Thursday, March 29, 2012

Updated Story: High-efficiency Toilet Rebate – Bill Howe Plumbing will honor $50 rebate until June 30th!

Have you been thinking about replacing your toilet with an energy efficient toilet? Did you know that 30 percent of your water usage goes toward flushing the toilet? Did you know you don’t actually even need that much water to flush? Don’t be fooled by they myths out there: one flush doesn’t do the job with a low-flow toilet, toilets clog more frequently, or even cause problems with home plumbing. Those may have been the woes of folks in the 90′s who jumped on the low-flow bandwagon early. But these high-efficiency toilets are not your father’s low-flow toilets. High-efficiency toilets use 20 percent less water than the ultra low flush toilets and as much as 300 percent less water than the older standard flush toilets and work just as effectively.

Not only can you save water, but you can save money with high-efficiency toilets. Potentially you could save over $800 on your water bill over the lifetime of the product.

If that’s not enough motivation to switch to a high-efficiency toilet, wait ‘til you hear this…SoCal WaterSmart rebate program is offering a rebate starting at $25 for qualifying toilets (high-efficiency toilet rebate applies to the Otay Water District). Learn more about SoCal WaterSmart’s rebate program here: http://socalwatersmart.com/rebateinfo

While the SoCal WaterSmart is limited to several water agencies in Southern California, at Bill Howe Plumbing we strongly believe in water conservation and we would like to honor that $50 rebate for ALL customers who are interested in a high-efficiency toilet (residents in Otay Water District will receive a $25 Bill Howe rebate). **Must have toilet installed by Bill Howe Plumbing between April 1 and June 30, 2012. $50 rebate may be applied to multiple high-efficiency toilets, toilet must be purchased through Bill Howe Plumbing.

Click here for a list of qualifying toilets: http://socalwatersmart.com/images/PDFs/qualifying_list_het.pdf.

For a FREE estimate to install your new high-efficiency toilet, call us at 1-800-BILL-HOWE or visit our website at www.billhowe.com. Email stefanie@billhowe.com for the Bill Howe rebate form.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Getting Your AC Unit Ready for the Warm Season

While San Diego air conditioner use peaks during summer months, the best time to consider performing regular maintenance on a system is during the spring before the warm weather hits, when the unit is not in operation. For most San Diego air conditioner service providers, this is the preferred time to conduct annual preventive maintenance services and the best time for customers to ensure their systems are ready when warm weather comes.

Studies have indicated that nearly 90 percent of all HVAC equipment failures result from Heat wave neglect. During times of heavy use, San Diego air conditioner equipment will be using up coolant and lubricant, belts will be wearing, moving parts may begin to loosen, filters will begin to clog, and air ducts to accumulate dust, dirt and debris. Left unchecked, these minor problems can eventually result in the need for costly repairs or even necessitate replacement of broken equipment.

Like an automobile where oil changes, tire rotations and replacement as well as tune-ups ensure safe and efficient operation, air conditioning systems require the same kind of regular maintenance routines. The easiest way to ensure that this regular maintenance occurs is to become enrolled in an annual maintenance program with Bill Howe Heating & Air, a qualified air conditioner San Diego service provider.

To lessen the likelihood of mechanical breakdown or inefficient operation during times when you need your air conditioner to be running optimally, the off-season is the best time to schedule a technician to:

• Check electrical systems and test run the unit
• Check refrigerant
• Clean or replace filters and clean condenser and evaporator
• Check thermostat operation
• Check ductwork for leaks
• Check belts and tighten any loose parts

All in all, good maintenance saves money by improving efficiency and averting costly breakdowns. To schedule an appointment for service on your air conditioner, San Diego residents please contact us at 1-800-BILL-HOWE (1-800-245-5469) or visit our website. Our tune-ups are only $85!

Monday, March 26, 2012

Fact Or Fiction: Every Plumber Knows Exactly What to Do & How to Do It

Fiction. When you need a San Diego plumber, you need someone knowledgeable in the specific area of your plumbing issue, not a plumber who tries to do it all. At Bill Howe, our plumbers are all experts, most of which have been in the field for at least 10 years longer. The difference between our plumbers and those employed at other companies is that each of our plumbers has a very specific area of focus within the plumbing industry. For example, rather than sending out a plumber who knows a little about every area of the field, Bill Howe Plumbing will send out a plumber who specializes in the particular plumbing issue you’re experiencing. So when a customer needs a slab leak located and repaired, we’ll send a technician who locates and repairs slab leaks five or more times a week. At Bill Howe Plumbing, we maintain this philosophy throughout every area so that our customers can be confident that they have the best person for their job.

Like most service industries, there are many different specializations that a plumber can have. To ensure that you receive the best quality work, make sure that your technician is an expert in the problem that you’re having at your home or business. You can do this by letting the customer service representative know that you want a plumber that specializes in water heaters (or whatever your problem is). Their response should be that it’s not a problem and they’ll be sending you a water heater technician. If the representative’s response is that their plumbers specialize in everything, it should be considered a red flag.

Our plumbing company was started in 1980 when Bill Howe set out to offer San Diego businesses and residents a plumber that provides high quality and ethical work at a low price. Since 1980, our company has grown as we added heating and air conditioning services to meet the needs of our customers in and around San Diego. We also provide professional services in water and mold mitigation, and reconstruction so we can help customers who have experienced a flood in their home or business.

With Bill Howe Plumbing our technicians are specialized in particular areas of the industry so you know that you are going to get the best services available from a San Diego plumber. To schedule an appointment or receive a free estimate, please contact us at 1-800-BILL-HOWE (1-800-245-5469) or visit our website here.