Green Plumbing Tips For Your Home

June 18th, 2014 Posted in Tankless Water Heaters
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Saving energy and water are both a large part of living a green lifestyle. If you are concerned about the environment and want to save money on your utility bills, there are green plumbing ideas that you can implement around your home to make a noticeable difference. There are plenty of ways to reduce the amount of energy and water your family uses every day by just following some of these tips.

  • Fix drips quickly. A small drip can add up to big losses of water over time. The EPA estimates that one dripping or leaking faucet can waste 3,000 gallons of water a year. If you have a leaky or dripping faucet, don’t wait to get it fixed.
  • Water saving fixtures. From low flow toilets to shower heads, there are many ways to reduce the amount of water you use on a daily basis. For even more savings, when it comes time to replace large water appliances such as water heaters, washers and dishwashers, make sure you look for energy and water efficient models.
  • Heated water. Many homes are wasting money every time the hot water is turned on anywhere in the house. Poorly insulated pipes and water heaters radiate heat, wasting energy. Any pipes or water heaters which are hot to the touch should be insulated to cut down on energy and heat loss.  Consider installing a tankless water heater.
  • Reduce running water. One of the biggest wastes of water is allowing faucets to run. Never allow water to run straight from the faucet down the drain. Collect water in a container for rinsing vegetables or dishes. Use this container to water house or outdoor plants, making it useful.

A hundred families that fix a leaky faucet today could save 300,000 gallons of water over the next year. Every little bit of water and energy you save adds up, saving you money while protecting our natural resources. Contact a plumbing professional in your area to learn more about energy and water efficient options for your home.

Posted on behalf of Shawn Bynum, Bynum Plumbing

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Give Your Water Heater A Spring Cleaning

May 26th, 2014 Posted in Water Heaters
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Many water heaters are neglected, despite all the work they do for a home on a daily basis. Just like any appliance, water heaters need regular maintenance to ward off expensive future repairs. One of the regular maintenance services that should be performed on your water heater is draining out the old water and flushing the tank. This spring, take the time to give your water heater the cleaning it needs to do its job for years to come.

Why Clean Your Water Heater?

Over the years, the tank on your water heater can begin to accumulate mineral deposits from the water it processes. These deposits can create mineral formations, and a heavy build up within the tank. This mineral layer acts like insulation between the water and the heating elements, making your water heater work harder. Not only does this waste energy by causing your water heater to stay on longer to heat the water, the heat can damage the metal on your tank, leading to leaks and possibly the need to replace the entire unit.

An easy fix to this issue is draining out the old water once a year and replacing it with fresh water. This can reduce the mineral build up and extend the life of your water heater. In addition, it is also a good time to inspect the other components of the heater, such as the anode rods, replacing any that are getting worn out before they cause an interruption in your hot water. Your local plumber can drain your water heater for you as well as give it an annual inspection, so call them to schedule your spring cleaning today!

Posted on behalf of Shawn Bynum, Bynum Plumbing

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Save Money With Water Efficient Appliances

January 28th, 2014 Posted in Water Heaters
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We all want to save money, especially when it comes to our utility bills. One great way to reduce your monthly expenses is to cut usage with water and energy efficient appliances. While most people cannot afford to replace all their appliances at once, choosing efficient models when the time comes to buy a new washer, water heater or dish washer can make a big difference on both your water and electricity bills.

Choosing A New Appliance

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made it easy to recognize appliances that are efficient in their energy use. Two programs are sponsored by the EPA, WaterSense and ENERGY STAR, both labeling appliances and fixtures that are deemed energy and water efficient.

  • WaterSense. WaterSense is a partnership program through the EPA which labels products that are certified to be at least 20% more efficient without sacrificing performance.
  • ENERGY STAR. For over twenty years, the ENERGY STAR voluntary EPA program has helped identify appliances which help to save energy. For example, an ENERGY STAR washer today can save over 70% on water and energy than a similar washer made twenty years ago.

The use of these more efficient appliances and fixtures have saved an estimated $230 billion in utility bills over the last twenty years, and 1.8 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, making them good for your wallet and the planet.

When you are ready to convert your water appliances to more efficient models, be sure to consult your plumber to be aware of any changes you may need for your home to connect to these new models. In addition to your appliances, your plumber can recommend water efficient toilets and water heaters when the time comes to replace them as well.

