5/31/2011

Sierra-Tools 83-4840V Battery Operated Liquid Transfer Siphon Pump Review

Sierra-Tools 83-4840V Battery Operated Liquid Transfer Siphon Pump
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I decided to take a chance with this product after running all over town to find something like it. Since I live in "hurricane country" the need to transfer gasoline for use in generators, etc is present all the time. I store the gas for my generator in 5 gallon cans, which when full, are very heavy. I was skeptical, but it worked better than I expected. It took me about 4-5 minutes to pump 2.5 gallons into my generator tank. I did not have to lift the can and did not risk spilling gas. Since it is battery powered it can be used when the power is out. All in all, I would recommend it for the average home user as long as it's not for heavy duty use.

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This battery-operated liquid transfer pump can pump 5-6 quarts of liquid a minute, making it an ideal choice when standard power is unavailable. Can pump gas, water, oil and other non-corrosive liquids. Can be used in garage, basements, bathrooms, shop, yard, aquariums and more. Uses 2 D-cell batteries (not included). Flow (GPM): 1, Dimensions L x W x H (in.): 251/4 x 33/4 x 2

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nuvoH2O Home Salt-Free Water Softener System (Standard) Review

nuvoH2O Home Salt-Free Water Softener System (Standard)
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One of Amazon's review guidelines is to "write about anything that the prospective buyer would like to know before making their buying decision." I'm writing this review to share the results of my extensive investigation regarding salt-free water softeners, how I ended up looking at the NuvoH2O WH2100, and why I decided not to buy it.
I was looking for a non-salt means to eliminate water spotting on dishes, shower doors, my car, etc. I decided to apply a good deal of buyer beware diligence in selecting a product, because my on-line research revealed that:
1. There are substantiated reports that favorable product reviews on the Internet are being submitted by friends, family members and employees of the company selling the product.
2. Some money back warranties (company lingo: "wait until your old pipes clear, to see if the system is working for you") don't kick in until after the drop dead date when your credit card company will tell you "you're out of luck at ever seeing your money again."
3. You can never initially trust who is at the other end of the Internet wire, and if something does go awry - you don't have much recourse. Example: there are many blogs with no-salt water conditioning complaints by purchasers that were given canned excuses of why the company's money back warranty didn't apply to them. I first looked at and ruled out those electron/magnetron water zapping devices that clamp or wrap around your water pipe. Every manufacturer I looked at appeared to have a gaping hole in their theory of operation, installation requirements, or money back warranty.
I then looked at several of those large tank "media" systems and noted that a growing number of those manufacturers have stopped calling their systems salt-free water softeners and are now calling them water conditioners; presumably because of threat of litigation. As rationalized by water treatment experts, the media technology appears to be nothing more than an overly large and expensive water filter (a bigger version of the Brita that attaches to the end of your faucet). The water supply throughout your house has the potential for "tastes great", but hard water deposits and spotting are still a concern.
So, this had me believe that my best choice was the "chelation" process of the NuvoH2O WH2100.
I found several Internet references that the chelation process touted by Nuvo may be the addition of citric acid to the water supply. Some detergents are chelated with citric acid to make them work better in the presence of calcium. So, this may be why Nuvo claims "you'll use less soap" and why the non-filtering cartridge needs to be replaced every 6 months - it's being flushed clean of the acid. However, my quest was mitigating water spots - not less soap usage.
I called Nuvo and cross-questioned them about water spots. Their response: "Well no; our device won't eliminate water spots, but it will make it easier to wipe them off." While I do applaud them for being candid, here's how I think they were expecting this claim to be tested. Allow a drinking glass to air dry for an hour. Wipe off the spots. Easy, right?! Well yes, but this would also be easy prior to installing the so-called Water Softener System. The problem with water spots is when they're allowed to dry and accumulate over days and weeks.
Because of all of my findings above and my decision to apply purchasing diligence, I proposed the following scenario to NuvoH2O:
1. Sell me the WH2100 at their cost (thus no financial investment on their part).
2. Allow me to test if the WH2100 Salt-Free Water Softener System met my minimal expectations (which was to perform something akin to a traditional water softener system).
3. If it did, I'd then send them the full retail funds for the WH2100 (the investigative seed money from #1 above would be extra profit for them). I included rationale as to why they could trust me.
4. I'd also give them a very cogent and credible review on Amazon (without mentioning my unique purchasing exception). I have a long trail of "real life experience" reviews on Amazon which would strongly suggest that my review wasn't a fake (note: except for a guy that also reviewed a book, all the other reviewers for NuvoH2O are one-time reviewers, as of 12/20/09).
5. But if the WH2100 didn't meet my minimal expectations, then I'd return the device to them and pay the shipping. They could keep the "seed" money that I had already paid.
Because of the "creativeness" of my proposal, I was ready to accept responses such as "sorry, but our accounting system won't allow us to do that" or "thanks, but we think our reviews on Amazon are already convincing enough." However, the response I got surprised me!
Nuvo's company owner rejected my proposal on the grounds that "he needed to make a profit." This particular response left me questioning the WH2100's place as a true water softener, as the only scenario path where he wouldn't be making a handsome profit was if my issue with hard, accumulated water spots wasn't addressed. I would return the product, but unlike all their other customers, Nuvo wouldn't be in control of my $600.
Conclusions:
1. All my research indicates that if you're looking for the "less soap" aspects of a traditional water softener, then the NuvoH2O products are a good choice.
2. If your primary desire is to have a solution for hard water deposits and/or spotting, devise and conduct a "meets my expectations" test soon after you receive the unit, and take all steps necessary to ensure that you can collect on the money back warranty.
Note: This review has been based on verifiable facts, except where I've used equivocal terms such as "may"; which are speculations on my part. If proven wrong, I'll update this review.


