Archive

Archive for December, 2009

Dec
21

On demand water heaters are gaining popularity since more homeowners are looking for ways to save money and energy in their homes. Traditional water heaters stay full and heat a full tank of water all the time. Heat is lost through the walls of the tank and through pipes when water is routed to the point of use. On demand water heaters only heat the water actually being used when it is needed.

A traditional tank water heater accounts for about 25 percent of household energy use. A high-efficiency, on demand gas water heater can cut your water heating costs up to 50 percent. On demand water heaters give the homeowner control over how much water is heated, since you only pay for hot water used.

Traditional water heaters warm water to a set temperature and, when the hot water is used, cold water enters the tank. Eventually, you run out of hot water. On demand water heaters heat the water based on the flow rate, so you have an endless supply of hot water.

We install Noritz brand on demand water heaters, which are the highest quality units available. Noritz was the first company in the world to offer ASME accredited on demand water heaters and they stay at the forefront of tankless technology. Noritz units have the highest flow rates of any tankless water heaters in the same class.

Noritz on demand water heaters are compact in design and typical residential units are about the size of a carry on suitcase. The small size allows Noritz units to be installed almost anywhere, in any indoor or outdoor application.

Our guarantee package lets you test drive on demand water heaters with no worries. If you are not completely satisfied with your on demand water heating system for any reason in the first two years, we will remove the on demand system and replace it with a new traditional tank water heater. In addition, we will refund you the difference between the two systems with no questions asked.

Our exceptional service and worry-free guarantee make installing Noritz on demand water heaters a logical choice.

,

Dec
21

Are you interested in saving money on your current water, electricity, and gas bills? Do you want to do your part to contribute to energy saving efforts to help the environment? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you should consider switching to a tankless gas water heater.

Comparison:
Traditional hot water heaters store a certain amount of water and must constantly heat and reheat that water. This results in what is called standby heat loss as the water is waiting to be used. In contrast, tankless gas water heaters only turn on when you turn on the faucet to get hot water; they shut off when you turn off the faucet. This causes less energy to be used since all that is needed is enough for the hot water on demand at that moment. Energy is not wasted reheating stored water. You wouldn’t heat or cool your home when you’re on vacation so why heat your water when you’re away or asleep? All of the energy that is saved equals more money for you and less harm to the environment.

Tankless gas water heaters provide an endless supply of hot water since they heat on demand. A traditional hot water heat can only heat the amount of water that it can hold. Tankless gas water heaters have a lifespan of around 20 years and have decreased risks of bursting pipes and leaking since no water reserves are stored in the pipes.

Installation:
Tankless gas water heaters are typically more powerful than electric heaters, but before you purchase and install a tankless gas water heart, consider the type of gas and venting requirements of your home. You will need to determine whether your home uses natural gas or propane. You may want to have a professional out to examine your current gas line to ensure that it will meet the requirements of your new tankless gas water heater.

Additionally, consider the various points where you use hot water. Are you looking for a tankless gas water heater that will heat the water for a bathroom sink (single point usage), the whole bathroom (multipoint usage), or your entire house (whole house usage)?

,

Dec
21

So, it’s looking as if you are going to need to replace your hot water heater pretty soon, so maybe it’s time to look at a tankless hot water heater. If you’re not familiar with these efficient little heaters, then it’s time to get an education. Take a look at your gas or electric bill: how much of that do you think the hot water heater takes up? Would you be surprised to know that a traditional hot water heater costs you a ton of money each month because even when you’re not using hot water, these tanks use energy to keep the water in them hot?

Now, imagine if you had hot water right away, whenever you needed it, even if the dishwasher is running and you want to take a long shower. Yes, this is what a tankless hot water heater can do for you, then when you’re done, it turns off. It doesn’t keep heating a tank of water, only to leave you cold at the end of your shower, and it doesn’t take a ton of time to get your water hot.

Okay, so the downfall is that tankless hot water heaters do cost a little more to get going, so if you don’t need to replace your current hot water heater, you might consider waiting, but the good news is that if you choose one of these very efficent models, you could get a big tax credit at the end of the year. In fact, many companies will give you all the forms you need to claim your credit, so you don’t have to do all the work.

Need another incentive? Your energy bills can drop dramatically and imagine how nice it will be to see that you are saving hundreds of dollars each year just because you chose to go with a tankless hot water heater? Plus, they are compact and will fit just about anywhere, unlike a big tank. So, if you are in need of a new hot water heater, a tankless hot water heater might be just what you really need to reduce your energy bills, get a tax credit and have hot water no matter how much you’ve already used.

