I want to install a water heater for my guest house in Michigan, which we do not visit often. Our trips to the house limit to about only seven months and I suppose a regular heater would prove more energy-consuming. Is a tankless water heater worth installing and will it actually save energy?

The question is a common one asked by many consumers who are very cautious to invest on right things and smartly. However, the topic is a vast one and it is very difficult to provide complete description. I make it a point to brief the users with all the general and technical info regarding the gadget, so they can decide if that is what they want. And for this I have gathered the essentials and facts from my research and various reliable sources containing the details of how it works. I have also included the installation essentials and the a little bit of its engineering to make the discussion peppy and precise.

An analysis of the cost factor involved in the process, the tankless heater is obviously expensive than the regular one. The stainless steel venting pipes in the heaters which use propane and natural gas add to its cost. The other fact worth mentioning in determining the cost is that these require bulkier pipes, which implies the reconstruction of pipelines. Of course the tankless heaters are more efficient, about 80 percent, whereas their traditional counterparts being only 60 percent.

Being economical is one of the prerequisites of all consumers. Keeping this in mind, and calculating the savings in the tankless heater it has been observed that the energy amount lost during the sitting period of the hot water in the tank proves to be beneficial as it shows a saving of around seven dollars every month. In fact it saves an additional amount of two dollars each month in this process. Based on these calculations, it is actually a good deal as it can save you over two hundred and fifty dollars each year if you plan to make use of the tankless water heater in your house.

While studying the electricity bill of August 2007, I noticed that the cost of using the standard water heater came to approximately thirty six dollars. The usage is for five people who take shower twice owing to the rigorous perspiration caused by the hard activities throughout the day. In fact, during winters the cost can be expected o go higher as the water has to be heated for a longer period in comparison to that in the summer season.

Generally speaking the approximate cost will be an extra $1,550.00, which means you have to work hard to meet the ends. The best and the smartest way to make the deal most economic is to make it work. The point may be confusing but its true. If we make use of the very basic mathematical calculations, to reach a break even, I would need nearly twelve and a half years. All of us understand that if we want to save and we have to spend extra for it, the equation for the saving does not imply till there is extra money apart from the investment amount in addition to the interest for that amount. The lost-interest income has not been included in my previous payback example above. If it would have been included there would have been a rise in the payback period.

Especially in your case, where it will hardly work for 50 to 60 days a year, the payback money that comes from the saving and to meet the lost-interest income is not fair enough.

Once switched on you get warm water within ninety minutest that cool!! It is always a good practice to turn off the heater when you leave it for a long vacation. Always be careful while using the "Vacation" setback thermostat setting. Its better not to use it! The purpose of switching off the heater is to avoid draining the heater and failure of furnace.

The capacity of these wonder gadgets is very high, especially when the difference between the temperatures of the water entering it and the water leaving is less. My research says that if you have a heated-water temperature of 110F and the incoming water is 75F, then some tankless heaters can produce 8.5 gallons per minute of hot water. On the other hand during winters the capacity reduces to 5 gallons per minute.

There are always two sides of a coin. The side to select is in our hands. Sometimes the expenses on its maintenance exceed the savings. However, the supply of hot water is the first thing to mind and leaves all the drawbacks behind it. So choose the best that suits your needs and go ahead.

About the Author

Mark Dunne is a successful freelance writer providing advice on your a number of topics like Home Improvements and Ventilation if you have time drop by his site for some tips and information. http://www.diystuff.com

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I am amateur in the field of plumbing and planning for a DIY plumbing project. I have many queries regarding the project like the basic requirements to start off and so on. Could you also guide me on the best tools I should opt and if its good if I go with tubing for water lines and PVC for the drain lines for primary supplies.

Every work has its own respect and uniqueness and to excel in that work one needs a lot of practice and experience. None one can master it just by knowing the basics. It is the number of pipes you weld and solder that makes the difference. Once you master the art of simple things then huge projects are real fun, provided you show true interest in equipping yourself with what the art needs from you and what you need from it.

