Gayle Bass, The Click Chick with 92.3 KTAR FM Radio will appear live in our booth at the Home & Building Expo.  Gayle is not only a radio star, she is a great friend who will make you laugh, make you wonder, and give you a new place to review on the Internet. Come meet Gayle and win lots of free plumbing services and prizes.

Gayle Bass,with KTAR always offers many helpful websites, funny websites and places to find answers to your most asked questions.  Tune in to hear her fresh fun segments every weekday morning at 6:45am, 7:45am and 8:45am or you can click on KTAR Click Chick anytime.

Gayle Bass, The Click Chick

Come and meet Gayle Bass our very own KTAR’s celebrity at Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber’s home show booth on Saturday September 11, 2010 from 9-11am at the Phoenix Convention Center.  Click here for more information on the home show.  She can’t wait to meet all of you in the Rosie On The House Quarter.

The first 10 people that become a fan on our FACEBOOK PAGE will get free tickets to attend the home show.  There you will also have a chance to win a Remote Control Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Truck.

Win A Big Ben Blue Remote Control Truck

Gayle Bass and Benjamin Franklin Plumbing are a great team.

Click Chick Gayle Bass & Chris Stanfield Recording at KTAR

 Here, Chris Stanfield and Gayle Bass record our newest radio commerical together. Please listen to KTAR to hear what great things they are wanting to share with you. 

It is just as important to the Click Chick,  like many homeowners here in the valley to chose the right service company to service her plumbing and water treatment needs. 

That is where we come in, we have been protecting Gayle’s safety and plumbing system in her home with our plumbing and water treatment service for over 1 year.

Gayle Bass, The Click Chick stated “Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber not only always shows up on time, but they took the time to improve my home to allow me to enjoy life much better,  I had no idea some of these (plumbing) things were available.  They always treat my dog wonderfully and have showed me where my main water shut off is and how to work it, if I need it in an emergency. They found a way for me never to wait for hot water in my shower ever again and now I have the best flushing toilet, too. I had no idea that all toilets were NOT the same. I’m so happy I never have to worry about my guests using my plumbing. Now, I know it will work right everytime. They’re really is a plumber you can count on!  Benjamin Franklin Plumbing are the experts, they know water treatment and what works best for me.” 

If you have not tuned into listen to Gayle on KTAR, I promise you will love what she has to share, Tune in and judge for yourself. 

Thank you for reading my blog, I hope to see you at the home show. Please come back and look for more helpful plumbing tips and don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook!

Hard Water, Smelly Water, Bad Tasting Water, Scaly Water.   Does any of this sound familiar? Every city near Phoenix Arizona is ranked nationally as having the hardest water in the country.  Water Quality Reports show hard to very hard readings throughout Maricopa County.  Here are a few city’s water hardness reports: 

• Mesa  2009 Water Quality   Avg 10.4  gr/gal in the city, 17.1 gr/gal in the East Zone
• Avondale 2009 Water Quality  21 gr/gal
• Phoenix 2010 Water Quality  10-18 gr/gal
• Tempe 2009 Water Quality  9.9-13.3 gr/gal
• Gilbert 2007 Water Quality 2.3 – 18.7 gr/gal
• Chandler Water Quality  5-20 gr/gal
• Scottsdale 2010 Water Quality 12-20 gr/gal

According to the US Geological Survey water hardness classifies anything over 7 gr/gal as hard water and over 10.5 is very hard water. Water softeners and other treatment systems are important for our health and to extend the life of our home’s plumbing system.  Our experience is that most homes in the valley test at 15 gr or higher.   

Don’t Miss Our Water Photo Contest Below to WIN $100.00 CASH!    

Bath Tub Fun

Test your knowledge:    

1. If I have a water softener, I’m protected?    T  or   F
2. If I’m OK with having hard water, there is no reason to have water treatment?   T  or  F
3. If I have a water softener, I’m protected from the Chlorine our cities add?   T  or  F
4. If I have a drinking water filter, nothing more is really needed? T or F

If you answered True to any of the above questions, let me explain why False may be the correct answer in your home. 

