Selecting a New Water Heater

When selecting a new water heater for your home, choose a water heating system that will not only provide enough hot water but also that will do so energy efficiently, saving you money. This includes considering the different types of water heaters available and determining the right size and fuel source for your home. Check out the Energy Saver 101: Water Heating infographic to learn more about the different types of water heaters and how to select the right model for your home.

Types of Water Heaters

It’s a good idea to know the different types of water heaters available before you purchase one:

• Conventional storage water heatersoffer a ready reservoir (storage tank) of hot water
• Tankless or demand-type water heatersheat water directly without the use of a storage tank
• Heat pump water heatersmove heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly for providing hot water
• Solar water heatersuse the sun’s heat to provide hot water
• Tankless coil and indirect water heatersuse a home’s space heating system to heat water

Selection Criteria

When selecting the best type and model of water heater for your home, consider the following:

• Fuel type, availability and cost. The fuel type or energy source you use for water heating will not only affect the water heater’s annual operation costs but also its size and energy efficiency. See below for more on selecting fuel types.
• To provide your household with enough hot water and to maximize efficiency, you need a properly sized water heater. Visit the pages on different types of water heaters (linked above) for more on sizing.
• Energy efficiency. To maximize your energy and cost savings, you want to know how energy efficient a water heater is before you purchase it. Visit the pages on different types of water heaters (linked above) for more on estimating energy efficiency.
• Before you purchase a water heater, it’s also a good idea to estimate its annual operating costs and compare those costs with other less or more energy-efficient models. Visit the pages on different types of water heaters (linked above) for more on estimating costs.

Also be sure to do what you can to reduce your hot water use. You may also want to explore other strategies such as drain-water heat recovery to save money on your water heating bill.

Fuel Types, Availability and Costs for Water Heating

When selecting a new water heater, it’s important to consider what fuel type or energy source you will use, including its availability and cost. The fuel used by a water heating system will not only affect annual operation costs but also the water heater’s size and energy efficiency.

Exploring Water Heater Options by Fuel Type

Fuel type and its availability in your area may narrow your water heater choices. The following is a list of water heater options by fuel or energy source:

• Electricity
  Widely available in the United States to fuel conventional storage, tankless or demand-type, and heat pump water heaters. It also can be used with combination water and space heating systems, which include tankless coil and indirect water heaters.
• Fuel oil
  Available in some areas of the United States to fuel conventional storage water heaters, and indirect combination water and space heating systems.
• Geothermal energy
  Available throughout the United States to those who will have or already have a geothermal heat pump systeminstalled in their homes for space heating and cooling. See Heat Pump Water Heaters for more information.
• Natural gas
  Available in many areas of the United States to fuel conventional storage and demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heaters, as well as combination water and space heating systems, which include tankless coil and indirect water heaters.
• Propane
  Available in many areas of the United States to fuel conventional storage and demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heaters, as well as indirect combination water and space heating systems.
• Solar energy
  Available throughout the United States — most abundantly in the Southwest — for solar water heaters.

Comparing Fuel Costs and Water Heater Types

If you have more than one fuel type available in your area, it’s a good idea to compare fuel costs, especially if you’re building a new home. Even if you’re replacing a water heater, you may find that you’ll save more money in the long run if you use a different fuel or energy source. Contact your utility for current fuel costs or rates.

The type of water heater you choose will also affect your water heating costs. One type of water heater may use a fuel type more efficiently than another type of water heater. For example, an electric heat pump water heater typically is more energy efficient than an electric conventional storage water heater. Also, an electric heat pump water heater might have lower energy costs because of its higher efficiency than a gas-fired conventional storage water heater, even though local natural gas costs might be lower than the electricity rates.

Source:  https://energy.gov/energysaver/selecting-new-water-heater

Plumbing problems often arrive with the holiday season’s parade of parties, lavish family meals and out-of-town visitors. Busy kitchens mean more grease and food waste to drag down the kitchen drain and disposer, and house guests equal extra showers, baths and toilet flushes that can strain systems that are already partially clogged.

This makes for a busy season for plumbing pros, and on the day after Christmas alone, they can see their business can jump up to anywhere between 20% and 40% over a normal day. People get so caught up in the holiday madness that it’s no wonder they don’t think about the stress put on their pipes and the plumbing problems that can occur. But by taking a few precautions, homeowners can prevent stop-ups and visits from their local plumber.

In the kitchen:

• Avoid pouring fats or cooking oils down the drain, as they solidify in pipes and cause clogs. Instead, prevent plumbing problems by wiping grease from pots and pans with paper towels, and depositing the paper towels in the trash.
• Never place stringy, fibrous waste into your garbage disposer (poultry skins, celery, pumpkin pulp, fruit and potato peels), as it can’t sufficiently grind these items and they’ll end up clogging your drain.
• Run cold water for 15 seconds before and after using the disposer to flush waste down the main sewer line.
• Make sure the disposer is running when you put food debris into it instead of waiting until it’s full before turning it on.
• Run the dishwasher and washing machine at night or at off times during the day to conserve water temperature and pressure for your guests.