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Some call it evolution. We call it innovation! The days of giant, salt-based water softeners roaming the earth are over. Welcome to a new era, the nuvoH2O era. So remarkable you need to see it to believe it.The nuvoH2O system uses patent pending technology to lower the PH level of water based on the basic scientific process of chelation in which the metal ions causing hard water, principally calcium and magnesium, are bound to the chelating agent in nuvoH2O's FDA-approved, proprietary formulation, which keeps the minerals soluble and unable to cause hard water problems. The resulting water is soft and healthy for all of your household uses, including drinking, bathing, washing, and lawn and plant watering.Developed from nearly 30 years of commercial experience, this amazing, compact system uses an eco-friendly process to condition all the water throughout your entire home.# Designed for homes between 1,100 square feet and 2,000 square feet# Water flow: 12-15 gpm with 1" ports (no change to existing flow)# Capacity: about 45,000 gallons (average annual water usage of household of 4 every 6 months).

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5/30/2011

AO Smith Hot Water Heater Exhaust Draft Inducer Blower # 183381-000 Review

AO Smith Hot Water Heater Exhaust Draft Inducer Blower # 183381-000
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First off: The seller is awesome! Fast shipping! The following is not about the seller (will buy from again) but the product itself.
At first I was surprised to find this item on Amazon, it's a blower motor for a hot water heater. The pictures looked like the item I needed and the part numbers matched up so I purchased it. I was disappointed that I couldn't get higher resolution pictures, especially around the connectors.
Upon receiving the unit I noticed that the connectors from the controller box to the hot water heater were of different types. The older units used a Molex 4 pin connection, this one was a six pin connection. Looking at the schematics proved that the additional two pins were not used so this unit is compatible but manual rewiring is necessary. This was not a big deal since my problem was with the fan unit itself and not the attached controller (you get both, the fan unit is attached to the controller and the fan can be attached to the old controller unit.)
To fix this I was able to take the new fan unit and attach it to the old controller that attached to the hot water heater and all was well. Simply detach the "fan" portion of the new unit and attach it to the controller box of the old unit and it will work fine (unless the controller unit is your problem, which is unlikely.)
The biggest problem with this units design is the use of plastic in the fan blades. The plastic can not withstand the heat coming from the gas burners from the water heater. This is my third replacement, each had plastic fan blades that fail and cause imbalance that generates loud noise until the entire fan itself blows apart. This is a major design flaw. The controller unit in all replacements was fine, it was simply the fan unit itself.
My former neighbor was able to find a replacement unit that used metal blades on the fan for his unit, but his house was foreclosed and he moved on and I haven't been able to find him to seek out where he got his all metal fan unit from.
The negative about the plastic fan is not a slam against this seller, I will buy from this seller again, but the negativity is against the manufacture for using plastic fan blades in the design that can not withstand such high temperatures that will fail in a range of between one to three years.
My next replacement will be the all metal design, hopefully this merchant will be stocking it.


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Mfgr-Fasco; After Market Replacement Blower. Reference #'s 7021-10195, 7021-10910, 7021-12065

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5/29/2011

AquaQuik 4512 Solar Heater Review

AquaQuik 4512 Solar Heater
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Purchased the AquaLivin' Solar Heater and it burst apart at the seams within a week of installing it. Also, the heater is designed with fittings that the water hose fits on. Water leaks out of both fittings where the fitting fits onto the body of the heater....should have been designed to where the fitting was molded into the body.
The heater has a clear dome that goes over the top of the unit. On the third day I noticed that the clear dome kept popping off of the heater when the pump was on...when the pump was off it would fit perfectly. About two days later the heater burst at the seam. Luckily my pool pump didn't burn up when all of my water drained out down to the skimmer.
If you do purchase one of these always keep an eye on the clear dome to make sure it doesn't pop off...this is a sign it may be getting ready to burst.
The company was very good about sending me a replacement. I haven't installed the replacement yet.

