Benjamin Franklin: The Punctual Plumber

Temperatures plummeting to record-breaking lows have caused water pipe breaks and leaks to reach an all-time high. According to the Denver Post, in a cold spell, there is about a 10 percent increase in plumbing problems due to frozen pipes and when temperatures warm up and pipes begin to thaw, there is about a 20 percent increase in plumbing problems due to leaks.

When the temperature goes below zero degrees, energy drains from the water and the water freezes.  Then because the volume of frozen water is greater than the volume of liquid water, the pressure causes pipes to break. When you find out you have a broken pipe, make sure to turn off the water and the water heater.

You may have a frozen pipe if you turn on the faucet and only a weak stream of water comes out.  As the frozen area begins to melt, more water will flow. When you find out you have a broken pipe, make sure to turn off the water and the water heater.  If you believe you can locate the frozen section, you can heat it yourself but it is not recommended because improper thawing can cause the pipe to burst.  Note: never use a torch to thaw pipes.  If it is in an out-of-reach area or if you are not sure where it is or how to thaw it, Ben Franklin plumbing can help you to locate and thaw the frozen area immediately.

To prevent pipes from freezing, you can make sure the area around them is well-ventilated so warm air can circulate and make sure they are insulated, but if it is too late and it is zero degrees or lower, you may want to let the water run because it is less likely the pipes will freeze, but this should only be a temporary solution in case of emergency, because it will waste water and run up your water bill.  To find out more about frozen pipes and how they can be prevented and thawed visit the American Red Cross web site prepare.org.

Should you need Ben Franklin to come to your rescue, they will do so in a timely manner.  Of course, they respond as soon as possible to all emergencies.  And for any service, they set and keep appointments.  You will not have to wait around for some four-hour suggested window of time to come and go like you may with other plumbers, Ben Franklin plumbing will let you know the specific window of time you can expect them.  They know your time is valuable so if they are late, they will pay you $5 per minute up to $300.  They guarantee satisfaction and will not charge for the service if you are not happy.

Call Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver at 303-340-3400.

Steve Jusseaume, master plumber and owner of Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver, knows exactly how to pick a plumber; here is how he’d do it if he had a drip, drip drip.

The only thing more frustrating that the constant drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet is the nag, nag, nagging feeling that finding a plumber is going to be a problem. Am I going to get ripped off? Will they show up on time? Will they add on services I don’t need? Can they do the job without having to call someone else to get it done right?

What often exacerbates the anxiety is that the search for a good plumber is not for next Tuesday, but rather an immediate need; the pipe is leaking now. The tried and frequently less-than-true method is to search the Yellow Pages and pick out the one with the best- looking advertisement, but then marketing budgets are no measure of competence or General Motors wouldn’t be asking Congress for help.

This is usually where people find help by contacting Steve Jusseaume, master plumber and owner of Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver (www.benfranklinplumbingdenver.com), known as Deer Creek Plumbing Inc. for its first 25 years of operation until Jesseaume joined the Ben Franklin family.

Picking a plumber, says Jusseaume of Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver, can leave a homeowner or building manager as skittish as a colt when it’s not an everyday event you’re dealing with. However, his checklist of key things to look for will help to narrow the choices and lead to plumbing satisfaction, are shown below:

1. Licensing. Make sure you are dealing with a licensed plumber. With licensing varies from state to state, in Colorado it is a fairly straight-forward issue: any plumber worth his monkey wrench will state, in writing, that he/she is, in fact, licensed, what the license number is, and when it was obtained (which will give you insight into the plumber’s experience).
2. Insurance and bonding. Make sure your selected plumber and/or plumber contractor is fully insured, and this means both with workers compensation coverage and with liability insurance with at least $500,000 in coverage. Once again, any reputable plumber will provide proof of insurance without even being asked.
3. Better Business Bureau. Check with the BBB. In Denver, for those firms which are members, the BBB offers ratings of plumbers, from A+ to F, and it maintains records of complaints and how the company and/or plumber handled those complaints. There is also background information on licensing and experience.
4. Experience and references. While there are probably many fine plumbers who went into business last week, it is easy to check out how long the person has been licensed and how long the firm has been in business, and that experience should offer a measure of security. To further this, ask for references from other customers (and be willing to offer a future reference yourself), and pay particular attention to previous customers who had work done which is similar to the work being discussed.
5. Cost. The most reputable plumbers generally will offer a complete and detailed estimate of the costs for the work to be performed, including materials, in writing.
6. Appearance. It is very important, and offers an additional measure of security, if the plumbers who come to service your job are neat and clean in appearance, and are wearing shirts or jackets with logos identifying them as from the company which was called. A work truck bearing a company identity only adds to the peace of mind.
7. Appointment windows. The most reputable plumbing firms will offer very specific appointment windows - and stick to them.
8. Customer service. The top plumbers in the business have their own customer service operations, available 24 hours a day, which can address emergencies, follow-ups or any concerns directly and expeditiously.
9. Cleanup. Make sure your plumber is clear, in writing, that its personnel are committed to a thorough cleanup once a job is complete. Reputable plumbers are expert at cleaning up every type of plumbing job and restoring the area to its pre-problem condition.
10. Guarantee. Make sure your plumber offers, in writing, a complete satisfaction guarantee. Nothing is worse than having to pay twice to get the job done right.

Obviously, it would be easier to check up on this check-list of Pick-A-Plumber-Tips if the situation at hand isn’t an emergency. In a perfect world, you’d find a great plumber for a relatively small issue, then continue to work with them through small drips and major problems for years to come. On the other hand, in this age of the Internet just about everything on this check-list can be discovered about a plumber online in a matter of moments, and if it isn’t-through the plumber’s web site and hot links to organizations like the BBB - that should tell you something right there.

There’s nothing you can do about the drip, drip, drip except find a great plumber. Once you do, the nag, nag, nagging feeling will be a thing of the past.  Casll 303-340-3400 or visit www.benfranklinplumbingdenver.com and your drip will be a thing of the past.

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.