In the households, you need to have the recent hot water recirculation pump to get the benefits it offers. It will be vital during the unlimited water supply in your house. The role of this pump is to give you instant hot water and therefore reduces the wastes that occur when water runs until the moment it becomes hot from your tap. In the process, you end up losing a lot of water.
For a recirculation system, it will be a hot water line running throughout your house and then return to the heater. There is a timer that will help to turn the pump to work at regular intervals and especially at peak usage times.
In the article, there are the failures you should expect and how you can solve them.
Power Waste
The pump continues to heat and circulate hit water in your house through the pipes. So, it will end up having used a lot of your electricity.
In case the heater is far from the bathroom or kitchen, it will take a longer time before the water reaches the taps. You have to ensure that the recirculation system is cost-efficient.
There are different ways you can combat the loss of electricity and heat loss. First, insulate all the return and supply pipes such that there is no heat loss. Also, ensure you turn off your pump at night to conserve the power.
Low Flow Rate
Some of these hot water recirculating pumps will be having small motors. However, it’s a disadvantage because they will not produce high pressure. So, they will negatively impact the flow rate of water. You will find that the pumps also don’t turn on the thankless heater.
Corrosion
The other causes of failures with recirculation pumps is that they are vulnerable to corrosion. The problem is costly to solvent. What leads to the problem is excessive aggressive water chemistry and flow velocity where the pipes are eroded inside by water.
In your system, the places that are frequently affected are elbows, tees, and bends. In the end, the pipe walls are thinned and end up capturing. So, that you solve this problem, you need to change by buying a low capacity pump that will reduce the abrupt changes.
Noise Problems
There are noise problems that might occur after a power outage. The kind of problem might be caused by the air that enters the system. So that you can fix the issue, you have to bleed your system and allow the escape of the air.It is where you will open a small air escape valve to ensure the water has come out. Repeat all your faucets to be guaranteed no air inside the pipes. You will have solved the problem.
Final Words
If you can repair or compensate for the problems that are causing the recirculation hot water system, you will conveniently improve and save water for homes. So, before you install one in your house, consider the above factors.
A few valuable tips and tricks can go a long way in saving both time and money, when it comes to cleaning the drains in your home or business. Though a professional plumber can be called to deal with any major issues, these visits can become costly, and are often avoidable if the relevant care and maintenance is applied.
Regularly Flush Your Pipes
Like most things in life, prevention can be the cure, and dedicating a small but regular amount of time to the cleaning and maintenance of your drains, can help avoid disasters such as clogged pipes and backed up appliances.
One easy method of reducing the likelihood of drain obstructions is to ensure pipes are flushed regularly. This is easy to achieve simply by filling the sink or bath tub up with hot water, and then releasing the plug and letting it drain.
Whereas light usage, for example running the faucet, sends water down the pipeline, this filling makes sure the entire line is flushed out, along with any debris that might be inside it.
Expert drain technicians recommend against the use of any chemical cleaners for regular drain maintenance. Though these cleaners can provide a temporary solution, in the long run, the harsh chemicals and acids that they contain can damage pipes and lead to even more problems.
If You Have a Clog
If drains do become blocked, there are a few tricks that can be tried at home, inexpensively, before the plumber is called. One of the most tried and true techniques to clearing a clogged drain is the use of vinegar and baking soda.
These can be bought relatively cheaply, for under five dollars, at most grocery stores, and they may even be sitting in the pantry already.
First, remove as much of the backed up water as possible by scooping it out with a jug. Pour one cup of baking soda and then 1 cup of vinegar into the affected drain, then replace the plug and leave the solution to work for thirty minutes.
After this, the plug should be removed and a kettle full of boiling water poured carefully down the drain. If the blockage hasn’t been cleared, the steps may need to be repeated a second time. By using this method, drains can be unclogged in a safe and chemical free way, using inexpensive items from around the house with minimal risk.
Click here to watch a demonstration of how to unclog your sink with baking soda and vinegar.
Another traditional method of clearing drain blockages, is plunging. A plunger can be purchased from most hardware stores relatively inexpensively, and is easy to operate. Though some obstructions can be cleared, there is also the risk that plunging may compact the blockage making the situation worse than it was to begin with.
