Reasons to Buy Tankless Water Heaters

Many homes are equipped with the traditional tank water heaters versus the tankless system. There is no one solution for every person, so we are going to explore the reasons why you may want to consider a tankless water heater installation.

First, let us consider the benefits of the current system, the tank heater. The tank heater has some obvious benefits, one of them being a constant supply of hot water stored in a tank and ready for use. This system has also been tried and true for several years with a whole host of ready solutions in the event of a breakdown. A tank heater is probably already installed in your home, so there is no need to procure a new unit and pay for its installation.

However, there are a few areas where the tank water heaters are inefficient in comparison to a tankless system. While it is a benefit to have water ready in a tank, the truth is, the water sits in the tank most of the day before ever being used. The water in the tank needs to maintain temperature, so the heater must be constantly keeping the water hot and under pressure. This is a very inefficient use of energy and unrealistic when compared to the actual daily usage of hot water in the average home.

A tankless water heater, on the other hand, only heats water when water is needed. This makes the tankless system the “green” or more energy efficient solution. The obvious concern is whether the tankless water heater can produce hot water on demand as it claims. This is definitely a valid worry, especially with more persons in a household. However, consider that not all tankless water heaters are created equal. When you buy tankless water heaters, it is important to do your research on the specific product to find out what its track record has been and what other consumers have said about that particular model.

Aside from conserving energy, tankless water heaters also conserve space. Whereas the tank system requires space for the tank unit itself, the tankless water heater is so much smaller in comparison; it can be mounted on the wall.

Another concern has been the cost to install a tankless water heater. Consider for a moment that the reason you may be thinking about installing a new water heater is perhaps because the current one is getting old or showing signs of its age. So if you are in this situation, you will need to spend money on a new unit to install anyhow. So what would the difference be between a tank versus a tankless water heater in this case? Well, a tankless water heater’s life expectancy is double that of a tank unit.
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Guest post is provided by Payless Water Heaters. If you are consider to purchase a tankless gas water heater, contact us at Paylesswaterheaters.com.

The Benefits of Portable Air Conditioners

With the days becoming hotter and central air conditioning units less affordable, window air conditioners are the best alternative. However, not all windows in a home or office are appropriate for installing a window air conditioning unit and this has given rise to the increasing usage of a rental portable air conditioner. There are several benefits of using a portable air conditioner. The major benefit, as its name suggests, they are extremely portable and are meant to be moved from one room to another. Some models have wheels attached to them in order to make moving easier, while others require the usage of casters mounted to them. Portable air conditioners can benefit large spaces that do not actually require uniform cooling and can also be used as a computer room air conditioner.

Certain types of portable air conditioners make use of electricity while others use battery power, for running. Those portable air conditioning units that run on battery are ideal for places that contain no source of power. In addition to offering these benefits, some portable air conditioners have built-in air filters that help in removing irritants from the air. This is  great for households that have infants and toddlers and for those who have respiratory issues. Also, certain air conditioners contain a dehumidifier to help reduce the humidity around you when you start to sweat more than usual. If you happen to live in a temperate location, a portable unit can be used as both heaters and air conditioners.

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Article submitted by Movincool, a leading online provider of portable air conditioner. The air conditioning units offered by this provider are both flexible and cost-effective.

Different Ways Of Installing Bamboo Floors

Bamboo hardwood floors are creating a huge buzz when it comes to home renovations. It offers many benefits both for the homeowners and the environment. High quality bamboo flooring is produced by mature bamboo shoots, these are active regenerative plants that produces a new bamboo between 3 and a half to seven years.

Installing bamboo floor is pretty simple, you may choose to hire a professional installer or try doing it by yourself. First things first, you need to acclimate the bamboo blanks inside your house. Acclimating simply means allowing the bamboo blanks to get accustomed to your room temperature for several days. This will help in avoiding distortion or warps should there be any sudden changes in humidity and temperature. Bamboo floors are typically nailed into a subfloor. You can also use a glue provided that the glue you use is not water based. The snap lock method is another popular choice of installation especially for people who chooses to go DIY. Bamboo blanks are built with grooves and cuts so that it locks with one another when assembled on the subfloor.

Four Effective Kitchen Remodeling Tips

If you’re interested in carrying out a kitchen remodeling project, the first thing to keep in mind that it isn’t all about countertops and cabinets. Your objective should be to design a space that is high on functionality.

Here are four effective home improvement tips to consider for your kitchen:

#1: Wide walkways

Keep paths through a kitchen at least 36 inches wide. As for paths within the cooking zone should be 42 to 48 inches wide depending on whether it is a one or two-cook kitchen.

#2: Keep the microwave out of reach

Determining the height and location of the microwave in the kitchen depends on whether emphasis must be placed on being kid-friendly or not. For adults, a thumb of rule is 15 inches above countertop level. It goes without saying that a below-countertop setup is suited to children.

#3: Plan for landing space

When in the process of designing your kitchen, make sure you leave at least 15 inches of landing space on either side of a refrigerator or cooktop. This applies to the area where your microwave is located too.

#4: Install swing-out taps or extra-long hose attachments

It can be annoying carrying pots of water from your sink to the cooktop. So, in order to avoid this, install swing-out taps or a hose that carries water from your faucet to your cooktop which you can use to fill water.

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Article submitted by Chicago Remodeling Solutions remains one of the few contractors in the Chicago area to have experience of more than 30 years. Considering the amount of expertise and the wide range of services that they offer, they have a reputation of being among the best remodeling contractors Chicago in the Chicago area.

