Archive for the ‘Home Improvement’ Category
Solutions for DIY plumbers
Bathroom faucets
Two basic types of bathroom faucets are offered today, single piece or split set, and which one you use will depend on the number and size of the holes in the sink or counter top. The single piece faucet links the hot and cold water outlets together, while the split set keeps the hot and cold outlets separate. How difficult it is to access the plumbing the plumbing determines how tricky your task might be mounting new faucets, since the effort will be simple if the sink itself is new and the faucets can be installed before mounting the sink, or the job can be harder if you must get beneath an existing sink. Bright chrome has become the material of choice these days for new faucets, since they are scratch-resistant and don’t show wear and tear, and are quickly cleaned with soapy water. Undoubtedly the biggest on-going maintenance problem is leaking faucets, which could be bothersome and costly, however after you have found out the type of valve you have to replace, the job will be a snap. To control the flow of water, contemporary faucets employ these four types of valves: disc, ball, cartridge and compression valves. Even though the fine folks at the local plumbing supply might help identify the right parts you’ll need to fix a leaking faucet, it will make things if you have the original instruction manual for faucet installation. Finally, you should consider the hazards of water temperature variations in showers and baths, which include scalding and thermal shock, and check to see if the shower faucet has pressure-balance valves, which the US Government mandates for new home construction.
Water heaters for the home
You probably don’t give much thought to your home hot water heater until it conks out on you and you need to swap it out it, in which case you will be able to choose from a wide selection. Old fashioned hot water heaters hold hot water in a 20 to 120 gallon tank system which sustains the water at the same high temperature constantly until the water runs out and the tank refills. A hot water heater that employs a tank system will cost more to keep up than a tankless system, and as soon as the hot water in the tank is depleted you have only cold water until the tank re-fills and re-heats. A tankless hot water heater should preclude these difficulties by saving energy, incurring lower energy costs, and maintaining a steady supply of hot water that won’t turn cold in the middle of a shower. You will want to select between a gas powered water heater or an electric powered model, as both tankless heaters and tank heaters are available in both. A gas heater makes sense if you already have a natural gas line that goes into your home, but remember that the need to properly vent most gas powered appliances. The biggest disadvantage to any electric water heater is the danger of the power going out, otherwise they make a safer option than gas heaters. No matter what model of residential hot water heater you choose, always make sure to follow the owner’s manual and call an expert in when it does not function correctly.
Saving energy with a tankless water heater
For a cleaner environment and lower heating costs many people are upgrading their home heating systems with electric water heaters that are tankless. Tankless heating systems only function when you want hot water, requiring running the water a little at first until it gets hot. When you turn the tap of a tankless model the flow of the water activates the heating element, which in turn heats the water as it flows through copper tubing. Old fashioned tank heaters often cannot hold a steady temperature, which results in uncomfortable fluctuations in water temps. If you use up the tank of a traditional water heater you have to be patient for the tank to reheat before you can have hot water. Look before you leap when changing out a gas fueled tank heater for a new electric powered heater, as the electric ones have specific requirements for voltage and amperage. All in all, you will probably be wiser to hire a professional to install a new electric tankless heater, for reasons of safety if nothing else.