First things first: Always remember to check that a superior quality tubing cutter is available with you for the process of copper tubing wheels. This is a vital tool for plumbing and features a hardened steel wheel that is rotated around the copper tube. As the tool is tightened, the revolving of the tool cuts the copper with the cutting wheel of the tool. In case you have plans to use a hacksaw, it is reminded that it may leave burrs whereas this tool would ensure that the cuts are properly made and that the tube is free from any burrs during the cutting process
The first and foremost requirement of the plumbing process is the torch. Obviously there are different types which work differently with a common purpose, i.e. to make leak-free joints. On one hand the propane torch for joints that require less heat, on the other hand, one can choose the acetylene torch for solder joints. Things like small circular wire brushes and abrasive paper are those that go with the former without saying. These undergo wear and tear frequently.

The next essential lever for managing the smallest corner screws is different sized wrenches. The most common one is the 14 inch pipe wrench which works best for adjusting the compression nuts and toilet bolts. The wrench forms a complete set of plumbing tools. Tightening the nuts and fighting with the bolts are now fun with these wrenches.

A person who is to start a diy plumbing project and knows little about it must not forget to carry things like screw drivers. Of course I need not mention that you will need a hammer, tape measure, different levels and all personal safety equipment.

The next must-have is the right angle drill. The work will include lot of drilling work and holes have to be made on huge pvc pipes for different purposes. The drill is generally used to build the pipes that are embedded in walls, wall plates etc.

There is another power reciprocating saw which is the next tool that an intelligent plumber ought to possess. The saw can dig big holes into walls and floors and are put in use at the initial stage of construction, i.e., before the walls of the building are given the final touch.

The list of tools that a plumber must carry is an endless one. But one cannot forget to mention the hand-held flaring tool. The tool has its own importance as it gives looks to the bathrooms and wash basins of the new house. It is actually a three-and-quarter inch soft copper, mainly used to connect small pipelines at home. You can do it all yourself with this tool without having to wait for days for a plumber to set things right at home.

We are now very close to what is called a complete plumbing kit. But it will really remain incomplete if the pipe threading dies which have been used by me for threading the black iron-pipe for the work of the gas line. The cutting tools, pipe, ratchet and the dies etc are available with the pipe for customizing the plumbing in the house.

A world where you mould your pipes, tilt and bend them to give them the shape of your mind, hit the nuts and bolts as many times and letting the melted wires and pipes cool is a work that all would enjoy and do the project with pleasure. I can prepare uncountable list of tools for plumbing as there are different requirements for different people. The only thing you need in abundance is the spirit and the interest in gathering the tools and working individually on them.

It is always better to put hands into high quality tools. Though the cost is high, the result of such tools is guaranteed. I would get into a wholesale dealer shop that sells only plumbing tools and there you get a plethora of choices. Some of the dos and dont you must follow to make the project successful. Greasing and galvanizing the tools increases their life. Make it a point to dry the tools if they are wet to avoid unnecessary rusting of your brand new tools. There is also a great advantage to remain on the side of a costly saw-blade as the counterparts do not result in sharper and straighter cuts.

About the Author

Mark Dunne is a successful freelance writer providing advice on your a number of topics like Home Improvements and Ventilation if you have time drop by his site for some tips and information. http://www.diystuff.com

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Home Improvement Scams are on the rise.

If the contractor can't provide proof of insurance and proof of Workman's Compensation coverage, look for a different contractor. As a homeowner, you're liable for everything that happens on your property, including uninsured injuries to your contractor's crew. You want your contractor covered six ways from Sunday to protect your interests.

1. Ask for References
Ask the contractor to provide references from people you can talk to about the work the contractor has performed. A professional will have a long list of satisfied customers happy to share their success stories. The fly-by-nights won't, unless they give you the number of their second cousin once removed.

Call the references and ask them about the work the contractor performed. Was it done quickly? On time? Any glitches? Any surprises? Did they clean up after the work was done? You get the idea. Of course, remember, no contractor is going to give you the telephone number of a dissatisfied customer, but you might pick up a few warning signs from previous customers, things like they started work each morning at 6:00 A.M. or they left coffee cups and cigarette butts all over my yard.