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Heat your above-ground pool the green way, using only the sun's solar energy. The Solar Pool Heater provides an unbeatable price to performance ratio. You can add weeks to your swimming season with the free energy from the sun heating your pool.

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K&H Manufacturing Perfect Climate Deluxe Pond Heater Review

KandH Manufacturing Perfect Climate Deluxe Pond Heater
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I have tried a lot of heaters/ de-icers, including trough heaters. All were similar in wattage. Most did not work well or were unreliable. I have used this one for the last 2 winters and not only did it work great, it kept a wide area open except in very cold with high wind. Even then it kept the immediate area open. Their guide was very helpful, I bought the wattage they suggested for my zone (N. IL). I am buying another one now as a back-up, in case I can't find it later. I use it with a thermo cube to cut down on unnecessary running.

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The new Perfect Climate line from K&H Manufacturing has reinvented the wheel when it comes to keeping ice free water available in winter ponds. Every K&H de-icer is safe in all ponds, unlike many of the other de-icers available in the market today. Every one of our de-icers can be used as a floating de-icer out of the box or in seconds converts to a submersible de-icer with the click of a button. In the past, all that was readily available were energy gulping 1000 watt to 1500 watt de-icers; pond owners had no choice but to purchase these expensive to run de-icers, even when they didn-foott need it. We-footve solved this problem by creating a whole line of de-icers along with a convenient zone chart for consumers to choose the correct de-icer, every time. When it comes to ice free ponds, K&H Perfect Climate is the choice that makes cents.

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5/28/2011

Oatey Water Heater Pan (34065) Review

Oatey Water Heater Pan (34065)
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Review a water heater pan? Ok..... folks, it works. Much easier to install at the time you install the water heater, than try to do it retroactively. Very important item to have if a leak from your water heater would cause water damage to your house, as it did mine. I regret not having this earlier.

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Sold as each. 30" diameter. Recommended for electric water heaters. Manufactured from semi- flexible tough and durable .0625" plastic polymer. Will not rust or corrode. 1" CPVC drain fitting included to allow for connection to indirect drain. Pre-drilled to accommodate fitting. Meets requirements of Southern building code. Black. Manufacturer number: 34065. Country of origin: United States. Distributed by Oatey Scs.

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5/27/2011

Camco Mfg Pro Element Socket 9953 Water Heater Repair Review

Camco Mfg Pro Element Socket 9953 Water Heater Repair
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It's the right socket for a water heater element nut. The depth is no longer than needed, and the end of the socket is ground flat to better fit the thin element nut. The socket fits the 1 1/2" nut which the advertisement doesn't state. And it's heavy enough it should last forever. Only bad thing it took 18 days from the day of ordering until the day it was delivered. But I'm satisfied with the Camco socket.

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Professional Element Socket, For Easy Replacement Of Electric Water Heater Elements, Chrome Plated Element Socket Fits Standard 1/2' Socket Drive, Making It Easy To Replace Screw In Water Heater Elements.

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First Alert WA100-3 Water Alarm, 3-Pack Review

First Alert WA100-3 Water Alarm, 3-Pack
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We had a minor flood in our garage and the water detector we had was too old and didn't warn us. I purchased these detectors and find them to be good items. The alarm is loud, although I don't think you would hear it through a closed door. The detecting mechanism is on the bottom and requires that you stand it upright. If it got knocked over, it wouldn't work. The detector unit can be seperated and placed by itself, however you would need to place a small weight on top to keep it in contact with the ground. All in all though, a good value for the money and it will do the job.

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This 3 Pack First Alert Water Alarm Protects homes from water damage due to leaks, floods and seepage. Ideal uses: basements, garages, laundry rooms, bathrooms, hot tubs. Place near sump pump, washing machine, water heater, sinks, toilets. Water sensor attaches to bottom of unit or can extend 6 feet to remote location. Loud 85dB alarm sounds when unit senses water (lasts up to 72 hrs). Splash and water resistant. The Water Alarm WA100-3 Features: Sensor attaches to bottom of unit or can extend 6 feet away. Loud 85dB alarm sounds when unit senses water. Alarm continues for up to 72 hrs. Splash and water resistant. 1 9v battery per alarm. (included) Operates in 32 to 120 degrees F, 80% RH. 2 Year Warranty.Package includes: 3 WA100 water sensors and 3 9v batteries.First Alert Water Sensor WA100-3

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5/26/2011

Jacuzzi S750000 RapidHeat In-Line Heater For Whirlpools Review

Jacuzzi S750000 RapidHeat In-Line Heater For Whirlpools
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Jacuzzi S750000 RapidHeat In-Line Heater For Whirlpools
This product makes it possible to take a long Jacuzzi bath. It doesn't heat the water before it comes in but keeps it warm when the jets are on. It turns off when the jets are off. It also has an overheat mechanism that makes it shut off automatically to prevent it from burning out, but it turns back on when it cools off. It is not very large (I was surprised).
Make sure you get the right one for your tub. We contacted Jacuzzi directly to make sure. They make several kinds (intake and out and for older and newer designs of tubs). This one is an older model. We bought our tub in 2003. It might work with newer Jacuzzi tubs or other whirlpool tubs, but I'm not sure. Check with your manufacturer first.

