Thursday, February 9, 2012

Things To Consider When Choosing A Plumber

Many times we are asked how to choose a good plumber and one of the first things we advise is to find a reliable San Diego plumbing company before flooded bathrooms and other plumbing emergencies occur. When you’re faced with an emergency situation and you’ve never had to call a plumber before, you might not have the time to research the best and most qualified plumber in town and you might call out the wrong company. It’s best to do research for contractors such as a plumber, heating and air conditioning, and restoration and flood services company before you have an emergency. Lucky for you, we do it all!

A good way to find reputable San Diego plumbers is by researching customer reviews online and reading what they have had to say about their experience with a company. It’s natural for mistakes to happen, so it’s not necessarily a bad thing for a company to have bad online reviews (as long as it’s not too many negative reviews). What you should judge the company by is how they handle those reviews. Did they respond to the customer to rectify the situation, did they respond to explain what happened in that particular situation. You want to put your trust in a company that will back up their work if anything goes wrong and not fight with you about what happened. The best way to know if you can trust a San Diego plumber is how they handle their online reputation.

Another factor when choosing a quality plumbing company is receiving a price for the work before the job begins. If possible, try to get a quote over the phone, or at least get the hourly rate. Keep in mind that all phone quotes will likely change since every job is different and it’s best to get an onsite estimate. However, you should check with the company first to see if there is a “trip charge” or any fee to send the technician out or a fee to provide the estimate. At Bill Howe Plumbing, we provide free onsite estimates as long as the job can be visually assessed and it is scheduled during regular hours. We don’t charge any “trip charge” so you can rest assured that if you’re shopping around to compare prices, you won’t have to use up have your budget.

Other tip to consider while choosing a San Diego plumber is to check awards received by both the industry and the community. There are many awards that plumbing companies can receive that show their commitment to their customers and to their community. Plus, when a company is consistently giving back to the community, you know that they are here to stay and that you’ll have a plumber that can back up their work for years to come.

Bill Howe’s numerous awards include the Better Business Bureau’s 2011 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics Finalist, National Contractor of the Year 2011 Award by the PHCC and Delta Faucet Co., San Diego Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO Award awarded to Bill Howe in 2011, “Best Places to Work Award Finalist by the San Diego Business Journal 2010 and 2011. Other awards include the San Diego Business Journal’s 2010 Family-Owned and Closely Held Business Award and the 2010Women Who Mean Business Award awarded to Tina Howe. The San Diego Rotary Club 33 also honored Bill Howe with the 2011 Heilbron Award for the company’s “pay-it-forward” spirit.

To schedule an appointment or receive a free estimate, please contact us at 1-800-BILL-HOWE (1-800-245-5469) or visit us on our website at www.billhowe.com.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Benefits of Auto Programmable Thermostats

At Bill Howe Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., we strongly recommend that every home or business replace their current thermostat with an auto programmable thermostat, which will ensure both efficiency and convenience. Once you program the thermostat once, it is good to go so that you don’t have to worry about adjusting your thermostat when you’re away from home. Plus, with a good thermostat, you can save energy, cut down on your electric bill and even be notified when you need maintenance.

With an auto programmable thermostat, you will never have to remember to turn your system on or off because you can program it to come on at different times during the day. This is the easiest way to deal with your AC unit so that you aren’t wasting both your time and electricity. After all, it takes a lot more energy to go from 55 degrees to 72 degrees than it does to go from 65 degrees to 72 degrees. Some systems will even tell you when you need to call for maintenance, which we would be happy to assist with.

According to California Code, the programmable thermostats are now required on any new installations or replacements. The reason for this is because of the mercury found in older thermostats which can do great harm to the human nervous system. Also, there is a significant danger in just throwing away old thermostats and that’s why Bill Howe Heating & Air, Inc. has teamed up with Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC) to properly dispose of older thermostats.