Okay, not the end of the world, but an indication of the quality of service you're likely to receive.
He or she may be a skilled craftsperson, but if she/he lacks people skills or a sense of customer service, you may be left with a great job and a bad feeling about the way it was completed. It's a judgment call, but something worth considering.

2. Ask to See Examples of the Contractor's Work
Again, the good ones will be proud to strut their stuff and show you just how good they are. Of course, it's unlikely that total strangers will want you walking through their homes checking the newly-installed electrical outlets.

However, a general contractor, a driveway contractor, a painting company or landscaper should be able to provide addresses of homes where work has been completed to the homeowner's satisfaction. Drive by and have a look.

3. Get at least three estimates.
Another common sense tip, but some words of warning.
Don't necessarily go with the low-ball estimate. Use it as one more piece of information. If the lowest is also the most professional and has a pile of references, fine. The thing is, you may spend a few more dollars to get the best quality work, but the money will soon be forgotten. The work won't.

Another cautionary note: if two of the estimates are close and one is much higher or much lower, the odd one out should be eliminated. The contractor either missed the project parameters (which will cost you more money) or he's low-balling the estimate, only to discover unseen damage that would cost you plenty.

4. Review your insurance policies at least once a year.
Reading over an insurance policy has all the appeal of a trip to the dentist. Okay, it's not fun, but it is necessary to protect yourself and your home.

Let's say you carry full replacement coverage on your most valuable asset, your home. Good for you. Now, let's say you put on a $50,000 addition to your $200,000 house. If you're like most people, you won't remember to contact your insurance company to let them know about this increase in replacement value. And, if you don't, it's not covered in the event of loss.

Any insurer bases its annual premiums on certain given the facts. So, if you initially sign-up to cover 2000 square feet, but your addition adds another 500 square feet to the structure, your insurance company won't pay the whole claim when you're faced with a catastrophic loss.

If you're planning to have work done on the old homestead, up your coverage for homeowner's liability. Once again, if a worker is seriously injured while replacing your roof, you may be facing a lawsuit even though the contractor has his or her own insurance coverage.

As you make improvements to your home, make sure to up your coverage. If you swap out old, drafty windows for highly-efficient replacements, the value of your home has increased accordingly. Your insurance coverage should, too.

5. Read the contract until you understand it.
I've talked about the importance of reading the contract between you and the home improvement specialist, but let's get into some specifics. Again, it may not be the most exciting thing you'll do today, but it will save you headaches, heartaches and cash, so forge ahead.

Read the entire contract including the fine print, especially the fine print. Pull out the magnifying glass and review everything.

If you don't understand a clause in the contract, ask the contractor for clarification. If you still don' understand, ask for further clarification. Never feel stupid for asking questions and demanding understandable answers. Even the legal eagles have trouble with some of this stuff.

If it's a contract for a big, expensive project, pay your attorney to review the paperwork. It'll cost you a few dollars, but could save you thousands! And isn't your peace of mind worth it?

If you're reading a contract for a large project, as in a large pile of your cash, have your attorney read over the document with an eye for problem areas. It'll cost a few hundred bucks for the legal read, but (1) it could save you thousands and (2) isn't your peace of mind worth $250? Mine is.

If money's tight, ask a knowledgeable relative to give the document a careful read-through. The point is, don't sign a contract for a large job without at least one other set of eyeballs reading through all of that legalese.

As I said earlier, never a sign a contract that contains blank spaces that will be filled in back at the office. Signing an incomplete contract is like giving a total stranger your ATM PIN. Numbers can be fudged, clauses added the fact is, when you sign an open contract, you really don't know what you're signing.

You want a contract that lists the stages at which additional payments will be made to the contractor. These interim payments shouldn't be tied to dates on the calendar. Instead, they should be tied to work milestones.

