Posts filed under 'Reviews'
Fogarty & Fogarty Plumbing Co. installed a hot water re-circulating pump in our home and we no longer wait several minutes for hot water. The re-circulating pump is installed at the water heater and a bypass valve is installed at the furthest fixture from the water heater. In our case, this was our children’s bathroom sink. The bypass valve in conjunction with the re-circ. pump gently pushes hot water throughout the plumbing system. No return line is needed since the bypass valve connects the hot and cold under the children’s sink. No water is wasted while circulating the hot water since the cold line eventually goes back to the water heater.
Our average water usage for the nine months prior to installation was 216 gallons per day. Our average water usage for the next nine months after installing the pump was 154 per day. We average a savings of 62 gallons everyday. That may not sound like much, but multiply that by 365 days and we will have saved 22,630 gallons in a years time. The manufacturer suggests savings up to 16,000 gallons of water per year, per household. Based on that figure, our kids were obviously big water wasters!
We researched our options and confidently chose a Grunfos Comfort System. What we liked about this system was that it retrofits to existing plumbing, a return line was not required, it uses less energy than a 25 watt light bulb, and has a built-in timer. Since hot water is not needed throughout the entire day, we utilize the timer option. Our hot water circulates from 5:oo a.m. – 8:00 a.m. and from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. This is when we take our showers, run the dishwasher, and do laundry.
The entire system including installation was less than $500.00. We enjoy the water savings because it is the right thing to do, we like that we are not paying for water we are not using, and most of all – I love the fact that the H on my faucets reflect reality.
For some, there is a slight downfall to the system. Warmer water can work it’s way into the cold line. However, for us that is not a problem since warm water cools down quickly in the pipes. In Myrtle Beach, SC we never get truly cold water because our water lines are not that deep. For cold water we turn to another modern convenience, our automatic ice maker and filtered water in the door of our refrigerator. Life is good. :o)
http://www.theplumberwhocares.com/
July 28th, 2010
Prior to moving to Myrtle Beach, SC, I never had to wait too long for hot water. When I turned a faucet on hot, hot water quickly followed. When I turned a faucet on cold, the water was cold. Life was nice and everything worked just as expected.
When it came time to buy a home, we learned that plumbing is done differently in the south, especially in coastal areas. Giving up a basement wasn’t a big deal for me, I never liked the cold dark places anyway. However, I wondered where they put the pipes, the main shut-off valves, and water heaters. Upon closer inspection, I discovered a lot of slab houses (built directly on a concrete slab) where the piping was run underneath the slab, main shut-off valves were non-existent, and water heaters were located in garages (some were even located in attics).
Hmmm . . . that’s not how I would have done it.
After several months of searching, we became proud owners of a house built on a slab. It didn’t take long to realize that the H & C on the faucets had little meaning. On one side of the house the wait for hot water was a little longer than we were accustomed and the other side was a much longer wait. Luckily, our bathroom was located on the side where the wait wasn’t that long. Unfortunately, getting hot water in the kitchen took patience. Running the water for what seemed like forever to get hot water to run the dishwasher started to wear on my nerves. I would complain, but it would be quickly forgotten about until the next evening.
I knew the solution to our problem and like most Americans, I procrastinated as something else always seemed more important. Then one day something happened that was the last straw and it wasn’t waiting for hot water to get to the kitchen sink. It was one of our children complaining of not having any hot water for a shower.
How could this be? We had an 80 gallon water heater. Well after questioning our children, we found out that they would all do the same thing. Turn on the shower, set it all the way to hot, and walk away. At some point, they would make it back to the bathroom where the water was hot. Multiply that by three children and it’s easy to see what had happened.
The solution has saved us time and money! Our water usage went down significantly, so we not only saved money, we were also not wasting a precious resource. Best of all, no more waiting for hot water!
In Part II, I will let you know how we solved our problem and exactly how much we were able to reduce our water usage.
http://www.theplumberwhocares.com/
July 23rd, 2010
This past fall Rheem, a leading provider of water heaters since the 1920’s, introduced their NEW hybrid heat pump water heater. Due to demand, Rheem has come out with a 40 gallon model as well.
Now you might be wondering “What is a heat pump water heater?” and “Will Myrtle Beach, SC plumbers install them?”
To answer the first question . . . a heat pump water heater has a heat pump mounted on top of the water heater. The heat pump pulls heat out of the surrounding air and utilizes a compressor to intensify the heat, this heat is then transferred to the water, and the cooler air is exhausted. To visualize the process, think of a refrigerator operating in the reverse.
In Myrtle Beach, this is a very efficient way to heat water since the average temperature in our region is over 40 degrees. Installing in an attic or garage carries the added benefit of cooling the area where the water heater is installed along with dehumidification. Rheem recommends air space around the heat pump of 1,000 cubic feet (10′ x 10′ x 10′ room). In other words, laundry rooms and closets would not be suitable for the Rheem Heat Pump Water Heater.
The Rheem HP50RH Heat Pump Water Heater is Energy Star approved with a 2.0 Energy Factor. It offers twice the efficiency of a standard tank type electric water heater which can save you every month on your electric bill! Using Santee Cooper’s published rates of $.0.0888/kWh for Non-Summer season and $0.0988/kWh for Summer Season, annual expected savings for a homeowner are in the range of $228.00 – $254.00 depending on individual usage.
Need more convincing? The Rheem Hybrid Electric Water Heater qualifies for Federal tax credits up to $1,500. The Federal tax credit is limited to 30% of energy efficient building property and cost of installation through 2010, with a total limit of $1,500.
Need more? 10 Year Limited Tank and Parts Warranty from the Manufacturer.
Need more? See Rheem’s attached Estimated Homeowner Payback Chart!
To answer the second question . . . a resounding yes! Fogarty & Fogarty Plumbing will be offering it’s customers both Rheem Heat Pump Water Heaters. However, due to demand and availability, please allow at least one week to get your water heater in.
www.theplumberwhocares.com
July 19th, 2010
Insinkerator’s new Evolution ProEssential garbage disposal promises a lot, but does it deliver?
Taken straight from the box, you know you are holding a quality garbage disposal. We were immediately impressed with the overall look and feel of the unit. It makes the Badger V look dated and inadequate. The 40 oz. stainless steel chamber and components mean added life. Looks are nice, but how does it work?
If you want to grind more and hear less, this garbage disposal delivers on both counts. Insinkerator’s new MultiGrind technology utilizes a two-stage process to quickly grind food waste finer than any previous disposer. Also, the ProEssential has AutoReverse which helps prevent jams by automatically reversing the grind direction each time the disposer is activated. Your grind elements wear evenly therefore, extending disposer life. Potato peels and rice which are particularly problematic for garbage disposals are no match for the ProEssential. Finer food waste helps prevent clogged drains.
Insinkerator didn’t just stop there with improvements, they added SoundSeal technology so you hear 40% less noise. With today’s kitchens being the center of entertainment, you’ll appreciate this feature.
Another benefit that impressed us was the extended warranty on the Pro Series. We can’t imagine you will need to utilize the warranty, but it is GREAT to know that it’s there if you need it!
We have installed many ProEssentials and we are happy to report we have not had any complaints nor any sink clogs.
Insinkerator has built more than 100 million garbage disposals over the past 78 years, so it is no surprise why they are leading the industry and rank #1.
theplumberwhocares.com/insinkerator.html
November 10th, 2009
