Sunday, November 15, 2009

Instant Hot Water! – Home Improvement Idea

There are a lot of home improvement ideas floating around out there, and every one has his own opinion of what a good home improvement idea is. Well I think instant hot water from your fixtures is a great idea! It will save you not only time, but thousands of gallons of water, and it can save you energy too.

Saving water and energy means you are reducing your carbon footprint and taking steps to going green. Help yourself and help our planet at the same time.

Probably most people don’t think about plumbing when they think about home improvement projects. After all, the plumbing layout has been already implemented and so changing the plumbing system into a green system by improving the plumbing layout is an unlikely project.

However, fast hot water is easy to obtain by using a hot water demand system.

Few would argue that it’s no fun standing there waiting for the hot water to arrive at the fixture. You stand there and watch the water run down the drain. But you don’t have to; you can install a hot water demand system in a single afternoon. Demand hot water system pumps can be obtained for less than $200, making it a fast and inexpensive home improvement idea or do-it-yourself project.

A demand hot water system delivers the hot water from your existing water heater at a higher flow rate than your faucet can deliver. That way the hot water gets to the fixture more quickly reducing your wait time.

More importantly, you don’t run water down the drain while you wait. When you turn on the fixture you get instant hot water. The demand pump connects between your hot and cold water lines under the furthest sink from your water heater. When you want hot water you “demand” it by pressing a button.

The pump starts up and send hot water to the fixture in seconds, returning the cooled off hot water that was in the hot water pipes back to the water heater through the existing cold water lines. When hot water reaches the pump, it shuts off. Now when your turn the spigot you get instant hot water.

Some models of demand hot water systems connect up to your plumbing with faucet supply hoses just like the ones already under your sink.

Hot water demand systems can also operate with tankless water heaters unlike traditional hot water recirculation systems. Just make sure the demand hot water system you purchase is powerful enough to turn on your tankless water heater. Some models like the Metlund S-50T and S-70T don’t have much power, and won’t turn on many models of tankless water heaters.
These quick hot water systems, at least the demand systems, use very little electricity since they run for such a short time, and only when you demand it. Typically they consume less than $2.00 per year in electricity costs.

With all the benefits of saved time, saved water, saved energy and reduced carbon foot print and the small initial investment, a hot water demand system should be in nearly every home. Don’t wait any longer, install a hot water demand system today and get instant hot water when you turn on your fixture – a great home improvement idea!