The top three things every homeowner should do in order to ensure their natural gas or electric water heater is working properly.

As temperatures around the Valley are starting to drop making sure a home’s water heater working properly is becoming increasingly more important.

1. Visually inspect the water heater every month. Take note of any new rust spots, water heater problem, discoloration, etc. If the outside of a water heater has visual changes, the interior is changing as well.

2. Check to make sure the water heaters on / off valve is working properly every month. If a homeowner has a small water leak and they go to turn it off and the valve breaks in place it can result in a terrible water leak. It’s best to check the water heater valve regularly and practice turning the valve to avoid problems when you need it.

3. Have the water heater flushed once a year, make sure any and all built up inside is removed annually to prevent water leaks and retain great hot water.

It is always recommended by all water heater manufactures to have a licensed plumber check it yearly and make sure it is working safe and properly. There are many parts inside the water heater along with parts that keep the water heater working safely to protect the home and everyone around it.

World Plumbing day is March 11th. As a longtime Phoenix Plumber, this day is very important to us and we want to share it with you!  Plumbers are known to install and repair plumbing systems or find things lost in drains like the earring we saved yesterday for a homeowner.

Plumber Saved Earring From Going Down The Drain

What is World Plumbing Day all about?  I may be crazy, I know, but this is really important for all of us, let me share with you why.  It’s a day we remember why plumbers are so important to our health and safety.  Did you know without plumbers or plumbing systems our health would be much different today?  Countries that don’t practice basic plumbing principles have many more illnesses and deaths then we do here in America. For more information review www.worldplumbingday.org 

Here are top 5 tips to help your plumbing work better.

1)      Have an annual water heater checkup, just because it feels hot, does not mean it is safe or working properly. Water heater’s not heating at the right temperature can cause Legionnaires’ disease bacteria. (As was the case at the Playboy Mansion causing hundreds to become ill) 

2)      Test your tap water annually, showering in high chlorine count can cause serious problems with your health.  It’s important to remember your skin is your largest organ and needs to be protected. 

Chlorine Water Test

3)  If you notice water at the base of the toilet, be aware- it may be leaking. If it is leaking under the toilet, it will rot your floor causing your home damage and costing you money. Sewage, even clear water, can be very dangerous when not disposed of properly.

 4)  Know where your home’s main shut off is and how to use it. Make sure a quick closing valve is installed, it can help you and your family in a panic. 

5)  Everyone likes a powerful shower, but too much pressure will wear on your fixtures and plumbing system. It is like our body’s blood pressure, but for your home. Test your water pressure, 60 psi to 80 psi is the recommended pressure, anything more will cost you stress and money!

***We are donating $10.00 from every appointment booked on March 11, 2011 to Wounded Warriors Project.

Want to win $100.00 Cash? Have we serviced you before? Vote for your favorite Benjamin Franklin Plumber before March 31st and be entered into a drawing for $100 cash. Vote through the contact us area on our website, let us know your vote on our Facebook page or feel free to call us with it.

We honor all plumbers worldwide that have dedicated their lives to making our health better, Thank you!!

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.

Energy Star rated heat pump water heater

Water heaters can qualify for Arizona Appliance Rebate Program.   The rebate program has 6.2 million dollars slotted for Arizona homeowners to replace their older inefficient appliances (get them off the Arizona grid) with high efficient Energy Star rated models. 

Not all water heaters are the same. Some run with higher energy efficiency and less monthly costs to the homeowner, not to mention some also offer other wonderful benefits, too. Although your water heater may seem as though it is working fine, how much money does it really cost you to run every month? 

Newer high energy efficient water heater models can help you  save now on the purchase cost, with this rebate and on your monthly cost to run it, but you have to have a reservation first.  

Which hot water heaters are covered under the Arizona Cash for Appliance Rebates? 

Not all water heaters qualify for this program. Only the very high energy efficient water heaters with an Energy Star rating will qualify. Having an Energy Star rating means that the water heater will generally run 15-50% more efficient then water heaters without the Energy Star rating. 

Water heaters that qualify for this rebate program include some gas tankless, electric heat pump and gas storage tank style water heaters.  We’ll talk about specific models in upcoming blog posts. 

How much are the rebates?  

Each water heater qualifies for a flat rebate amount from $200.00-$425.00 as funded by thethe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. .  

Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber of Phoenix will match the cash rebate that you qualify for towards a new water heater.   Bottom line with the BF promotion: $400.00-$850.00 total towards a new Energy Star rated qualified water heater. 

A separate reservation is needed for each appliance that a homeowner qualifies for under the rebate program. 

What is the time frame to take advantage of the rebates? 

Mark your calender.  The earliest date you can get a reservation is April 12, 2010, at 6am.   It is expected that all the rebate program will be popular, so make your reservation early.  When the money is gone the rebate program ends.  This a great time to get help to pay for a new high energy efficient water heater and save money every month on your energy bills.  

What are the particulars of the plan?  

1. The homeowner will need to get the website address or phone number to apply for a reservation- not yet announced by the State of Arizona. Watch us, we will tweet all the up-to-date information  to everyone following us. We will also share it on www.BenFranklinPlumbingAZ.com, our facebook page and discuss details on our Phoenix Plumber Pipeline Blog.
2. The homeowner will need to apply for the reservation and be confirmed that they have qualified.
3. Next the homeowner will need to contact a licensed plumber (we hope you consider us, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, The Punctual Plumber) to select the qualifing water heater and arrange to replace the old model water heater,  thus getting it off the Arizona grid. 
4. Depending on the water heater chosen and the city codes, the plumber will review what city permits are needed  for the new water heater to be installed.
5. The water heater will be installed professionally and according to city code requirements.
6. Proper disposal of the old water heater by a licensed plumber is also noted to ensure proper recycling documentation.

Contact us at 602-904-7252 or book an on line appointment  to get the BF matching rebate offer exclusively from us.  

Look for future blog articles to help you decide what is best for you: 

” Qualifing Tankless Water Heaters for The Arizona Appliance Rebate Program” 

“Qualifing Electric Heat Pump Water Heaters for the Arizona Appliance Rebate Program” 

“Qualifing Tank Style High Efficient Gas Water Heater for the Arizona Appliance Rebate Program”