Dec
21

When modifying an existing home, adding an extra bathroom or renovating an older classic home, on demand water heaters offer advantages in many areas over the older tank style heaters. If you would like a cheap, unlimited supply of hot water at the touch of a dial, without installing a huge tank, read on for some more good news about electric hot water heaters.

What is a tankless hot water heater?

Tankless or on demand water heaters were first developed for older apartments where space was at a premium and older piping did not deliver enough hot water for each unit. They have come a long way from those days, but still offer the most economical solution to instant hot water, because they only heat water when it is needed.

The Benefits of on Demand Water Heaters

  • Significant savings on energy bills are possible when using on demand water heaters, because, unlike older style tank heaters, they only heat water when you ask them to, not around the clock, whether you are home, sleeping or away. Even the department of health admits between 50% to 60% savings on electricity bills can be seen as soon as a system is installed.
  • Even the best insulated tank heaters lose heat which you pay for, by maintaining a minimum temperature to discourage algae, fungus and other undesirable growths in them. With a tankless heater, fresh water is instantly heated, every time, eliminating the risk of contaminated water and the cost of keeping the temperature high.
  • On demand water heaters heat make hot water, instantly, from cold water, losing no energy in the process, since they do not store that water.

A Greener way to Heat your Hot Water

  • Replacing an older tank system with a new, energy efficient tankless system will decrease waste because the new units last for up to 50% longer than tanks. They offer considerable savings on repairs; too, since new tankless systems are designed to replace parts by the “swap out” method, meaning only the worn part is replaced.
  • Lesser consumption of electricity results in less pollution, not only lowers household bills. The future of our grandchildren will rely on the intelligent use of resources, now.

On Demand Water Heaters Get Tax Credits

The government allows a tax claim of 30% of the cost of qualifying models and their installation up to $1500. The qualifying period for this credit on installations extends from 2009 to 2010. For this reason, it is important to keep all receipts for this and other home improvements to gain tax credits.

Leaders in the on Demand Water Heater Industry

For many years, the Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Bay Area have advised, installed and served the community with their motto of “If there’s any delay, we’ll pay.” Their commitment to customer satisfaction above all else, the full 10 year warranties and fast repair work have gained them respect. They are so confident you will love the new tankless systems, they promise to replace it with a traditional tank one, for up to two years after installation, if you are not completely happy, for any reason at all, and refund the difference in costs, if any.

, ,

Dec
21

When choosing a means of heating the water in their houses, many homeowners are opting to install a tankless water heater, and commercial units are also available. Tankless water heaters differ from traditional water heaters in that they do not have a reservoir of heated water. Tankless models like the Noritz line heat water as it is demanded, and have the heating capacity to maintain a steady flow of hot water indefinitely, usually at more than 13 gallons per minute. On demand hot water heaters are proven to use fuel more efficiently, whether natural gas or propane, and typically cut energy usage and costs by up to 50%.

When water cools in a standard water heater, it is automatically reheated, whether there is any demand for it or not, significantly wasting energy. This reality makes Noritz tankless water heaters an excellent choice for energy conscious consumers concerned about the environment and the use of non-renewable resources. Noritz is committed to making the best use of energy, and manufactures their units to be up to 94% efficient in most cases. Better, cleaner, more efficient heating of your home’s or business’ water is the result.

There are other benefits of choosing a Noritz tankless water heater over standard, outmoded water heaters. The Noritz on demand water heaters feature compact design that makes them easy to mount on a wall in basements, crawl spaces or closets, and even in outdoor settings. These quality units are manufactured to very exacting specifications, and use high-grade components. The result is a durable water heater that will easily outlast conventional hot water heaters. Built in safety features prevent water from being heated to levels that may cause scalding. In addition, CO2 emissions are minimal, reducing pollution in your living or working environment. Noritz tankless water heaters are easy to install by any contractor familiar with on demand hot water heaters. Consider a Noritz tankless water heater for a steady flow of hot water that is safe, efficient, and environmentally sound.

, , , ,

Dec
21

When it is time to replace or fix the old hot water heaters, many homeowners upgraded their hot water system to include a gas tankless water heater. This type of gas water heater is a tankless high-tech solution that saves space within the home. In fact, it saves so much space that many tankless heaters are installed on the wall of the homeowner’s garage. However, when it comes to using a gas tankless water heater, there are more benefits than just space saving.

