Angie's List Super Service Award - Special Offer

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing - "Phoenix Area", has won Angie's List Super Service Award for 2009! With Angie's List, you are graded on your services and overall experience you provide. In order to qualify for the Super Service Award, we maintained an "A" in our plumbing category and and an "A" for our company OVERALL grade. Less than 5% of the Angie's List companies qualify for this award and even better, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing - Phoenix, has now won this title 4 years in a row! What is Angie's List? - Watch the quick explanation here.

To celebrate this award with the Phoenix area consumers, we have decided to offer an Angie's List Award SPECIAL!!

Special: For the first 85 people to call in and mention the "Angie's List Award Special", receive $65 OFF any plumbing repair. Not to be combined with any other discount or coupon. Call us today to make your appointment and be among the first 85 to receive the special - HURRY!  866-867-5309

Ben Franklin Plumbing - The Holidays

Dear Friends,

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing will be working as normal through the holiday season, this means we are here to service our customers by live phone service 24 hours a day, with regular plumbing service and emergency service available by our same, great plumbers we have all year long.

Although, no normal appointments are available on Dec 25th and Jan 1, we will still have Holiday Emergency Plumbing Service available those days to anyone that needs us.

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Sincerely,

The Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Team

(866)867-5309  -  Valley wide - 24/7


**SPECIAL OFFER**
Exclusive Offer for our Facebook and Twitter Fans:

$59 OFF a plumbing service when "FACEBOOK" or "TWITTER" are mentioned. Offer good for appointments scheduled during 12/28/09 - 12/30/09. Offer can not be combined with other offers. - Tell your friends too!

Dry Skin Season - Water Quality

Is your Skin feeling itchy these days? Like when you get out of the pool in the summer, before you put on lotion?

Well besides it being another Arizona "winter" and the blistery weather drying out your skin, you may also have a water issue. Many of us have the same chlorine in our home water as we do in our pool. The bad thing is that you shower in it, everyday! The cities need to clean the water of many things before it can come to your home. They do this with a lot of chlorine to get rid of medicines, and Bactria in the water. It is good to clean the water but unfortunately, it can make your skin dry, sensitive and cracked. Call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing to help you with this. We are a fully trained water treatment company that can help you with all of your water needs.

Read more about our water softeners and water quality.

Need holiday gift ideas? We offer gift certificates for drinking water units, water treatment systems, shower heads, toilets, tankless and air driven water heaters. Contact us through our website or give us a call anytime - 24/7! (866)867-5309 -
Valley wide!

Solar Panel Rip-Offs

Beware for solar companies that don’t have the experience or good work ethic needed for the installation. According to this report, this local couple had solar panels installed in hopes to receive a tax credit and lower bills but now can’t get the credits they thought they had coming because of a weak installation job. This couple has spent a lot of time and money trying to fix problems on their power solar unit in order to get what they paid for in the beginning - lower bills!

This spot talks about solar contractors and their work, the report advises consumers to do their homework and hire a reputable company.  We are running into problem frequently, people are not getting quality companies to do their installation the first time, and calling us to help. The outcome of not researching the contractor(s) ahead of time will cause a lot of homeowners stress and a number of repairs to fix the poor installations. Choose the right solar panel contractor for your installation the first time - do your homework!

As always, for all of your plumbing, and solar panel, needs call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing (866)867-5309 or Contact Us Online!

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Water Heater Explosion by Mythbusters

If you read our recent blog about the "Water Heater Explosion in Springfield, MO", you hopefully understand how serious of a matter it is when it comes to water heater explosions and getting the right professional help when working with them. People have been seriously injured and homes have been destroyed. Understanding that, it makes you kind of intrigued to see what really happens when the water heater explodes. Since most of the time, homeowners aren't aware that it is about to happen, not many people have caught it on tape. Luckily, the Mythbusters tv show has provided the world wide web and their Discovery viewing audience with an experiment they tried. PLEASE, do not try this at home or anywhere. This is extremely dangerous, as you will see.



As always, for all of your plumbing, and water heater, needs call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing (866)867-5309 or Contact Us Online!

Water Heater Explosion in Springfield, MO

On the news this morning, it was reported that a home in Springfield, MO was demolished because of a water heater explosion. The homeowner had replaced his own water heater without the help from professionals. He and his family then left the home and went out to dinner. While gone, his house was blown up and demolished, also damaging 8 other homes in the surrounding area. Luckily, no one was hurt, but a lot of damage was caused by this incident. Being a prior insurance agent, I hope this homeowner's insurance will cover this claim and that he has enough to cover all his neighbors' damages. What a risk they took on by replacing their own water heater.

