UPGRADING YOUR EXISTING WATER HEATER
Even
if you are not going to buy a new water heater, you can save a lot of energy and money with your existing system by following a few simple suggestions.
Conserve Water: Your biggest opportunity for savings is to use less hot water. In addition to saving energy (and money), cutting down on hot water use helps conserve dwindling water supplies, which in some parts of the country is a critical problem. A family of four each showering five minutes a day can use about 700 gallons per week—a three-year drinking water supply for one person! Water-conserving showerheads and faucet aerators can cut hot water use in half. That family of four can save 14,000 gallons of water a year and the energy required to heat it.
Insulate Your Existing Water Heater: Installing an insulating jacket on your existing water heater is one of the most effective do-it-yourself energy-saving projects, especially if your water heater is in an unheated basement or space. The insulating jacket will reduce standby heat loss—heat lost through the walls of the tank—by 25–40%, saving 4–9% on your water heating bills. Water heater insulation jackets are widely available for around $10. Some newer water heaters come with high insulation levels, reducing (though not eliminating) the economic advantages of adding additional insulation. In fact, some manufacturers recommend against installing insulating jackets on their energy-efficient models. Always follow directions carefully when installing a
n insulation jacket. Leave the thermostat(s) accessible. With conventional gas- and oil-fired water heaters, you need to be careful not to restrict the air inlet(s) at the bottom or the draft hood at the top.
Insulate Hot Water Pipes: Insulating your hot water pipes will reduce losses as the hot water is flowing to your faucet and, more importantly, it will reduce standby losses when the tap is turned off and then back on within an hour or so. A great deal of energy and water is wasted waiting for the hot water to reach the tap. Even when pipes are insulated, the water in the pipes will eventually cool, but it stays warmer much longer than it would if the pipes were not insulated.
Lower the Water Heater Temperature: Keep your water heater thermostat set at the lowest temperature that provides you with sufficient hot water. For most households, 120°F water is fine (about midway between the “low” and “medium” setting). Each 10°F reduction in water temperature will generally save 3–5% on your water heating costs.
When you are going away on vacation, you can turn the thermostat down to the lowest possible setting, or turn the water heater off altogether for additional savings. With a gas water heater, make sure you know how to relight the pilot if you’re going to turn it off while away.
How to Choose a Plumber
When you need a plumber, you want to be sure that you hire a good one. While you are looking for reasonable prices, you are also looking for someone who will do great work. In addition to the job being done properly, you also want it done on time and at the price that was quoted. These guidelines will help you hire the right plumber.
Personal References :Talk to people you trust and ask for their recommendations. This includes family, friends, neighbors and even your local hardware store. You can also use online services or trade groups.
Ask for Work References: When you interview the references the plumber gives you, be specific. Don’t just ask how the work was, but ask the following specific questions:
Was the quality of the work and materials what you were promised and expected?
Was the project completed on time and at the price you were quoted?
Did the plumber keep you informed of the project’s progress?
Were you and your family treated with respect at all times?
Would you hire the plumber again?
Be sure to also get at least one reference that is more than four years old so you can ask how well the work has held up over the years.
Competitive Bids: Get at least three bids and compare them carefully. If you are looking at a bid that is substantially lower than the others, look more closely to see if you can determine why. Ask questions about what types of materials will be used.
Things to Clarify: When hiring a plumber, find out of the price quoted includes removing any old fixtures. Find out the minimum charge for a job and their standard hourly rate. Find out if they offer 24 hour emergency service in case you have a problem, and if that service carries a fee.
COMPARING THE TRUE COSTS OF WATER HEATERS
When comparing the cost of various water heating options, keep in mind that there are two types of cost you need to look at: purchase cost and operating cost.
Life-cycle costs, which take into account both the initial costs and operating costs of different water heaters, provide a much more accurate representation of the true costs of the water heater than the purchase price alone. Life-cycle costs for the most common types of water heaters under typical operating conditions are shown in the table here. When both purchase and operating costs are taken into account, one of the least expensive systems to buy (conventional electric storage) is one of the most costly to operate over a 13-year period. An electric heat pump water heater, though expensive to purchase, has a much lower cost over the long term. A solar water heating system, which costs the most to buy, has the lowest yearly operating cost among electric systems.
Fix a Leak week! March 14th -20th 2011
Its National Fix a Leak Week. March 14th -20th 2011
Are you water conscience? Do you conserve as much water as you can?
If you answered yes to these questions then take the PLEAGE to conserve water with the EPA.
Its simple visit the EPA’s Water Sense website http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pledge/ enter your Name, Email Address and Zip Code and you will start to receiving the WaterSense Current, a quarterly e-newsletter water saving news and tips from the EPA.
Water Softening Basics
Water Softening Process:
As hard water enter the water softener, it passes through resin beads located inside the mineral tank. The hard minerals are attracted to the resin and are removed from the water.. The final result s mineral-free water that is considered “soft”.
