Tankless water heaters are all about efficiencies and can save you plenty in energy costs.”I refer to the tankless water heater as the Champagne and Bubble Bath Night,” says Keith Sears, master plumber for Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver. “The hot water is endless using a tankless water heater.”Plus, through the end of 2010 tankless water heaters purchased from and installed by Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver qualify for up to a $1,500 federal tax credit, as much as $100 in rebates from Xcel Energy and also an as-yet defined rebate from the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office. Ben Franklin Plumbing has all the details and can provide customers with all the necessary paperwork to apply for these benefits.

Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver recommends the Rinnai tankless system for these reasons:

• It’s able to service three water outlets simultaneously while maintaining a constant hot water temperature
• It supplies hot water at the rate of up to 9.8 gallons PER MINUTE.
• It’s 30% more efficient than a natural-gas fueled water heater
• It’s 50% more efficient than an electric water heater
• The life expectancy of the Rinnai is 40 years.

The units are compact and wall-mounted. The many models are no bigger than 23 inches tall, no wider than 18.5 inches, and no deeper than 9.8 inches.

The most intimate room in your home and the place where you can enjoy your amenities in peace is the bathroom. As schedules get busier, people want to luxuriate in privacy the few moments per day they are home. To that end, they are investing into remodeling for ultimate comfort. According to Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver (www.benfranklinplumbingdenver.com), the top 5 trends in lavatory luxuries are:1. Vessel sinks are ultra-modern and come in varieties of stone, copper, glass porcelain and wood to match the feel of your bathroom. They can be set on the counter or recessed into the counter and cabinet below-depending on the desired look. The toughest part of switching to a vessel sink from a traditional recessed sink is changing the hardware from a standard-hardware setup. Traditional, recessed sinks generally consist of two handles. Vessel sinks usually have a single faucet complimenting the minimalist look. To add another dimension to your bathroom, you can tailor the height of the sink to your needs. If children will be washing hands, you may want to go with a recessed sink at a shorter height. If installing his-and-hers sinks, consider raising his sink to accommodate for a tidier shaving experience. Lower hers to cater to makeup application needs.

2. Jet shower panels provide the ultimate shower experience. You can customize jet panels to have varied water pressure and spray settings you may also choose to have and shower extensions built in. Most common jet panels have three to six spouts. Add rain-simulating showerheads to the ceiling for a new take on the old shower that will give you something to sing about.

3. Electronic faucets are a comfort item that should not be restricted to hotel and movie theater bathrooms. Bring the ease of automatic water into your home. Automatic faucets conserve water and you don’t so much as have to bother to turn off the sink while you brush your teeth. The standard is models operated by a long-lasting lithium or alkaline battery, an alternative is to hardwire the faucet. Sensor-activated toilet flushers are also available for the home.

4. Though it is also trendy to install a retro cast iron or acrylic claw foot bathtub, evolved bathtubs are rapidly gaining popularity because they are designed for maximum comfort. Walk-in tubs reduce the slip-and-fall factor for mobility-compromised seniors. Stepping over a tub edge can cause discomfort or loss of balance. Women appreciate a shower seat for shaving. Men and women enjoy relaxing in a steam shower while sitting, not standing.

5. Everyone has to have a toilet, but why settle for just any toilet? You might as well make it the best seat in the house. Options run the gamut of amenities you didn’t know you wanted. There is the heated toilet seat, the bidet and the toilet/bidet hybrid. It’s not only the temperature on the seat that you can control, but also the temperature of the water. If you want to go all out, add the blow dryer, the hydraulic slow-close lid and seat, self cleaning nozzles, memory settings so you do not have to reset the temperature with each use and even a remote control. The water needs to be heated through an internal tank and it also connects to electricity, in other words, seek a professional to install.

Now that you’ve put in the time to carefully select your jet panels with just the right hammered copper controls and everything you need to perfect your wash room, you need an experience plumber to install these improvements properly. Otherwise, the investment into these upgrades can backfire.

Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver has the training and experience to install the most complex plumbing configurations for all types of fixtures.

At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing we pride ourselves on our simple and straightforward pricing met by our 24-7 availability and sealed with our punctuality guarantee, “if there’s any delay, it’s you we pay.” We are always true to our word and our work including a 2-year guarantee on all services.

Visit us at www.benfranklinplumbingdenver.com. Or call Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver at 303-340-3400.