To attempt to clear a pipeline, a few inches of water is necessary in the blocked sink or toilet, in order to allow the plunger to form a good vacuum seal. Position the plunger over the blocked drain and push down sharply and forcefully, then repeat this process until the blockage is removed.
One final way to clear a blockage is to remove the pipe’s clean out plug, if accessible, and try to dislodge the obstructing matter using a wire coat hanger or plumber’s snake. A bucket should be placed beneath the pipe, and protective eye glasses should be warn while performing this fix.
Insert the coat hanger into the pipe and try to gently break apart the mass by pushing against it. Though this method can be effective, it is possible if incorrectly performed, to cause further damage to pipes resulting in leaks.
A plumber’s snake can be purchased for around ten dollars at most home and hardware stores, though a metal coat hanger is a good alternative.
Important Things to Remember
Caution should be used when trying out any tips or tricks for cleaning and unclogging drains. While regular care and maintenance, as well as some easy unblocking techniques can be financially beneficial, they also have the potential to cause more problems if done incorrectly.
By following instructions carefully, and stopping to seek professional help if uncomfortable with the procedure, these ideas can help with the maintenance of clean and blockage free pipes.
Did you know that there are more intricate components in your plumbing system than any other part of your home? And of the hundreds of things that can go wrong some are a nuisance, and others can spell disaster!
At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® – The Punctual Plumber, we know that problems with your plumbing system can be scary, stressful, expensive and even dangerous. But most plumbing problems can be avoided with the right team on your side.
Clogged drains are a big hassle. Dirt and sludge can build up in pipes creating a grotesque and impassable barrier that suffocates your plumbing and keeps waste from leaving your home. And, your beautiful landscaping can interfere with your drainage.
Some of the most common problems that can arise from your drain and drainage system include; roots from trees and shrubs, foreign objects, drain pipe wall collapse and misalignment of piping sections. Regular maintenance on your drains will prevent problems in the future.
Aqua Bright Pipe Rejuvenation™
By utilizing our Aqua Bright Pipe Rejuvenation system, we blast and remove all the sludge and grime from your home’s pipes. By using high pressure blasts of water the Aqua Bright Pipe Rejuvenation will transform your dirty, sludge-filled pipes into gleaming, Aqua Bright pipes. So clean in fact, that future dirt and sludge will just slide on by rather than sticking around to cause problems. This technique is so effective that we offer a Tri-5 Guarantee that your home will be free from stoppages for the next 5 years, 5 months and 5 days or we will return to your home, clean out the stoppage and offer you our 150% guarantee.
Preventative Maintenance
The old saying goes, ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’. At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® we believe that you can observe preventative maintenance of your drains and drain system by taking a simple step – BioBen®. Because of advancements in biotechnology, you can now divert a clogged drain disaster and avoid a sewer line repair bill by introducing the naturally occurring BioBen® microorganisms directly into your plumbing. Within seconds these teeny tiny sludge-hungry organisms begin to eat away at waste and other gunk on the lining of your pipes and treatment systems. This technology-based maintenance system is easy to use, safe, and inexpensive. Applied according to directions, the ravenously hungry BioBen® bacteria immediately start feasting on the nasty fats, oils, grease and sludge in your pipes and drains. You’ll see the results in minutes. BioBen® is available exclusively from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing®.
Since water heating is a thermodynamic process using an energy source to heat water above its initial temperature and comprised of parts that can fail, maintaining its hot water production is crucial to your home needs. Typical domestic uses of hot water are for cooking, cleaning, bathing, and space heating. Commercial applications include both hot water and heated water to generate steam. Water heaters, boilers and heat exchangers are the mechanical processes used to heat water for a variety of domestic and commercial uses. Water heaters come in two basic forms: tanks and tankless.
Some of the more popular domestic water heaters are:
Conventional Tank Water Heaters
Most water heaters are tank water heaters which keep a cylindrical tank full of hot water in your home at all times. The typical sizes available for household water heaters that utilize a tank are between 20 and 100 gallons. When hot water is required the water is circulated to the open faucet. Conventional tanks utilize electric, natural gas, propane, oil, solar or geothermal power as an energy source to heat the water.
