It’s tempting to shop at home improvement stores and think that energy efficient ratings are the answer to lowering your expenses. Often they are, but if you ignore minor plumbing leaks in your home around your fixtures or inside your toilet, you’ll really only increase your bills with additional monthly payments, not lower your living expenses. While efficient water heaters, washers and dishwashers are very beneficial over all, don’t make the mistake of neglecting those leaky sink handles. It will take the combined effort of Energy Star and regular maintenance before you will see significant changes to your bills.
City of Plano Offers Conservation Rebate Program
City of Plano residents, as of March 1, 2010 a new water conservation rebate program has gone into effect for homeowners in good standing with their water utility account. To meet the new requirements, items eligible for rebate must be purchased inside the City of Plano. This program is great for homeowners with rental properties as well, as long as that address is also in good standing. Commercial buildings are not eligible at this time
The City of Plano reserves the right to terminate or modify the water conservation rebate program at any time. For more information, go directly to the City of Plano Web site at this link and check this out for yourself. There is so much more to read on this subject, from rain barrels to high efficiency toilets.
As always, Gary’s Quality Plumbing is happy to install your new fixtures in compliance with the incentive. When we all do our part, we take one step closer to living responsible lifestyles.
Additional information at livegreeninplano.com.
Allen And Dallas Are Replacing Toilets!
Dallas residents, listen up! Customers of Dallas Water Utility that have wanted a toilet replacement may qualify for the New Throne For The Home Toilet Voucher Program. That’s right, DWU is offering $90 a piece to encourage you to replace your existing older model toilet with a newer, low-flush, or high-efficiency model toilet.
Now Allen is joining the movement with it’s H2OME Improvement Rebate Program, offering $100 towards replacement if you qualify.
Toilets installed in homes before 1985 use between 5-7 gallons of water per flush. That’s an amazing amount of water. Even if those were eventually replaced, the toilets installed before 1991 were still using 3.5 gallons of water each time they were flushed. Not only will replacing those toilets help keep your water bill reasonable, but the impact on our water supply will be directly impacted. Low-flush toilets use significantly less, at 1.6 /gal. and if you go for the high-efficiency, you’ll be looking at 1.3/ gal.
Not everyone will qualify, but many will. Contact Gary’s Quality Plumbing at 972-424-6479, to take a look at your situation and see what solution will work best for you. Toilet replacements are limited to 2 per household in Dallas, and once the applications are filled out and approved, you can present your voucher for use immediately.
Allen residents are encouraged to have their applications postmarked by September 15 to ensure they qualify for this fiscal period, but will be able to apply in person up to September 22. Allen will reimburse up to $100 on the first toilet installed by a liscensed plumber, $75 for the second, and $50 for the third, each in different bathrooms.
Make sure you fill out all appropriate applications in the links provided. (Links no longer valid and removed)
Dallas Toilet Replacement Program
Did you get in on the program? Tell us what you think!
Are Tankless Hot Water Heaters For You?
How Do You Know If Tankless Hot Water Heaters Are For You?
You may have noticed the age of your water heater the last time stored your Christmas items in your attic or cleaned out your garage. If your water heater is over ten years old, especially if it is located in an attic or somewhere that water from a burst water heater could cause significant damage, you might want to consider replacing it even if it is not leaking at the present time. Remember that things usually go wrong at the worst possible time, so be pro-active. [Read more…] about Are Tankless Hot Water Heaters For You?
How Do Below Freezing Temperatures Affect My Plumbing?
Anytime the air gets below the freezing point, water has a chance to freeze. That’s especially true for outside faucets exposed to the elements. As water drops below the freezing point, it expands. When water freezes within your pipes, it’s never a good thing.
When water expands, it can burst the pipe or faucet fixture it was in. It may not happen the first time, but it can. Texas winters can be hard on our pipes and fixtures. Water freezes and thaws, exposing them to significant pressure. In time this may undermine the strength of the pipe or fixture.
You can protect your exterior faucets with the installation of a freeze-proof tap. This preventative measure will save you trouble and money in the long run.