed sensible in Buriram Province, but there must be other useful functions a solar panel will serve to expats in Buriram and Isaan Thailand. Solar panels installation overseen and guaranteed by a Thailand family owned company with a 35 year track record in Buriram with water pumps, water filter systems, seemed worth consideration for those who do not have access to PEA electricity.

Mr. Pichai the owner of Ruangsangthai Hardware asked me to post his comment on the Buriram Building Boom from his local perspective:

"My family has been providing house building materials, water tanks, booster pumps, water filtration systems to private homes, resorts, government buildings, sports facilities, hospitals, student housing, University buildings, farming operations and no end the two story, three story and four story "shop houses" that are located in and around Buriram Province. Quite often it is a local family who have had land in their name for many years and they are taking a chance at being a developer. For some this has worked out well, for other families not as well. I have invited all of the prominent local Buriram Architects, Buriram Businessmen and businesswomen who develop housing estates, commercial buildings, resorts, hotels and small factories to attend the first ever Buriram Home Building Expo on Wednesday October 15th to be held inside Ruangsangthai Builders Merchants Hardware Store located across Highway 2074 from the Buriram PEA four story office building. However the Expat community of Buriram, Surin, Korat and Maha Sarakham might enjoy the English speak technical experts who will staff 29 booths inside the rear of the store on Tuesday October 14th. I've arranged for Free Pizza to be baked on the premise, free beverages to be served by my staff, and of course complimentary Thai food to be served at a restaurant in the building I own next door to Ruangsangthai. On Tuesday October 14th at the Buriram Home & Garden Expo one of the door prizes is a brand new DeWALT bicycle. I carry two mobile phones so you can phone me anytime for product questions or after the sales service. The housing boom in Buriram might not last, but many of the developers are well established local families that I have known and done business with for over 35 years. My staff is setting up displays each day with products from major vendors, some often not seen at a typical Modern Trade Home Improvement Store in Buriram Province. I've hired a qualified bi lingual 66 year old College English teacher to conduct English lessons for my sales staff so they can better serve the needs of expats who are not "obligated" to bring a "translator" when shopping in Buriram."

I visited a Builders Merchants store in Buriram today to pick up free tickets to the Buriram Home & Garden Show held on Tuesday October 14th. Free Pizza and the chance to meet marketing and technical reps who understand and speak English in Buriram is a rare treat. Zinsano has a booth near the front door of Ruangsangthai Hardware store in Buriram so I asked the sales rep for the pressure washing equipment your questions. He said the Zinsano Artic needs no consumer maintenance. He did point out that 40 weight oil as in the photo is used for the larger made in Italy Zinsano pressure washers that are heavy duty pressure washers.

My wife did not ask enough questions about where to have some testing done for a large male cat. She was not quite up on checking out other decent VETS in Buriram. Turns out that cat did not need the "operation" a local vet was suggesting. It gave me an excuse to shop at Global House and Home Hub.

TerryLH: Thank you for that update on the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. It has been a couple of years since the cat warranted that trip from Buriram, but my personal experiences were very positive and the cat made a full recovery.

I took a cat a few times to the "University Animal Vet School Training Hospital" on the large College Campus and the service was excellent. There was enough English UNDERSTOOD and spoken to do this without my Thai wife present or even on the telephone. The cost for services was fair, the compassion and professionalism top notch by any staff person at that Vet School. It is NOT a small complex. It shows up on the University web site. Parking is easy in a dedicated parking lot for the two story Vet School.

I've had good dental care at both the Bangkok Korat Hospital and also at St. Mary's Hospital. Appointments of a sort were possible at both in my experience. Walk in service with a wait was also possible.

I've used the "Health Card for Foreigner" several times at the main Buriram Government Hospital with zero charges for services and pharmacy medicine. It was OPD and vaccinations, not inpatient services that I used the "Health Card for Foreigner". It might not be possible for a 2nd year, but I certain have received value and benefits for the effort and money I spent to obtain the "Health Card for Foreigner". But T.I.T. and it can be 100% or 75% different in a different office, different province. I'll post what my personal experience is when the coverage period is up for "renewal".

Part of a current article in Consumer Reports magazine regarding Chinese Tire Brands sold in the USA. Maxis is a brand from Taiwan, not the PRC.

This might be a more appropriate web site to obtain a price quote and coverage information for in hospital cover of the #1 Health Insurance company in Thailand. Why pay for "International Coverage" if you live in Thailand? When I recently spent 24 days in the USA, my insurance broker arranged a comprehensive travel HEALTH insurance plan with BUPA that was very easy to obtain and modest in cost.

http://www.bupa.co.th/en/individuals/health-insurance/individual/index.aspx#.VBjejJSSyJo

The price you mention could be correct, if the electricity supply is near where the compressor is going to be located. Look for proper drainage options. It could depend on what "gas" they use for that model. I bought a used small Samsung a/c unit from a fellow expat who was in a hurry to depart Thailand. That unit was installed 6 years ago and still works fine, but I do pay 300 baht every year to have it cleaned.