At Bill Howe Heating & Air Conditioning, one of our highly trained, expert technicians can upgrade your system quickly and affordably. Additionally, we can help with the programming of your thermostat so you’re always comfortable, while lowering your electric bill all at the same time. Experience all the benefits of an auto programmable thermostat, and let us help!

To schedule an appointment with one of our expert technicians, please visit us at www.billhowe.com or contact us at 1-800-BILL-HOWE (1-800-245-5469).

Monday, January 9, 2012

"Howe” to Adjust the Temperature in Your Home When You’re Miles Away

Whether you’re on holiday and realized that you didn’t set your home’s thermostat to vacation mode, or you’re at the office and you’re having unexpected guests over and need the house cooled down or warmed up earlier than usual – you can do it all with a touch of your smart phone, tablet or PC.

Controlling you the temperature of your home is easier than ever before with new technology innovations. For example, Honeywell’s RedLINK™ Wireless Comfort Systems offer a full-suite of wireless-enabled comfort services. Features include remote access from a PC, smart phone or tablet, free app download, access to multiple systems and zones within your home, email alerts when the temperature or humidity limits are surpassed, and automatic upgrades. Honeywell also offers the Portable Comfort Control system, a portable thermostat so that you can adjust the temperature in your home where it’s most convenient for you, while also giving you all the information you need, like outdoor temperature and humidity, to help you make smart energy-related decisions.

Even if you have a very basic HVAC system, there are thermostats and other features that can be installed to give you what you want. You can then control the temperature, adjust settings and view what the temperature is in your house with just the click of a button and without even being there. You can even program your phone or tablet to give you alerts and warnings when something’s wrong with your system or when your system is due for a routine check-up.

Bill Howe can introduce you to all of the new systems that are available so that you can be as tech savvy as you’d like! We can show you the latest trends in technology, including mobile apps and wireless products so that you can be on the cutting edge of technology and make smart energy decisions for your home.

To schedule an appointment with one of our expert technicians, please visit our website at www.billhowe.com or contact us at 1-800-BILL-HOWE (1-800-245-5469).

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Kitchen Drains and the Holidays

As we all know, our kitchen drains definitely take a beating during the holiday season. Between all the cooking and bustle of family and friends, it’s not difficult to get some unwanted things down the drain such as coffee grounds, grease or leftovers which can lead to a major problem and bring a halt to holiday dinner preparations or clean up. Thankfully, we can help!

After decades of experience bringing expert drain repair services to the San Diego area, we’ve seen a lot of holidays and a lot of drain problems. One of the best things you can do to ensure you aren’t on our list of stops during the holiday season is to take good preventive measure especially if you already know the drain is something of a problem or has been running slowly. Hydro jetting is a service we recommend because it is one of the most effective methods of getting your drains operating at peak speed. It’s fast and safe for the environment. Using a very high water pressure, our drain technicians flush out your drains and sewer lines. Hydro jetting removes roots, grease, sand and other debris in the drain.

From drain snaking to inspections by sewer camera and sewer lining, our plumbing team offers a complete range of repair and drain cleaning services. At Bill Howe, we also offer a preventative maintenance program to stop problems before they happen. Select from a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual inspection schedule and we’ll do the rest.

To schedule an appointment with one of our expert plumbers or receive a free estimate to ensure your drains run clear this holiday, please contact us at 1-800-BILL-HOWE (1-800-245-5469) or visit us online at www.billhowe.com.

Friday, November 4, 2011

How To Conserve Water With Your Plumbing

Conserving water is a great way to not only help save the environment, but to cut back on utility bills as well. As almost any San Diego plumber is likely to tell you, most homes and businesses can reduce the amount of water that they consume by making just a few simple changes, not only to their usage habits, but to their plumbing fixtures as well.

One of the most effective ways to cut back on the amount of water that you use is to have old plumbing fixtures replaced with newer, more water-efficient ones. Installation of low-flow toilets and faucet aerators are just two of the many inexpensive options that can be easily installed by a certified San Diego plumber from Bill Howe. New water-efficient fixtures installed by our Bill Howe professionals are also more reliable and less likely to break, saving you the stress of having to make a late night call to a San Diego plumbing repair company. Other effective methods can be used to conserve water in and around the outdoor areas of your home or place of business as well. For example, rain sensors can be installed so that your timed sprinklers don’t turn on when it is already raining.

