hellobeautifulcreatures

T ankless water heaters have been in use all over the world for fifty years, largely because of smaller homes and higher energy costs outside the United States. In fact, tank water heaters are only used in the U.S. As natural gas and LP prices rise (as they have for the past decade) it will cost consumers more to heat water. Imagine cutting water heating costs by 50 to 70 percent – think tankless water heaters . Tankless water heaters – often called “on demand” water heaters – only heat water when needed. Tank water heaters , on the other hand, keep the water hot all of the time and, when on standby, loose about 6 degrees an hour. Heat in the form of Btu’s also escapes up through the flue pipe constantly . Tank water heaters are incredibly inefficient and yet are used in the majority of American homes. Tank water heaters have a life expectancy of around 10 years, depending on incoming water quality . Tankless water heaters , on the other hand have a life expectancy of 20 plus ye...

Over the past several weeks, I’ve written about water conservation as a strategy for saving energy and examined a number of water heating options . This week, we’ll look at the issue of water waste while waiting for hot water and what to do about it. Here’s the problem: Most of us waste a lot of water waiting for hot water to reach a sink or shower. In a large house, it’s not unusual for 50 feet of piping—or more—to extend from the water heater to the most distant fixtures. And with 50 feet of pipe, it can take a long time for hot water to reach the tap; while waiting all the water goes down the drain. How long you have to wait for hot water depends on three factors: the distance from the water heater, the diameter of the piping, and the flow rate. The effect of distance is pretty obvious: the further hot water has to flow, the longer it will take to get there. With a new house, you can keep plumbing runs short by locating bathrooms and the kitchen near each other. The effects of pip...

Sun West Custom Homes ’ new showcase sits atop a hillside at 647 Cityview Ridge Drive in MacDonald Highlands , a luxury community in Henderson. Owner Daniel Coletti has created a cool, soothing oasis amid the expansive beauty of the Mojave Desert. The striking see-through pool that visitors see driving to the home is a big jaw-dropper and the star of the show. In fact, water runs throughout this living space that is a tribute to the elements and indoor- outdoor living . The 8,000-square- foot home updates and expands on an award- winning design concept Coletti built in The Ridges at Summerlin for the 2009 Parade of Homes. One common thread that runs through Sun West custom home designs is an intimate feeling of closeness to nature. His living spaces blend into the surrounding terrain and climate. Sun West architectural designs combine traditional elements of water, air, earth and fire to suggest deep feelings of hearth and home. Two ponds of flowing water greet visitors at t...

How about this for a nightmare scenario? A family leaves on a long anticipated two-week vacation. A few days later a fixture in their home develops a water leak. Maybe it's the kitchen faucet, a failing water heater , or a break in the hose connecting the washing machine . Whatever the source, the family returns from their vacation to find thousands of dollars in damage to their waterlogged home. A survey by Chubb finds homeowners , for the most part, are oblivious to potential water damage from inside the home, despite the fact that water damage is more common than either fire or theft. "The time between when a leak occurs and when it is discovered is the single greatest factor in determining the amount of damage," said Fran O'Brien, division president of Chubb North America Personal Risk Services . "As a result, leaks that occur while you're away result in greater amounts of damage, in terms of both cost and severity." Frequency has nearly doubled An...

Celebrate Earth Day by Planting a Tree" width="300" height="200" />Every April 22, millions of people in nearly 200 countries celebrate Earth Day , and I’m one of them. Originating in 1970, Earth Day is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on how we can make our Earth a better place. It’s a time to be mindful of your impact on the Earth and challenge yourself to adopt new, environmentally friendly habits that conserve resources, save money, and encourage healthy living all-around. In fact, with wonderful benefits like those, doesn’t it make sense to live every day like it’s Earth Day? Well, you can. Over the years, my family and I have used Earth Day as a starting point to implement new and creative changes in our lives. Here are 30 ways we celebrate Earth Day that you and your family can try, too. Some of them may seem small, but small changes add up and if you sustain that change for the rest of your life, it will profoundly lighten your environmen...

PUTTING up with an old boiler is something lots of us do, but fitting a new one has significant benefits, especially with colder weather on the horizon 1. If your home has an old boiler, it's easy to put off changing it because it will be expensive, but old boilers are costly to run. A boiler that's 15 years old or more is only around 60-70% efficient, meaning that 30p-40p of every pound spent on heating and hot water is wasted. Many old boilers also have a standing pilot light , which can cost around £50-£60 a year to keep alight. 2. If an old boiler goes wrong, it may not be possible or cost-effective to repair it, and if this happens when it's cold, replacing it is urgent, which can be more inconvenient and expensive than if you'd planned it. Summer and early autumn are great times to schedule a boiler replacement because you don't need the heating on and you may be on holiday while the work's being done. It's also a good idea to replace the rest of the...

Class Code: 001 Class Description: Chemical Products Goods & Services: Adhesives; wood glues; fillers; expanding foam; de-icers; wallpaper paste; wallpaper removing preparations ; water repellents; loam; peat; composts, soils and ingredients thereof; chemical preparations for the treatment and preserving of cement, concrete, brickwork and of the like materials; chemicals for use in the cleaning of drains; damp resisting preparations for walls; decarbonising preparations for engines; oil varnishes and polish dissolving preparations ; finings; fuel additives; mastics; size; waterproofing compounds; manures; fire extinguishing compositions ; welding and soldering preparations; anti-freezing preparations; degreasing preparations for use in industrial and manufacturing processes; chemicals for the purification of water used in swimming pools; chemicals for use in brewing and fermenting; artificial and synthetic resins; preserv...