Posted on behalf of Seagraves Plumbing

 

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Sizing a Water Heater

December 31st, 2013 Posted in Tankless Water Heaters
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When the time comes to replace your water heater, sizing your new model appropriately is essential. Too small, and everyone in the family will be starting the day with cold showers. Too large, and your energy costs will increase, along with your carbon footprint. Selecting the right size water heater will depend upon a variety of factors, not least of which is the type of water heater you wish to purchase.

Tankless Water Heaters

One of the newest and most popular advances in home water heating is the tankless water heater. Instead of heating water and maintaining the temperature indefinitely until the tank is emptied, tankless water heaters raise the temperature of water on demand, providing a steady supply as water passes through the unit. Sizing depends upon peak usage in your household, and can vary from one manufacturer to the next.

Storage Tank Water Heaters

Traditional water heaters hold a limited supply of heated water within the tank until the water is used. When the tank is depleted, the rate at which hot water is regained is referred to as the “recovery rate.” For high-demand households, high recovery rate is important. These models are also designated by the amount of water, measured by gallons, the tank will hold. For households of one to two, a thirty-gallon tank is often recommended. Forty tank models are typically suggested for families of two to three, fifty gallons for households of three to four, and eighty gallons for families of more than five individuals. These recommendations are based upon the typical electric water heater, with figures varying slightly for natural gas and propane models.

The most effective way to choose an appropriately-sized water heater for your household is to work with a licensed and experienced plumbing professional who can help you make the best determination. Before you select a new hot water heater, contact a plumber in your area in order to make an informed decision.

Posted on behalf of Seagraves Plumbing

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Hire a Plumber For Your Water Heater Replacement

June 26th, 2012 Posted in Water Heaters
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If it’s time to replace your water heater, you may be tempted to go to the nearest home improvement center, buy a similar sized storage type water heater, and let a contractor from the home improvement center install it.  However, for best results you should call a reputable local plumber before you commit to purchasing your new water heater.

An experienced professional plumber may charge a little more for the installation than the handyman from your home improvement center, but like most things in life, you get what you pay for when it comes to plumbing and a water heater is a very important component of your home’s plumbing system. A good water heater will last from 15 to 20 years so it’s worth spending a little extra for expert, professional advice and installation from your local plumber.

A good plumber can help you save money in the long run by helping you choose the most energy efficient way to meet your family’s hot water needs.  You may be better off with a tankless water heater or an energy efficient storage type water heater.  In either case, your plumber will help you choose the right size water heating system to avoid spending too much for an oversized system or running out of hot water with an undersized system.

Professional installation is important too!  An experienced plumber will make sure your water heating system is up to code and properly installed for maximum efficiency and service life.  In addition, if there is any problem with your water heater or the installation, you can rest easy knowing that your plumber is licensed and insured, unlike that guy from the home improvement center.

It pays to have a professional help you choose the right water heater for your home and to install your water heating system.  You can count on an experienced plumber for expert water heater advice and installation.

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Demand Water Heaters Offer Convenience And Energy Savings

June 21st, 2012 Posted in Tankless Water Heaters
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If you are thinking about replacing your standard storage type water heater with a larger capacity unit because you frequently run out of hot water, consider having a demand or tankless water heater installed instead.  With a tankless water heater you never have to worry about running out of hot water and you save money on your energy bills by eliminating standby heat loss.

Standby heat loss is the main reason that storage type water heaters waste energy.   These water heaters keep a tank of water hot around the clock whether it is needed or not.  During periods of low demand such as at night or while you and your family are away at work or school, the water in the tank of a storage type water heater will lose heat and the water heater uses energy (gas or electricity) to keep the water heated to the desired temperature.

Then, during periods of high demand, a storage type water heater may not be able to keep up.  Once the hot water runs out, it takes a long time for the water heater to heat up a full tank of water.

A tankless water heater solves both of these problems.  It eliminates standby heat loss by only heating water when it is needed.  When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water flows into the demand water heater where it is heated and then flows to the tap.  This way, a tankless water heater delivers an endless supply of hot water as it is needed without wasting energy on keeping a tank of water hot.

Your local plumber can install a tankless water heater in your home to help you save money and energy for water heating and to ensure that you never run out of hot water again.

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