Electric Water Heaters
The typical electric water heater is wired to a 220-volt circuit. To heat the water, the current passes through electrical-resistance heating elements—usually two, one at the middle of the tank and one at the bottom.
Power is delivered to each element through a thermostat—a switch that senses the water temperature. When the temperature drops, the switch closes to allow current flow, and it opens when the temperature reaches its preset limit. Thermostats have a dial for setting the maximum water temperature–generally between 130 degrees and 140 degrees F, or as low as about 120 degrees F for increased energy savings and scald protection.
When a hot water tap is opened, cold water enters the tank through the dip tube and the drop in temperature triggers the thermostat and element at the bottom. As the water at the top of the tank is replaced by cool water, the temperature at the top thermostat drops, and its element kicks in. When the tap is turned off, the heating elements continue to carry current until the thermostats are satisfied.
Gas-Fired Water Heaters
An alternative to electric water heaters is gas-fired, usually utilizing natural gas or propane. Instead of electrical-resistance elements, gas-fired heaters have a burner that’s fed gas through a control valve and a thermostat switch. The burner is usually situated to throw a flame under the tank. The exhaust gases are vented either through a hollow core at the center of the tank or around the tank sides. Because gas-fired heaters heat the tank, which in turn heats the water, there will be more wear and tear on the tank than with electric heat. A gas-fired heater, therefore, may have a shorter life expectancy than an electric heater.
Tankless
A tankless water heater, also called instantaneous, only provides hot water as needed, saving energy and, therefore, saving you money. They are designed to heat water directly without the use of a tank and are more efficient than conventional water heaters. The primary energy sources for tankless heaters are natural gas and propane. Tankless heaters are typically more efficient than storage water heaters. The absence of a tank saves energy as conventional water heaters have to reheat the water in the tank as it cools off, called standby loss. With a central water heater of any type, water is wasted waiting for water to heat up because of the cold water in the pipes between the faucet and the water heater. This water waste can be avoided if a re-circulating pump is installed, but at the cost of electricity to run the pump and wasted energy to heat the water circulation through the pipes. At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® we offer our own brand of tankless water heater, goHot TM that delivers an endless supply of hot water through a piece of equipment the size of a briefcase.
Solar Water Heaters
For some areas, solar powered water heaters are used. Their solar collectors are installed outside the home, typically on the roof or nearby. Nearly all models are the direct-gain type, consisting of flat panels in which water circulates. Other types may use dish or trough mirrors to concentrate sunlight on a collector tube filled with water, brine or other heat transfer fluid. A storage tank is placed indoors or out to collect the heated water. Circulation is caused by natural convection or by a small electric pump. At night, or when there is insufficient sunlight present, circulation through the panel can be stopped by closing a valve and/or stopping the circulating pump, to keep hot water in the storage tank from cooling. Depending on the local climate, freeze protection, as well as prevention of overheating, must be addressed in the design, installation, and operation of the water heater.
Hot Water Circulating Pump
Hot water circulating pumps are often used to circulate domestic hot water so that a faucet will provide hot water constantly upon demand. Since water is piped from the water heater through the pipes to the tap, once the tap is shut off, the water remaining in the pipes cools, producing the familiar wait for hot water the next time the tap is opened. A circulator pump insures the hot water in the pipes is always hot, minimizing the wait.
Federal Tax Credits
Federal tax credits are available for a number of home water heating improvements. If the improvements occur at your primary residence (except some instances with solar, where a second home may qualify) and are placed into use before December 31, 2010, you may be eligible to take the credit. A couple of examples include:
Tankless water heaters with at least an input of over 50,000 BTU/hour and up to 200,000 BTU/hour with a rated storage volume of 2 gallons or less and an energy factor of .82 or greater are eligible for a credit of up to 30% of the cost, not to exceed $1,500.
Solar water heaters that receive at least half of their energy directly from the sun and have an OG-300 rating from the Solar Rating Certification Corporation (SRCC), and where the water is used in a residential dwelling, are eligible for up to a credit of 30% of the cost, with no limit. This credit is not available for expenses used for swimming pools, hot tubs or whole house heating.
More information on available tax credits for energy-efficient installations can be found on the www.energystar.gov website. At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® we can help you decide which water heater is best for you, based on your needs and location.
