Dear Benjamin Franklin Plumbing,

 I am sending you a note to tell you how pleased we are to have our Whole Harmony Filtration system.  Your people explained the use and described the system so well that we have recommended it to several of our friends.  Having used the system now since February I don’t know how we survived before.  No more lugging or paying for bottled water.  We can’t thank you enough, life is great again with pure water.

 Sincerely,

Art C.

A program of the EPA’s WaterSense partnership, Fix a Leak Week is a great time to make sure a home’s plumbing system is operating properly, says owner of Ben Franklin Plumbing. Leaks account for an average of 10,000 gallons of water wasted per year in the home.

DENVER, Colo. - It’s national Fix a Leak Week March 15-21, 2010, and the master plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Denver advise that a few simple checks and fixes could save homeowners thousands of gallons of water each year, lower water bills and improve the operation of their home plumbing systems.

“Fix a Leak Week was establish by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its WaterSense partnership, and it’s a great awareness program for people to check around the house to see if their plumbing is operating properly,” says Steve Jusseaume, a master plumber and owner of Ben Franklin Plumbing of Denver. “An enormous amount of water is wasted through leaks in the home that people aren’t aware of, and we hope this program gets people to save water and money.”

According to the EPA’s WaterSense program:

• Leaks can account for, on average, 10,000 gallons of water wasted in the home every year, enough to fill a backyard swimming pool.
• The amount of water leaked from U.S. homes could exceed more than 1 trillion gallons of water every year. That’s equivalent to the annual water use of Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami - combined.
• 10% of American homes have leaks in faucets, toilets, showerheads or sprinkler systems that waste over 90 gallons of water a day.
• Just one leaky faucet can waste more than 3,100 gallons of water every year.

Taking a cue from WaterSense, Jusseaume notes that checking for leaks around the home is easy. The first step is to listen, as many leaks are audible. Then inspect each and every faucet in the home and outside for signs of dripping - spots of water in the basin or on the splash outside. For toilets, Jusseaume says to put a little food coloring in the tank; if color seeps into the bowl, the toilet is leaking.

Many of these types of leaks can be fixed easily, most by replacing a washer or gasket in the fixture’s spout, says Jusseaume. A faucet leaking at one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year, he adds.

Toilets that run all the time could be wasting as much as 200 gallons of water a day, the Ben Franklin Plumber says. The most common problem is a broken or worn flapper in the tank, and it’s a quick job to replace it.

Of course, Jesseaume notes that sometimes leaks are undetectable by a non-professional. But a homeowner can narrow down a problem by following some simple steps from Denver Water.  The water agency says to first locate the water meter for the house, and then the water shut-off valve for your home; it can be inside or out and is commonly located where the main water line enters the foundation. Then turn off all faucets, outlets and water-using appliances in the home. Note the gallon calculating sweep hand on the meter (it looks very much like the second hand on a watch). Wait about 30 minutes, then check the meter again: if it has moved, you have a leak somewhere. Then, close the main shut-off valve; if the indicator on the meter stops, you have a leak inside the home. If the indicator is still moving, the leak is underground between the water meter and the shut-off valve.

“Many homeowners can handle simple leaks and repairs with a few dollars worth of washers and gaskets from the hardware store,” says Jusseaume. “But if the leak is underground or more severe, or if the toilet won’t stop running, it’s time to call in a professional plumber and get the problem solved. It’ll save the homeowner money in the long run, prevent any further water damage, and of course it will help conserve a precious resource, water.”

Jusseaume adds that if it’s time to replace fixtures like faucets and toilets, the WaterSense program and plumbers alike recommend fixtures carrying the WaterSense label as they are approved for today’s water-conscious requirements and will save homeowners money on water bills.

As an extra incentive on new fixtures, Denver Water offers many rebates to residential customers who buy and install qualifying high-efficiency toilets, washing machines, rains sensors, water heaters and other water-efficient fixtures. In addition, some of these appliances may qualify for rebates through the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office, and for federal tax credits through the U.S. government’s Energy Star program.

WaterSense, launched in 2006, is an EPA-sponsored partnership of local water utilities and governments, product manufacturers, retailers, consumers and other stakeholders dedicated to promoting water efficiency and enhancing the market for water-efficient products, programs and practices.

Family owned and operated for over 30 years, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Denver provides the full array of plumbing services throughout the Metro Denver area. For more information or to schedule a guaranteed appointment, visit www.benfranklinplumbingdenver.com  or call 303-340-3400.

Consumers to get money back for hot water heaters and other appliances, solar panels, insulation, and home efficiency improvements. The Governor’s Energy Office encourages homeowners to plan ahead - when the money runs out, the rebates end.

DENVER - March 16, 2010 — Coloradans can soon tap into millions of Recovery Act dollars and take steps to save money, boost the economy and save energy as the Governor’s Energy Office and partners prepare to launch a sweeping, statewide rebate program April 19. This initiative is designed to bring energy efficiency and renewable energy to tens of thousands of Coloradans and will provide nearly 75,000 rebates worth approximately $22 million.

