Monday
How to Reduce Water Heating Bills
From RealEstateJournal.com: "When the days grow nippy, nothing beats a long, hot shower to warm things up. But at what expense? The Department of Energy says water heating accounts for 14% to 25% of the energy consumed in your home.Here are tips from the department for reducing your water heating bills:
- Set the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees F. If you lower it by just 10 degrees F, you'll save 3% to 5%. For most homes, 120 degrees F, or even 115 degrees F, is sufficient.
- Consider getting a more efficient water heater for your home. Natural-gas-on-demand or tankless water heaters can save you up to 30% compared with standard natural-gas storage tank water heaters. Or, just buy a new energy-efficient water heater. It costs more up front, but you'll save over time.
- If you buy a solar water heater, you might be eligible for a tax credit or rebate. Look for details in the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy at www.dsireusa.org.
- Drain a quart of water from your tank every three months. You'll remove the sediment that lowers the efficiency of your water heater.
- Place heat traps on the hot and cold pipes connecting to your heater -- you'll prevent heat loss.
- Insulate your hot water pipes -- doing so can raise water temperature 2 to 4 degrees F."
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If you need to find a local water heater company to install, repair, or maintain your water heating system - save time and money by posting your request for free with us. At ConstructionDeal.com, we'll match you with local Water Heater Experts who will contact you instead of searching and calling at random from a phone book.
Labels: Home Maintenance, Tankless Water Heaters, Water Heaters
Tuesday
Solar Water Heaters = Energy Savings!
If you're looking to reduce your energy bills and reduce your environmental impact on the planet, you might want to consider a solar water heater. Not only can it save you from high utility bills, it can cut down on your personal greenhouse gas emissions and can improve the value of your home.
A solar water heater works just like you'd think it would. It harnesses energy from the sun to heat the water. Throughout the day, the sun warms water stored in a tank with a heating element that is solar powered.
There are two different kinds of solar water heaters: passive and active. The passive system does not require pumps to move water - the only forces needed are provided by the water supply from the city or the simple engineering of water temperature changes! The active system uses a pump to move water to the storage tanks or the collector to be heated. Both systems usually keep the energy source off during the day for better efficiency.
Another advantage to solar water heaters -- there may be a tax rebate available to reduce your costs further. These solar systems usually cost more upfront to purchase and install but, because of reduced energy costs, they usually pay for themselves after only a few years.
Here's a graph from Solar Direct that further illustrates the advantages of investing in a solar water heating system. If you need to find a solar water heater installer, use the service at ConstructionDeal.com for free to receive several quotes from local companies.
A solar water heater works just like you'd think it would. It harnesses energy from the sun to heat the water. Throughout the day, the sun warms water stored in a tank with a heating element that is solar powered.
There are two different kinds of solar water heaters: passive and active. The passive system does not require pumps to move water - the only forces needed are provided by the water supply from the city or the simple engineering of water temperature changes! The active system uses a pump to move water to the storage tanks or the collector to be heated. Both systems usually keep the energy source off during the day for better efficiency.
Another advantage to solar water heaters -- there may be a tax rebate available to reduce your costs further. These solar systems usually cost more upfront to purchase and install but, because of reduced energy costs, they usually pay for themselves after only a few years.
Here's a graph from Solar Direct that further illustrates the advantages of investing in a solar water heating system. If you need to find a solar water heater installer, use the service at ConstructionDeal.com for free to receive several quotes from local companies.
| SOLAR WATER HEATER FREE energy from the Sun | STANDARD WATER HEATER COSTLY gas or electric |
| Annual operating cost: $50 | Annual operating cost: $500+ |
| Storage Capacity: 80-120 gal | Storage Capacity: 40-50 gal |
| Life expectancy: 15-30 years | Life expectancy: 8-12 years |
| Lifetime operating cost: $1,000 | Lifetime operating cost: $10,000 |
| Does NOT pollute environment | Depletes fossil fuels |
| Increases equity in your home | No added value to your home |
| 25% return on your investment | No return on utility payments |
| Protection from future increases | At mercy of utilities/government |
| BONUS: | COLD showers, laundry,dishes? |
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Labels: Home Improvement, Saving Money, Tankless Water Heaters, Water Heaters
Wednesday
Tankless Water Heaters
The Bosch AquaStar tankless water heater is the exact reason that I cannot wait for my old water heater to die a painful and horrible death. What's so special about tankless water heating? Most people don't seem to know it, but tankless heaters save space, save energy, and can give you a ton of hot water that almost never runs out.Bosch has a model of the Aquastar, the 250SX, that can even give you enough hot water to supply two showers at the same time. It can run on either natural gas or propane.
It saves on energy, running from around 82 to 87 percent efficiency, because it has no pilot light that must stay lit at all times. It has temperature-limiting protection to prevent the appliance from producing water that's hot enough to scald. It costs about $950 and has a limited warranty that covers some of it for 12 years.
Now, if I could just get my old tank to keel over.
It. Just. Won't. Die.
It's been running for, like, 20 years and refuses to give up. Maybe I'll go kick it now...
If you're in the market for a tankless water heater, talk to a tankless water heater pro. Perhaps you'll find out it's the right product for your house. We've got a fast and easy way to find local service pros at ConstructionDeal.com.
Labels: Eco-Friendly Products, Green Products, Water Heaters
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