We see a few things that make the news yearly on do-it-yourself water heater installers, showing: the garage door was blown off, the house was damaged, someone was hospitalized, etc. All caused by wrong installation both by homeowners, shady licensed plumbers or a homeowner trying to repair a water heater. These are only the ones that make the news, the majority are damages we don’t even hear about, but they happen ALL the time. I hear from many people, how the water heater caught on fire, burned someone, etc. A local story made the news last year ('08) when a homeowner worked on his own water heater, in Paradise Valley and it blew through his roof at night and landed over 150 yards away, rocking the house's foundation 4" and damaging many surrounding neighborhood homes.

Consumers NEED to be educated : Water heaters can be harmful when working on them, and understand the risk taken on when not using a licensed plumber and without current insurance to protect their neighbors, their own family.

Below is a clip by the news station in Springfield, MO reporting on the water heater disaster. For all of your plumbing, and water heater, needs call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing (866) 867-5309 or Contact Us Online!

Sun City's 50th Golden Anniversary and Golf Scramble

Sun City is having their 50th Golden Anniversary and Golf Scramble. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is sponsoring a golf hole at the kick off event, Thursday, Dec. 10th. Come on by and say "Hi!". We are giving away FREE club memberships to all golf participants.

Event Details

• Sun City Country Club
• Start time 12:30
  
• $60/golfer OR $200/group of four
• www.suncity50thanniversary.org

For all of your plumbing needs call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing (866) 867-5309 or Contact Us Online!

Home & Garden Expo - Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing has an ongoing booth, #112, at the Peoria Home and Garden Expo Center that has a display featuring:

1. A Tankless Water Heater
2. An On-Demand Recirculating System for instant hot water
3. A Solar Water heater
4. Special Feature: Knowledgeable techs to answer any of your questions about plumbing, energy efficiency and incentives!

Admission and parking are FREE! Lots of vendors for all of your home project needs. Ladies - The market place at the Home and Garden Expo is having a woman’s consignment dress sale, this weekend only! - 11/21-22

At the Peoria Home and Garden Expo Center location - in the west valley, off the loop 101 and Thunderbird Rd. - Visit www.homeandgardenexpocenter.com more details!

PEORIA!
8606 W Ludlow
(Just West of the 101 & Thunderbird Rd.-behind Dillion's Restaurant)
Peoria, AZ 85381
623-487-3343
Monday-Saturday 9 am to 6 pm
Sun 11 am to 5 pm

Exclusive Expo Offer : $50 off any disposer / $200 off of any Tankless, Solar, or Standard water heaters. Order must be placed by 12/19/09. Peoria Expo Center booth #112 - **Must bring this print out to receive offer.

For all of your plumbing needs call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing (866) 867-5309 or Contact Us Online!

Turkey Day Plumbing Clogs

During this time of year with all the planning and having guests visit, it can be very stressful. The goal is for everyone to have the best holiday they can.

One way for this, is to be sure everyone has their disposals and toilets working properly before they have family and friends come visit. Both of these areas of the home can be abused and used a lot more than normal days. 

We are here to help people prepare for a stress free holiday with no turkey clogs in their garbage disposal. Guests will be embarrassed if they get stuck in a bathroom with a toilet clog. Be sure the toilet is flushing properly and is in very good condition BEFORE guests arrive, to better the chances of everyone having a happy day.

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is located valley-wide, open 24/7, even during the holidays. Just in case anyone needs us to make their holiday go a little bit smoother. Everyone at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing wishes you and your family a happy holiday, ENJOY!

Helpful Thanksgiving / Holiday Tips

1. Don't put potato or carrot skins down the disposal, use the trash
   instead.
   
   
2. Don't put turkey bones or skin down the disposal, use the trash
   instead.
   
   
3. Don't put grease down any drains, instead collect it in a dish and dump it in the trash.
   
   
4. Run the disposal in between small amounts of food dumped down the drain to be sure it clears before more is collected. 
   
   
5. If the disposal turns off, it may be over heated. Let it rest and then press the button under the disposal to see if that will start it running again.
   
   
6. Be sure your disposal is in good working condition BEFORE the holiday. Especially if you plan to use it a lot.  (Pre-Thanksgiving Disposal/Toilet Service - Special Offer)
   
   
7. You can sharpen the blades of your disposal by putting a cup of ice in it and chop it up all at once, if your disposal is in good condition.
   
