Yes, Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber will be on NBC’s TV Show “The Apprentice” on May 2, 2010.  Because of our timeliness, along with our ethics and values, we are a perfect match for Mr. Trump.  He has built a great team this season with some fabulous celebrities.  Time is always important to Mr. Trump and his organization as it is with the CEO of the Benjamin Franklin franchise, Jim Abram who will appear on the show.  

I’ve watched the show for years, and I thought, ‘I wonder if they would have our company on there,’” Abrams said in an article for Bradenton.com.

Watch NBC on May 2nd to hear the radio spot that the celebrities make for us.  Some firsts & history making for this show include:

• This is the first ever judge role for Eric Trump
• This is the first time a service brand has been integrated into the show
• This is the first time in The Apprentice history that is has three brands featured during one task

We will also be promoting a new program for all homeowners with great benefits, so don’t miss out.  Set your DVR or tune in and watch.

Watch and guess for our local surprise giveaway, it is something you will see on the show.  Send me a guess of what you think it is by Monday the 3rd at noon and get entered in for a drawing for one from me. 

Here is a hint it is bigger then a bread box and blue.

Watch me on NBC’s Arizona Midday show  the day after at 1pm on Monday the 3rd, where I will be talking about the celebrity that was fired along with the winning charity of the show and our new local giveaway.

Be sure to go to our website www.benfranklinplumbingaz.com for more information as it occurs live on the show.

Solar hot water heaters in Phoenix Arizona work well. With 300 days of great sunshine in Phoenix annually you essentially get to heat your hot water for free. We know the sun will rise everyday, we know that utilites rates are increasing, and the incentives are enticing.  Solar Hot Water Heater will help you bridge the gap between higher energy bills and installation costs.  Solar products have improved and research has paid off with lower maintenace and higher reliabilty in these systems.  Buyers just need to know what to look for. 

Incentives:

Currently Phoenix valley homeowners have the ability to get many incentives:

•  30% Federal Tax Credit for 2009.
•  25% or up to $1000.00 Arizona State tax credit for 2009.
• No Sales Tax, right now there is no sales tax on Solar Water Heater Systems.
• Utility Rebate -both SRP and APS Average rebate is currenty $1300.00. Depending on the Solar Systems OG-300 Rating.
• We recommend reviewing tax credits with your accountant.
• All Utility Rebates subject to change without any notice.

The bottom line is you can get a brand new entirely solar water heating system of high quality that will pay for itself. Ben Franklin promises no out of pocket expenses for repairs in the first 10 years.  Now thats what I call “peace of mind” service.

Click for current details on SRP and APS rebate amounts in Arizona.

How Does Solar Water Heater Work?

• The plumbing system sends water up to the solar collector to heat up.
• The solar collector on the roof heats the water in it or running through it with the suns rays.
• The hot water from the roof is piped down into a holding tank ready for use.
• The holding tank is backed up with electric or gas power to heat the water if the sun is unavailable.

Benefits Of A Solar Hot Water System:

• With adequate sun exposure in Phoenix, your hot water use is essentially heated for free. 
• Upgrade your home to solar hot water heater usage (it is an asset when selling your home too).
• Incentives available to save you on the cost to switch over to solar hot water power are generous.
• Depending on the system, some solar collectors will last up to 30 years.
• HOA’s must allow Solar Hot Water Systems on homes.
• Do your part for the environment and go green.
• Low Carbon Footprint is the goal.
• Many solar collectors look nice and some are asthetically pleasing - some look like a skylight.

Important Tips:

• Arizonans should always use Registrar of Contractors Licensed Solar Plumbers for your installation.  You can check their license online to protect yourself.
• Check out the reputation of the both sales and install company (They may be operating with two different names). Also check with Better Businees Bureau in Phoenix, past clients, vendors, etc. essentially anyway you can find to be sure they are a reputable company and have the needed experience to do a great job for you.
• Verify that the sales company and installing plumber have their liability insurance current.
• Request Drug Free and Criminal background checked employees be at your home to protect you and your family.
• Use of financing may be available to help you until rebates and credits arrive.
• Monthly utility savings will depend on household usage of hot water.
• Solar systems with more parts have more repairs in their future.
• Don’t get fooled by a low price.  You will not really save  money when repairs are needed often or parts are difficult to find.

Contact Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber we are A+ Rated by BBB. To get local service call 1-866-867-5309 mention this blog and get a free quote for a new solar water heater.

Some of our past blogs include:

10 Tips to Save Water in Your House

Toilets vs Tampons Friends or Foes?

 Watch for these upcoming blog topics:

“Solar Water Heater Homeowner Options”

“Water Heater Annual Care and Maintenance”

“Benjamin Franklin Plumbing on The Apprentice?”

