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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...

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...

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...

Product information Featuring two quarter turn levers , our Swan tap incorporates elegant , contemporary looks and a durable finish. An aerator reduces the amount of water running through the tap to save you money and water usage, whilst also helping to prevent splash back . A versatile option, it is suitable for homes with low water pressure , for example those with a water tank rather than a combi-boiler. Low Pressure, 0.4 - 0.49 bar EDITOR'S NOTES Choosing your tap Choose the perfect tap for your kitchen Below are a few options and features to consider when choosing your perfect kitchen tap . Taps are largely about style and preference although they can have several useful features: Aerators (also called flow constrictors ). These are anti-splash, but also mix air with your water, creating a good pressure, at the same time as saving water. If you are simply rinsing plates or cutlery these can give a great saving. Filter taps These work in the same way as a water filter jug , ...

Installing bathroom plumbing might come as an afterthought in the design process, but really, it should be at the front with the most important design decisions that you make. Well concealed and clever plumbing can help to create the perfect bathroom for your household whether you’re looking for a luxury, spa style retreat , or a practical little washroom. These are our top 10 tips and tricks for installing plumbing in your bathroom, getting around some of the common problems and ensuring that the end result is perfect for you. Related articles: 7 Amazing bathrooms for spa lovers | 4 tips for buying bathroom lighting | 10 ways to improve your bathroom | What to consider before adding or renovating a bathroom 1. Concealing bathroom pipework Although it’s likely that tiles will need to be removed, it is essential to chase out walls and lift floors to hide hot and cold plumbing and waste pipes if you want a high-quality, clutter-free finish. 2. Flexible bathroom pipework Plastic fit...

It is unlikely that anyone will argue with the fact that water procedures are both pleasant and useful. Even a normal shower relieves stress , invigorates, and improves mood. It is difficult to overestimate the benefits that a good shower brings to body. Water can cure many diseases and even prevent their occurrence. But, unfortunately, when it comes to official medicine, hydrotherapy is not too common. However, it is widely used in beauty parlors and SPA-salons. There, water is considered an indispensable assistant in the fight against obesity and cellulite. In this article, we’ll talk about water therapy for weight loss. Water massage Today, more clinics are making use of underwater and water therapy massage for weight loss. It is a pleasant procedure , which relaxes muscles, has a rejuvenating effect on the human body, and battles excess weight . The pleasant warm water and massage relieve back pain , muscle spasms, and reduce stress and anxiety. The high temperature in the bathr...

February 26, 1993 | By Nancy Maes. The bathroom can be a dangerous place, but it doesn't have to be. More and more manufacturers and designers are finding ways to make them safer. When California designer Gary White was asked to design a safe bathroom for the 1992 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show , the statistics on bathroom accidents guided his work. "The No. 1 cause of injuries in the home is slipping and falling," he says, "so the flooring in a bathroom should be textured so that it is slip-resistant." Grab bars and rails to hold onto when getting into and out of the bathtub can also prevent falls. For further safety, White used a foam- cushioned bathtub , as well as cabinets and countertops with large, rounded smooth shapes instead of sharp corners and edges, and benches to sit on when drying off and getting dressed. Burns from scalding hot water are the second leading cause of accidents in the bathroom. Children are particularly vulnerable to water that i...

According to research carried out on behalf of Irish Water, more than 80% of people misjudge how much water they use on a daily basis. According to current estimates, each person consumes approximately 150 litres per day — equating to almost two full bathtubs of water per person per day, or 54,750 litres per person each year. Most of this water is flushed away every day. Showers are one of the biggest consumers of water in households. The average seven-minute shower uses up to 49 litres of hot water, while power showers can use up to 175 litres in the same period. Some 65% of those surveyed have a power shower at home, indicating that a large number of people are individually washing away more than 63,800 litres of water — or 112,456 pints — each year on showering alone. Irish Water said cutting your shower time by one minute could save up to 9,000 litres of water a year. Brushing your teeth with the tap running is one of the most common ways of wasting water, with about six litr...

Unlike your bathtub, typically used for only the occasional soak, your shower gets a workout every day. So, both designers and consumers are looking to intensify the daily shower experience with innovations such as steam showers, chromatherapy and multiple showerheads that can massage you like a soft summer rain or a Swedish masseuse on steroids. Here's an array of innovations that will make you never want to leave your shower. How you enter it is the first thing to consider. A frameless glass door is one new option, where the glass seems to float without support. Tempered safety glass in either 3/8- or 1/2-inch thickness gives an airy, open feeling to the space — great for a small shower. For a larger space, you can dispense with a door entirely. Put a curved tile wall or an L- shaped glass tile space that won't fence you in but will contain the water. Clarke's Iridess shower has a curved acrylic wall in four glowing colors, pearl, sea spray, azure and orchid, wit...

The Monsoon Extra Universal 4 . 5 bar Single pump is designed for use in larger domestic and light commercial applications . Installed into an open vented hot or cold water system , where the outlets are either above or below the level of the cold water cistern , it has the equivalent effect of raising the cold water cistern 29 metres above its current position with a flow rate of 45 litres per minute. Monsoon Extra universal single flow commercial pump for use with positive or negative head systems . Includes flexible hoses . Boosts water pressure to 4.5 bar. Specifications of the Stuart Turner 46353 High pressure. Single flow pump to boost a single water feed , either hot or cold. Can be used in pairs for hot and cold water supplies . Negative or positive head: Suitable positive or negative head conditions . Suitable for open vented hot and cold water systems . Solid brass construction . Anti vibration feet . Quiet operation (from 55db). Includes 22mm flexible hoses (305mm, p...

I understand the frustration that gardeners experience when they are forced to use tap water for gardening purposes. For most of my gardening life, I have been on municipal water . It is true that plants don’t seem to like it. However, when I moved to a residence that had well water, I did not notice any difference in my garden. Most gardeners have noticed that plants love rainwater . But we have to ask, are the plants responding to the water, or are they responding to the rainstorm?  Rainstorms add nitrogen and energy to water before dropping it on our gardens. Maybe that added nitrogen and energy is the reason we see our plants spring up after a good rain. It might not be about the absence of chemicals, it might be about the presence of natural energy from the storm. We can find ways to improve tap water to make it safer for our gardens. But can we replicate the magic of naturally healed water , with nitrogen and healing energy? That’s a tall order! Let’s look at all of our o...