Let's say you've got a contract that states you will pay the contractor a second $10,000 on July 23, 30 days from now. Well, where's the incentive to work on your project rather than another one? The contactor knows she gets another $10k on the 23rd whether work has been done on your project or not. On the other hand, if the contract states that the contractor receives that $10,000 payment when the framing is done, now there's incentive to get the framing done. Tie your payments to work milestones rather than calendar dates.

6. Never, ever sign a contract under pressure from a sales rep or contractor.

The high-pressure tactics are common with scammers, but even some legit contractors will tell you to sign today or you'll miss out on our low, low rates. Here's my rule of thumb: if it's a good deal today, it will be a good deal tomorrow and if it isn't, it wasn't a good deal to begin with.

Always remember "There is no deal you can't walk away from."

About the Author

Clayton Mekelburg is the author of
A Thief On Your Doorstep,a Home owners guide on the proper way to buy home improvements e book, and CEO of tibi Inc. More information is available on protecting yourself when buying home improvements at http://www.homeimprovementbuyer.com

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A fresh coat of paint is the most inexpensive way to "remodel" a room. Thanks to high quality coatings and applicators, even first-time painters can achieve professional-quality results. To get a great-looking finish coat and the beautiful, long-lasting results you expect, take the time to ensure that the surface to be painted is clean, dry and smooth and coated with the correct primer.

And remember,also carry all the tools you'll need for surface preparation - such as ladders, wire brushes, paint scrapers, putty knives, wood filler and sparkling paste - to prepare a surface for painting.

Getting Ready to Paint

Preparing the room before beginning your project not only makes it easier for you to paint, it also protects your home from inadvertent splatters or spills.

1)Remove draperies, pictures, mirrors, area rugs, hardware (if possible), and switch and receptacle cover plates.
2)Move all furniture to the center of the room or the room, if possible. Cover all furniture with drop cloths.
3)Tape off woodwork and tape down plastic drop cloths.
4)Wrap plastic around light fixtures, and use masking tape to cover any hardware you can't remove.
5)Open a window or door to ensure good ventilation.
6)Clean the surface as needed.
7)Gaps between walls, ceilings, crown moldings and other interior trim can be filled with the appropriate caulk after priming the surface.

In addition to friendly expert advice, you can find drop cloths, masking tape, caulk and more at your neighborhood paint store.

Caution: When using oil-based coatings, keep paint away from heat, sparks and open flame. Do not smoke. Extinguish all flames, pilot lights and heaters. Turn off stoves, electrical tools, appliances and any other sources of electrical ignition. While painting and until all vapors are gone, keep the area well-ventilated.

Clean-up procedures depend largely on the paint you use. Here are guidelines for cleaning up. To maximize your investment on painting tools, make sure to clean them right after use.

Latex Paints

1)Clean any spills before they dry with a paper towel dampened with water.
2)Clean brushes, rollers and other tools with soap and water.
3)After cleaning, flush spraying equipment with mineral spirits to prevent rusting. Follow manufacturer's safety recommendations when using mineral spirits.

Oil Alkyd Paints

1)Clean any spills before they dry with a paper towel dampened with mineral spirits or paint thinner.
2)Oil-based (alkyd) paint must be removed from tools with mineral spirits or paint thinner.
3)Pour the cleaning material into a clean bucket and rinse brushes and rollers well.
4)When done, allow the solids to settle out of the cleaner, then strain the liquid back into the original container for reuse.
5)Allow the settled solids to air-dry away from children, pets or open flames, then dispose of the container in the trash.

Brushes should be kept in their original wrapper or paper-wrapped in a manner that retains their original shape before storing.

Protect Your Paint Job

Wait at least two weeks before washing the newly painted surface. After that, clean with a mild household detergent and a soft cloth or sponge.