Coloradans will be able to connect easily with opportunities to save dollars and do some good for the economy and the environment by visiting the Recharge Colorado website (also launching April 19) to sign up for rebates on a wide array of appliances, services and equipment that will save energy, reduce energy bills and create jobs for Colorado. The website and rebate program will offer Colorado consumers a service unprecedented in scope - providing comprehensive and localized information about rebates, financial incentives, contractors, energy conservation tips and availability of goods and services across the state.

Items eligible for rebates will include:

• Equipment such as dishwashers, clothes washers, refrigerators, as well as furnaces and hot water heaters.
• Residential energy efficiency measures such as insulation and air sealing, duct sealing, whole-house energy audits and whole-house energy monitors.
• Renewable energy projects, including solar photovoltaic systems, solar hot water systems for homes and businesses and small wind installations.

A complete list is included at the end of this announcement. About one-third of the rebates will be provided for ENERGY STAR appliances, furnaces and hot water heaters. The bulk of the funding for the program is provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Local partners across Colorado provided additional dollars.

“Coloradans are unique and our goal was to develop a rebate program and education campaign that would match the ‘do it yourself’ ethic that is a hallmark of this great state,” said GEO director Tom Plant. “We look forward to providing Coloradans this opportunity to save money, save energy and participate in our New Energy Economy. We invite consumers to discover the wealth of energy-saving information available to them through this one-stop clearinghouse at our soon-to-be-launched Recharge Colorado web site. Connecting people to this information will, in turn, mean more jobs and business for the companies that provide these valuable services.”

Ben Franklin Plumbing of Denver added that it sells and installs a line of tankless hot water heaters from Rinnai that qualify for the Governor’s Energy Office rebate program, as well as rebate programs from Denver Water and federal tax credits. Also, Ben Franklin can provide a range of plumbing services for other appliances covered the in the new rebate program, and the master plumbing company will assist homeowners with all of the necessary paperwork to be able to claim a rebate, incentive or tax credit. Call Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver at 303-340-3400 or visit its website at www.benfranklinplumbingdenver.com for more details.

Critical consumer information

The GEO expects high consumer interest in all rebates. For ENERGY STAR appliance rebates, the GEO along with its local partners expects brisk consumer action. Those appliances account for about 16,000 of the rebates. In light of that, it’s important for consumers to have realistic expectations and to recognize the limits of the program.

Rebates on kitchen appliances range from $50 to $100 while those for hot water heaters and furnaces range from $200 to $500. These rebates will be reserved on-line on a first-come, first-served basis. The GEO rebates will not be retroactive. This means that products purchased and installed before the GEO launches the program will be ineligible for rebates.

Consumers are reminded that no rebates are guaranteed until all documentation is provided to the GEO. Consumers that are interested in energy efficiency appliances should consider the savings that are immediately available to them through retailer, utility or manufacturer incentives. Many retailers may currently offer sales that exceed what will be available in the rebate program.

Rebates for renewable energy measures, such as solar hot water or solar electric systems, will require a home energy audit before applying. Walkthrough audits that have been conducted after Dec. 31 2006 but before program launch can be accepted. After April 19, however, the audit must be performed by a Building Performance Institute (BPI) or Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) certified auditor. Rebates are available for home energy audits performed after April 19.

Beginning April 19, consumers will be directed to the Recharge Colorado website to apply for and reserve rebates. The rebate check will be issued to the homeowner, for both energy efficiency and renewable energy applications. More detailed information on the rebate application process and rebate criteria will be provided on the GEO website by March 31.

Home appliance rebates

ALL APPLIANCES MUST BE ENERGY STAR RATED.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS EXIST above just Energy Star labeling in some cases

Not all products and services will qualify for a rebate. The GEO strongly encourages consumers to review the rebate materials carefully when considering purchases.

For an appliance that is deemed eligible, the following rebate level will be paid:*

• Clothes washers $75
• Dishwashers $50
• *Refrigerators $100 with proof the previous refrigerator was recycled. Proof consists of a receipt from a recycling facility or a receipt from a retailer engaged in an existing recycling agreement with the GEO. A list of retailers will be available in coming weeks.
• *Refrigerators $50 with no proof of recycling.
• **Furnaces - gas condensing $500
• Hot water heater - gas condensing/high performance $200 (minimum efficiency rating available in coming weeks)
• Hot water heater - gas tankless $300
• Gas boilers - $400

*Refrigerators must be at least 12 cubic feet in size to qualify.

**Furnaces must also be rated at an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) greater or equal to 92 percent

Residential energy efficiency rebates

• Insulation and air sealing - 20% of cost up to $400 (will not exceed $600 if combined with an existing local utility rebate taken by the consumer)
• Duct sealing - 20% of cost up to $75 (will not exceed $125 if combined with an existing local utility rebate)
• Whole-house energy audit - tiered rebate of $25 to $100 depending on cost of audit
• Whole-house energy monitor - $50 (will not exceed $100 if combined with an existing local utility rebate)

Renewable energy rebates
Note: Rebates are based on system size, calculated per watt. So no hard dollar figure is provided here.

