Nobody likes to wake up in the morning, step out of bed, and feel wet, squishy flooring under their feet.

Plumbing is one of those luxuries that we tend to take for granted until the day that you can’t flush your toilet or take a hot shower. Chances are that you never thought about having a plumber out until it gets to that emergency status of a flood, backed up drain, or no hot water.

Much like you should see the doctor every year; your plumbing system needs the same attention and care. The best way to prevent a plumbing disaster is to have regular, thorough whole house plumbing inspections. Most people don’t realize that this service even exists. It does, and it can save you many headaches down the road.

When was the last time you were under your crawlspace to check and make sure that nothing was leaking? How about flushing your water heater flushed as required by the manufacturer on an annual basis? Have you had the water pressure checked, ever?

At Burton A/C, Heating, Plumbing & More, we inspect all your plumbing fixtures and systems and give you a detailed written report.  If we find problems in the making, we’ll point them out and recommend the best course of corrective action.

Here’s just some of what our inspection includes for your greater comfort, convenience, and safety:

2. Leaks in exposed pipes.
3. Signs of corrosion that could indicate water or pipe issues.
4. Water pressure…if it’s too low, there could be problems in your water lines or built-up sediment.
5. Speed of drainage in sink and tub drains…if water is draining too slowly, it could mean you have a clogged drain or blocked vent pipe.
6. Water heater gas leaks…to help ensure your family’s safety and the integrity of your water heater.   In the process, we also drain the unit to remove sediment that’s settled to the bottom. Sediment build-up can cause hard water conditions and leaks in your faucets.

And that’s just a small sampling of what our inspection includes.  We invite you to contact Burton and schedule a whole-house plumbing inspection today…it’s one of our ultimate “peace of mind” services.

402-934-7003

Click here for answers to your questions or to schedule service now

Like most appliances, water heaters have improved greatly in recent years. Today’s models are much more energy efficient. That’s why you probably couldn’t replace your existing water heater with the same exact model…and you probably wouldn’t want to. Instead, you may be able to purchase a more efficient water heater that will save you money on energy each month. That’s why you shouldn’t just consider the initial purchase price – think about how much it costs to operate. You could save hundreds of dollars in the long run.

Look at it this way:some cars get 15 miles to a gallon, while other, more efficient vehicles can go 30 miles or more on a gallon of gas. In the same way, some water heaters use energy more efficiently. Buy one of those and you’ll spend less money each month to get the same amount of hot water.

Gas vs. Electric Water Heaters

Gas water heaters use natural gas to heat water.A chamber filled with water is heated by burning the gas.The main benefit of a gas water heater is energy conservation; since the heating process is gradual, less energy is consumed. With a gas water heater, you also are able to control the rate and extent of heating.

By contrast, an electric water heaters uses a copper coil is to change electric energy into heat energy. Electric units can heat water very quickly and can reach very hot temperatures.

Advantages of Natural Gas Water Heaters

1. Quick recovery.Gas water heaters recover twice as fast as electric units.
2. Lower operating costs.Typically costs less to operate than an electric storage tank model.
3. Safety.Natural gas water heaters have an excellent safety record, especially when properly maintained.
4. Minimal environmental impact.Of all the fossil fuels, gas burns the most efficiently.

Advantages of ElectricWater Heaters

1. Lower purchase cost.Electric water heaters cost up to $700 less to purchase
2. Lower installation cost.
3. Longer lifespan.Natural gas water heaters have built-in corrosive elements that typically shorten their lifespan when compared to electric water heaters.
4. No greenhouse emissions.Electrical water heaters are more environmentally friendly than gas.

Which type is right for you?It’s not an easy choice, especially when you factor in another popular option:tankless water heaters.We’ll cover these in a future article.

For now, count on the professionals at Burton to help you decide what’s best for you among all available options.Contact us today for a free in-home estimate.

 Hello all. We have a ton of stuff to share with you this installment.

 First let me mention you can download our new Burton iPhone application here. Give it a try and let us know what you think. You can access it off the front page of our site as well.

In other news:
This year Burton is offering a great deal on Furnace & A/C inspections and you’ll be able to help the needy in the process.

For a limited time Burton will perform a detailed inspection of your unit for a $55 and a 5 can-goods donation.

It is recommended that this service be performed annually and you will have the knowledge that you helped someone less fortunate in the deal.Hereis more information concerning annual inspections.

Finally I wanted to invite you to become a fan of ours on FaceBook. We would also love to have you follow us on Twitter and join our network on LinkedIn.

Always remember that we are constantly looking for great people to join our team. If you know of someone looking for a career please don’t hesitate to fill out our on-line application. We’d love to add you to our energetic, professional team.

Unitl next time, Have a great summer!

Burton company president, Mark Evans, has earned the prestigious GreenPlumbers USA designation.

Throughout the United States, there are approximately 85,132 plumbing companies, with hundreds of thousands more of individual plumbers.

In that vast community, only 3,000 have qualified for the GreenPlumbers USA designation, and Burton company president, Mark Evans, is one of them.  And the only plumber in Nebraska to be so designated.

The national GreenPlumbers association challenges companies like ours to look at our careers and companies in a diffe

rent way by extending our education to include new technology and advanced conservation techniques. The five courses include training on everything from solar hot water to how to conduct a 50-point water audit.

To earn his designation, Mark was required to take the following 5 intense training courses:

Course 1: Solar Hot Water
Course 2: Caring for Our Water
Course 3: Climate Care
Course 4: Water Efficient Technology
Course 5: Inspection Report Service

Mark passed each one with flying colors, which is the best news of all from Omaha area homeowners seeking to live greener and save money in the process.

Why is it important to reduce water use?