Tips to Protect the Environment

Try to buy only the amount of paint you need so there is little to dispose of when you complete your project. If you do have leftovers, follow these guidelines:

1)Save small amounts of leftover paint for future touch-ups. To keep it fresh, place a layer of plastic wrap over the mouth of the can before replacing the lid. Pound down the lid securely.
2)Check with your local waste collector to see if it accepts dried latex paint. If so, place the open can in an airy spot away from children and pets. When the paint is completely dry, put it in the trash.
3)Seal oil/alkyd paints in the can and store them safely away from heat sources until you can take them to an appropriate waste-disposal site, such as community paint/stain collection events where you can safely dispose of leftover paints.
4)Never pour paint, stain, or any other coating down a drain, into a storm sewer or anywhere else that might contaminate the environment.

About the Author

Kishor Nayak is a Business Consultant working with International clients.I hope you found this article useful. You can learn a lot more about
residential painting, from professionals.

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With the economy coming to a slow down, the act of selling a home is becoming more and more difficult to do. Intrepid homeowners are looking for ways to improve their homes, setting themselves apart from the other homes on the market now, and increasing the value of their homes as the economy improves. And one of the leading tactics among home renovators is the fireplace.

The theory behind adding a fireplace to a home is a sound one, and one that is backed up by numbers. The Hearth, Patio, and Barbeque Association states that the addition of a fireplace can add up to 10.8% to a home's total value. And while that source might seem a little biased, the National Association of Home Builders lists a fireplace as one of the twelve factors that significantly impact the value of a standard home.

Why is such a premium placed on fireplaces? Well, there seems to be a break in the law of supply and demand. According to Dennis Nevius, President of the Oklahoma Association of Realtors, a fireplace is "universally desired." Supply, on the other hand, is limited. In 1971, the number of new homes built with fireplaces was only 36%. In the 1980s that number rose to around 55% and, despite a few off years, that's where the number has generally stayed to this day. The break here, with supply being limited to a little over half of new homes over the past few decades, and demand being near-universal, means that houses with fireplaces command at least more attention than those without.

Adding a fireplace to an existing home is not nearly as difficult as it once was, and not nearly as expensive either. The traditional wood-burning fireplace, called a full masonry fireplace in industry terminology, can easily run up costs in excess of $20,000 in a new home, and double that in a remodeling project. The reason for this sky high cost has less to do with the attractive, outward appearance, the face work, and more to do with the extensive brick work and the addition of a chimney to a home. The gas fireplace, which has become a phenomenon over the past two decades thanks to advances in technology, can require only a vent to let heat out, or can even operate vent-free. This cuts costs from the tens of thousands to the just a few grand. The drop from $25,000 to $5,000 is a large drop indeed.

Modern gas fireplaces provide the light and warmth associated with a traditional wood-burning fireplace. However, modern gas fireplaces offer advantages that traditional fireplaces do not. The first, and most often noted, is that these fireplaces turn on with the flick of a switch; there is no need to nurse kindling into a blaze. Second, there's no ash or mess associated with trudging wood from the wood pile to the fireplace. Gas fireplaces do not carry a significant risk of fire. And there's no energy leak associated with heat drifting out of the top of a chimney. There's just fire on demand. And without the energy leak of a chimney, a gas fireplace is a more efficient means to heat a room. As the communications director for Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association noted to the Washington Post on the same topic, today's fireplace buyers are more realistic than romantic.

Beyond the safety and efficiency, the modern gas fireplace allows homeowners to be more creative with where these fireplaces go. With directive vent units requiring an outside wall, and the vent-less variety requiring only a gas hookup, fireplaces have started to appear in places where they otherwise couldn't go, such as the master bedroom on a second floor or even the master bathroom. The real trick is to make sure that your fireplace fits the room.

Unlike the home improvements of twenty or thirty years ago, in the modern home market, value isn't necessarily derived directly from the type of fireplace installed. While yesterday's homeowners often opted for a full masonry fireplace in the living room, technology has advanced to the point where a gas fireplace can make the perfect addition to a family room, a study, or even the master bedroom. The concept or romance has been offset by ease of use, safety, and creativity. Capitalizing on these three things, allows a homeowner to tap into the demand for a fireplace in the upcoming buyers market, and the enjoyment of one now.

About the Author

Article provided by handcrafted fireplace mantels and mantel shelves by Agee Woodworks. Check them out online at ageewoodworks.com

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