If you?re dedicated to making your home more energy efficient, then why not install a tankless water heater? Portland residents will be pleased to know that according to Energy.gov, a typical household can save more than $100 per year with an ENERGY STAR« tankless appliance.

Unlike conventional storage water heaters that store between 30 and 80 gallons of heated water, tankless water heaters don?t store any hot water at all. Instead, when a hot water tap in the residence is turned on, they provide hot water on demand by heating cold water by means of an electric element or a gas burner. This ?supply on demand? approach means households waste less money on energy costs to keep a tankful of water heated. However, the output can limit the flow rate, which is between two and five gallons depending on whether it?s an electric or gas-fired model. If you have a large household, one way to ensure a good flow rate is to install a second tankless water heater to provide extra hot water to appliances such as your dishwasher or washing machine.

In terms of actual energy savings, it?s interesting to note that tankless water heaters can offer between 24 and 34% more energy efficiency for households that use less than 41 gallons of hot water a day. Larger households that use approximately 86 gallons a day can expect to see 8 to 14% more energy efficiency.

One significant difference between conventional and tankless water heaters is the price. Conventional models can cost as little as $500, while tankless models are usually priced at around $1,000. Though the initial investment is higher for a tankless water heater, its expected life span is generally about 20 years?that?s more than seven years longer than that of a storage model.

Last, but certainly not least, a tankless water heater is roughly the size of computer, while a conventional storage model can approach that of a refrigerator. This can mean all the difference in the world for Portland residents with premium real estate who want to make the most of their square footage.

Sources:

http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/tankless-or-demand-type-water-heaters

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/pros-and-cons-of-a-tankless-water-heater-176538

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It?s safe to say that we can sometimes take our drains for granted. We use them constantly- we have them in our kitchen sinks, our bath tubs/showers, and even in our basements. Without them, we would have no way to easily dispel the water in our homes. When our drains start to clog, it can have a large impact on our daily routines. In some cases, drains can become so jammed that no liquids can even pass through them. Worst of all, a blocked drain can lead to waste water backup or flooding, which can be a very costly experience! The best way to stop this from happening in your home is to take preventative action.

Plumbing: When You Should Get A Drain Cleaning

Listed below are some obvious signs that you need to get a drain cleaning:

-When your water is draining slower than it usually does. If you find that your sink or bathtub isn?t performing as well as it used to, you need to address the problem immediately. After all, these conditions won?t improve unless you take the time to hire a professional and get your drain cleaned out. Hair, food scraps, and oil are some of the main culprits that clog up our drains- keep an eye on the performance of the drains in your home to prevent serious issues from arising.

-When your toilet floods easily. If you find that you need to use your plunger on a regular basis, you may need to get a drain cleaning.

-The most evident sign that you need to get your drain cleaned is when a sink or tub is completely jammed. You?ll need to contact a licensed plumber immediately to prevent any further damage from occurring.

If you need to get a drain cleaning, feel free to contact the experts at Hayes Plumbing? one of the Durham Region?s most trusted and experienced plumbing companies! By using environmentally safe drain treatments, drop sheets, and top-notch equipment, the licensed professionals at Hayes Plumbing can effectively unclog any drain! You can call them at 905-576-3043, send them an email, or check out their website at hayesplumbing.ca!

Do you own a home? If yes, we highly recommend you be comfortable with all the following points.

They are the basics of your home plumbing that could really save you in a sticky situation ? and perhaps avoid a visit from a Toronto plumber before it?s neccesary:

Thanks for reading, and remember, if you ever have a plumbing problem, we?re here to help.

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No proud, DIY, manly homeowner should be without basic plumbing supplies that equip you to be ready at the drop of a hat to become Mr. Fix It (or Mrs.!) in a plumbing emergency. And trust us?plumbing emergencies happen at the worst time, and need immediate remedy.

So, to help you be ready for your next plumbing emergency we?ve put together a list of the 7 plumbing supplies that you shouldn?t live without:

1.Washers

A plumber can literally never have enough washers. Not only are they needed on almost every plumbing device?they also wear out after a time and need to be replaced. So, our first tip is to have washers on hand, in every size needed to care for your various water-using appliances.

2.Wrenches

Not only can you never have enough washers?you can never have enough wrenches?and that isn?t just our manly side coming out all Tim-?the-Tool-Man?-Taylor style. You can?t fix any plumbing devices without at least one wrench. One wrench won?t cut it however as the likelihood of your one wrench matching up with your emergency-plumbing task at hand is slimmer than a woman in a Calvin Klein ad. Before you stack up on 97 different wrenches though, consider purchasing one multi-purpose one like Black & Decker?s ReadyWrench.

3.Drain ?Stuff?

Clogged drains are the most common scourge for homeowners?so get ready. Buy yourself some drain-unclogging chemicals and buy a snake. Also, learn how to use them, and learn how to remove the p-trap so that you can unclog your drain that way when needed.

4.Toilet Repair Kit

Just as drains clog, as sure as the sun will rise your toilet will break down. Most toilet issues are easy to fix yourself (unless there is an issue with the piping, bowl or seal), provided you have a toilet repair kit on hand. These generally consist of a replacement fill valve, refill tube, clip, flapper and float rod.

5.Sink Repair Kit

Ditto for sink repair. The parts are slightly different but having a sink repair kit on hand is a smart move. These contain bolts, nuts and washers and may contain a stem for the handle.

If you encounter a plumbing emergency or job that you simply can?t handle, even with these basic plumbing supplies?then call the pros here at Hayes.

Victor Perkins is a Mass Communications graduate and an ardent blogger. He has sound knowledge over the topics of business, sports, politics and the daily news updates. With a good eye for writing and copy editing Victor writes blogs for A-General Plumbing and Sewer Service company. View all posts by Victor Perkins ?