Regeneration Process:
As resin becomes saturated with hardness minerals it begins to lose its capacity to soften. Regeneration is a ion-exchange process that used salt to clean the resin beads.
Brine water is drawn into the tank and is used to rinse the minerals off of the resin and down the drain. Once the resin is mineral-free, fresh water is used to remove the remaining brine, and the softener can go back into service and continue to “Soften”.
Problems Start on the Inside…
1) Clean Resin Beads with Maximum Removal Rates
2) The positive charge on the resin beads pulls the minerals from the water.
3) Over-Saturated resin beads result in both internal and external buildup
4) Resin will physically break down from prolonged over-saturation.
5) Channeled Resin Bed with minimal capacity and hard water bleed through
Properly designed water softeners excel at maintaining resin and as a result last 3-5 time longer.
Tips on water Conditioners
Checklist when you buy:
- Does the dealer have an established place of business in your area?
- Does he represent a known brand.
- Will a representative call at your hoe to determine the right kind, capacity and installation of equipment?
- Is installation included in the price?
- Does installation include by passing of lawn and garden sprinkling faucets, a faucet for unsoftened water, and other features you may desire?
- Does the unit have enough w
ater conditioning capacity to provide for present and future demands? - If you rent equipment, does your agreement include an option to buy provision?
- Does the manufacturer of the equipment have a qualified analytical laboratory and water treatment engineers to back up the dealers recommendations?
- Did the salesman answer all questions concerning design, function and cost of the equipment?
- Did the salesman explain the method and cold of the recharging the system?
- Does the dealer offer after sales service?
- Does the equipment have a specific written guarantee? Have your read and understood the guarantee?
Selecting the right equipment:
In buying a water conditioner, allow for family growth and for guests. It is better to have equipment that is oversized, rather than undersized. Correcting water problems rather than price should be the primary consideration for selection of the equipment. Besides a higher priced unit may cost less to operate and give greater satisfaction. Be sure to get detailed estimate of equipment, installation and operating costs.
What is your Water Footprint?
Why bothering about your water footprint?
Freshwater is a scarce resource; its annual availability is limited and demand is growing. The water footprint of humanity has exceeded sustainable levels at several places and is unequally distributed among people. There are many spots in the world where serious water depletion or pollution takes place: rivers running dry, dropping lake and groundwater levels and endangered species because of contaminated water. The water footprint refers to the volumes of water consumption and pollution that are ‘behind’ your daily consumption.
Water footprint reduction at home
As a consumer, you can reduce your ‘direct water footprint’ (home water use) by installing water saving toilets, applying a water-saving showerhead, closing the tap during teeth brushing, using less water in the garden and by not disposing medicines, paints or other pollutants through the sink.
Save water in the supermarket
Your ‘indirect water footprint’ – the water consumption and pollution behind all the goods you buy – is much larger than your direct water footprint at home. You have basically two options to reduce your indirect water footprint. One option is to substitute a consumer product that has a large water footprint by a different type of product that has a smaller footprint. Examples: eat less meat or become vegetarian, drink tea instead of coffee, or even better drink plain water. And replacing cotton clothes by clothes from artificial fibre saves a lot of water.
But this approach has limitations, because you may find it difficult to drastically change your consumption pattern. What still remains, however: you can select the cotton, beef or coffee that has a relatively low water footprint or that has its footprint in an area that doesn’t have high water scarcity. This requires that retailers provide you with proper information to make such choices. In this respect, ask product transparency from businesses and regulation from governments!
Calculate your own water footprint
Go to the quick water footprint calculator…
Go to the extended water footprint calculator…
Cleaner, Smarter, Better . . . SoftWater
The Trouble with Hard Water
Hard water (calcium & magnesium) is a common problem for many homeowners and businesses. When hardness minerals are combined with heat it forms troublesome scale. Scale causes costly build-up in your plumbing, water heater and other water using appliances.When combined with soap, the minerals form soap curd or scum that makes skin dry and itchy, hair lifeless, laundry dull and builds up on fixtures.
You Deserve the Many Benefits of Soft Water
• Silky shiny hair
• Soft supple skin
• Crystal clear dishes & glassware
• Bright whites, vibrant colors
• Easier cleaning
• Use up to 75% less soap
• Lower water heating cost by 29%
• Protect plumbing & appliances
• Extend life of laundry
• Save money
Reverse Osmosis
With the quality of our drinking water increasingly coming under question, people are now looking for alternative sources of quality water. Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Systems provide the most convenient and economical solution. Neatly stored under the counter, the Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System provides you with clean and delicious water right from its own dedicated tap.
What is Reverse Osmosis?
Reverse Osmosis (RO) is state-of-the-art water treatment. In the 1950′s, the U.S. Government developed Reverse Osmosis for desalinating sea water. Reverse Osmosis is the most efficient way to filter water. Osmosis is a natural process, known for over 200 years, on which reverse osmosis systems are based. The walls of living cells are natural membranes. This means that the membrane is selective, some materials can pass through, others cannot.