In the bathroom:

• Prevent plumbing problems by planning ahead and spreading showers throughout the day, and waiting 10 minutes between showers so that slow drains have time to do their job and your water heater has a chance to recover.
• Turn up your water heater to increase its capacity to meet holiday house guest demand; to avoid scalding, don’t exceed 125 degrees.
• Provide a trash bin so that the toilet isn’t used as a garbage can.
• Never flush cotton balls or swabs, hair, facial scrub pads or similar items down the toilet, as they don’t dissolve and are responsible for most clogs.

SOURCE: http://ndiplumbingreno.com/is-your-plumbing-ready-for-christmas/

What Does a Plumber Do?

Plumbers do much more than unclog drains and install new faucets. Plumbers install and maintain numerous types of piping systems found in residential and commercial properties, power plants, water treatment facilities, waste disposal plants, and factories. If you are considering a career in plumbing, read on to find out what plumbers do and in what areas you can specialize. Schools offering Plumbing degrees can also be found in these popular choices.

 

Job Duties

Plumbers are primarily responsible for installing and maintaining various types of piping systems and fixtures. The exact responsibilities of a plumber depend on the particular project type. All plumbers must be able to follow blueprints, work with plumbing tools, and know what types of materials are required for each job. Plumbers may also design piping systems for new construction projects.

During plumbing jobs, you may need to perform basic carpentry to access pipes inside walls or brace pipes to keep them in place. You will also weld, solder, and attach fittings together when necessary. Once a piping system is installed, you’ll install fixtures, such as bathtubs, showers, toilets, water heaters, and dishwashers.

Important Facts About Plumbers

Required Education	High school diploma or GED equivalent
Work Environment	Factories, homes, business
Key Skills	Physical conditioning, customer service, proficient mechanical knowledge, business sense
Similar Occupations	Boilermaker, construction manager, electrician

Specialties

Pipelayers, pipefitters, and steamfitters are all specialties within the plumbing profession. As a plumber, you can specialize in a particular area or offer services in multiple specialties, including pipelaying and pipefitting.

Pipelayers

Pipelayers set and install the piping needed for various plumbing systems, such as water mains and storm drains. As a pipelayer, you can expect to dig and grade the trenches where the pipe will lay, set the pipes in the trenches and secure the pipes together through welding, cementing, or gluing.

Pipefitters and Steamfitters

Pipefitters are mainly involved with large industrial plumbing projects. They install and maintain heating and cooling piping systems, as well as systems used to generate electricity. Steamfitters specialize in high-pressure systems that move gases or liquids, such as water, steam, or compressed air.

Training Requirements

You can train to become a plumber through plumbing apprenticeships found through trade schools and community colleges. Plumbing training programs typically take four to five years to complete, and usually require you to have a high school diploma or GED to enroll. Apprenticeships provide you with on-the-job training and build your knowledge of piping types, systems, tool usage, mathematics, blueprint reading, plumbing codes, and water distribution.

Employment Outlook and Salary Information

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, www.bls.gov), there were about 372,570 jobs held by plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in 2014. The projected job growth for this field was 12% from 2014-2024.

SOURCE:  https://learn.org/articles/What_Does_a_Plumber_Do.html

 

Compare copper and CPVC piping to decide which is better for your application

In plumbing circles, there is a longstanding debate between copper and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) piping. Copper has been used in North American plumbing applications for more than 70 years, while CPVC has been installed successfully for nearly 50 years. Which is best for your application? We present the information here and let you decide:

Copper is a ductile, malleable, reddish-brown metallic element that is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, and is widely used for electrical wiring, water piping, and corrosion-resistant parts, either pure or in alloys such as brass and bronze.

 

Since 1963, more than 28 billion feet (or about 5.3 million miles) of copper plumbing tube has been installed in U.S. buildings – that’s equivalent to a coil wrapping around the earth more than 200 times. The current installation rate now exceeds 1 billion feet per year. Because copper has been used for plumbing and mechanical systems since metals were first employed in these types of applications, it has established its current reputation for long-term durability in installations because it’s light, strong, corrosion resistant, and available in rigid and semi-rigid forms. Because of its proven dependability, copper’s widespread acceptability ensures compliance with all major building codes. In contrast, CPVC piping isn’t universally compliant; some U.S. cities or states have specific restrictions on its use. Because of its relative “newness” in the industry when compared to copper, some facilities professionals fear CPVC installation due to the possibility of callbacks or lawsuits – CPVC just hasn’t been around as long, so some are leery of its durability.

