Kitchen sink

You’re almost finished with your kitchen remodel, but you still haven’t found the right faucet for your new sink. Then it happens: during one Saturday-afternoon foray through a kitchen showroom, you spot the perfect polished-brass beauty. Should you buy it? Maybe. But before you plunk down your hard-earned cash, it’s a good idea to make sure you know what you’re buying.
Most faucets are turned off and on repeatedly, day in and day out, for many years. For that reason, you’ll want to choose one that not only looks great, but is convenient and safe and will provide durable service for a long time. Though price is usually a pretty good measure of quality, it isn’t necessarily the best measure-nor does it determine whether or not a certain faucet will best serve your needs. To make a wise choice, you need a clear understanding of typical faucet construction and inner workings.Faucet temperature-control valves and safety considerationsWith a good valve, water temperature shouldn’t change abruptly as you adjust from cold to hot. In addition, to prevent burns, particularly to children in bathrooms, a scald-guard or temperature-limit feature is offered by several makers for single-control faucets. With these, you can remove the handle and adjust the maximum water temperature the faucet will deliver-a wise feature if you have small children (most plumbing codes now require these types of valves in new residential construction). For water conservation, all new faucets are now mandated to deliver no more than 2.5 gallons per minute; some provide additional adjustable flow rate restrictors.Warranties vary. The best ones offer lifetime protection against leaks and drips, insuring that your faucet will provide years of trouble-free service.

water heater ?’s

Electric Water Heaters: Suggestions?
My father must replace the water heater in his home. Is there a brand that anyone would recommend as reliable? Or advise against any particular company? During the 10 years in the plumbing business, I had much success with A.O. Smith water heaters. They are usually available from a Plumbing Wholesale Supply house, not from a home center.Things to be careful of when replacing an electric water heater Your father should make sure that the gallonage of the heater, and wattage of the elements, are the same in the new one as the old one. This information is usually available on the label of the old heater. He should also purchase a new relief valve, as they should be replaced every time you put in a new heater. The new relief valve should be piped with 3/4″ piping to a point 6″ above the finished floor. It is acceptable to use plastic piping for this, but coming from the old school, I still prefer copper.
You father should also check the local codes with the building department. In many states the plumbing code states that a water heater replacement requires a plumbing permit, regardless of who installs the heater. This is done for the protection of the homeowner, as an improperly installed or connected heater could become a “projectile” under certain conditions, which could damage a home. Most insurance companies will be reluctant to pay for any damage is the work was not inspected by the town if it is required.
New Tankless Hot Water Heaters: Any Good?
I have to replace a hot water heater. A traditional 50-Gallon cost $350 installed. The new Aqua Star tankless would cost about $750 installed. Which way would you go?
Is the Aqua Star GAS? If so, go with it, they use about half the fuel. Check the specs; make sure it outputs the GPMs you need. Probably 200gpm for a house load. I was looking into a Takagi GAS tankless, and they are about $900. They are very efficient. Check out www.notanks.com
Changing from Electric to Gas Hot Water Heater
Can anyone give me an estimate on the price of a 40-gal gas, forced air water heater. The one that is vented with PVC??
I believe what you are asking is ‘what is the cost of a gas water heater with a POWER VENT.’ No such animal as a forced air water heater.
A gas water heater will cost you about $300.
Add to that the cost of piping for the gas supply…(My guess $200)
Add to that the cost of power vent…(my guess $200)
Add to that labor to install the heater…
Guess about $800 all told sight unseen…Maybe more for unusual circumstances..
. Down the road, replacement of heater will be minimal.
Your savings over electric (assuming you are going NG vs. Propane) will assist in the conversion.

water heater ?’s

Electric Water Heaters: Suggestions?
My father must replace the water heater in his home. Is there a brand that anyone would recommend as reliable? Or advise against any particular company? During the 10 years in the plumbing business, I had much success with A.O. Smith water heaters. They are usually available from a Plumbing Wholesale Supply house, not from a home center.Things to be careful of when replacing an electric water heater Your father should make sure that the gallonage of the heater, and wattage of the elements, are the same in the new one as the old one. This information is usually available on the label of the old heater. He should also purchase a new relief valve, as they should be replaced every time you put in a new heater. The new relief valve should be piped with 3/4″ piping to a point 6″ above the finished floor. It is acceptable to use plastic piping for this, but coming from the old school, I still prefer copper.
You father should also check the local codes with the building department. In many states the plumbing code states that a water heater replacement requires a plumbing permit, regardless of who installs the heater. This is done for the protection of the homeowner, as an improperly installed or connected heater could become a “projectile” under certain conditions, which could damage a home. Most insurance companies will be reluctant to pay for any damage is the work was not inspected by the town if it is required.
New Tankless Hot Water Heaters: Any Good?
I have to replace a hot water heater. A traditional 50-Gallon cost $350 installed. The new Aqua Star tankless would cost about $750 installed. Which way would you go?
Is the Aqua Star GAS? If so, go with it, they use about half the fuel. Check the specs; make sure it outputs the GPMs you need. Probably 200gpm for a house load. I was looking into a Takagi GAS tankless, and they are about $900. They are very efficient. Check out www.notanks.com
Changing from Electric to Gas Hot Water Heater
Can anyone give me an estimate on the price of a 40-gal gas, forced air water heater. The one that is vented with PVC??
I believe what you are asking is ‘what is the cost of a gas water heater with a POWER VENT.’ No such animal as a forced air water heater.
A gas water heater will cost you about $300.
Add to that the cost of piping for the gas supply…(My guess $200)
Add to that the cost of power vent…(my guess $200)
Add to that labor to install the heater…
Guess about $800 all told sight unseen…Maybe more for unusual circumstances..
. Down the road, replacement of heater will be minimal.
Your savings over electric (assuming you are going NG vs. Propane) will assist in the conversion.

remove water heater

Removing Your Old Water HeaterThe typical overhead-plumbed water heater hookup is shown in Fig. 1. Before you can connect the new heater, though, the old one must be taken out.

Begin heater removal by turning off the gas or electricity to the heater.
Drain the heater (Fig. 2). Opening a hot water faucet will let air into the system.

On a gas heater, separate the vent pipe from the draft hood. It should lift off after removing the sheet metal screw that holds it. After making sure the pilot light is out, disconnect the gas line at the heater and cap it.
Next, remove the heater from its water piping. If connected with unions–removable threaded fittings–take them apart with a pair of pipe wrenches. Pipes without unions will have to be hacksawed off (Fig. 3). Or a pipe/tubing cutter will do the job. The old heater can now be taken away and disposed of at a dumpsite.

heating the water

Heating the WaterThe thermostat controls the temperature of the water inside the tank. Normally you can set the temperature between 120 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit (49 to 82 degrees Celsius). It is generally recommended that you keep the temperature between 120 to 140 degrees F (49 to 60 C) — especially if there are children living in the house — to prevent scalding. It also saves energy.
Normally, the thermostat is underneath a cover plate and it has a knob or a screw that you can use to set the temperature.
You can see in the diagram that a water heater uses nothing more than the “heat rises” principle to separate hot water from cold water in the tank.
As cold water comes in, it remains at the bottom of the tank because it is denser than hot water. If you use the hot water faster than the heating elements can heat the incoming cold water, and if you consume all of the hot water that the tank holds, you run out of hot water in the middle of your shower. If this seems to happen too often, it could mean that the bottom heating element in an electric water heater has burned out or that your water heater is too small for your house. Or it could mean that you are taking really, really long showers.