Reverse Osmosis Operation
The general operation of all RO modules is the same. The feed stream is supplied to the membrane and split into the permeate which has diffused through the membrane, and the concentrate which passes over the membrane, carrying away the minerals to waste. The heart of a Reverse Osmosis System is the membrane. This high-tech membrane is capable of filtering 0.0001 micron particles from your water. By the time water has run through our Reverse Osmosis system, it’s virtually free from all contaminates.
Servicing your Drinking Water System
We recommend that your drinking water system be serviced once a year to insure proper filtration and longevity. Changing the filters and sanitizing the system is part of the process. Service to the membrane of the unit only needs to take place every 3– 5 years if the yearly maintenance is kept up.
Types of Systems
There are several styles of water treatment devices available on the market today. The most common styles are listed below, along with a brief description of each.
Point-of-Entry (POE) System
These systems typically treat most of the water entering a residence. Point-of-entry systems, or whole-house systems, are usually installed after the water meter. (Water meters are usually located in the basement of a house.) A water softener is an example of a POE system.
Point-of-Use (POU) System
These systems typically treat water in batches and deliver water to a single tap, such as a kitchen sink faucet or an auxiliary faucet mounted next to the kitchen sink. The following information contains a brief explanation of different POU systems and points to consider when determining which style of a system will best suit your needs. The list is ordered from easiest installation/operation to more difficult or complex installation/operation and should not be construed as any type of recommendation.
TYPES OF WATER HEATERS
Water heaters are typically the largest user of fuel after space heating. The percentage of total fuel used for domestic water heating has been going up over the last ten years because homes tend to be better insulated than they used to. The more you know about your water heating options the better you can make the right decision about the type of water heater you need.
TYPES OF WATER HEATERS:
Tank-type water heaters (gas & electric powered) are the most common. They heat water before you need it and store it in the tank. They are available in a wide range of sizes from 6 gallon to 120-gallon storage capacity. The most common size and least expensive, based upon cost per gallon, is a 50-gallon size. A 50-gallon water heater can be installed for the same price as a 40-gallon size for example. A newer water heater will typically be better insulated than an older model. The preferred fuel is natural gas as it is cheaper to operate over time than an electric model. New gas water heaters have more options than the old and they have been re-designed to minimize igniting flammable vapors, which may be present in basements, workshops or garages due to paint fumes or leaking gasoline from a parked car.
Tankless (instant hot water, continuous or on-demand water heaters) have no storage tank as they heat water only when the faucet or shower is turned on. This type of heater is popular in Europe and is just becoming a popular option here in the USA in the last few years. They come in both gas and electric models however the gas models are much more popular for whole-house water heating. Most are supplied with electronic ignition, doing away with the old standing (running) pilot. Tankless models cost more than storage types and are more complex in their design. Tankless type water heaters must be sized correctly to function as intended. A specialist is recommended for installation. Once installed and sized properly a tankless type water heater can truly supply “endless hot water” continuously.
Heat Pump Water Heaters are not as popular however they may be worth checking into when gas is not available as they use much less electricity to heat the water than conventional electric resistance elements. This type of water heater removes heat from the surrounding air and puts it into your water. (Think of your refrigerator – it moves the heat out of the fridge to the outside air). One of the potential advantages (or disadvantage) is the fact that it cools and dehumidifies the air in the room the heat pump is located in. This can be a great advantage in the summer or in basement areas that can benefit from dehumidification. (The winter is a different story- I would locate the equipment where outside air can be exchanged). You can save 50% to 65% on your electric bill compared to typical tanks! This is a good option when the water heater is in the same room with an old hot water boiler, refrigeration compressors or other incidental heat sources.
Indirect water heaters use hot water from a boiler to heat the water in a tank. If you already have a hot water heat system it can provide the hot water you need for your domestic use as well. The hot water from the boiler is circulated through a heat exchanger inside the indirect tank thus heating the domestic water. Indirect tanks last much longer than normal storage type heaters as the heat source is not in or under the tank (that’s why we call them indirect tanks). You get the benefit of your newer boiler’s efficiency that can be as high as 99%! The volume of hot water production is typically much more than a conventional water heater. It can be as much as 200 gallons per hour compared to 40 or 50. If you have a hot water boiler heating your home it is worth looking at the possibility of using it to heat your domestic water with this type of tank.
Combination Domestic Hot Water & Space Heating – These machines combine both the domestic hot water for your shower and a space heating hot water maker for heating your house with radiant. The cost is typically less than two separate hot water making devices and can significantly save space because you do not need both a hot water boiler and a water heater. When space is at a premium, these units are a great choice. They typically cost less than installing both a water heater and a boiler. Fuel efficiency is greater than 90%.