In terms of pricing, many copper proponents assert the fact that labor costs oftentimes compensate for the difference in material costs between CPVC and copper. Although installation in some applications may be easier with CPVC, copper is much more durable on the jobsite (CPVC pipe and fittings are subject to cracking or breaking if dropped, stepped on, or not handled carefully, and must be stored properly to prevent UV degradation). Copper may also be more sturdy than CPVC once it’s installed; it withstands earthquake conditions (CPVC may not) and is very fire resistant. Copper’s high melting point is 5-times higher than CPVC’s, so it can withstand much hotter temperatures. Copper won’t burn or support combustion, and won’t carry fire through floors, walls, or ceilings.

Copper is also a very versatile material. It can be used for potable water supply, drain/waste/vent applications, natural-gas supply, high-pressure steam applications, etc. Copper systems don’t have a reputation for responding well to hard well water, soft acidic water, aggressive soil conditions, or excessive water velocity in the piping line. However, those problems don’t occur extremely often in commercial facilities.

While CPVC is often the subject of some concern regarding the release of dioxins in its manufacture and its use of unfriendly solvents during installation, copper continues to contribute in environmentally sound ways. Its long life-cycle and high recycling rate make it the greenest of metals in building projects.

Other benefits of copper piping include:

• Fits in small spaces:A small external diameter allows copper to fit in tighter places. It’s is also available in a wider range of sizes, whereas CPVC is generally limited to 0.5- to 2-inch sizes.
• Durability:Copper is even sturdy enough to set in concrete, which is sometimes a concern with CPVC.
• Biostatic properties:Copper doesn’t support bacterial growth.
• Flexibility:The material can be bent to sidestep obstructions, minimizing joints.

 

Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) is a thermoplastic pipe and fitting material (produced by the post chlorination of polyvinyl resin) used for potable water distribution, corrosive fluid handling, and fire suppression.

Why is copper still so popular? Since it is metallic, many facilities professionals assume that it is stronger and longer lasting. There is a universal acceptance of copper, and contractors have been installing it for so long that there is an inherent comfort level with continuing to do so. Some contractors and building owners also like the fact that copper is recyclable. With rising copper prices, however, this recyclability can also work to the building owner’s disadvantage due to copper theft from jobsites. CPVC piping systems are not subject to jobsite theft since they have little scrap value.

Profit margins are being squeezed by the dramatic increase in copper prices, which have nearly doubled since the end of 2004 due to a surge in global demand from quickly industrializing countries such as China and India. There has also been a boost in less-than-favorable publicity regarding premature copper-pipe failures manifested as pinhole leaks caused by corrosion arising from aggressive (although still potable) water conditions or aggressive soil. Because of these issues, many facilities professionals have sought out other technologies such as CPVC piping.

CPVC pipe and fittings offer installers a viable alternative to copper. Since CPVC is non-metallic, it will never pit, scale, or corrode. Unlike copper, CPVC piping systems will maintain drinking-water quality even if the pH of the potable water source falls below 6.5 (pH measures the relative acidity of water; the pH of natural potable water should be between 6.5 and 8.5). CPVC is also approved for potable-water conveyance by all major building codes. Unlike copper, CPVC offers stable pricing that is unaffected by market fluctuations or international supply and demand. Building owners typically experience significant labor savings with CPVC due to its quick and easy installation. A solvent cement-bonding system eliminates the need for welding or soldering and creates a reliable joint that can be pressure-tested within minutes.

Being non-metallic, CPVC is faced with the challenge of overcoming the perception that it is “cheap” and, therefore, less reliable. For some facilities professionals, there is concern about using an unfamiliar product, especially with regard to its ability to handle water at high pressures, but copper tube-size CPVC is rated for a continuous working pressure of 100 psi at 180 degrees F. (making it appropriate for use in hot- and cold-water distribution systems, including potable water distribution, corrosive fluid handling, and fire suppression).

A number of other advantages make CPVC an attractive choice:

• Corrosion resistance:Depending on water and soil conditions, copper can fail due to corrosion or pinhole leaks; CPVC is 100% corrosion resistant. Since there is no corrosion, scale build-up is inhibited.
• Energy efficiency:CPVC is more energy efficient than copper due to its improved thermal insulation properties, which also help to reduce condensation. Its insulating characteristics can signify long-term savings for building owners, keeping water hot for a longer period of time than metal tubing.
• Noise reduction:CPVC minimizes water-flow noise and virtually eliminates water hammer.

 

Information for this report was gathered from Tina Massel, commercial water market manager for Corzan® Piping Systems, Noveon Inc., Cleveland, and Andrew Kireta, president and CEO at the New York City-based Copper Development Association Inc.