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RapidHeat Heater Kit 7" NTRKeep your whirlpool bath water at the temperature you desire without adding more water. Standard with all Luxury Whirlpools and Salon Spas. Available as an upgrade on comfort products.Heater Compatability List

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5/25/2011

InSinkErator H770-SS Invite Instant Hot Water Dispenser, Chrome and Black Review

InSinkErator H770-SS Invite Instant Hot Water Dispenser, Chrome and Black
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The H770 is a small water heater with a dedicated faucet delivering 190F water. Seems like a simple idea that doesn't take rocket science to design. I have had 2 of these units, the first lasted 5 years, the next 4 years and they fail the same way, the tank leaks and creates a mess. Now, I'm looking at a 3rd unit after 9 years of using these products. I have whole home water heaters cost 2x this heater, require $100 professional installation, but lasts over 4-5x longer. Newer models are not drop in replacements either, as there are minute valve position changes, meaning another $100 professional labor cost if I didn't do it myself. Per instructions, it takes about 1 hour for a professional to install, and that includes working is a tight space underneath a kitchen sink. Now, the maker claims that the H770, like any water heater, wears out with time, and that's a given. However, instant hot water is less a necessity than a whole home water heater. Its easier to use an electric thermo pot, is far cheaper and easily serviced or replaced by a consumer and they last for decades. Lastly, a thermo pot can be filled with better filtered or bottle water rather than relying on pure tap water, as the H770 does [there is a filtered water version, but its otherwise a similar apparatus.] If you are aware this product lasts to 5 years and are willing to endure the replacement labor and cost, by all means, otherwise this product cannot be recommended.

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The In-Sink-Erator instant hot water dispenser delivers easy-to-adjust temperatures from a durable fixture that's easy to install. Powered by rugged induction motors and mounted to your sink with tough, stainless steel assemblies, In-Sink-Erator devices are designed for years of trouble-free service. A 2/3-gallon stainless steel tank, with double chrome finish, houses the water. Also featuring an easy-to-use twist handle, the dispenser can provide 60 cups per hour at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This dispenser also features a 3-year in-home warranty.

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Noritz NRC111-DV NG Condensing Tankless Natural Gas Water Heater, 8.4 GPM Review

