Dear Angie:

I’m thinking about purchasing a tankless water heater and would love some feedback.

- Jean C., Clarendon Hills, Ill.

Dear Jean:

There are plenty of great reasons to purchase a tankless water heater. A tankless heater is able to provide an almost endless stream of hot water and occupies a minimal amount of space, compared to the conventional storage tank water heater, which requires the use of fuel to maintain hot water temperature, even when the water is not in use.

A tankless heater only heats the water that you use, meaning it’s more efficient when it comes to fuel usage. Once it gets to the faucet, you never run out of hot water.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates gas-fired tankless heaters can save the average U.S. family 30 percent off their water heating expenses an average of more than $100 per year over their traditional counterparts. Qualifying non-electric tankless water heaters are eligible this year for a $300 federal tax credit.

Tankless systems typically cost about twice that of a conventional system from about $1,500 to $3,000 depending on the type of unit and the necessary installment requirements, including a minimum 3/4-inch gas line. While the initial cost is higher, the tax credit helps offset that. Plus, a tankless unit should last 20 years about twice as long as a tank unit.

There are some limits to tankless water heaters. Because the unit provides only water it can heat, it’s important for homeowners to manage their water use. For example, while three people could take back-to-back-to-back showers and wouldn’t run out of hot water, if one person is taking a shower, you have a load of laundry washing in hot water, and the dishwasher is being used, not enough water can be heated at once, so the system will limit the amount it will produce.

In most home applications, a gas heater is your best bet. Electric tankless heaters are available as well, but those are best in limited situations, such as smaller apartments or point-of-use applications, like sinks or smaller areas that require hot water.

Tankless units do require proper venting upon installation and should be installed close to gas lines to operate at their highest efficiency. It’s important that only a qualified, licensed plumber install them.

Tankless heaters do require regular maintenance every year or two to reduce scale buildup with a professional flushing process that costs about $150-$200, but they can be easily repaired, compared to storage units, meaning fewer tanks end up rusting in a landfill as a result.

Courtesy of Angie Hicks

You can contact us at (513)770-5590 or by email at info@nixcoplumbing.com .

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Find out About Nixco Plumbing Inc.

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We service our valued clients in Mason, Ohio and  all surrounding areas such as Lebanon, Loveland, West Chester, Kings Mills, Landen, Bethany, Wetherington, Olde West Chester, South Lebanon, Monroe, Springboro,  Morrow, Maineville, Cincinnati, Blue Ash and many more.

Nixco Plumbing Inc. installs, services and repairs backflow preventers, water heaters, garbage disposers, sump pumps, ejector pumps, drinking fountains, lav faucets, kitchen sink faucets, shower valves, tub valves, hose bibbs, toilets, sewer lines, water lines, miscellaneous plumbing repairs and much more.  We can also take care  of your sewer and drain cleaning, water line repairs,  sewer line repairs and much more.

Three Mason businesses and NECC Chamber Members received Small Business Recognition Awards during City of Mason Small Business Recognition Week in June. The businesses were honored for their entrepreneurship, successes, and commitment to the Mason community.

Jeff Heger accepted the Green Business Practices award for Nixco Plumbing, located at 4281 U.S. 42. The business was started by his father, Jim Heger, in 1978. Jeff currently runs the company, which employs about 25 people. Nixco’s philosophy with regards to customer service is to earn the lifelong business of the customer. The company supports local schools and churches through many advertising and sponsorship opportunities.

Diane and Brad Sheltrown, owners of Campioni’s Pizzeria, received the Retail award for their restaurant at 6691 Western Row Road. The new Mason location opened in April of 2010. They also have a restaurant in Springboro. The Sheltrowns enjoy working with local schools, sports teams, and other groups with their fundraising endeavors.

