Earl's Performance Plumbing: EarlsBlog

Inspecting Turf Irrigation Systems

Manually start your irrigation system for each zone to check for leaks, broken pipes, damaged or tilted sprinkler heads, blocked sprinkler patterns and overspray onto impermeable surfaces such as roads and sidewalks.

Check for soft, wet spots that are around sprinkler heads. If consistent, these spots could indicate a leak that is being absorbed into the ground.

Look for dry spots. They are signs of one of the following:

The sprinklers may be placed too far apart The water pressure is low Sprinkler patterns may be blocked by overgrown grass Shrubs or low-hanging limbs may be blocking sprinklers The screens inside the sprinklers are clogged

Look for signs of overwatering including:

Runoff Pale light/green tint to lawn Mushy feeling when you walk on the lawn Moss in plant beds and/or on trees Mushrooms Dollarweek Adjust, move or add sprinkler heads if your current sprinklers do not throw water 80 to 100 percent of the distance to the adjacent sprinkler. This is known as head –to-head coverage and is essential to irrigation system efficiency. Turn and non-turf areas should be on separate zones. Look for signs of excessive mist from sprays which could indicate excessive water pressure or a dirty filter.

After you have inspected your irrigation system, there’s a great reason to look up and hope for clear skies! On May 20, 2012, an annular eclipse of the Sun will be visible from eastern Asia, the northern Pacific Ocean and the western United States. An annular eclipse means the Moon will not cover the Sun completely, and so when the Moon is directly in front of the Sun, there will be a bright ring of visible light on the surrounding edges, creating a so-called ‘ring of fire.’ The eclipse begins at 1:56 PDT and ends 7:49 PDT.

Avoid Contractor Scams - 5 Signs that You're Getting Ripped Off

Don't Throw Your Hard Earned Money Away!

When you're in a real jam, you don't always have time to thumb through the yellow pages looking for the right plumber. You need to find someone quickly, but how do you find the right plumber and yet still avoid getting ripped off? We've put together a short list of 5 Sure-Fire Signs of a Contractor Scam to aid you when searching for and working with any service company.

1. Scare Tactics ("Your water heater could explode any minute!")

Avoid contractors that look for problems rather than solutions. Sentances starting with "if you don't replace this now, then..." are an easy way to back you into a corner. Look for contractors that give you some real options instead of leaving you frightened for your life.

2. Verbal Quotes ("Sure I can fix that, just $1,000... or so...")

Make sure you get a firm price in writing that completely details the work that is to be performed. Avoid any contractor that takes a quick glance at a large project and instantly has a number without any diagnosis.

3. Upfront Payment ("Pay me now, and I'll be right back to do the work...")

An honest contractor will complete the work and make sure you are completely satisfied before collecting the payment. Don't pay for anything until the job is done to completion.

4. Intentional Damage ("While I was working I noticed this large hole in your...")

It's not uncommon for poor quality contractors to intentionally cause damage in order to sell you the repairs. Make sure you take a thorough look at your problem before calling a contractor, and ask them to explain to you exactly what it is they are doing before they start.

5. No Warranty ("Read the Fine Print!")

If you get a quote that doesn't mention or offer some kind of guarantee, be wary. If they don't stand behind their work, you can bet there's a reason. Any new installation should have the option of an extended warranty.

So stop flushing your hard earned money down the toilet!

Take advantage of the tips above and know where you're money is going. Support local, upstanding businesses that stand behind their work and offer strong customer service. In the end, use your best judgement, and don't be afraid to consult family, friends, or other contractors when you're unsure. When in doubt, call Call Earl's Plumbing and we'll walk you through your problem from start to finish. Got a non-plumbing issue? Call us anyway! We might be able to recommend someone trust worthy and save you some headache.

Tax Credits for Tankless Water Heaters in 2011

Just one more reason to Go Tankless!

Tankless water heaters are significantly more efficient than traditional tank-style water heaters. Because of this, the United States Government is offering up to $500 in federal tax credits for the installation of tankless water heaters.

"How do I qualify?"

1. The water heater must be installed during 2011 2. You must claim the tax credit on your 2011 tax return 3. The water heater must have an energy factor of 0.82 or better 4. You can claim 10% of the total installation cost up to $500

All our Tankless Installations Qualify

Earl's Performance Plumbing installs Nortiz tankless water heaters, the most advanced, efficient, and maintenance-free units available. All our Noritz installations qualify for this federal tax credit. Simply keep a copy of your invoice handy, and when it's time to file your taxes, you'll have everything you need. For more information about tankless water heaters, the 2011 tax credit, or to schedule your free tankless system analysis, call us at 866.669.3275, or schedule online.

