Rough Plumbing « Basement Remodeling

November 19, 2009

Tankless Water Heaters and Energy Savings

Filed under: Basement, Rough Plumbing, basement bathrooms & accessories, basement remodeling costs, finished basements — Tags: 2009 federal tax credit, basement remodeling, columbus, energy savings, ohio, plumbing, tankless water heater — Basements @ 7:22 pm

Today’s homeowners want energy-efficient appliances. What better way to do that than with a tankless water heater. You can get an endless supply of hot water while saving money and our precious natural resources. Basement remodeling companies have been installing more and more of these systems. Why not, they take up less space, they are more efficient and they last twice as long.

Tankless water heaters are small wall mounted units that heat water only when needed by using an electric coil or natural gas to heat water passing through a network of copper pipes inside. This eliminates the risk of a tank failure and the energy lost by constantly reheating water. Two of the most popular tankless water heaters are the Bosch AquaStar 2700ES NG (natural gas) and Bosch AquaStar 2700ES LP (propane) . Typically the gas-fired tankless water heaters will produce higher flow rates than an electric tankless which is why I use and recommend the Bosch ones you see above. Some of the smaller tankless systems you might find cheaper online or at Home Depot cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous usage in a large household so be careful when making a selection. The Aquastar 2700ES delivers 7 gallons per minute( enough to run several fixtures at once), electronic ignition( no standing pilot light), direct vent combustion, remote thermostat, and a 12year warranty on the heat exchanger with a 2year warranty on parts

For your installation make sure you check local building code requirements and/or have a qualified plumbing , heating, or general contractor help you with your installation. Whether you choose gas or electric they should be able to help you make sure the gas venting requirements or the electrical wiring requirements are met. Remember the proper installation/maintenance of your system can optimize the energy efficiency and help it last for decades.

Guidelines for the Tax Credit can be viewed on the ENERGY STAR website.

The average life expectancy of a tankless system can be over 20 year where a standard tank might last 10-15 years. A tankless system can have an energy savings of up to 50% and most are energy star rated. To make things even better this item qualifies for a Federal Tax Incentive equal to 30% of the purchase and installation cost up to $1500. Theses home improvement tax credits are available for energy-saving home improvements that are placed in service in your primary residense from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010.

You can also check http://www.dsireusa.org/. DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. There you find information for all state and local Incentives/Policies for Renewables & Efficiency.

Click here for information on how to apply for the energy tax credit

(IRS) guidelines for consumers can be viewed here: IRS Notice 2006-26

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July 1, 2008

Do you have rough plumbing for a bath in your basement? If not we have an easy fix

Filed under: Basement, Rough Plumbing, basement bathrooms & accessories, basement remodeling, finished basements — Tags: Basement, basement bathrooms & accessories, basement ideas, basement remodeling, basement waterproofing, basements, bathroom, columbus, finished basements, ideas, macerating pump, new albany, pictures, powell, Saniflo Sanipack, westerville — Basements @ 3:52 am

Many people want to have basement remodeling done to add extra living space. Do you want a bathroom in your basement? Many times what they find out is that the house they live in the basement was never roughed in for a bathroom. Normally you would have to have your basement contractor or plumber jackhammer or saw cut the concrete floor to run the new sewer lines into the existing system and then put the concrete back. Doing that is not only costly but its also very messy. There are new systems that can save you money and spare you from the dirty work of tearing up the concrete. The Saniflo Saniplus can be built into a wall cavity in the basement concealed behind the framing system. The Saniplus is a system that is used to install a complete bathroom in a basement up to 9 feet below the sewer line, or even up to 100 feet away from a soil stack without breaking up the concrete. You can have a toilet, vanity, and shower unit all hooked up to this unit. To find out more about the system including the cost or to purchase your own systemread below.

The Saniplus includes the macerating unit toilet tank and bowl but no seat.Since the reservoir, the macerating pump and the pipes are hidden from view, this type of installation gives you the lean and clean look of a European bathroom or powder room. The toilet uses only 6 liters (1.6 USG) of water per flush. The Saniplus is simplicity itself to install; there are just four connections:

The macerating pump is connected to the discharge pipe coming from the toilet.
The toilet tank is connected to the water supply.
The macerating pump is connected to small diameter discharge pipe work.
The macerating pump is connected to electrical supply.

If you want to conceal the unit in the wall you will need the extension also.

The Saniplus macerating system is comprised of a pressure chamber, which starts and stops the unit, and the motor, which drives the stainless steel macerator blades and pump. To learn more about the macerating process please refer to What is a macerator? A normal operating cycle for Saniplus takes about 10–20 seconds depending upon the discharge pipe run configuration; power consumption is therefore minimal.

You can find out other detailed information, specs, and other helpful products at Saniflo.com. If you are interested in purchasing one, Amazon.com carries both the SaniPlus Macerator Toilet with Elongated Bowl and the SaniPlus Macerator Toilet with Round Bowl.

Remember when doing basement remodeling always do you own research before choosing the products you will use and make sure
that they are right for your job. If you need help try this book or hire a competent basement contractor to help you with these decisions.

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