Everybody’s Health, a medical practice that has grown to 4 locations with 6 doctors and 6 massage therapists, opened in 2002 and is currently located at 6213 Snider Road in Mason. Owner Dr. David Berring and his staff are committed to helping patients reach their health goals by providing chiropractic care, massage therapy, and nutrition care in one location. They support area businesses by providing free wellness programs and speakers. They received the award in the Professional/Service category.

Congratulations to these deserving winners.

You can contact us at (513)770-5590 or by email at info@nixcoplumbing.com .

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Find out About Nixco Plumbing Inc.

Become a Facebook  Fan of Nixco Plumbing Inc.

We service our valued clients in Mason, Ohio and  all surrounding areas such as Lebanon, Loveland, West Chester, Kings Mills, Landen, Bethany, Wetherington, Olde West Chester, South Lebanon, Monroe, Springboro,  Morrow, Maineville, Cincinnati, Blue Ash and many more.

Nixco Plumbing Inc. installs, services and repairs backflow preventers, water heaters, garbage disposers, sump pumps, ejector pumps, drinking fountains, lav faucets, kitchen sink faucets, shower valves, tub valves, hose bibbs, toilets, sewer lines, water lines, miscellaneous plumbing repairs and much more.  We can also take care  of your sewer and drain cleaning, water line repairs,  sewer line repairs and much more.

Lured by $300 million in stimulus-funded rebates on energy-efficient appliances, consumers have bought more than 615,000 washing machines, refrigerators and other appliances under the “dollars for dishwashers” program.

That’s one reason the rebate program isn’t meeting the U.S. Department of Energy’s projected energy savings. With 88 percent of rebates spent, they’ve generated $27.5 million in annual fuel and water savings – well below than the projected $84 million.

A typical water heater replaced under the program saves $76 a year in energy costs, compared with an average of $34 a year for other appliances. The government projected 19 percent of energy savings would come from water heater replacements, but by June 30, that number was only 5 percent.

The national program ends February 2012, although it has already wrapped up in 24 states, including Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky (although Kentucky officials are still taking names for a waiting list, in case some money isn’t claimed).

Energy officials and experts cite a number of factors for the lower-than-expected numbers so far:

Distribution. Customers usually buy refrigerators, clothes washers and other “white goods” from retail stores, while plumbers often select the replacement water heaters, Stutsman said. “As states are re-examining and relaunching the programs to make the best use of their money, they’re reaching out to the heating and plumbing contractor community,” she said.

New washing machines were the top picks of Ohio and Kentucky residents, while new HVAC systems were the top picks for Indiana residents, according to the USA Today analysis.

State rules. The federal government allowed each state to craft its own rules for the program based on local needs. Only 29 states or territories, including Ohio and Kentucky, offered rebates on water heaters.

Weather. For most states, the rebate program launched in March or April, giving a boost to cooling appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners, said Energy Department spokeswoman Jen Stutzman. “Climate is one of the driving factors,” she said.

Visibility. Most people don’t think about their water heaters until they break. “You don’t buy it because one day you say, Gee, I want to buy a water heater,’ ” said Jeff Harris of the Alliance to Save Energy. “You buy it because one day you walk downstairs and see a puddle on the floor.”

Stutzman said energy savings were just one goal of the rebates, which came out of the $814 billion stimulus bill. Energy Department data show $732 million in rebated appliances sold.

By Gregory Korte, USA Today

Save $75 on Water Heater furnished & installed

Watersense labeled new homes are designed to reduce residential water use indoors, as well as outdoors, compared to typical new homes—allowing you and your family to enjoy all the comforts of home while using less water and energy, and spending less money on utility bills.

Watersense labeled new homes help families save an average of 10,000 gallons of water and at least $100 on utility costs each year by including WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures, an efficient hot water delivery system, water-efficient landscape design, and other water- and energy-efficient features. For more information in regards to watersense products and literature, please visit the water sense website at www.epa.gov/WaterSense/

Partnering to Build WaterSense Labeled Homes

Are you a homebuilder who wants to become more involved in green residential building? WaterSense labeled new homes are designed to work well with other green building programs (ENERGY STAR, LEED®, National Green Building Standard) and allow flexibility to meet homeowners’ needs. Learn more about how to partner with WaterSense, build homes to the WaterSense Specification for Single-Family New Homes, and get your homes independently inspected and certified to meet EPA’s water-efficiency and performance criteria.

