Blog Archives

Tankless Water Heaters

11/15/2016

Tankless water heater manufacturers advertise instantaneous hot water, endless showers, and energy savings. Are these advertisements accurate? Not 100%. Before making the decision to switch to the tankless design, consider the following points:

Will a tankless water heater save water & time by getting hot water to the faucet faster?
Will a tankless unit prevent running out of hot water?
Will I save money using a tankless unit?
Is the upfront cost for a tankless water heater much higher?

A tankless water heater actually takes 10-15 seconds longer to get hot water to a faucet, no matter how far the faucet is from the unit. After water starts flowing through a tankless unit, the unit senses water flow, starts the combustion process, and then begins heating the water. In contrast, a tank water heater stores hot water continuously and provides hot water immediately when water starts flowing.
A tankless unit may prevent you from running out of hot water if they are sized properly. It all depends on how much water will be used at the same time. These units are sized by flow rate (gallons per minute). If the flow rate is calculated correctly, it will provide your demand.

According to the Department of Energy, a tankless water heater can cost $100 less per year to operate compared to a conventional gas 40-gallon tank heater. Most of the savings come from not having to maintain hot water in a tank. With a projected service life of 20-years, the savings over the 20-year period are expected to total $2,000.

The replacement installation cost for a gas 40-gallon conventional water heater averages $900 according to Angie’s List. A tankless unit costs approximately $3,000 ($2,100 more) due to the high energy requirements of the units. These unit need approximately 160,000 BTUs versus 40,000 BTUs for a conventional tank water heater. Tankless units have to heat the water in a very short period of time and need the high heat requirement. This means your gas piping and probably your exhaust line may need to be upgraded. Tank water heaters last between 10-15 years and tankless units are expected to last 20-years if maintained properly. This is an estimate since they are fairly new in the U.S. They also require more maintenance to operate well.

In summary, the bottom line on replacing a conventional water heater with a tankless model are:

Will a tankless unit get water to the faucet faster – NO, it takes 10-15 seconds longer. The unit must sense water movement, the unit fires up, as water continues moving through the unit it begins to heat up.
Will a tankless unit prevent running out of hot water? Possibly, if you size the unit properly.
Will I save money using a tankless unit? This is questionable when you pay a professional to install the unit. When you add in the higher installation cost into the savings, the actual savings diminish. When you add in the extra maintenance cost, you may lose a little money.
Is the upfront cost for a tankless water heater much higher? Yes, the upfront cost is 2-3 times higher than a conventional 40-gallon unit.

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Should You Cover Your Outside A/C Unit

11/9/2016

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Have you thought about covering your outside A/C during the winter to keep it clean? Someone usually asks me about this every Fall. A cover, similar to the one in the photo, will help keep your unit cleaner, will help protect it from fading in the sun, and may prolong the life of the unit. On the downside, mice may be a problem if the cover is loose where they can climb up and into the inside cavity. They may chew on wires or create a mess building a nest. The biggest downside to adding a cover is that you may forget to remove the cover when it warms up enough to need the A/C. If the A/C unit starts up with the cover over it, damage may occur costing you more than you would have saved. This may be a hard thing to remember each spring! The decision is up to you!

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WHAT IS RADON?

11/7/2016

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Radon is a radioactive gas or vapor that enters a home by seeping up from the ground. Radon gas comes from naturally decaying soil and is present everywhere. The reason radon in a home is a hazard is due to the concentration level. Outside, radon mixes with air and dissipates and is diluted to very low levels. In the home, it is not diluted with air and wind and can get concentrated to high levels. Radon levels in a home are highest where the house meets the ground, such as in a basement. Because it’s a gas, it is constantly in motion, pooling in different areas in the house and in greater or smaller quantities depending on seasonality, ventilation and a variety of other factors.

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Can Your Child Fall Out a Window

11/4/2016

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An estimated 5,000 children are injured every year in the U.S. by falling from windows. Screens are not strong enough to protect your child from falling out a window. The higher the window, the more dangerous the fall. Windows that are left unlocked or partially opened can be open enough for children to fall out. Many new windows now come with devices that limit how far a window may open. These devices, when activated, can limit the opening to 4 inches. This small opening prevents a child from getting through the opening and falling. These devices may not be obvious to many homeowners and are built into the sides of the window (similar to the picture on the right). The limiters can also be disabled for people without small children.

For windows that did not come with built-in limiters, they can be easily added for increased safety. Several companies offer these devices that can be added by the homeowner or a handyman. Below are a few different designs available. If you have small children living at home, please consider adding these devices, especially the higher windows in the home.