1. Congratulations on having a softener, but more importantly, how do you know it is working correctly to reduce the hardness of the water regularly?  Water hardness should be tested regularly with proper testing supplies to be sure it is always working properly.  The system should be the correct size for your home.and not every system fits every home.  If your softener is  mis-matched for your home, although it seems to be working, you could be wasting a lot of water, energy and the money.
2. Having hard water is more trouble for you and your investment than you may be aware of.  It is not just a personal preference choice to have water treatment when you live in the Phoenix area.  One of your biggest investments in life is your home, which includes faucets, shower doors, pipes, a dishwasher and other important appliances, etc. Hard water will make all these items wear out much faster, cause them to work harder, possibly use more energy and force you to spend more money on cleaning and soap products. With a water softener you won’t have to work as hard trying to keep your home clean and faucets working properly.
3. Having a water softener sized right and working properly, will NOT protect you and your family from the high levels of chlorine in the city water.  It takes something else called a whole house filter installed correctly to remove the chlorine in your water.  According to the Water Quality Association Press Release Dated May 17, 2010 says “Home water treatment is a proven final barrier against many harmful chemicals.” Untreated water is known to cause cancer, allergies, eczema, breathing concerns, and many other health issues.
4. Having a drinking water filter, is great, but it will not protect your pipes and fixtures from deteriorating quickly. 

As fully trained plumbers we know your home plumbing system and your water treatment best, this includes what you can’t see and what you can.  It is a full system with many items attached together that makes everything work optimally.  Over the last 25 years we have personally witnessed home repairs that wouldn’t have occurred with a proper water treatment system installed.  We are here to protect your investment with our fully trained experts in water treatment, we help you just as we would want our own mother serviced.  Who else would you want to get advise from?    

Are you looking for a TRUE GREEN WATER DESCALER, to help with the white calcium deposits on your fixtures and pool?  We recommend EASYWATER, no salt used, no discharge of water and it can also work with water softeners to increase their life too.     

WIN OUR PHOTO CONTEST:  Send in Your Cutest Water Photo by August 31, 2010.  Do you have a cute one that that shows off your pets, children or car? Then enter to Win $100.00 CASH!    

Do you have friends with some cool water photos, share this with your friends.    

Submit your photo to eastvalleyservice@benfranklinplumbing.com, by submitting this photo you grant us permission to post it on our Facebook page and share it on our home show September 10-12th, 2010.  To win include your name and your contact information. Phoenix area homeowners over age of 18, are eligible to win.    

You still have time to enter the Apprentice contest too and win many prizes including 100 grand at www.win100grand.com      

Watch for my upcoming Blogs on better cleaning suggestions and more great contests.

Water leaks are common and many leaks outside your home are easy to spot.  If you or your neighbor has a hose bibb leaking, an outside valve or a sprinkler puddling water in the yard, you can be impacted in more places than your pocketbook.  I understand everyone is busy and a small water leak may not be the top priority, but a small leak outside can bring on more serious problems and affect the health of you and your family.

One Mosquitoe Can Make You Sick

                                                                                                                  Not only will you have a high water bill and waste our precious water resources here in Phoenix, but puddling water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. ProBest Pest Control’s blog share’s the importance of why you don’t want to attract mosquitoes around your home. 

• West Nile Virus has been reported right here in our Arizona backyard, this year.  On July 30, 2010 Stephanie Russo with The Arizona Republic and AZ Central  reported West Nile Virus claims 2nd life in the East Valley.
• Once you fix the water leak, ProBest Pest Control can eliminate the danger of anyone catching this virus around your home.

West Nile is a very serious virus and we all must help to reduce the risks in our neighborhoods.  We must watch for and get rid of standing water around our own homes and neighborhoods quickly to minimize the danger and  to keep this virus from spreading.

The Center for Disease Control offers some safe helpful tips to protect yourself if you find yourself around mosquitoes.

We have focused all our efforts in the last 26 years of service to the valley trying to keep people safe.  This time of year it is important to watch the rain water that collects around the neighborhood, the pool water that doesn’t stay maintained and the plumbing leaks that continue to run.  It is each of our own responsibility to help out.

Through the end of August 2010, we will help you fix that leak just mention this blog and we will give you $50.00 off the repair and help keep you healthy and safe.

Watch my next blog for a more great helpful plumbing information and a chance to win a $25.00 Starbucks card.