There was a conversation going on the other day about all of the $1 million-+ houses all over Denver that are sitting idle and not selling. A mortgage closer chimed in that the there are many people buying new homes in the Denver area, and refinancing existing homes, both through mortgage instruments, of course, but that it seemed like what was selling was $750,000 and down. “We’re not seeing much activity in the million-plus stuff, the closer said.The reason, many speculate, is not that people who could afford the more expensive homes aren’t buying; rather that people are showing a decided preference for smaller homes – a movement that has sprung up just in the last year and half or so. And it’s not a go-cheap movement; these buyers, it is said, are going for smaller, more energy efficient and more comfortable homes  “We’re moving from a ‘quantity of life’ to a “quality of life” point of view,” noted one observer.A major part of this movement, according to many observers, is a nearly universal desire to lower one’s carbon footprint. Use less energy, use less water, recycle more; be a part of a “new energy” awareness – while at the same time enjoying a high quality of life.The plumbers at Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver have many services, of course, that fit into this movement nicely, including new, more energy efficient plumbing fixtures, inspections of sprinkler systems to insure optimum efficiency, checks on toilets and all fixtures to make sure there are no leaks or wastes – even minor leaks in a toilet, for instance, can waste thousands of gallons of water and cost a homeowner as much as double on a water bill.But the single best thing a home owner can do right away to lower their carbon footprint, save water, save money, and improve their quality of life is to install a tankless water heater.Ben Franklin recommends the GoHot brand of tankless water heaters, and the pros at Ben Franklin are experts in the installation and use of these modern energy saving devices.There are many advantages to going tankless, not the least of which is that a tankless system just takes up less space – the unites are just 23 inches tall, a mere 9.8 inches deep, and up to 18.5 inches wide. So first, you can get that large, round water heater tank off the basement floor and have extra room.But , of course, what you want to save is energy – a Rinnai tankless water heating system is 30% more efficient than a standard natural gas water heater, and a whopping 50% more efficient than a traditional tank run on electricity. And not only that, a tankless system heats water as it is needed, so it only uses energy when called for, plus it provides an endless supply of hot water. The “tank” never empties.Oh, yes, and one more thing: the typical hot water tank system normally comes with a 10 to 12 year life expectancy, but the GoHot Tankless Water Heater system carries a 20-year life expectancy, offering years and years of trouble-free operation.When you look to lower you carbon footprint and yet do it in a way that increases your quality of life, look no further than a GoHot Tankless Water Heater system from Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver. More hot water. Less space. Much more energy efficiency. You’ll be telling your old hot water heater: “Tanks for the memories.”

Tips in the Kitchen

Dishwasher-Periodically check under the sink to see if the hose connection to the water supply line is secure and is not leaking.  Check around the base of the dishwasher for evidence of leaks.  Look for discolored, warped or soft flooring materials or water damage to nearby cabinets.

Refrigerator-If your refrigerator has an icemaker, check the hose connection to make sure it is securely attached to the water supply line. The wet spot you see on the floor near the refrigerator may be melted ice cubes or it may be a crimped icemaker line about to burst.

Sink-Apply new caulking around sinks and pay attention to slow draining pipes.  This may indicate a partially blocked drain.  Check the pipes under the sink for signs of water leaks.

Did you know going green saves you green?

Fixing leaky faucets and tightening loose plumbing joints alone can save more than 15 gallons of water per leak per day.

Optimize utility of appliances.  Make sure your dishwasher and washing machine are not half empty (or half full).  Fill them all the way before running through a cycle.

Make simple adjustments.  Switching to water-saving shower heads and faucets saves over 600 gallons of water each month.  Shaving even one minute off of your total shower time can make hundreds of gallons of difference per month.  Consider an electric razor.  Don’t forget to turn the water off while you brush your teeth either.

With energy costs rising faster than the summer heat, it’s time to put your money where your water is, that is if you want to save money in the long run. The problem with conventional water heaters, according to Steve Jusseaume, owner of Ben Franklin Plumbing in Denver, Colorado, is that water needs-particularly household hot water needs, are not constant, but fluctuate every day. If your home is served by a traditional water heater, that means that a lot of water is being constantly heated even at times its not needed. Jusseaume installs goHot^TM systems that heat your residential water as needed.

Ben Franklin’s goHot system turns on and off as needed. It reduces your energy use and you’ll begin to see the savings immediately, says Jesseaume, who has installed goHot systems citywide.
Reduce waste. Anytime you can use a dust mop on your hardwood floor or a broom in your garage, try that before going straight for the water bucket or hose.  If you kill a spider simply throw it in the trash instead of using a full flush of toilet water.  And don’t let that water go to waste when you are waiting for the water to run hot.  Save it for plants, ice cube trays or other needs that room-temperature water can quench.

Everyone knows the lawn needs nourishment, but make sure you are not over-watering it and above all, make sure the sprinkler heads are well-positioned by a professional in order to avoid sidewalk spill.

Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver has a way to help you cut your heating bill significantly. By installing a tankless water heater, that heats water on demand versus heating water all day long when it’s not being used, Steve Jusseaume, owner of Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver, a master plumber for 30 years, has installed hundreds of Rinnai tankless water heaters in homes just like yours.

A tankless water heater provides an endless supply of hot water, and the Rinnai tankless system is able to service three water outlets simultaneously while maintaining a constant hot water temperature. The Rinnai brand water heater supplies hot water at the rate of up to 9.8 gallons PER MINUTE.

This tankless water heater is 30% more efficient than a natural-gas fueled water heater and is 50% more efficient than an electric water heater. The units are compact and wall-mounted. The many models are no bigger than 23 inches tall, no wider than 18.5 inches, and no deeper than 9.8 inches.

Tankless water heaters installed by Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver save on precious fuel costs because they don’t continuously heat water all day long when it’s not being used. Think about it, traditional water heaters 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.

Like Americans everywhere, Coloradans and Denverites are naturally concerned what the winter weather will be like. They’re worried about utility bills for this coming fall. They’ve already experienced a tremendous hike this year, and another is expected, since the PUC okayed the increase. For some people, this could be the increase that broke the camel’s back, as they say, or rather the added expense could be the final straw in an already strained budget.

Being informed is always optimum, says Steve Jusseaume. Being proactive is even better, as the customers who do change out their traditional water heating systems won’t suffer nearly the increases in utility bills that homeowners who duck and cover their head will see this coming winter.”

Contact Steve Jusseaume and the professional plumbers at Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver at 303-340-3400 or visit them on the web at www.benfranklinplumbingdenver.com.