I'll be 61 years young during my upcoming BUPA Health Insurance policy Period. For the 2 million baht Platinum plan for in the hospital and accident coverage, but not OPD the annual premium with taxes is 60,097 baht. It costs me 165 baht a day for excellent health cover in Thailand. Last year my premium for the same BUPA Policy was 58,932 baht. So due to being in the age bracket starting at 61 I pay 1164 baht more this year. 03.2 baht a day in additional premium. Eric Dohlon is the bi lingual, licensed Insurance broker, with an office in Phuket that I initially purchased Thai Health Insurance in 2005, 2006 and I have purchased BUPA Platinum Health Insurance since 2007. I have received in patient treatment for myself and my family with no hassles showing a BUPA card in several large Bangkok Private Hospitals, as well as private hospital sin Isaan. If you are under 60, it may be worth looking at the premiums and excellent coverage with BUPA. The right insurance broker may make this experience easier, and not cost you a single baht in additional fees.

I am also in the Thai Health Scheme for Aliens that costs 2800 baht a year. I'll know this coming November if there is a 2nd year in that program also known as the "Health Card for Foreigner" .

Sherwood Chemicals markets the popular brand Chaindrite in Thailand. There are nine kinds of Chaindrite wood preservative and two kinds of Premax wood preservative noted on the Sherwood Chemicals web site. http://www.sherwood.co.th/product_detail.php?category_id=28&product_id=46

Sherwood Chemicals Public Company has a long history in manufacturing and supplying household chemical products in Asia, having acquired the household chemical business from SHELL Thailand in 1996. Many well recognised brands such as Chaindrite, Chaingard, Stedfast, Vapona, Biforce, Fipforce, Imiforce and Teepol are leading products manufactured and supplied by Sherwood Chemicals (Thailand) throughout Asia and Australia.

I have a 2006 Toyota SUV. For the 2nd and 3rd set of Michelin Tires, (which both sets of tires are made in Poland), Tyre Plus was certainly not the lowest price store. A dealer who primarily sells Maxxis and Toyo tires had the lowest price on Michelin Latitude Tires twice in Buriram.

I've had renters insurance on a house I lived for two years, which I never met the landlord. The insurance policy was in my name. When I had a house built, on land my wife owns, I had a "permit to build" in my name. I had all utilities in my name. I had a yellow house book when I lived in a rental property. I have a yellow house book showing my current address in Buriram Province.

I have had home owners house insurance for where I currently live since 2008. In my name. The House insurance company paid a claim for an electrical fire with no hassle. I have had excellent service from a Thai Citizen, who has Swedish parents, was educated at the American School in Bangkok and speaks Thai and English fluently. I can recommend Eric Dohlan who owns E & I Insurance Broker Company Ltd in Phuket. I do not live anywhere near Phuket, but it was simple to have all information e-mailed. Payment on line or at any bank branch sure seems to work for eight years. But a "Western mindset" who knows the "real deal" in Thailand, since he was born and raised in Thailand, to explain things in perfect English and to help me avoid pitfalls with Health Insurance, House Insurance, Motorbike Insurance, even travel insurance and then the same licensed broker can explain anything in perfect Thai to my wife is a great resource for me in Buriram. So it has been my personal experience with three different house insurance companies that multiple year discounts are possible as well as the name on the policy, and the person who gets a direct claims payment into their Thailand bank account, can certainly be an expat on a retirement Visa. I'd wager what Visa you have makes no difference to the house insurance company in Thailand. You fill out a form, and list who "owns the policy" if I recall.

I've had "Thai Health Insurance" and then "BUPA Health Insurance" through Eric Dohlan. He is a licensed broker and he has made sure my BUPA no claims payment was on time, not to mention how to have no hassles at private hospitals when using the Thai Health health insurance and for the past six years the BUPA Health Insurance. He suggested I pass on OPD and concentrate on the coverage of inpatient health insurance. He was clear to me on being covered for an electrical fire prior to my first house insurance policy. He knows the real claims process in Thailand.

I've owned a gas Quickfire since June 2006. It is used daily by my wife, often times twice a day. It is one of the best "values" I have ever purchased in Thailand. I look at "imported" barbeques and local made barbeques and nothing I have seen in Buriram, Korat or Surin province comes close to the build quality, and "value for money" of the Quickfire BBQ. Doc, the co-owner of Quickfire sets the "customer service bar" very high for pre-sale and after the sale service in Thailand. The long term cost, Per year, of the Quickfire BBQ is a bargain. A BBQ in Thailand need not be a "throw away, disposable item".

My very first day of ever visiting Buriram Province, while driving a relatives pick up truck in Buriram proper, I drove from the Thepnakorn Hotel down to Sunthorn Thep Road. I was lazy, assumed it was "everything goes" and "no real laws or regulations apply in Isaan". I parked on the "wrong side of Sunthorn Thep Road near a bank. For just for a short period of time I parked in downtown Buriram. Well that nice note placed on the windshield of the borrowed pick up truck, by a traffic enforcement officer who walking about, indicated how much and where to pay. 400 baht later at the Buriram Police Station on Jira road I learned a valuable and important lesson back in January 2005. Parking tickets do exist in Thailand and they cost more than the minimum wage of an average Thai working person. No need to comment on the lack of enforcement of traffic laws, but I am 400 baht lighter due to my arrogance in 2005.