Watersense invites other organizations interested in bringing beautiful, water-efficient homes to your neighborhood to partner with EPA. Learn more about other WaterSense new homes partnership opportunities for certification providers and builders. For additional information, visit the website at www.epa.gov/WaterSense/

Save $25 on Your Next Service Call

1. Replace your showerhead. Showerheads installed after 1992 use 2.5 gallons of water per

minute (gpm), while older showerheads can use double that. Every 10-minute shower — even

when equipped with a 2.5 gpm model — uses 25 gallons of water. Today’s low-flow

showerheads use between 1.5 and 1.75 gpm of water – a savings of 40 percent over the 2.5

gpm models, or a gallon for every minute you are in the shower. Those savings easily add up

in households that have multiple showers a day. Be careful, though: Almost every 2.5 gpm

shower still advertises itself as “low-flow.” This misnomer must be carefully examined when you

are shopping for new showerheads – make sure the carton states 1.5 or 1.75 gpm water flow.

2. Replace your toilet. Toilets installed after 1992 use 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf). If you have one

that was installed before 1992 (and there are millions of them out there!), it probably uses 3.5

gpf. Fortunately, there are other alternatives, including dual-flush toilets, which feature two

flush options: one for liquid waste and one for solid waste. Thus, when less water is needed,

you can use the lower-flush option. Dual-flush toilets typically use 0.8 gpf for liquid waste and

the standard 1.6 gpf for solid waste, although the most efficient versions use 1.28 gpf for solid

waste. These toilets average one gpf in water use throughout the course of the day – a savings

of 37%! If you are switching from a pre-1992 toilet that uses 3.5 gpf – your savings is 72%!

Now we’re getting somewhere.

3. Replace your faucet aerators. Every sink comes with an aerator installed. It’s what allows the

water to come out in a confined manner, rather than spraying all over the sink. Unfortunately,

most faucets come with an aerator that allows 2.2 gallons per minute of water flow. A standard

shower (which you’ve already converted to low-flow!) uses 2.5 gallons per minute. That means

your bathroom sink is putting out almost as much water as your shower! While you may need

- more -

more than a gallon of water to wash your entire body, you do not need that much water to wash

your hands and face, shave, or brush your teeth. What to do? Faucet aerators are the threedollar

solution – simply go to your nearest hardware store and purchase a 1 gpm or, even

better, an 0.5 gpm aerator. Bring it home, unscrew the existing one, and replace it with the new

low-flow version. You’ll have instant water savings, over 50% (or 75% with 0.5 gpm versions),

for less than $3 and three minutes of your time. Replacing faucet aerators is the easiest and

most cost-effective water-saving measure that each and every one of us can do in our homes

and places of employment.

4. Replace your faucets. If you have a leaky faucet, your best bet would be to replace it with a

new WaterSense®-labeled model with a maximum flow rate of 1.5 gpm, or a savings of 30%

over conventional faucets. If you currently have a pre-1992 model, your savings will likely be

even greater.

5. Switch to a front loading clothes washer. According to the Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA), the average family does nearly 400 loads of laundry annually. That’s a lot of washing!

By switching to an ENERGY STAR®-rated, front loading washing machine, you can cut water

use in half, while saving over 30% on your energy bill.

6. Use your dishwasher (and make sure its ENERGY STAR labeled), instead of

handwashing your dishes. Using your dishwasher can use 30% less water over washing

dishes by hand, and it will save you time, too! But make sure to use an ENERGY STAR-rated

dishwasher, which will use 40% less water than a standard dishwasher, while saving energy in

the process! The cost is virtually the same, so if it is time to upgrade your dishwasher, make

sure you are looking for the ENERGY STAR label.