Noritz NRC111-DV NG Condensing Tankless Natural Gas Water Heater, 8.4 GPM
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I had this model (Noritz NRC111-DV / 842) professionally installed about a year ago. My review will not focus on installation, but strictly on the unit's operation and performance relative to a conventional 40-50 gallon natural gas tank water heater which it replaced.
I'll start with some background on how I made the decision to go with this unit. I had a 15 year old 40 gallon natural gas tank water heater in my home that was showing signs of failing...excessive rumbling from scale buildup inside the tank and inability to to produce enough hot water to meet peak demand for my family of 5. I plan to stay in my home for the foreseeable future and had no problem making a long-term investment. The primary deciding factors for me were cost (initial cost, operating costs, maintenance costs) and hot water capacity to meet peak demand. I had researched several types of tank and tankless water heaters, including the traditional 40 and 50 gallon tank units, condensing tank units, solar, and tankless units from Rinnai, Takagi, Noritz, Navien, Rheem/Paloma, etc. I spoke with several trusted local plumbers and read professional plumber discussion forums about real-world problems encountered with the new tankless water heaters. All units researched were natural gas varieties, not electric or LP gas and most of my research was gathered in late 2009.
It's sometimes hard to sort through all the manufacturer's claims and marketing materials about why their unit is best, so I placed more emphasis on the opinions of professional plumbers for the quality/durability part of my decision and my own calculations (made some pretty complex spreadsheets) for the financial side of things. This process led me to conclude that Noritz was one of the better brands of tankless water heaters for the optimal combination of engineering/performance, manufacturing quality, warranty/durability, and cost.
Once settled on Noritz, I had to determine whether a condensing (unit being reviewed here) or non-condensing unit would be best and how both of those compared to a traditional tank water heater. From a hot water capacity standpoint, the 40 gallon tank could not cut it, and frankly, neither could the 50 gallon tanks unless I went to a "quick recovery" model which essentially just had a higher output burner and would cost me 50% more than a regular one. I could alter the showering habits of my family, which could be done currently, though in planning for the future, realized that there were many scenarios where I would still need more hot water (frequent guests/visitors staying with us, kids in sports, use of a whirlpool bathtub in master bedroom, etc.) than what I could get out of a 50 gallon tank. Condensing tank water heaters intrigued me, though ultimately proved cost prohibitive and were not nearly as efficient (overall energy factor, not just thermal efficiency rating) as I thought they would be. The "endless hot water" of the tankless units would certainly meet the peak capacity need (but be careful to "size" the unit to your needs appropriately), though also concerned me that people would start taking 30 minute showers routinely and cancel out the potential cost savings! In the end, the difference in cost for the condensing (more efficient, unit being reviewed) vs. non-condensing unit was about $600 in my case, and the extra capacity and efficiency made more long-term sense.
I do have to say that the current 30% federal tax credit played heavily into my decision to go with a tankless water heater, and I probably would not have gone this route without this "discount". In my opinion, the economics of tankless water heaters don't make much sense at current pricing levels (year 2009-2010) without a credit or discount, since the payback period vs. a traditional tank would exceed the typical 20 year expected service life of the unit. These units are also more difficult for the do-it-yourselfer to install and I believe many of the tankless manufacturers will not honor the warranty unless installed by a properly certified plumber. I say all this because the installation costs, especially if this is a retrofit into an existing home and not new construction, can add another $1-2K to the total initial cost. I found a quality local plumber certified by Noritz who offered a good price, which along with the 30% tax credit, made the installation costs basically free and I was just paying about what the unit itself would cost. If your total out-of-pocket cost is going to be more than a few hundred dollars above the cost of unit (net after tax credits, etc.), you should think twice. You can still do it, though your primary motivation at that point would be more about the environment and being green rather than pure financial sense and keeping more green in your pocket. Of course, some heavy users may find the endless supply of a tankless necessary and still more economical than putting together two 50 gallon tanks in series even with high installation costs and no tax credits.
So, how does it work? Quite well. You don't need to change anything about how you use your hot water fixtures...just turn them on, i.e. a shower, and wait for the hot water to start flowing. Compared to the tank water heater I had previously, I would say that it takes an extra 10-15 seconds to get hot water. This is due to the flow sensor taking a second or two to turn on the burner, a few seconds to actually heat the first amount of water that is now flowing, and in my case, an extra 10 feet or so of water pipe that was needed to install the tankless unit. The unit does all the work to heat water to your desired temperature and flow rate, and maintains temperature and flow well--no issues and the "coldwater sandwich" effect is pretty minimal with this unit. During the coldest part of winter, my incoming water temperature was about 40 degrees F and I set the output temperature at 115. This 75 degree rise gives me about 5 gal/min capacity, or about 300 gallons an hour. During the summer months, my incoming water temperature was about 75 degrees, and the 40 degree rise gave me about 9 gal/min capacity, or about 540 gallons an hour. Both figures easily exceed the "first hour" ratings of 40-50 gallon tank water heaters. In the worst case winter scenario, I have been able to have 2 showers running and a faucet moderately open (normal use) at the same time. If I attempted the same scenario with my old 40 gallon tank, I would run out of hot water in about 7 minutes. This really is a benefit of the tankless unit in that I can have 2 showers going at the same time, and have people take back-to-back showers without having to give the old tank water heater time to recover or limiting people to extremely short shower times.
I had to set my old tank water heater at about 130 degrees F in order to make the hot water last long enough. In contrast, I just set the temperature I want with the tankless (115 works best for me). There is a blower fan in the tankless unit that makes very little noise in my opinion (I expected worse), and since mine is installed in my basement, I never hear it running.
Since my furnace shares a gas line with the water heater, I could not verify the efficiency improvements until spring when I was no longer using the natural gas furnace. I am billed in MCF units (not therms) on my gas bill, and after I adjusted for year over year changes in outdoor temperature and its impact on incoming water temperature, used 48% less natural gas May-September than the year ago period when I was using the old tank water heater. My calculations were projecting about a 42% decrease based on the same hot water usage, so while my family's hot water usage remained much the same as the year ago period and we did not deliberately change our usage patterns, I suspect we used a bit less this past year and that accounted for the 6% difference in projected vs. actual. Further analysis revealed that about 2/3 of the 48% decrease (32%) came from simply having the burner off when not in use (an inherent benefit of all tankless designs), with the other 1/3 of the decrease (16%) coming from improved thermal efficiency when the unit actually was running. Here is an interesting fact: my unit runs about 35 minutes a day on average, meaning that nearly 23 and a half hours a day are spent doing nothing--no pilot light and no periodic burners to keep the water in the tank warm--nice!
The tankless unit requires a standard electrical outlet and it consumes 7 watts per hour in standby mode according to my kill-o-watt usage meter. When in use, the blower fan modulates and typically consumes electricity at a rate of 40-100 watts per hour. The only thing that takes a bit more electricity is the frost prevention cycle, which comes on as needed to keep the internals from freezing during temperatures well below freezing. This uses about 200 watts per hour and usually stays on for about 30 minutes at a time when needed, which isn't all that often. In any case, I calculated that this unit adds only about $1/month or $12/year to my electric bill at a rate of just over 10 cents per kwh--pretty minimal.
Maintenance-wise, it is important to do an annual flushing of the heat exchanger with some vinegar or similar solution to remove any scale buildup that might reduce the lifespan and/or performance of the unit. Make sure you have isolation valves installed with the unit, and then you will need a small portable electric pump, a 5 gallon bucket, 4-5 gallons of vinegar, and let it run/circulate for about 45 minutes. This is especially important to do if you have "hard water" as defined in the owner's manual. My water company reports 120ppm hardness or about 7.5 grains/gallon and this would be classified as "hard water" though not excessive. So, this costs about $10/year in...Read more›