Spring Is Here

The warm weather has finally settled in for good in Northern CA, and it feels great to get out doors and be active! It's also a terrific time for spring cleaning. This blog post offers a number of ways to involve your plumbing into this time of cleansing.

Repair It or Replace It?

If you've had to battle with a leaky faucet that just won't stop dripping or a toilet that refuses to flush without proactive involvement, it's time to weigh the costs vs the benefits. Often times simply replacing your fixture with a new, efficient, professionally installed unit will pay for itself many times over in the long run. That's why we offer lifetime warranties on all new installations: we do work that lasts a lifetime.

Clean Up Your Energy Bill

Give your spring season a boost with a new tankless water heater. There's no better way to go green and save on energy bills at the same time. Our energy star rated units are eligible for tax rebates and are all backed by our standard lifetime warranty. Call today to schedule your free in-home consultation and find out how you can go tankless.

Earls Online

Earl's Plumbing is a growing in a lot of big ways. The online world is expanding, and Earl's is on the edge of that evolution. With the onset of advanced technology, finding www.earlsplumbing.net online has never been easier. With numerous consumer resources available to find, research, and rate different business and service professionals, your online reputation can make or break a business. That's why Earl's is proud to boast it's online campaign. Here's a current list of all the sites with information about Earl's: - http://www.facebook.com/Earlsplumbing - http://twitter.com/EarlsPlumbing - http://www.myspace.com/521742859 - http://www.youtube.com/user/EarlsPlumbing - http://www.yelp.com/biz/earls-performance-plumbing-chico - http://national.citysearch.com/profile/41719101/chico_ca/earl_s_performance_plumbing.html - http://www.insiderpages.com/b/15243731971/earl-s-performance-plumbing-chico - http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Earls.Performance.Plumbing.Chico.CA.1.530-343-0330 I'm sure there's more links out there point to Earl's. Be sure to check out our profile on some of these sites, or http://www.earlsplumbing.net/reviews, to leave a review for Earl's Plumbing.

Welcome 2011!

Happy New Year from Earl's Plumbing. To celebrate another successful year in business, we're posting a special New Year's blog reflecting our accomplishments of 2010, and our goals for 2011!

Accomplishments of 2010

2010 has been an exciting year. We've seen a rapid change in our employee base, resulting in the most well-rounded, top-notch plumbing team we've ever had. This year also marked the beginning of a new online advertising campaign, backed by a completely new website. Here are some highlights that helped sow the seeds of success and growth in 2011. - Earl's Plumbing survived economic uncertainty with our most successful year so far. Each year since we began, the business has been in constant growth, and this year was certainly no exception - Earlsplumbing.net | 2.0 began development at the end of May, launching mid-September. So far this website has been a stunning success. - Earl's Plumbing has spread across the internet. Since February, a vigorous online campaign has extended customer satisfaction to a whole new market.

Goals for 2011

- Look out Redding, here we come! One of our largest goals for 2011 will be to expand our service area to include the Redding area. Soon great customer service and quality plumbing will be available to another 90,000+ locals! - Create a dedicated mobile version of Earlsplumbing.net, including click to call access. - Grow, grow, and grow some more. Earl's Plumbing will always strive to improve customer service, technical training, and all aspects of doing business and servicing people. 2011 will be another opportunity to expand our knowledge and service beyond all limits.

Stay Tuned. . .

2011 is right around the corner. There's sure to be ups and downs, but along the way we'll keep you posted with news, plumbing tips, and relevant information. Be sure to check out EarlsBlog often, and don't forget to comment!

Happy New Year!

First Blog Post

Welcome friends, this is EarlsBlog, the official blog of Earl's Performance Plumbing. This is just the first of many blogs to come, so to warm everyone up, this is just an introduction to our blog. There will be regular blog posts. Please check back often to see the latest post with plumbing tips, seasonal reminders, and even promotions and discounts. You are free to comment on any blog posts, but inappropriate postings will be deleted (see our Privacy Policy for more information). Don't forget to check out the other features of our website: - Online Scheduling - No-print coupons - Check out customer testimonials and leave a review