Budget friendly savings is one of the major reasons that residential owners choose to have a gas tankless water heater installed in their home. Once they discover that their energy bill can be cut drastically, going with a tankless water solution just makes more than enough sense. This kind of savings makes even more sense for homeowners when understand that energy cost can mount up to nearly ¼ of all energy cost to run the home.

As energy in the environment is being wasted on a monumental level, green-thinking homeowners understand that water waste can be minimized on a greater level with a gas tankless water heater in their domicile. Studies show that for each person in a dwelling that waits for a traditional water heater to produce running hot water, more than 6 gallons of precious water is lost. There is no doubt that this type of waste can add up exponentially on a personal and globalized basis. Therefore, a gas tankless water heater is the solution because hot water is instant.

Gas tankless water heaters and electric tankless solutions are both capable of reducing the risk of water damage that may occur with other non-tankless water heaters. This one benefit can save homeowners hundreds of dollar, because they will not have to spend money on water extraction and drying procedures due to busted water pipes within the home.

Not only is hot water instant with a gas tankless water heater, but it is also unlimited. No matter how much a homeowner consumes hot water within a given day, the technologically advanced tankless water heaters keep hot water flowing. This happens through the use of temperature compensation valves in these tankless units. Therefore with these benefits homeowners can’t go wrong.

, , , ,

Dec
21

In today’s increasingly green society, people are always looking for ways not only to help the environment but also to save a buck in the process. The purpose behind creating energy efficient appliances is two-fold: save energy to help the planet and save money to help the wallet.

An increasingly popular way to meet both demands is by using tankless hot water heaters. These are also called flash heaters, instantaneous heaters, or on demand heaters. Unlike traditional hot water heaters, which store and continually heat and reheat water, tankless hot water heaters heat water on demand, only when it is needed and only at the direct site in which the hot water will be used. This reduces what is called standby heat loss.

Tankless hot water heaters are typically installed at various points of usage throughout a home or building. Because they only supply water to the needed area, they are able to provide a steady and continuous stream of hot water by heating the water as it flows. This in turn saves energy and thereby cuts down on heating expenses.

With traditional central hot water heaters, the water that is leftover in the pipes cools down and takes longer to reheat whereas tankless hot water heaters do not leave leftover water in the pipes. The absence of stored water also cuts the risk of water leakage and flooding caused by bursting pipes.

There are both point-of-use and whole house versions of tankless hot water heaters. It is important to consider which one is most useful and meets the current hot water usage needs of your home or building before purchase and installation. Both types use the same method of heating. Cold water enters the heating unit and is heated by a heating element that is turned on by a flow-activated switch.

When accurately sized and installed, tankless hot water heaters can save quite a bit of energy and money for any household.

, , , , , , ,

Dec
21

With the invention of the tankless hot water heater, many homeowners are throwing out old water heater solutions when it comes time to call for a replacement or new installation service. In fact, going tankless is more than just a passing fad when it comes to water heaters. Homeowners are discovers the benefits of tankless water solutions, and are trading in their traditional and costly hot water heaters.

One of the main benefits of a tankless hot water hearter is their cost effectiveness. When energy expenses can account for more that 25% of the overall household expenses when a regular water heater is in use, it’s no wonder why many homeowners are making the switch to tankless heaters. In fact, many homeowners are gracious to learn that they can save around 40% to 50% on their hot water expenses when they use a tankless heater. This alone is worth the effort and cost it takes to install a tankless hot water heater. This could mean more than an $8999 saving over a 20-year period.

With droughts occurring all over the world, water conservation is becoming an important thing for every family to consider when it comes to daily water usage. While waiting for water to get hot, it is estimated that more than 6 gallons of water are lost each time. If you multiply this number by the members in your household and the number of times each day or week each member waits for hot water, then it is not hard to see that thousands of gallons of water are being wasted each year. Not only is this detrimental to the environment, but it is also a waste of money for residential owners. Electric tankless solutions solve this problem by offering immediate hot water as soon as faucets are turned on.

Unlike a gas water heater and even an electric water heater, the tankless heater is more efficient, reliable, and cost effective no matter how you look at it. Furthermore, with two-year test drives, discounts on service and repair from The Ben Franklin Society, and full U-Win guarantees, having a tankless hot water heater installed is a simple-green solution for homeowners concerned with conservation in the budget and environment.

