Monday, August 4, 2008

Tankless efficiency is a green issue

Heating hot water for a bath has become a green issue as we feel the burden of rising energy costs and question the use of polluting fuels. There is strong debate about drilling in wild life reserves and coal fired generators. It’s hard to see, with growing demand how we can have both clean and cheap.

Which will prevail? Some things seem pretty certain: More alternative energy sources will continue to come online as the price of fossil fuels continues to go up. At any rate, taking a hot bath will probably get more costly. This could be the thing that gets tankless water heaters going.

What does this mean for homeowners?
Those using an oil furnace/hot water heater combo are in the worse shape as their energy bills are already much higher than other water heating systems. For those using natural gas or electricity to heat their hot water it’s hard to see what the future has in store.

If we look back over the last decade we see that gas prices have gone up significantly while electric prices have declined slightly.

What the future will bring is hard to predict but one thing is certain, big changes are coming. We’ve already gone from 25 percent to 60 percent dependence foreign oil in just one generation. It’s time to realize a new era.

Follow this link for more info on choosing the best tankless hot water heater

Refer to this site for detailed installing a tankless water heater instructions.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Tankless Hot Water Heaters - Less Space, More Value

As efficient as a tankless hot water heater can be, there are ways to make it even better. One of these is to minimize water travel. When installing a tankless water heater it’s a good idea to think about location.

This is just one of the reasons a tankless heater could be your best water heater choice. Its size makes it easy to position it close the outlets you use the most, such as a shower or clothes washer for instance. Changing your heater location may help reduce heat loss caused by the water traveling long distances through uninsulated pipes.

Naturally, there are some limitations in an existing structure but it should give you more flexibility than a storage tank model.

Tankless water heaters do have special requirements. Home tankless hot water heaters need either high amperage access for electrical models or high capacity gas line and venting system for most gas models. Many people turn to home improvement stores as the best place to find a qualified installer.

Even though installation can be pricey, high efficiency ratings can be a good reason for these models of water heater to be a popular choice among a growing number of home owners. Find out which is the right model for you and ask for estimates. Prices can vary.

Find out more about installing your own tankless water heater.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Home Tankless Hot Water Heaters - Right For The House

Making the transition to your first home tankless hot water heater? Here are a few points to help familiarize yourself with this new technology. These points will help you make the right choice for your family’s needs.

Picking a location
The home tankless hot water heater offers an opportunity to reposition your unit to minimize the distance to your most used outlet or even consider two smaller units as a way of providing adequate hot water throughout the house. It’s this kind of flexibility that is now being incorporated into new home design.

This on demand hot water may take a few seconds longer to reach the faucet than storage type heaters because there is no energy used to preheat pipes as in conventional heaters. But the water is heated very quickly depending on the length of the run.

Thoughts on installation
Installing a gas home tankless hot water heater can double the initial cost of a new unit. A high volume gas line is usually called for as well as to-code venting system which meets high temperature specs. A fresh air supply is also necessary to maintain good draft. A CO2 detector is also a good safety precaution with this combustion system.

Wall mounting is also the preferred way to install an electrical home tankless hot water heater. Small and light weight, this can be done with a drill and screwdriver. It should be in an accessible position for servicing. Aside from an 80-120 amp electrical supply the only requirements are that it should have cut-off water valves and adequate wiring.

Interior mounted gas home tankless hot water heaters come with a potentially big price tag. Rely on experienced installers for advice and written estimates.

Heating decisions
Some new home builders are beginning to add home tankless hot water heaters as a way to attract savvy buyers but existing homeowners can also benefit from this technology. Since they are so small and light weight and electric models so easy to install, a combination can be use to maximize the efficiency of heating water.

Gas home tankless hot water heater are usually used for the big jobs with electric tankless heaters for smaller applications and under the counter models being the answer for single faucet use.

When it comes time to buy you will find that gas home tankless hot water heaters are the most expensive; costing $2,000 and up. Electric home tankless hot water heaters are almost as inexpensive as storage tank models but by installing it yourself and taking the energy saver tax credit you could have one for as little as $300.

Smaller electrical units, which operate on 120V can also be self installed to provide hot water for a single outlet. A good solution for lavatory or kitchen sink.

The benefits
Because of tankless technology there are now more options to provde hot water for your family’s needs. Utilize the technology of a home tankless hot water heater for efficient cost savings and comfort.

Refer to this site for detailed installing a tankless water heater instructions.

Follow this link for more info on choosing the best home tankless hot water heater.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Tankless Hot Water Heaters - A New Energy Saver

Here’s an interesting find, for those of you looking for ways to do something for the environment: tankless hot water heaters. Also called instant hot water heaters with the smaller versions, that fit under a sink, as “on demand hot water heaters.”

Their energy saving capability should make them a big favorite with anyone in the market for a new hot water heater, and might be interested in an unlimited stream of hot water.

This is something that has already caught on with energy conscious Europeans and is quickly gaining popularity in the U.S.

Gone is the need for a tank big enough to serve the whole house, now with both electric and gas models to choose from there are lots of possibilities for installing smaller units to works in zones. Installation has changed too. Installing tankless water heaters is a simple matter of attaching a PC-size (for electric models) on the wall and hooking up electrical and plumbing connections - something that many DIYers will be interested in.

Finding the right model is no longer about storage capacity but is now decided by how far north you live. Instantly raising your bathwater from below ground level temperature to something you desire is what it‘s all about, and that is why these units are often called instant hot water heaters.

In addition to the compact size and unlimited supply of hot water this is a product that can be appreciated for its energy savings. And this is just the beginning; there is the potential for even greater savings as the technology develops.

See for yourself how easy it is to install one of these heaters: http://www.installing-a-tankless-water-heater.com

Thursday, April 24, 2008

A Drawer Full of Stuff

A box of old photographs with faces still young and a little brass key that fits nothing I own.
There’s a 2-bit stamp that’s worth something I ‘m told, here in a drawer by the telephone.
I don’t know why the wind always blows, blows the cold to my front door
Or why bandanas are red and sky is blue, or what makes me keep thinking of you.

Don’t Know Why - MadDogs


Everyone knows about that drawer that collects all the odds and ends. Everything from a metro card with 30 cents still on it, or a little brass key that fits who knows what, a 35mm film cartridge - still in the can, to an unopened roll of Rolaids.

No longer needed but not quit forgotten, most come with their own flashback. Of course we have the intention of cleaning house one day but that’s as far as it gets. After all, what’s the hurry? Mementos and ephemera have their place.

The nice thing about it is you can pick up any one and start a time thread. Maybe one from the earliest years, when you ate your first ice cream cone or blew your first bubble. At that age there were still a lot basics to learn and a lot of good things that were happening naturally. All part of the healthy growing process.

This happened just by playing outdoors. All this activity was helping build bones and muscles, and building coordination and agility that would help with every day tasks.

And then there was mom, telling you to eat your vegetables and drink your milk and take your vitamin. Sometimes it may have sounded preachy but she knew what she was doing. The body, at that age was growing fast and needed lots of nutrients.

But things change. As we get older the body starts to slow down and it becomes a matter of providing the body with the chemicals it can use to manufacture special enzymes when illness comes knocking.

In the fast changing world of health and the even faster growth in health care costs this emphasizes the need for early identification of symptoms. Heartburn is one of these. Some health experts now recognize heartburn as an indication of acid imbalance that can have a big impact on preparedness.

You might want to bookmark this link in order to learn more about the connection between heartburn and other illness. Learn more about the natural tools for a healthy defense.