7. Wash your car at a carwash, not in the driveway. Washing your car in the driveway uses a

lot of water. Most hoses have no flow restrictors and often lay running continuously as you

soap up the car — not to mention the runoff. That water often runs into the storm sewer,

carrying soaps and pollutants into the drain. Many car washes recycle and clean their water for

reuse. These closed loop systems continuously reuse water versus running it down the drain.

8. Have your irrigation separately metered. This is not common in residential settings, but for

those of you with an irrigation system, make sure it has its own meter. This is important for two

reasons. First, if you don’t know how much water you are using for irrigation, how can you

measure your savings? The second reason goes straight to your pocketbook. If you do not

have your irrigation separately metered, you are more than likely paying sewer charges on that

water. Since irrigation is going straight into the ground for the plants, most municipalities won’t

charge you a sewer fee, and you’ll only pay for the water used. Paying only for water and not

for sewer for irrigation can cut your bill in half. So, if you do not have a separate meter for

irrigation, get one installed and watch your sewer bill plummet!

9. Add a moisture sensor to your irrigation system. How many times have you seen an

irrigation system running after it has rained for a week (or even while it is raining, for that

matter)? Too many irrigation systems turn on according to the same schedule, regardless of

the weather conditions, needlessly wasting thousands of gallons of water per household. While

there are complex weather monitors that actually track forecasts, a simple soil moisture

monitor reads how much water is in the ground and activates the irrigation system accordingly,

saving you water and money. And while you’re at it, make sure that irrigation system is

properly zoned. Turf lawns watered via sprinkler require more water than a drip irrigation

system for shrubs. Your irrigation system should have a different zone and setting for each type

of planting area around your house. Even basic zoning for turf grass versus plantings will

significantly cut down on the time a system is running.

10. You’ve heard it a million times, but I’ll say it again: Stop running water when you’re not

using it! Turn off the faucet when brushing teeth. Don’t turn on the shower until you’re ready to

get in. Don’t run the water while soaping up your hands. These are just a few examples I see

day in and day out. It doesn’t matter how efficient your fixtures are, if you’re running water

when you aren’t using it, it’s a complete waste, and turning off the water in these and other

situations is a free fix! You don’t have to pay anything to be smarter with your own water use!

Thanks to Tommy Linstroth – principal at Trident Sustainability Group

Save $25 on Your Next Service Call

Nixco Plumbing – Facebook

Water conservation programs are popping up around the country. Is it time for your approach to go beyond the basics?

Water-saving washers and dishwashers. High-efficiency and dual-flush toilets. Eco performance showerheads and faucets. All are well-established components of water conservation programs – and have proven effective for builders large and small. For instance, KB Home, the first national builder to partner with EPA’s WaterSense program, has used water-saving fixtures and appliances to reduce water consumption in its homes by 20 percent.

While a 20 percent savings is impressive, some builders are finding creative ways to save even more. There is potential for big savings, for example, by rethinking the home’s interior plumbing infrastructure and reducing the need for lawn irrigation.

Creative Plumbing

Tankless water heaters. A tankless water heater will be most effective if it’s placed as close to the point of use as possible. “Sometimes you might need two instead of one,” according to John Barrows, a Long Island-based green builder, and co-author of “Green Building for Dummies.”

Shorter pipe runs. Centrally locating a conventional water heater can reduce hot water piping. With less heat loss as water travels through the pipe, users won’t run the water as long while waiting for it to heat up.

Recirculating systems. A hot-water recirculating system uses a pump to quickly move hot water from the tank to the tap, while simultaneously sending cooled water back to the tank. One potential downside, according to Barrows, is that the system can be an energy drain if it’s left on all the time. He suggests adding timers, motion detectors, or a simple switch “so you can turn the system on like you turn on the lights.”

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