“Watch and Win the Hot Item On The Apprentice Show”

Tankless gas water heaters with an energy factor of =>0.82 qualify for the Arizona Cash For Appliance Rebate on April 12, 2010.  Moving to a tankless gas water heater has many benefits and the rebate offer makes this the perfect time to consider them.  The Arizona rebate is $300.00, not including the Federal Tax Credit of 30% - up to $1500.00.  On top of this we match the Arizona rebate giving you another $300.00  from Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber.  This offer is available during the month of April for all Phoenix Homeowers in and around the Phoenix area.  

Right now is the time to consider changing from a tank style water heater to a new gas tankless water heater or move up to a better performing gas tankless water heater.  Be informed when shopping as not all tankless gas water heaters are equal.  You’ll want to match your capacity requirements, get the gas line feeds installed professionally and understand why or why not the unit you consider is eligible for the rebates.  It is important to be sure the best model is selected for your individual home plumbing system and hot water needs. 

Why Go Tankless?

1) Save Money and Energy:

• Don’t pay for hot water you don’t use. If you’re not home using a faucet you aren’t paying for hot water with tankless.  With a tank style water heater it always keeps the water hot if you use it or not, eating a hole in your pocket and feeding the utility company.
• Save hundreds of dollars a year, depending on how much hot water is used, says Energy Star.
• 83%-94% heating efficiency compared to 60% of a tank style water heater, says Noritz Water Heaters.
• Tankless gas water heaters will last up to 20 years or more, with proper installation, maintenance and water treatment.

2) Space Saving Benefits:

• Gain additional storage space.  You may be able to fit another car  in your garage.
• Have the choice to relocate the placement of your water heater to another area, indoors or out.
• Tankless water heaters are wall hung  so floor spac is freed up.

3) Other Addtional Benefits:

• Easy to change temperature settings.
• Enjoy a great volume of hot water with multiple fixtures simultaneously in use (with the right tankless model). Imagine everyone gets to take a hot shower…even if you have those large shower heads or body bars.  
• Recirculation compatible – to provide instant hot water!
• No dirty tanks, you will always be using a clean supply of water. 
• No risk of a large tank to rust out and leak.
• Use of Pop-In Parts, the ability to replace parts instead of having to replace the whole tank.

Arizona Cash For Appliance Rebate Reservation Website or Rebate Reservation Phone Number 1-877-397-5336, effective April 12, 2010 at 6am.

Some Important Details of the Arizona Cash for Appliance Rebate program:

• Only $6.2 million for all appliance reservations is available.
• A new reservation is required for each appliance category wanted.
• One rebate per household per category.
• A waiting list will be available, if the money runs out,  just in case a reservation opens up.
• Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is a qualified retailer and licensed contractor to help all Phoenix area Homeowners with their new water heater purchase and installation.

SPECIAL OFFER*: $200.00-$425.00 instant rebate from Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber. We are A+ rated and a two time Ethics award winner from the Better Business Bureau.

Contact us  by phone 602-904-7252 or click on our website  for local Phoenix area homeowner service in April and get a match towards the Arizona State Rebate amount on your new qualifying water heater.  This will give you an additional $200.00 to $425.00 as a immediate rebate towards your purchase.  Feel free to share this offer with anyone you know in the Phoenix area needing a new water heater or wants to save money on utilities.

*Contact us for details.

Look for my past blog on the qualifying High Efficient Gas Tank Style Water Heater and any new updates on the Arizona Rebate Program.

A few Tank Style Gas Water Heaters qualify for the Arizona Cash For Appliance Rebate.  They must have Energy Factor of >=0.67 and be Energy Star Rated which translates into High efficiency and homeowner savings on your utility bill every month.   The bigger your family, the more hot water you use  and the greater the savings you can expect. 

Gas Water Heater – Tank Style Facts:

•  Some manufactures that make water heaters that meet these energy factors for the rebate include Bradford White, Rheem and A.O Smith. 
• A Power Vent Gas Water Heater qualifies for the Appliance rebate program, this type of gas water heater is not  common in the Phoenix area, however, we have serviced them throughout Maricopa County.
• Three common things occur when homeowners call us for this type of water heater:
  1. Customers learn they are more expensive than a standard gas tank water heater
  2. There are  fewer model choices because of your existing plumbing system set up 
  3. If it is an emergency you may have to go a day or so without hot water until one can be located
• If you have a Power Vent type of water heater for your home today, you should look at this program very seriously. Not only will you save $400.00 (that’s $200 through the State Rebate and our $200 match from Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber Special), but you will also not be inconvenienced with no hot water while planning to have it installed.

These high energy efficient gas tank style water heaters come with the most up to date safety devices to keep your home and family safe from gas explosions. They have  a high input combustion system and fully automatic controls with excellent amount of insulation in the tank which saves on the cost of reheating hot water- day and night.

It can be difficult to locate a gas tank style water heaters that qualifies for this rating, but we can help.  Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber is a qualified and licensed retail plumber for the Arizona Cash for Appliance Rebate program.  We have all the up-to-date information to help you qualify for the program.   License ROC 250620, ROC256668, ROC 200353.  Don’t delay mark your calenders for April 12th at 6am, use the rebate website  or phone line 1-877-307-5336 to get your  reservation for a new qualified water heater.

