How Much You Could Save with a Tankless Water Heater

Tankless water systems are available from major water heater repair & replacement contractors and are touted as a great way to reduce your household energy costs. Tankless systems are strongly recommended for families of 3 or fewer by the energy conservation branch of the EPA and will save power for larger families as well if certain criteria are met. To give you a little insight into how much you could save, it may help to take a closer look at how a tankless system conserves power and water.

Gas On-Demand Water Heaters

Gas-powered tankless systems installed by licensed water heater repair & replacement technicians have the potential to provide the most benefits. The reason for the additional savings is that it takes time for hot water to be delivered from a traditional system, and that time literally money down the drain when you have to wait for the water to get hot before washing or showering,

Electric Tankless Systems

Electric heating systems take a little longer to deliver a steady flow of hot water, but they still provide a much faster, more economical delivery than traditional tanked systems. With any tankless system, your savings will depend on the size of the plumbing system, the number of people in your family, and the amount of demand there will be from devices such as clothes or dishwashers. 

Tankless Systems and Solar Support

Not all solar water heaters use a continuous flow system, and even the best solar heaters can’t do much at night or during cloudy days. You can offset the shortcomings of a solar water heater with a tankless heating system to get the best results. The solar system provides instant delivery during sunlit hours, supplemented when water flow begins, and during the night or cloudy periods by the tankless system that is always monitoring the water temperature.

Usage and Savings

The amount you can save using a tankless water heater varies from home to home. In general, the savings will range between $70 and over $100 annually, based on usage of around 41 gallons per day in a family of 4. Larger families or situations where hot water is being used more frequently, Will reduce the savings, and smaller family groups will save more. Similarly, large families may want to install more than one tankless system to keep the hot water flowing throughout the house as it is needed.

Tankless water heaters add value to the home and offer savings for the homeowner. They make it possible to begin showering right away instead of waiting for the heat to travel through the home’s plumbing, resulting in using less water and energy to heat the water left in the pipes when the shower is done. It is difficult to offer exact savings amounts on using tankless systems, but every family will realize savings proportionate to their water usage.

Window Maintenance Tips for the End of Winter

Winter weather can be hard on exterior residential glass. As the weather begins to warm, homeowners can take advantage of the change by inspecting and performing routine maintenance on their windows. From cleaning and sealing them to repairing leaks and broken glass, it is time to get things ready for the coming summer months.

Check Sills, Frames, and Shutters

During the cleaning process, you may notice minor damages like peeling paint, decaying window frames, or shutters that need to be repaired. Minor repairs are a lot less expensive than major ones, so call a residential glass contractor as soon as possible to correct any problems you aren’t comfortable with repairing yourself.

Inspect Seals and Joints

Check the caulk around window panes and frames. Age and harsh weather are common reasons for silicon caulk to harden, crack, or become dislodged. Minor drafts can add up to a lot of money in excess energy costs compared to the cost of simply having your residential glass contractor reseal the windows.

Check for Cracks and Leaks

High winds, falling branches, and freezing temperatures can cause residential windows to crack. Make sure that all of your windows are free of cracks. Even a small crack will become large quickly and may even lead to the glass falling out of its frame. Professional glass contractors are licensed and insured, with the experience to replace most panes-- even in multi-paned windows.

Clean the Windows and Screens

Cleaning your screens and windows not only gives your home an aesthetically pleasing look, but the process also helps you better identify areas that may require the services of a glass company. During the winter, ice and snow deposit dirt and grime that can facilitate damage to the frames, window glass, and operating mechanisms. In some cases, a good cleaning will be all it takes to get everything into good working order. Use vinegar or isopropyl alcohol to get the best results.

Verify Your Windows Open and Close

Just as freezing weather can damage window glass, fluctuations in temperature and humidity may cause window frames to warp or expand. Open and close all of your windows a few times to make sure they work effortlessly. Any windows that do not work as they should need the attention of glass technicians to locate and correct the problem as soon as possible.

Taking care of any problems you can find with your windows will prepare them for the heat of summer, and could potentially save you hundreds of dollars in wasted energy. Most repairs can be completed in a day, including repairing or replacing double-paned windows.