   
8. How to un-clog your sink - If the sink gets clogged, don't put more products down the drain, even drain cleaners, most of them, will not clear food clogs, but can make the clog harder to clear or burn someone. Instead, use a clean plunger and make a strong suction, fill the sink with warm water, pump the plunger with small pump's without breaking the seal at the disposal, then when the pressure has been built up in the drain, pull the plunger off the disposal seam, this should create a vacuum to push the clog through with the water in the sink.
   
   
9. Before the holidays and guests come to visit, be sure the toilet is flushing properly and in good, working condition.
   
   
10. In your heavy traffic guest bathroom(s) supply single ply toilet paper to reduce the chances of toilet clogs.
    
    
11. Be sure guests do not flush anything foreign down the toilet to avoid clogs.
    

Remember, if you have a plumbing emergency, you can call us anytime, 24/7, valley-wide, even on the holidays!  (866) 867-5309 or contact us online if it isn't an emergency!

Thanksgiving Toilet or Disposal Offer - $55 OFF

Turkey Day is coming up! Make sure your toilets and disposals work before your family arrives. It is always an awful feeling when a guest feels responsible for "breaking your toilet". Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of AZ is offering a special just for the holiday!

$55 OFF TOILET OR DISPOSAL SERVICE BEFORE THE 26TH TO PREVENT HOLIDAY CLOGS. Not to be combined with any other offers. Expires 11/25/09.

If you are expecting visitors for the holiday, give us a call (866) 867-5309 or Schedule an Appointment Online. If you are going to be a visitor, remind your family or friends and tell them about our coupon!

Watch our Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Arizona explain what Thanksgiving leftovers can do to your sink and plumbing.

1st Plumber in Phoenix, AZ to offer RUUD Heat Pump Water Heater

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is the first plumber in Phoenix to offer and install the new RUUD Super efficient heat pump water heater, this is another option for homeowners for electric water heating. There are many reasons a homeowner would want to look into this water heater, it is 2 times as efficient than any other electric water heater in the market right now, it is one of very few electric water heaters with and Energy Star Rating and it qualifies for the 30% tax credit, most of the time this water heater does not require any retro fitting to install in the place of the existing standard electric water heater.


We have many great products and services to offer, we do more than offer just standard plumbing fixtures, we work on water treatment, water conservation, repairs, drains, etc. we find out what the homeowner wants in return and we give options, right now we have items that homeowners don’t know are available to help them live better and save more.

More about the RUDD Heat Pump Water Heater

Schedule an appointment online with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

GreenPlumber Accredited

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is now an accredited GreenPlumber, this certification means consumers can trust that our company has been through a number of water conservation training courses and have passed the certification tests needed to be certified. Some courses include Solar Water, climate care, caring for our water, water efficient technology and water audit services. There are just a couple accredited plumbers in the Phoenix area that have this accreditation and Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is the only one on the Rosie network.

For a quote on making your plumbing "Green" give us a call (866)867-5309 or schedule an appointment online!

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing - Handpicked by Kohler

2009 Greenbuild International Conference, Benjamin Franklin was the only plumber handpicked by Kohler to do the Green plumbing at Chase Field and the Hyatt to unveil their water conservation Green Plumbing products, this was a very important event, Kohler was the platinum sponsor of the event and had to chose a company they could count on for excellent service, superior plumbing skills and most of all depend on it being done right the first time and they chose the company that could fit all their needs-Benjamin Franklin Plumbing.

We were invited to a very small meeting with the engineers and designers of Kohler, we learned why and how the designs came about and also the very tough testing all of their products have gone through, before released at this show. We were lucky enough to have personal discussions with them to offer our suggestions and experience on their water conservation products. I can tell you their water conservation products are excellent and we are proud to offer them. They are a true leader in this Greenbuild movement.


To schedule a quick plumbing appointment online, visit Benjamin Franklin Plumbing's website - www.benfranklinplumbingaz.com

Arizona Small Business Association - 2009 Top Companies to Watch

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing was awarded this award on 11/6/09, they were 1 of only 37 companies statewide given this award for 2009. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing was chosen for its strong business and customer ethics, superior customer service and community work, they reviewed a number of items that made Benjamin Franklin Plumbing stand out this year among many of the other nominees, one item talked about was the community work and monetary donation that Benjamin Franklin Plumbing gave to support the Rosie On The House Habitat House.

