By Ross Madonia on 6/3/2010 1:22 PM
 Product and system selection is critical to plumbing system performance, and many systems and products (old and new) make it easy to optimize your system and add advanced features to the system that can improve comfort, as well as water and energy efficiency. It also can help make the home more adaptable in the future.
Advanced plumbing systems are basically optimized systems that add more innovative systems and technologies to provide unique features and functionality not found in a traditional system. Many options are available for designing and building an optimized and advanced plumbing system.
We will help you get the most out of your plumbing system with our
- Fully Stocked Rolling Plumbing Warehouse
- Prompt, Courteous, Professional Service
- On-Site, Up-Front Pricing
Call Pride Plumbing... Read More » |
By Ross Madonia on 6/3/2010 1:04 PM
Consider using a tankless hot water heater. "Standby losses" (heat lost while your hot water sits in the tank) can account for 20 to 60 percent of your annual water-heating costs. Using a tankless hot-water heater can eliminate these losses. The cost of a tankless water heater is comparable to a very high efficiency tank model water heater, but installation can cost between two and four times more on a tankless water heater. This increase in cost is due to different requirements for pipe size, as well as additional electrical requirements.
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By Ross Madonia on 6/3/2010 12:20 PM
According to the EPA, the average family of four uses 400 gallons of water a day. The same family, if they employed simple water-saving practices and lived in a home where the plumbing systems were optimized, could conserve more than 30,000 gallons per year; enough to provide drinking water for 150 thirsty people.
Plumbing systems don't just affect water use. They also influence energy use and occupant comfort within a home. Hot-water energy use accounts for about 15 percent of total residential energy use. And we all know that blasts of hot or cold water in the shower can be pretty annoying at 6:00 A.M.
The solution to these issues lies in optimizing all plumbing systems and creating advanced plumbing systems wherever possible. Consult with the experts at Pride Plumbing today. |
By Ross Madonia on 4/27/2010 12:03 PM
 ![]() American Standard Brands says that the ribbon-like water flow provided by its Berwick Collection of bathroom faucets was inspired by the ribbon mills on the banks of the Susquehanna River. All Berwick bathroom sink models are WaterSense-certified and comply with lead-free requirements. The faucets feature American Standard's Speed Connect drain technology, pre-assembled... Read More » |
By Ross Madonia on 4/23/2010 1:09 PM
Sewers can back-up into your basement from several paths during storms and it is the property owner’s responsibility to protect the building. Open floor drains are the major culprit, as are basement plumbing fixtures (toilets, sinks, shower drains, etc.). If you live in the City of Rochester, where storm and sanitary sewers are combined, the Rochester Pure Waters District recommends that all potential avenues for sewage to back-up into your basement be eliminated. Floor drains are intended to allow water (from a broken water pipe, groundwater, etc.) out of your basement on (what should be) rare occasions. Otherwise, floor drains should always be capped off—a plumber can help you. If you must have plumbing fixtures... Read More » |
By Ross Madonia on 4/16/2010 9:02 PM
A: It depends on the nature of the problem and whether your water heater is still under warranty.Storage-tank water heaters are fairly long-lived, and most are backed by a 6-year or longer warranty. But when one does give out, it usually happens suddenly; you'll probably notice water leaking out through a corroded spot in the tank. The typical storage-tank water heater holds 40 gallons of water, and a hole in the tank is really the same as an open spigot. The water will keep flowing until you shut off the supply.While you can't salvage a corroded, leaking tank, a leaky drain valve or temperature/pressure-relief valve or a worn-out electric heating element can be repaired. But replacing the heater might make more sense.
First, get a repair estimate. Then weigh that amount against what you'll pay for a new heater and its installation. The money you'll pay a plumber for a repair will quickly add up to the cost of a new water heater. So put your money toward installing a new unit, especially if the warranty on... Read More » |
By Ross Madonia on 4/16/2010 8:30 PM
Homeowners are beginning to learn that the lowest-priced water heater may be the most expensive to operate and maintain over its lifetime. By the same token, an oversized unit carries a higher purchase price and increased energy costs.The best way to cut down on costs is to choose the right-sized water heater, and that's a very easy task. Properly sizing a water heater first involves estimating the appropriate First Hour Rating (FHR) based on estimated hot-water use. FHR describes the amount of hot water (in gallons) a water heater can provide in the first hour, starting with a full tank of hot water. The FHR depends on the tank capacity, the source of heat (burner or element) and the size of the burner or element.
The FHR rating appears on every EnergyGuide label in the top left corner (except on heat-pump water heaters). To get the proper size, look for a water heater with an FHR that matches the... Read More » |
By Ross Madonia on 3/28/2010 8:36 PM
 For a lot of my clients, no kitchen design is complete without an
island at its center. The island has become the icon of the modern
kitchen—the 21st-century equivalent of the old-fashioned hearth. It's
easy to understand why.
First, islands work. Because they can be accessed from all sides
like the old kitchen table, they're ideal for a variety of kitchen tasks
(see "Function First," below).
Second, these freestanding pieces instantly become the focal
point of a kitchen because they can have the look and feel of furniture
rather than components in a domestic laboratory.
Third, islands help kitchens adjust to some of the big changes in
American life in the past few decades. In June Cleaver's 1950s kitchen...
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By Ross Madonia on 3/26/2010 3:37 PM
 Woe to those of us with running toilets, dripping sinks, and
ravenously thirsty washing machines. Compound those wasteful fixtures
with ever increasing utility bills and you create an equation hell-bent
on rendering your family broke.
To
save on your... Read More » |
By Ross Madonia on 3/26/2010 11:55 AM
 We have become so accustomed to paying for our water bills, we
sometimes lose track of how much water we are wasting. There are some
simple ways that you can save money on your
water bill, most of them involve being more aware of how you are using
water in your home.
Do not leave it running - If you need hotter
water or colder water, you shouldn't leave the water running while it
cools off or heats up. Instead, capture the water in a pitcher to put
into the refrigerator for drinking later or fill your ice
cube trays while you are waiting for the water to reach the proper
temperature.
Read the rest of the article at helium.com.
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