Welcome! My name is Sally. This is my blog about plumbing. I decided to start writing about plumbing after a very scary experience. I arrived home from work one day only to discover that a pipe burst in my home. When I opened the front door, I saw a torrent of water pouring down the stairs. I panicked and ran next door to my neighbour. Luckily, he used to work as a construction contractor, so he has a lot of experience in dealing with household problems. He helped me to turn off the mains water and helped me to mop up the mess. After this event, I decided I wanted to learn more about the plumbing in my house, so I went to a night school class.
Maintaining your plumbing system is crucial to the well-being of your home or business. If you suspect th
If you find yourself dealing with a plumbing problem, you may wonder if calling a plumber can wait, parti
As monsoon season approaches, it's essential that you take steps to protect your home from storm damage —
With a properly sized and functioning water heater, you get hot water when you need it. To keep the hot w
Hot water units are important to your home. These systems heat water to a temperature that is ideal for b
When getting a new water heater for your home, you want to take the time to compare different models so you know you get something that will provide the hot water you need without wasting energy. Solar water heaters are a viable option for many homes and tankless water heaters can also be a good choice for certain spaces, but these too must be chosen carefully. When you're ready to choose, note a few factors you don't want to overlook so you know you get the right water heater for your home and family.
1. Energy efficiency
Many water heaters that operate with a tank have what's called an energy factor or EF rating. This takes into account the standby loss, or the percentage of heat that is lost per hour in the tank when the water is sitting still. This also takes into account the loss of heat as the water circles through the tank, and how much energy is used to actually heat the water versus running other parts of the tank. When choosing a water heater with a tank, note the EF rating and invest in the highest rating you can afford. This may be a more costly option but remember that a more efficient water heater will save you money on heating the water over time, so it can be a more cost-effective choice in the long run.
2. Tankless gallons per minute rating
While you may assume that you get continuous hot water with a tankless system, it may not be able to maintain a certain temperature of the water after its first-hour rating, or FHR. After this FHR, it would take a certain amount of time for the unit to fully heat water again. If you need consistent hot water for lots of showers as well as a large dishwasher and clothes washer, you might want to invest in two separate tankless systems so you're always getting hot water even after the first reaches its first-hour rating.
3. Solar heaters
A solar water heater can be a very energy efficient choice, but note if you can place it where it will get full sun exposure for many hours through the day. You may also still need a backup system for when the solar heater isn't holding enough energy to keep water heated in your home. If you do choose a solar system, be sure you check on tax rebates and credits, which are usually paid to homeowners who opt for solar systems.
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