Artificial Grass for Your Home

If you have difficulty keeping your front lawn alive and well presented, then it is time to consider putting in artificial grass for your home. There are a lot of positives associated with installing artificial grass, such as saving money, less time spent on landscaping, and beautification of your home.

Having an artificial grass lawn saves the homeowner a lot of money on different expenses. Firstly, the amount of money spent on your water bill will go down. Since there is no need to water your grass, the sprinklers will not be needed nearly as much, and it will reduce your total water usage. On average, having a fake lawn can save you up to 550 gallons of water a year- not just monetarily friendly, but eco-friendly as well. Secondly, the amount of money you spend on landscaping will go right back into your wallet. With an artificial grass lawn, no landscaping is needed! So no more gardeners or lawn mowers- it is already done. And thirdly, you will save money on the beautification of your lawn. Gone are the days when you needed to buy sod or new grass. With artificial grass, you do not have to worry about its upkeep or replacing it every year.

Another nice thing about having artificial grass is the amount of extra time you will have that you used to spend on landscaping. If you hired a landscaper, he or she is no longer needed. And if you were doing the landscaping yourself, it is not required! When you purchase your artificial grass lawn, you can decide what it looks like and how it will be presented in your lawn, so you will have a beautiful lawn that doesn’t change every week.

And it really is beautiful! If you purchase high quality artificial grass, neighbors and guests will not be able to tell the difference. The artificial grass can be matched to the natural grass of the area you live in, so it looks the same as how a real lawn would be. The only difference is that this lawn doesn’t need constant attention, saves you money, and keeps a weight off your mind!

Having artificial grass in residential areas provides the homeowners with peace of mind and the neighbors with a beautiful addition to the neighborhood. It is something to consider when wanting to save money in the long term and not needing to worry about giving constant attention to your front or back yard.

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Guest post sponsored by CCGrass Landscapes, provider of artificial grass lawns. For more information, visit their website at www.artificialgrasslandscape.com. 

Climate change to cause more wildfires

The Yarnell Hill fire in Arizona in June 2013 caused the loss of almost the entire firefighting team of Granite Mountain Hotshots. Only one member of the team was spared. During the 2013 fire season, the U.S. lost 32 people fighting wild fires, the largest number in nearly 20 years. Another huge wildfire spread near Yosemite National Park threatening some of the nature’s best.

People are moving closer and closer to areas prone to wildfires. On the other hand climate change is playing havoc throughout the world. Forest ecology is changing rapidly. All together disastrous wildfires are happening all over the world bringing air quality implications and destroying homes and infrastructure. There have been forest fires all throughout the history. But the difference now is humans are getting awfully closer to forest areas. On the other hand we humans are contributing to climate change causing forests to heat up and dry out. As a result scientists are predicting more devastating wildfires in the future. Australia, dry parts of the middle latitudes and tinder box of the American West are more prone to wild fires in the long run. Under extreme weather conditions carbon-rich peat soil of the high-latitude also becomes a candidate for future fires.

Timeless Home Design

We all want to have the best looking home for ourselves or our family. And why shouldn’t we? We spend most of our living hours outside of work at home, resting, relaxing and bonding with family. Naturally, we try to do some tweaks every now and then to make sure that our home is in tip top condition for receiving guests or just our own satisfaction. What’s annoying though is that constant renovations can be costly, time consuming and inconvenient. The best solution to this is to do one redesign wherein we use timeless themes and materials that will last a very long time.

When remodeling the home, try to look for designs that will stand the test of time such as neutral, solid walls or wood pattern floors. Also use materials that are classic such as marble, hard wood and granite. One design idea that you could explore is installing decorative medallions. Adding a floor medallion to your porch can add an instant touch of class for all those who enter your home. It also acts as a point of focus to hold together the design of your entryway.

This article was submitted by Medallion Depot. If you are considering stone medallionsfor your next home improvement, then check out the excellent selection at Medallion Depot. Available nationwide.

Laundry Revolution

Benefit From Water jet Precision

As business sectors grow increasingly competitive, and consumers demand increases, precision in manufacturing is an absolute necessity. With the competition chomping at the bit to steal your customers, giving people exactly what they want, when they want it is one of the most important aspects of running a successful business today.

This is true nowhere more than in manufacturing, where a single mistake can wind up costing you a vendor’s business, and substantial revenue dollars. To ensure production accuracy and quality, many manufacturers utilize computer controlled cutting machinery, and water jet cutter machines are one of the most precise in the comfort and support industry.

Water jet cutters make use of a highly pressurized stream of water, barely .005 inches in diameter, that cuts foam quickly and precisely. This machine can create a couch or stool cushion with clean lines and smooth curves more intricately than any individual could ever come close to accomplishing by hand. On some machines, the water stream is at pressures exceeding 60,000 PSI, and can be either pure water or abrasive-treated for additional cutting strength. A water-only jet can slice through four and a half inches of polyurethane soft foam with ease, while an abrasive waterjet can go through almost one and a half feet of the same material, though that machine will experience a shorter lifespan than the one that is water-only.

Foam custom-cut on a water jet is affordable for single runs like prototypes, because it just requires computer programming and no physical plates or dies. Without the lead times required to build those plates, the turnaround between submitting plans and getting your product is greatly lessened.

Waterjet cutters are able to switch on and off, allowing them to cut out the inside of a foam shape without entering from the outside edge. With this capability, products like gaskets can be created, with an opening in the middle and a consistent outer edge for a seal.

If you are in need of a precise job, done to exact specifications, consider doing business with a waterjet owner to get the results you need.