Showing posts with label Wilmington. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wilmington. Show all posts
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Assessing Your Hot Water Heater Needs
All Hot Water Heaters are Not Alike!If you’re like most Americans, you probably take your hot water for granted. It’s there when you need it, and the only time you notice it is when it’s gone. The following is an overview of hot water heaters with some simple tips to help you figure out your home’s hot water needs to ensure you’re never left standing in the cold (water).
Hot Water Heater Sizes
Residential hot water heaters come in three basic sizes: 30-, 40-, or 50-gallon capacity. If you look at the nameplate on your water heater, it will tell you how large the unit is. Should you need to replace your heater, it’s best to choose a new one with the same capacity as the old one unless you’ve just added a dishwasher, washing machine, or bathroom, or plan to make these changes soon.
A good rule of thumb for calculating your home’s hot water needs is to count the number of bathrooms in the house. For single bathroom homes, a 30- or 40-gallon unit is sufficient; for homes with 1 ½ baths, a 40-gallon tank is the minimum; for homes with two or more bathrooms, you’ll need at least a 50-gallon capacity.
Gas vs. Electric Hot Water Heaters
The type of fuel used to power a hot water heater can have a significant impact on the device’s capacity. A water heater’s capacity depends on two factors: its total storage and its recover time, or how quickly it can warm a full tank of water. Both gas and electric water heaters are rated based on how many gallons they can heat to 90 degrees F in an hour.
For example, a 40-gallon gas water heater with 40,000 BTU can heat its entire capacity in an hour. A 40-gallon electric heater using 240 volts is only able to heat half its capacity in that time.
Electric water heaters take longer to warm up than most gas-powered models, so if you’re planning to buy an electric system it should be larger than its gas counterpart. This is especially true if you have a large family or use more hot water than the average household. Residential electric hot water heaters can be purchased with capacities as large as 100 gallons or more.
Tankless Hot Water Heaters
An emerging trend in hot water heaters is the tankless unit. Tankless heaters heat only the water that is needed in the moment; they don’t store heated water for future use. These devices are more energy efficient because they require less power than conventional water heaters that must constantly heat and reheat water stored in the tank to keep it ready for use. Though a tankless water heater will likely cost significantly more to purchase than a traditional hot water heater, it will more than pay for itself in monthly energy savings, and you’ll never have to worry about running out of hot water. There are electric tankless models, but gas-powered units are generally more effective.
Need Help With Your Hot Water Heater?
Horizon Services is always available fix or help you maintain your hot water heater. We also sell and install hot water heaters from leading brands such as Rheem, Bradford White, A.O. Smith and others.
Related Hot Water Heater Information from Horizon Services...
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Weatherization Assistance Program from the U.S. Department of Energy
It seems like everything costs more these days -- and like we’re all trying to stay afloat with less. For those who qualify, the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) provides a long-term solution to the rising cost of household utilities.Since the Weather Assistance Program’s inception in 1976, more than 6 million low income families have benefitted from home improvements that not only help make their energy costs more manageable, but also reduce national energy dependency, improve the environment, and encourage economic growth in poor communities.
The Weatherization Assistance Program works with various service providers to install energy-efficient upgrades for qualifying homeowners at no cost. While these are not extravagant improvements—the average spending limit is $6,500 per household—they are effective and generally pay for themselves in just a few years. The Department of Energy monitors the energy savings and compares them to program costs to ensure that spending and value are proportionate.
Weatherization has an impact greater than just helping low-income families save money. The same initiatives that have been part of the Weatherization Assistance Program for decades have helped spawn an entire industry sector dedicated to green construction measures. Energy-efficient construction employs thousands and many of the improvements that have become standard practice in the industry were first developed as part of the Weatherization Assistance Program. In fact, the weatherization program continues to lead testing and advancements in home energy efficiency, making these upgrades more readily available to us all.
The Department of Energy distributes federal dollars to individual states to fund Weatherization Assistance Program initiatives, but each state is charged with setting rules and guidelines for eligibility. States also select Weatherization Assistance Program service providers and review performance for quality. There are more than 900 state and non-profit agencies that make up the nation’s weatherization network.