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Noritz 0843 Series Direct Vent Condensing Water HeaterNoritz is proud to introduce our most efficient tankless heaters, the next generation in tankless technology - condensing heaters.This innovation utilizes a dual heat exchanger, a fusion of stainless steel and copper heat exchangers.The 100% stainless steel component captures the residual heat from the exhaust temperature to preheat the incoming water before it runs through the main copper heat exchanger.This results in dramatic reduction of carbon dioxide and increases the heater's efficiency level to over 93%!Another benefit of this technology is lower exhaust temperatures, which means less costly PVC can be used for its venting. A PVC adapter is built into the heater for easy installation.It's the coolest and greenest tankless water heater available today!This is the highest performing condensing unit on the market today.Some other brand(s) may have a bit higher efficiency rating, but there is a fine balance between the efficiency level and flow rate performance.At Noritz we strive to maximize efficiency levels without sacrifing the hot water output, temperature fluctuations, and water pressure.Comfort and safety is something we do not compromise on.Liquid propane, direct vent - indoor only (image is of the indoor/outdoor model)Condensing technology - The most advanced Noritz unit, over 93% efficiency level!

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5/24/2011

Watts 500528 Premier Four-Chamber Tankless Electric Hot Water Heater Review

Watts 500528 Premier Four-Chamber Tankless Electric Hot Water Heater
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My conventional water heater died and I decided to go tankless since this is a second home. The price was quite a bit higher than a replacement tank heater, but since I use very little hot water it seemed like a good fit.
The first thing that I ran into was the electric requirements. This thing has four 7000W heating elements and each one requires a separate 30A 240V circuit. Since I didn't have that much room in my service panel, I had to install a 125A sub-panel. This also required pulling four 10-2 cables through the attic and into the utility room. Given the price of copper, this is not an insignificant expense. If I had it to do all over again, I might have moved the water heater closer to the service panel.
The actual pluming was pretty easy. It works just like a regular water heater with 3/4 inch inlet and outlet. The specifications say that a blowoff valve is not required, so I did not install one.
I am a little upset by the design of this thing. The pipes come in from the top and the wiring is on the side. The problem with this arrangement is that any sweating from the pipes runs down into the unit and onto the electrical wiring. I had a small leak in a connection when I first turned the water on and the water dripped down onto the circuit board in the unit. Fortunately, I didn't have the power on yet, but it did take a bit of work to dry everything out. I would have much preferred that the water connection would have been on the bottom and the electricity on the top.
When I powered the unit up, there were a number of clicks and beeps and flashing LEDs. The unit quickly settled down into a constant blinking of a single green LED. The very limited manual indicated that this was the normal operating mode. After a few small tests at the kitchen sink, I was satisfied that the unit was working, so I decided to take a shower.
Everything worked fine and the water was plenty hot enough. As a matter of fact, I will probably turn the temperature down a bit from the factory setting. One issue that I have is that when any of the four elements turn on it causes my lights to flicker slightly. This is a common problem since this also happens with any large electrical load like the heat pump or hot tub. The issue is that the elements seem to be turning on and off constantly during the shower causing a lot of flickering. This is something that I guess I will have to live with.
I only have a 200A service into my house and this is the minimum recommended for this unit. It will be interesting to see how well the power holds up when I have the heat pump, hot tub, and a shower all going at the same time. I probably ought to turn on all the burners on the stove at the same time just to really give it a shakedown.
The only other issue that I have is the apparent lack of information on this unit. I don't believe that the manufacturer has any useful web site or customer support. The manuals that come with the unit are very limited in information. With the unit powered on and idle, there are periodic relay clicks that I assume are normal, but nothing is mentioned in the manual. I am guessing that this is some sort of diagnostics, but I am not really sure.
Over all, I probably would not replace a conventional water heater with this unit again. Given the total cost and time involved, I cannot see that I will ever come close to recovering the investment. I am a technology junkie and like to try new things, so the experience is worth something I guess.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Watts 500528 Premier Four-Chamber Tankless Electric Hot Water Heater

The Watts Premier 4-chamber tankless electric hot water heater provides an endless supply of hot water. Designed for potable whole house residential applications as well as commercial applications, such as specialty restaurants, convenience stores, hotels and pet grooming shops, this hot water heater is ideal as a back-up to solar and/or geothermal passive heat recovery systems. Compact, lightweight, and microprocessor controlled, it contains power-sharing technology. The heating chamber is made of performance polymer nylon material.