, , ,

Dec
21

It never fails. You wake up late and end up being the last one to shower; a condition you instantly regret when nothing but cold water pours out of the shower head. If this sounds like a situation that you frequently run into, then consider having a tankless water heater installed.

A traditional water heater uses either an electric heating element or a gas burner to keep a tank full of water hot. While an ideal setup in theory, the problems starts when sudden intense usage drains the tank. It takes time to reheat the fresh water that pours into the tank which usually translates into a cold shower.

In contrast, a tankless water heater warms up water on the fly. Using a heat exchanger coil powered by electricity, gas or propane, water is instantly heated as it passes through the unit guaranteeing hot water every time you turn on the faucet. So even if you are the last one in the bathroom, you’ll still be able to enjoy a nice warm shower.

A tankless water heater can also provide long term energy savings. With a traditional boiler, the water in the tank gradually cools the longer it sits requiring the heater to constantly turn on and reheat the water to the desired temperature. A tankless water heater virtually eliminates this excess energy usage since water is heated only when the faucet is turned on.

Even thought a tankless water heater can be installed at each point of use in the home, such as bathrooms and kitchens, it can be expensive to take this route. A popular and more cost effective configuration is to have a tankless water heater installed in a central place in the house and then individual tankless water heaters for water faucets that are a distance from the main heating unit. In either configuration, since a tankless water heater can be mounted on or inside walls, you will gain the extra space that was once devoted to housing a traditional water heater.

If your current water heating system can’t keep up with your lifestyle, consider installing a tankless water heater. It could be the smartest investment in your home you will ever make.

, ,

Dec
21
Tankless water heaters are a much better way then conventional water heaters to heat the water in your home due to many factors. These factors include having an endless hot water supply because of their design, getting up to 50% energy savings when compared to traditional water heaters, and having no tanks to get dirty or break down and need repair!
Tankless water heaters last up to 3 times longer than conventional water heaters. Tankless water heaters also do not need to have a special closet dedicated to mounting them as they can be mounted anywhere. Tankless water heaters also have a much higher capacity than traditional water heaters. This allows for constant flow of wonderful steaming hot water to your shower, kitchen sink, or bath tub.
Getting a tankless water heater should be a no brainer for someone wanting more than water that is lukewarm or cold all of the time. A tankless water heater will bring you unending happiness because you and your family will enjoy nothing but hot baths and steaming showers. Imagine being able to have all of your kids take showers and still have hot water left over for you! A tankless water heater will enable this kind of luxury. Need to have a soak in your hot tub after a long day at work? Well, you will never have to worry about having a hot tub filled up with soothing hot water ever again! With a tankless water heater you can have all the luxury of a professional spa right at home.
The benefits of a tankless water heater system as opposed to a traditional system are so numerous it is almost difficult to name all of them. Their popularity has grown substantially in recent years because of their ease of use, money savings, and functionality. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain from getting a tankless water heater. The changes in your life will be so noticeable, you will never look back to your conventional water heater. We are confident that once you choose a tankless water heater you will never return to your conventional water heating system.

Tankless water heaters are a much better way then conventional water heaters to heat the water in your home due to many factors. These factors include having an endless hot water supply because of their design, getting up to 50% energy savings when compared to traditional water heaters, and having no tanks to get dirty or break down and need repair!

Tankless water heaters last up to 3 times longer than conventional water heaters. Tankless water heaters also do not need to have a special closet dedicated to mounting them as they can be mounted anywhere. Tankless water heaters also have a much higher capacity than traditional water heaters. This allows for constant flow of wonderful steaming hot water to your shower, kitchen sink, or bath tub.

Getting a tankless water heater should be a no brainer for someone wanting more than water that is lukewarm or cold all of the time. A tankless water heater will bring you unending happiness because you and your family will enjoy nothing but hot baths and steaming showers. Imagine being able to have all of your kids take showers and still have hot water left over for you! A tankless water heater will enable this kind of luxury. Need to have a soak in your hot tub after a long day at work? Well, you will never have to worry about having a hot tub filled up with soothing hot water ever again! With a tankless water heater you can have all the luxury of a professional spa right at home.

The benefits of a tankless water heater system as opposed to a traditional system are so numerous it is almost difficult to name all of them. Their popularity has grown substantially in recent years because of their ease of use, money savings, and functionality. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain from getting a tankless water heater. The changes in your life will be so noticeable, you will never look back to your conventional water heater. We are confident that once you choose a tankless water heater you will never return to your conventional water heating system.

, , ,