(Dean Martin(L) and Benjamin Franklin Plumbing)

**To schedule a quick appointment online, visit the Benjamin Franklin Plumbing website.**

Rosie On The House For All Your Home Services

Did you know that Rosie Romero with www.RosieOnTheHouse.com can offer you the best service for anything you need to repair around your home. He also has a 20 year old radio show every Saturday on KTAR, that will give you lots of valuable helpful tips and ways to repair what is needed around your home.

This network is the oldest Arizona Trusted Home Resource network.

He hand picks licensed contractors to help you, if you cant do the repair yourself. We are proud to be part of www.Rosieonthehouse.com this network is truly a full packed list of the best ran contractors in the valley, for just about everything you need done around your home.

We are proud to be the leading plumber featuring plumbing tips on his website for all your needs.

We are here for you for any emergency plumbing service you need.

Need Service Fast

Today everyone says they offer 24/7 service, but do they really? Need a tow truck late at night how many calls do you have to make to find someone answer the phone live? Too Many, but their ads on the Internet says they have 24/7 service. When you need emergency service, it is important for the service company to stand behind what they say.

Do you need emergency plumbing service? If so, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, does have our own in house employees working around the clock to answer the phones live and to come out to help you right away. We are here to help you turn off the water, know what is serious or what can wait over night or to come right out to help you when your in need. We understand water does not know time.

Do you need service today? Benjamin Franklin Plumbing does not need much notice ahead of time to help you, we staff our plumbers to support your quick needs with no notice, just contact us through our website www.benfranklinplumbingaz.com or call us at 480-812-1855 or 623-933-1375, we do service the entire phoenix area live 24/7 really!!!

What Is The Right Choice?

Have you ever bought a new cell phone over an 800# with a representative or on the Internet, that you thought had the right features you wanted? Then when walking in a local store with a friend you find that another phone had better features for your needs, but you were already locked into the phone you have now. Not a good feeling, that is why we are different, we are locally owned with many options available when it comes to plumbing choices. You have never had so many choices in plumbing then you have available to you today, make the right choice with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing to be sure you get the features you want in your plumbing.

Do you have a leak, run out of hot water or just want a simple basic faucet? Not all plumbers in the Phoenix area have the knowledge or the time to offer you what is best for you. We ask each homeowner: What is your expectations of your shower, your water heater? Then we can offer better choices for plumbing repair that directly meets your personal needs, not what is popular or what the last customer wanted.

Plumbing service is customized from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, The Punctual Plumber, we want you to make the right choice, the first time.

Tankless and Solar Water Heater Demo Event

Tankless and Solar Demo. This is a very exciting time for Phoenix area homeowners, on Sat. May 16th we will offer a 1 day live demo event for anyone that wants to learn and see a live tankless and solar water heater demo.

It will be held at 355 E Warner Rd #4 Chandler, AZ 85225. Near the SE corner or Warner and Arizona Ave. From 10-3, we will be serving a BBQ lunch and have experts on hand to answer all your plumbing questions.

This is the best time to get your money's worth from Solar and Tankless water heaters. there is many tax credits and utility rebates available for you right now. Come see if this is for you and your home.

Know who your working with- or else!!

I continue to find it so very important to know who you trust to help you, in service business's it is very important. I just talked with a women friend that needed some car repairs done, her husband had always handled it, but unfortunately he is no longer here to help her.

She looked through the Internet, but did not check the company out, to be sure they were creditable instead did what she knew best, she got a price on the phone, then got the work done. She felt like the people were nice and the price seemed fair for what she was told by a friend. she picked up her car to find out that the bill doubled, she had no recourse but to pay the bill to get her car back.

Price on the phone is not always the answer, check out the company, have them really personally review the service needs and get a price up front in person. Going with the lowest price will usually force you to trade something else in return. Be sure your willing to give something up to get the lowest price. When a company gives and estimate on the phone please know the price will and can change if they are professionals at what they do, they will and can see what the job really entails, like going to a DR. a doctor can not see or hear the lungs that hurt over the phone and tell you what the problem, the Dr needs to be with you in person to diagnose the concern in person.

My friend has learned a lot through getting pricing over the phone, now she just wants to find a company she can trust when getting her future repairs done. Like in my business, get to know a plumber with small planned work, before you need any emergency plumbing work done, as a family business for the past 25 years, we have grown to know many of our long time customers like long time family memebers, check us out at www.benfranklinplumbingaz.com

Use Your Government Money to Save Money Everyday

It is so exciting, we have so many ways to save on Hot Water today. It was just announced that the stimulus package will help you with your new hot water heater costs, it will pay you up to 30% of your total cost for a new Tankless Hot Water Heater. Yes, that is right 30% why not get your share of the pie today?