We at Bill Howe have been the leaders in San Diego plumbing repair for more than three decades. Call us to have a certified San Diego plumber from Bill Howe sent to your home or place of business where we can help you discover ways in which you could be conserving water. Not only will you be saving money, but you will be helping to save the environment as well.

To Schedule an appointment or receive a free estimate, please contact us at 1-800-BILL-HOWE (1-800-245-5469) or visit us online at www.billhowe.com.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Drain Cleaning & The Benefits Of Sewer Camera Inspection

Sometimes we take things in life for granted. We go through our daily routines without a second thought. We expect that when we turn on our sink or bath that everything functions, as it should. Then, one day we are faced with an annoying clogged drain, sink or toilet. And, in addition to this inconvenience there is the added anxiety of not knowing what the cause may be.

For effective drain cleaning San Diego residents can rely on Bill Howe. Bill Howe has been servicing the San Diego area for decades. Our trained technicians provide a full range of services including San Diego plumbing installation and repairs, water heater installation, and drain and sewer camera inspection. The advantage of a camera inspection is that it finds what the source of a drain problem is quickly and accurately. This allows our plumber to get to the source of the problem and resolve it so that future problems can be minimized. Our technicians are thoroughly trained in the latest equipment. So, when it comes to peace of mind with drain cleaning, San Diego, residents trust Bill Howe.

In addition to drain cleaning San Diego residents can use Bill Howe for inspection services. For people considering buying or selling a home, San Diego plumbing inspection services are a must. These inspection services can find any potential problems and end up saving you time, money and stress in the long run. For owners of older homes in San Diego our thorough plumbing inspection can help identify potential problems with the plumbing system that may have been neglected. Bill Howe uses only high-resolution cameras to better detect problems. This, combined with the skill of our highly knowledgeable plumbers, means accurate and efficient service.
So, if you are in need of a thorough drain cleaning or sewer camera inspection look no further than Bill Howe. During the month of September, we are proudly offering $25 off a sewer camera inspection; making it even easier to keep your drains in good health. For more information regarding this great savings and to receive your coupon, visit us here.

To schedule an appointment for drain cleaning or receive a free estimate please contact us at 1-800-Bill Howe (1-800-245-5469).

Monday, October 3, 2011

Get Your Heater Ready For Winter

People that live in other parts of the United States might think that San Diego has the perfect weather. However, San Diego residents know that it can get quite chilly on some of our winter nights. That’s why it is important to take a proactive approach and make sure that your heater is running efficiently before winter is here. By doing so, you not only save money in the long run but also receive uninterrupted comfort. That means no malfunctioning heater during those chilly winter evenings.

Preparing ahead of time for the winter season allows you not to need a heater repair at the last moment. And at Bill Howe Heating & Air, we can help. San Diego residents can contact us for an analysis of their home heating systems before the winter arrives. During the fall, we can come out and make sure that your heater is prepared for the upcoming cooler months. We will perform a thorough inspection of your heating system for common risks of failure, and discuss with you the services that Bill Howe can provide to reduce the risk of having your heater fail when you need it the most.

If you happen to be in need of a heater repair, San Diego residents will find that Bill Howe Heating & Air is the preferred local company. One of our professionals will come out to your house to give you an estimate and discuss the parts and service needed to get your heater up and working for the winter season again. You won’t have to fight those chilly mornings without a heater. San Diego residents will have their heaters repaired quickly with us.

Plus, for a limited time only, we are offering $20 off any heating repair; making it easier than ever to get your heater ready for the upcoming winter months. For more information regarding this great savings and to receive your coupon, visit us here.

To schedule an appointment or receive a free estimate visit us online at www.billhowe.com or contact us at 1-888-BILL-HOWE (1-888-245-5469)