To find out more about other water heaters that qualify for this program and more details about the program visit my prior blog.

Special Offer: Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber will match the Arizona State Rebate dollar amount, $200.00-$425.00, on qualified water heaters,  1 per household, through the month of April, not to be combined with any other discounts or coupons.

Continue to read our future blogs, they will include give-aways and offer great helpful tips for all your plumbing needs.

• ” The True Facts about Solar Water Heating”
• ” Toilets That are Consistently One Flush” (with a give away of free toilet installed)
• “Tired of Cleaning Your Toilet?”

Electric Water Heaters are used by most homeowners around the Phoenix Arizona area to heat their hot water needs. On April 12, 2010 the Arizona Cash For Appliance Rebate Program goes into effect and an Electric Heat Pump Water Heater with an Energy Star rating will qualify for the program.  It has an energy factor of >=2.0  and it qualifies for the highest rebate available $425.00 (with a reservation number).  As a plumber for more then 25 years, I have never seen so many great benefits to getting a new water heater than now.

If you need more information on how to get your reservation on April 12, 2010 prior to replacing your water heater see www.arizonarebates.com or my prior blog post for other program details.

I realize many homeowners may not have heard of an Electric Heat Pump Water Heater before, but it is worth looking into.  Many homeowners have heard of a heat pump if they have an electric air conditioner and heater, this usually also uses a heat pump to heat and cool the entire home.  It is the same type of process with a heat pump water heater as the heat pump is now part of the water heater and uses the air around  the water heater tank to heat the water.

Can you imagine saving on your electric bill by using FREE air to heat your hot water?

Why Change To An Electric Heat Pump Water Heater:

1. This water heater is the most energy efficient water heater available today.  Every year that your current water heater gets older, it will become more inefficient to run and cost more money.  Even if your water heater is producing good hot water, do you know the costs it costs you to do this every day?
2. Energy Star says “that this new innovative way of heating hot water will cut your energy bill to heat hot water by 50%”.
3. It protects the environment.  “If everyone buying an electric water heater this year chose an ENERGY STAR qualified heat pump model instead of a standard model, we would avoid 19.6 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.  That’s the equivalent of taking 1.6 million cars off the road”,  according to Energy Star.
4. This water heater is great for our weather here in Arizona.  It will not work in some colder climates.
5. In most cases, it should install where the standard electric tank water heater is now with no additional work needed, but will need to be checked first by a plumber.
6. Right now is the best time to get financial help to save money on a new high energy efficient water heater.  On top of the Cash Rebate Program it also qualifies for additional Tax Benefits – a 30% federal tax credit up to $1500.00 and $1000.00 state tax credit.
7. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is matching the Cash rebates as an additional incentive for the homeowner in the Phoenix area.

The bottom line with a purchase from us, if you qualify, you get $850.00 cash rebate (1/2 from the appliance rebate program & half from us)  and both tax credits Federal of 30% up to $1500.00 and $1000.00 from the state.  Never before have we had this much money available to help you save money on heating your hot water, see the details at  www.arizonarebates.com.  You must act on April 12th, and call us for your installation.  Don’t miss out on this great deal!

Here’s the details of the Rheem unit we are recommending:

The Rheem Heat Pump Water Heater has these key features::

• The Rheem Heat Pump Water Heater comes with a 6 year tank and parts warranty and 1 year labor warranty. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing sweetens the deal by adding 6 years of labor warranty and 6 annual water heater flushes on top of the Manufactures warranty.  So for 6 years the homeowners have no cost out of pocket to repair the water heater. This extra benefits from us, allows the average family to earn back every but of  their initial costs very quickly.
• To minimize heat loss during standby periods the unit has a 2.5-inch-thick, non-CFC foam insulation.  This is important during periods when there is no demand for hot water;
• a premium resistored anode rod extends tank life;
• long-lasting stainless steel resistored elements;
• a factory-installed, brass drain valve;
• a factory-installed temperature and pressure relief valve;
• hot and cold-water and condensate drain connections (all ¾-inch N.P.T.) on the side of the water heater, rather than on the top, for easier installation and maintenance
• This water heater will operate as a standard tank style water heater, you will not notice any difference in your hot water supply.

The size of this water heater is slightly larger and will take up a bit more room than most standard electric water heaters. 

Update on the Arizona Cash Rebate Program:

Please note that the Gas Condensing Water Heaters that was listed has been removed from the AZ Cash Rebate program.

Don’t miss out on us matching your qualified rebate with the additional tax credits, call us at 602-904-7252 or click on make an appointment to have us install your new water heater.   We can service all your plumbing  and water treatment needs around the Phoenix area 24/7. 

Check back for our next  discussion on “Arizona Cash for Appliance: Tankless Gas Hot Water Heaters”

We welcome comments and will happily answer any questions in our blog.  If you need the answers in a hurry,  just give us a call.