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5/23/2011

BB-300 Universal Warm Water With Built-In Heater Bidet Review

BB-300 Universal Warm Water With Built-In Heater Bidet
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It was easy to install and works just as described. Not many things do this today, but this did!

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One of a kind built-in heater BB-300 fits to ANY existing toilets and CAN BE INSTALLED ON EITHER SIDE depending upon your preference or needs.
Features:

Cleansing - a thorough and refreshing warm water cleanse.
Quality approved by UL CE TUV
60 Second AUTO Shut-Off
Water pressure adjustment 4 settings
Temperature adjustment 4 settings
Built-in Heater/Pump allows regulated even water pressure and temperature with bubble massage
Space Conserving, its compact and simple design occupies minimum space
Color: White

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Rheem MR20120 Marathon point-of-use Electric Water Heater 20 Gal. Review

Rheem MR20120 Marathon point-of-use Electric Water Heater 20 Gal.
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I would have given this electric water heater 5 full stars except for one small problem. Apparently, the earlier models have a defective air check valve on the cold water input (outside/above) which leak (water). I have installed two of these: one in 2001 and the other in 2008. The 2008 installation has the new version of the check valve. It is brass, about 2" long, has air holes in the SIDES and not the end. IF YOU HAVE A MODEL THAT HAS THE OPENING/SCREEN AT THE END OF THE AIR CHECK VALVE, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU CONTACT RHEEM/MARATHON AND THEY WILL SEND YOU A REPLACEMENT OF THE NEW MODEL FOR FREE INCLUDING SHIPPING BEFORE IT BLOWS! Our 2001 air check valve failed which caused water and carpet damage. We purchased this model because it is not supposed to fail... Rheem customer service was great despite the opposite I have read on the web. This heater has a 6 year warranty on parts and the tank is lifetime. Even though the air check valve was 2 years out of warranty, they replaced it via Fed-x overnight at NO COST. I mentioned the ruined carpet to them, and they began a claim. All things considered, I am pleased with this. My plumber does not like anything with poly tanks, so I checked the web for recalls, class action lawsuits, etc., on this and found none. I am the only person I know of to mention the check valve problem above anywhere. They were so quick and friendly to replace the part, that I believe they know about it...

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Rheem MR20120 Marathon point-of-use Electric Water Heater 20 Gal.Rheem MR20120 Marathon point-of-use Electric Water Heater 20 Gal. Features:; Seamless, blow-molded, polybutylene tank - impervious to rust and corrosion; Multiple layers of filament wound fiberglass give the tank unmatched strength; Polyurethane Envirofoam; insulation helps reduce energy consumption; The most energy efficient in its class; Recessed drain valve is out of the way of brooms and scrubbers; Tough molded polyethylene outer shell resists dents and scratches; Bowl shaped bottom allows complete sediment draining; High temperature polysulfone dip tubes; All plastic tank eliminates the need for an anode rod; Thermally fused element to protect tank against "dry-fire"; low watt, density for long life.; Factory installed temperature and pressure relief valve; Factory installed vacuum relief valve; Inlet and outlet connections are 3/4" NPT; Water tight grommets keep out overhead moisture and condensation

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5/22/2011

RHEEM 50G Heat Pump Water Heater HP50RH Review

RHEEM 50G Heat Pump Water Heater HP50RH
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My propane water heater was consuming about 300 gallons of propane a year and costing me about $900 a year. This water heater is supposed to cost me about $230/yr in electricity. With the tax credit and fuel savings, this hybrid water heater will shortly pay for itself and provide great savings and more dependable energy costs -- especially since the old water heater was eight years old.
It turned out that the plumber/electrician had little trouble running a new electric line from the breaker box to the furnace room in my house. Hooking up the water heater was straightforward.
The compressor heat pump only operates a few times during the day and even when it operates, it is a quiet hum or buzz (like my refrigerator). Home Depot offers a very long protection package. Very exciting and worthwhile investment especially since new "high efficiency" propane water heaters consume about 260 gallons a year and tankless water heater heaters consume about 200 gallons of propane a year.