Even better when you go tankless you don't pay for energy every day on your new tankless unless you turn on your hot water. Yes save every month by going tankless!!

That means when your hot water is not needed, it is not using costly utilities, wow when your not home, you are not spending money, now that makes sense doesn't? A Tank style water heater has to keep your water hot all day even when your not home. Does that really make sense these days? Why not save today and tomorrow with a new tankless hot water heater. Find us at www.BenFranklinPlumbingAZ.com or call us at 1-866-867-5309 to start to save money today!!!

Save Money With Solar

GREAT NEWS!!! it has just been passed, now there is no 30% cap on federal credits for solar hot water systems. In Arizona you can get free hot water about 300 days a year. (let the sun pay you) The utility companies and the government will pay for about 80% of your new solar hot water system, then if you need a new water heater anyway that amount can be removed from the cost and the system to get free hot water is just about free, too.

Check out your electric bill, compare the rates to last years billing, see how much more your electric bill is just because of rate hikes, that will not stop, go solar today while you get paid to do it..contact us at www.BenFranklinPlumbingAZ.com to review all your options available to save you money today and in your future. We are a solar licensed plumber helping you go green easily.

Is pricing over the phone good service?

Yesterday I had a tree service come out to my home, they gave me a price on the phone for what they said they would do for me, which I thought was a fair price for their service. When they arrived they found reasons that the price could not be honored, as a business owner I understood their position and the reasons they could not, but it did not stop me from being upset, that I had counted on that price.

The call taker was not the same person that saw the tree issue on site, I truly understood that the tech on site found things with my tree, I did not even realize with a tree and what he said, did make sense, but I was very disappointed when the price changed then what my expected amount was planned to be.

Pricing over the phone is dangerous for everyone involved in some fields of work . The only guaranteed way to get a true price in some fields of work is for the expert you want to hire, to see, feel and hear it and be able to give a true price. I really would have rather had the tree company tell me that upfront without a price and then I would not have expected one thing and got another.

This insulates why in my business we don't price over the phone, we don't want to miss-communicate our great service with the right price the first time. We want people to be happy with our service not discouraged because the price changes.

Can water leaks wait?

Interesting, today, I got a phone call asking can the leak in my water heater wait until I get home from work tonight. It sounded like it was leaking pretty good. I wished I could tell him yes, but without being able to turn the water off and draining the water heater, there is no telling how bad the water leak will be by the afternoon or how bad the water damage will be.

Water leaks can come on very fast and they never come at a good time, this man could not miss work, his water heater valves were broke, he had no choice but to leave it leaking and meet us after work today.

Don't let this happen to you or anyone you care about. Water damage can be stopped, watch your plumbing, have your plumbing inspected yearly. All plumbing will fail, it is just a matter of time. If good quality parts are used and maintained you can avoid water damage and the aggravation of water leaking when it is expected.

Find a plumber you can trust with smaller planned jobs and if you ever get a bigger water emergency, you will be very confident in who to call to help you, when you need it.

Pass It On!!!

Have you noticed the companies that really care about their longevity, offer the best service they can these days?

They understand that most people are stressed about many things in life and they are trying to do all they can to help offer the best service they can these days to help everyone. Thank them for all they do, service people have a lot to do these days, however are also making the least they have ever made at the same time.

May I suggest when you see or receive great service, thank the person or company for providing it to you, let them know how great they are, they deserve it. Pass it on!!!

Not Getting Hot Water?

Cold weather got you down? Hot water not the same? Even when we are trying to save money, it is important to know how your water heater is performing, you can save money with your hot water heater and keep the hot water flowing, too?

Cold weather makes your water heater work harder, servicing the water heater can help keep your hot water flowing through these cold times, not to mention it is recommended by every water heater manufacture to keep every home safe from damage. Tired of replacing your water heater? Water heaters will last longer with proper annual service. It is important to have your favorite licensed plumber inspect and flush the water heater every year, so it will perform better. Water heaters are an appliance and need service regularly to perform the best they can.

Just as when you replace an older refrigorator, utility bills will go down, the same with a newer effcient water heater. Save money today on your monthly bills, by updating your water heater.

Water heaters now come with many choices depending on if you want to use solar hot water heaters and have the sun to heat your water for free, or use tankless water heaters, so you don't heat water all day when it is not in use. I recommend to find a very experienced licnesed plumber to be sure you get what you want from your water heater and utility bills.

Still have questions about hot water? See http://www.benfranklinplumbingaz.com/ to learn more about todays choices in water heaters.