Water is a finite resource. The water we have is the water we’re going to have, and Americans use, on average, twice as much as people in other developed countries. We can do better. You’ve heard it said that water is the new oil. Someday soon we’ll be saying, “Do you remember when we used to flush our toilets with drinking water?”

How Green is Your Household?

If you think you can do more around your home to help conserve energy and natural resources, click here for some green living tips of our own.  These are common-sense steps you can start implementing today…and today is always the best time to make a difference

You can also contact us to schedule a 50-point water audit to see how you can reduce your water, sewer, and energy bills while reducing your environmental impact.

402-934-7003
Click here for answers to your questions or to schedule service now

If left to grow, tree and shrubbery roots will completely fill your underground pipes with multiple hair-like root masses at each point of entry. The root masses quickly become clogged with toilet tissue, grease and other debris flowing from your home to the main sewer, resulting in reduced flow and slowed drains. A complete blockage may occur if the roots are not removed and root growth impeded.

Once roots have entered the pipe, they continue to grow and expand, exerting considerable pressure at the crack or joint. The increased pressure often breaks the pipe and may result in total collapse, which requires repair or replacement.

Some pipe materials are more susceptible to root intrusion than others. Clay tile pipe is easily penetrated and damaged by tree roots. Concrete pipe and PVC pipe may also allow root intrusion, but to a lesser extent than clay pipe. PVC pipe usually has fewer joints and the tightly fitted joints are less likely to leak as a result of settlement around the pipe.

How can I control roots in my pipes?
If roots have entered your pipes, a Burton technician can remove the roots using powerful cutting blades. Your technician will recommend the application of Root X to retard future root growth. Root X will kill only the roots growing in the pipes and will not affect the rest of your tree’s root system.

For future planting, be sure to avoid areas just above underground pipes. If you’re not sure where they are, we’ll be happy to visit your home and show you.

Just another customer friendly service….from your friends at Burton!

If your water heater is leaking or not functioning properly, here’s how to shut it off to avoid damage to your system and to your home.

1. If you have a gas water heater, turn the gas shut-off valve to OFF. If it’s an electric heater, turn the power switch to OFF, or turn your circuit breaker to the OFF position. If you’re not sure which kind you have, electric water heaters have AC power cables vs. a wide vent pipe on top.

2. Turn the water supply clockwise, until it stops. Or, turn off the main water valve to your house.

3. To avoid water damage to your home, drain the heater by attaching a standard garden hose to the drain faucet at the bottom of the unit. Place the other end of the hose in a lower location that can’t be damaged by hot rusty water. Then, twist the drain faucet counter-clockwise.

4. Pull the pressure relief valve so air can enter the tank while it’s draining. You can achieve the same result by turning on any hot water faucet in your home.

5. For expert assistance, contact Burton today!  We’re on the job, and ready to go.

There’s “bathroom humor,” and there’s, well…bathroom humor.

The former is what we were taught NOT to say as kids…or else! The latter is a reference to amusing stories about plumbing gone bad in your bathroom or anywhere else in your home.

That’s why we urge you to submit the funniest thing that ever went wrong with your plumbing. The humor can be about the problem itself, how it was or wasn’t handled, any resulting mishaps, and so on.

Every month, we’ll send a check for $50 to the author of the funniest story of them all, and post it on our web site. All we ask is that the language and details of your story be suitable for all ages, and that the story is true. It can be something that happened to you, a friend, or family member…again, we just want it to be true.

So go ahead and submit your favorite story now by posting a comment to this blog Click here to post your story!

In the meantime, we’ll help you get in the mood with this Steve Martin plumbing joke from his stand-up days of yore. Enjoy!

“Ok, I don’t like to gear my material to the audience but I’d like to make an exception because I was told that there is a convention of plumbers in San Francisco this week – I understand about 30 of them came down to the show tonight – so before I came out I worked-up a joke especially for the plumbers. Those of you who aren’t plumbers probably won’t get this and won’t think it’s funny, but I think those of you who are plumbers will really enjoy this…

“This lawn supervisor was out on a sprinkler maintenance job and he started working on a Findlay sprinkler head with a Langstrom 7″ gangly wrench. Just then, this little apprentice leaned over and said, “You can’t work on a Findlay sprinkler head with a Langstrom 7″ wrench.” Well this infuriated the supervisor, so he went and got Volume 14 of the Kinsley manual, and he reads to him and says, “The Langstrom 7″ wrench can be used with the Findlay sprocket.” Just then, the little apprentice leaned over and said, “It says sprocket not socket!”

2009 marks 20 years in business for our company, and we’re looking for a few good ideas on how best to honor our customers for helping us achieve this milestone. Something along these lines, perhaps:

· Run a raffle where the winner gets a free vacation, etc.

· Run a contest for the most original Green Living idea…maybe we award the 3 best?

· Sponsor a walk-a-thon for a local charity, the charity to be determined by your votes?

The point is, we want your suggestions on how we can say “thanks” in a special way….thanks, that is, to you and the greater Omaha and Council Bluffs communities we’ve been privileged to serve. So bring on your suggestions!

It’s the height of the summer season, and I want to be sure you know about tax credits that are now available through President Obama’s stimulus package. Included among them are hefty tax credits high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment, heat pumps, and tank-less water heaters. How much are the credits?

Thirty percent on the purchase of qualifying equipment up to a maximum of $1,500…though the max. is even higher for heat pumps. Plus, the credits are available through 2010. We’re here to help you save not just on your purchase, but on your monthly energy bill.

Our web site has loads of suggestions on green plumbing, heating and cooling tips. Go going green goes way beyond that.

So what I’d like you to do is a give us a few suggestions of your own that we can add to our web site. We’re especially looking for things you’ve thought of and put into practice on your own, heard from a friend, etc.

All the “good stuff” will be added to our web site, including your name (provided we have your permission to do so.)