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Rheem Heat Pump Water Heater10-year limited tank and parts warrantyHigh 2.0 Energy Factor (EF)3 Operation modesEnergy Saver (heat pump)Normal (heat pump with element backup)Electric Heat Only (two elements)2-1/2" Non-CFC foam insulationPremium resistored anode rod protection,extends tank lifeExclusive Rheemglas® tank liningFactory installed T&P valveBrass drain valveEasy access side connectionsStandard 3/4" NPT water inlet, outlet, andcondensate drain connectionsDisclaimer: We will not be liable for damages caused by improper installation of electric, gas or propane water heaters sold by us.We require that the buyer have a licensed and properly trained plumber or service tech install any water heater we sell.Furthermore, you the consumer are responsible to order the proper make and model of the water heater that complies with your local, state and federal laws or compliance requirements.You, the consumer agree to obtain any permits necessary to your local, state and federal laws or compliance requirements.We urge you the buyer to consult your local licensed and authorized installer for advice on the proper selection of your water heater (electric, gas or propane).We cannot be responsible for any advice given by any sales person related to these matters.Once installed, water heaters cannot be returned.We will not be liable for improper installation, operation service or maintenance, possibly resulting in fire, electrical shock, scald injury, carbon monoxide poisoning, explosion, property damage, personal injury or death from water heaters sold by us.Any problems or liability related to a manufacturing issue must be handled with the water heater manufacturer.

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5/21/2011

Stiebel Eltron DHC 4-2 Electric Tankless Water Heater Review

Stiebel Eltron DHC 4-2 Electric Tankless Water Heater
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We have been using tankless water heaters for domestic use for years. This unit has worked perfectly for our design of snow melt systems. It is easily plumbed into the system and with it's immediate heating design allows us to apply just the right amount of high heat at just the right time during the snow fall for no accumulation or ice and a high efficient system. Our customers are extremely pleased with their systems this season in these repeated blizzards in Colorado.
Just make sure you size your pump for the increased back pressure of this unit and all things will work great.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Stiebel Eltron DHC 4-2 Electric Tankless Water Heater

Stiebel Eltron DHC 4-2 Electric Tankless Water HeaterThe Stiebel Eltron DHC 4-2 Electric Tankless Water Heater is designed for installation at the point of use. They heat water instantaneously as it flows through the unit. Stand-by losses are completely eliminated. The heating elements are controlled by a flow switch and by an exclusive scald-guard thermostat, which keeps the water temperature within safe limits at all times. In addition, the DHC water heaters are equipped with a safety high-limit with manual reset. The rugged all copper design ensures many years of reliable service. The models DHC 3-1, DHC 3-2 and DHC 4-2 are shipped with 0.5 GPM pressure compensating flow reducer/aerators that fit on most faucets. Flow controls and faucet aerators are highly recommended in conjunction with tankless water heaters.Stiebel Eltron DHC 4-2 Electric Tankless Water Heater Features: Up to 50% less electric consumption compared to storage type heaters, hot water instantly, with exclusive built-in scald guard thermostat, fits anywhere due to its lower installation cost in comparison to storage type water heaters.No need for circulating pumps, available in many different KW sizes - Available for 120V, 208V and 240. Stiebel Eltron DHC 4-2 Electric Tankless Water Heater Specifications:; Phase1, 208/240V, 2.9/3.8 KiloWatts, 14/16 Amps; Minimum required circuit breaker size 20 Amps; Recommended wire size AWG Copper 12; Minimum water flow to activate unit0.42 GPM/1.6 l/min.; Pressure loss in unit 2.88 PSI/0.23 bar; Maximum working pressure 125 PSI/10 bar; Tested to pressure 250 PSI/20 bar; Water connections 1/2" NPT; Dimensions: H 14-3/16" x W 7-7/8" x D 4-1/8"

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Reliance 9000029-005 29-Inch Aluminum Anode Rod Review

Reliance 9000029-005 29-Inch Aluminum Anode Rod
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I purchased this quite awhile ago and never got around to reviewing it. This sacrificial rod came well packaged and easy to use. The most difficult thing was removing the old rod. Actually, it was a rusted head by the time I removed it. The rod itself had long since corroded into a brown mush on the bottom of the water heater.
Every homeowner needs a good socket set of varying sizes. If you don't already have one, I recommend purchasing or borrowing a "breaker bar." You will need to remove the old rod (or what's left of it) and believe me, it may not come off easily. The socket size I used was 1-1/16 so you might want to acquire one of those as well. Make sure you get someone to keep the water heater from moving while removing the old bolt. The last thing you want to do is to break a water line.
I have yet to remove this rod, but it will have to be replaced eventually. They are supposed to sacrifice themselves so you don't have to buy a new water heater every few years.

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9000029-005 Features: -Anode rod. -Aluminum construction. -Overall Height: 29''.

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