• Solar photovoltaic - 20 to 30%. In some cases, rebates combined with local incentives will result in a 50 % reduction in costs.
• Solar domestic hot water - 30% of the cost
• Solar thermal and/or hot water (commercial only - no pools, spas or snowmelt) - approx. 30 % of the cost of the system
• Small wind (residential) up to 10 kW - approx. 30% of the cost of the system
• Small wind (commercial) - approx. 15 to 20% of the cost of the system

*Xcel and Black Hills Energy customers are excluded due to existing residential photovoltaic rebates offered through those utilities.

Homeowners can enjoy up to a $1,500 tax credit on their 2010 federal taxes plus significant rebates from Xcel Energy and the State of Colorado by upgrading to a qualifying tankless water heater this year

DENVER, Colo. - Benjamin Franklin - The Punctual Plumber of Denver is a registered contractor for water heaters that not only cut heating bills, but for a limited time offer significant federal tax credits as well as energy-saving rebates from the State of Colorado and Xcel Energy.

The largest cost savings, tax credits and rebates are available through the installation of a tankless water heater, and Ben Franklin Plumbing owner Steve Jusseaume recommends those manufactured by Rinnai, which qualify for all savings programs and supply an endless source of hot water at a fraction of the cost of traditional tank water heaters.

The Rinnai tankless system is able to service three water outlets simultaneously while maintaining a constant hot water temperature.  Rinnai tankless water heaters supply hot water at the rate of up to 9.8 gallons per minute, while offering 30% more efficiency than a natural-gas fueled tank water heater and 50% more efficiency than an electric water heater. The units are compact and wall-mounted, with many models no bigger than 23 inches tall, no wider than 18.5 inches, and no deeper than 9.8 inches.

The United State federal government has established an energy efficiency program for homeowners which offers up to $1,500 in tax credit on the purchase and installation cost of qualifying water heaters, including the Rinnai models available at Ben Franklin Plumbing. This is a tax credit, not a deduction, which means it can reduce a tax bill up to the full $1,500. Homeowners must purchase and have installed the qualifying water heater by December 31, 2010 to claim the tax credit. Check http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits for full details.

In addition, Xcel Energy, the largest public energy utility in the state, is offering a rebate of $100 on qualifying tankless water heaters, and from $40 to $80 on qualifying standard natural gas fueled water heaters, purchased and installed through the end of this year.

The State of Colorado, through the Governor’s Energy Office, is in the process of implementing a mail-in rebate program for residents who replace older, inefficient appliances, including water heaters, with ENERGY Star qualified appliances. No details have been announced, however officials said that the program is slated to begin in March 2010 with total funding of $4,739,000; once the money is gone, the program is over.

Each of these programs have their own set of rules and levels of energy efficiency that meet their criteria for tax credit or rebate. Ben Franklin Plumbing’s Jusseaume says his company is well versed in the qualifications and can provide homeowners with all of the necessary documents and forms for customers to claim their benefits.

“Between the tax credit and the rebates, not to mention just the cost savings from using newer, more energy efficient water heaters, homeowners can virtually recoup the entire cost of a new Rinnai tankless water heating system in a relatively short period of time,” says Jusseaume. “Plus, the level of comfort and convenience offered by these tankless water heater solutions add even more value to the decision to go tankless.”

Tankless water heaters installed by Ben Franklin Plumbing of Denver save on precious fuel costs because they don’t continuously heat water all day long when it’s not being used, like traditional water heaters which heat the water in them while you’re at work and even while you’re sleeping. Using the Rinnai tankless water heater, you only pay to heat water when you need it, and for as long as you want it.

Another benefit of a Rinnai tankless water heater is that it shuts off automatically when the water supply is closed, and they have a life expectancy of 20 years versus the 10 years a traditional water heater is expected to perform.

Conserving energy and water are among the many services Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver performs in households in Arvada, Aurora, Brighton, Broomfield Castle Rock, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Commerce City, Denver, Englewood, Glendale, Golden, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Lakewood, Littleton, Lone Tree, Morrison, Northglenn, Parker, Sedalia, Thornton, Westminster, and Wheat Ridge.

“Being informed is always optimum,” says Steve Jusseaume. “Being proactive is even better.”

Benjamin Franklin - The Punctual Plumber serves the Greater Denver area, providing every plumbing need, from the smallest leak and repair, to emergencies, remodels, upgrades and new plumbing solutions. Founded more than 30 years ago as Deer Creek Plumbing Inc., the family owned plumbing business in the 2005 joined the #1 residential plumbing service company in North America, becoming a Benjamin Franklin franchisee.

“What sets us apart from the competition is our ‘one of a kind’ warranties and guarantees,” says Jusseaume. “Like our Punctual Promise: ‘If there’s any delay, it’s you we pay,’ which means that if we are late for your appointment we pay you $5 per minute up to $300. Plus we have a 100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee: If you’re not happy with our service, you don’t pay us. It’s that simple.”

For more information on tankless water heaters, as well as the federal tax credit and rebate programs, call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Denver at 303-340-3400 or visit www.benfranklinplumbingdenver.com.