Many of us have heard of home weatherization—which involves inexpensive improvements like replacing weather stripping around windows and doors—but the services and upgrades offered through the Weatherization Assistance Program are a bit different. The program’s focus is on low-cost solutions to high energy bills. This involves things like heating and cooling systems, electrical systems, and appliances. The Weatherization Assistance Program looks at the whole residence and tries to identify the most cost-effective ways to improve energy efficiency.
Because many of the homes and multi-family dwellings the Weatherization Assistance Program serves are also aging and in need of repair, the weatherization program is concerned with the overall safety of each project. Every major energy system is thoroughly checked for safety before and after installation.
The Weatherization Assistance Program takes a comprehensive approach to green and energy-efficient renovations and upgrades. Each property is subjected to a sophisticated and individualized analysis that takes all aspects of the building’s structure into account. The goal is to maximize energy efficiency while controlling costs and making a difference in the high cost of utilities for struggling families. This approach has also helped drive the scientific advances in energy-efficient and eco-friendly initiatives that have become a hallmark of the Weatherization Assistance Program and have spread to other sectors of the home construction industry.
Related Information from Horizon Services...
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Your Guide to Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers
A humidifier and dehumidifier are essential components of any home HVAC system. Proper humidification is necessary to maintain ideal moisture levels in both summer and winter months to achieve healthy indoor air quality. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers also help your furnaces and air conditioners work more efficiently.Below is a quick list of some of the major types of humidifiers and dehumidifiers in use today.
- Ultrasonic Humidifier: These units employ a high-frequency energy source that breaks water up into miniscule droplets that are circulated through the air in your home by a small fan. Ultrasonic humidifiers are desirable because they’re quiet and use very little energy. However, using hard water in the machine can leave a sticky white film all over your house so it’s best to use filtered or distilled water for best results.
- Evaporative Humidifier: Using a honeycomb wick made of cellulose paper partially submerged in water and a high-volume fan these humidifiers distribute moisture into the air. They can be noisy and the wicks must be replaced regularly to maintain functionality, but evaporative humidifiers are very easy to clean and use little energy.
- Impeller Humidifier: This type of unit sprays tiny droplets of water directly into the air. Perfect for small spaces or single-room humidification, impeller devices are inexpensive and portable. Because the water enters the room directly, though, be sure to use distilled water or demineralizing tablets to ensure that hard water deposits won’t damage furniture and flooring.
- Floor Vent Humidifier: The floor vent humidifier is a device that fits in the space where a standard floor vent register would normally go. The units have a water chamber that holds liquid, which then passes through a filter and into the air when the home’s heating system cycles on. They use no energy and are much more portable than traditional plug-in units, making floor vent humidifiers a great option for single-room humidification.
- Furnace-Mounted Humidifier: Furnace-mounted humidifiers connect directly to your home’s water supply, so the foam element that mounts on the furnace is automatically refilled as needed. As dry air from the heating system is forced through the foam, it collects moisture and distributes it throughout the house. Some furnace-mounted humidifiers even come equipped with an automatic reset humidistat that adjusts moisture according to changes in the weather.
- Warm Mist Device: A warm mist humidifier contains a heating element that warms water to near boiling before it passes through a cooling fan that distributes the moisture into the air. The returned moisture is slightly warmer that the air in the room, making warm mist devices desirable for nurseries or children’s rooms. Tap water can be used in these units, though they do consume more energy than other models and some are quite noisy.
- Evaporative Cooler: These machines use ice and cold water to put moisture back in the air. Ice and water are mounted on top of the device and as the ice melts the water flows over a wick. A fan then blows cool mist into the air. Evaporative coolers use very little energy and pose almost no risk from harsh chemicals or pollutants.
- Dehumidifier: Humid air passes over and through coils inside the unit which cool the air and condense moisture. The water is then collected in a basin inside the dehumidifier; most devices will shut off automatically when the basin is full. Because of the automatic shut-off feature, these machines have to be checked regularly and the basins must be emptied as needed so the dehumidifier keeps working properly.
To find out what kind of humidification/dehumidification system is best for your home, speak to a Horizon Services Comfort Consultant or HVAC Service Technician!
Related Information...
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