A Word to the Water-Wise in Oklahoma City
The basic idea behind water-saving devices is to restrict water consumption rates where heaviest use occurs. Indoor Oklahoma City water usage runs at about 40 percent for toilets, 30 percent for baths and showers (more for baths), 15 percent for clothes washers and 15 percent for cooking and kitchen use.
TOILET WATER SAVERS
The first target for water conservation is the toilet. A number of devices are designed to reduce the amount of water used to flush a conventional toilet.
One such device is a dual-flush mechanism that allows about one-half tank flush for liquid waste by depressing the tank lever handle in the normal manner and full-tank flush for solid waste by depressing the lever and holding it down. These devices can save from 40 to 50 percent of normal water consumption.
There are also water-saving toilets that have smaller holding tanks and use less water to flush.
Leaks in the toilet tank can also be a source of excess water usage. These are usually due to worn out parts. Leaks can be detected by adding dark food coloring to the tank and checking about 20 minutes later to see if the toilet bowl water has turned the same color.
SHOWERS AND BATHS
Showers and baths are the next target for water saving. The most common devices are flow-control valves, flow restrictors and aerators that can be added to existing fixtures. New showerheads can also be installed that feature water-saving capabilities.
There is a distinct difference between a flow-control valve and a flow restrictor. The flow-control valve restricts the flow of water to about 2.75 gals. per minute, automatically making adjustments for water-pressure changes.
A flow restrictor does not make an automatic adjustment if the pressure changes. Therefore, more water is used as the pressure increases.
Some of these devices have manual controls to adjust water flow from flood to shutoff. Many include a weep to help prevent back pressure in the pipes.
Many of these showerheads also have manual controls to adjust the amount of water flow so less water can be used for soaping and more for rinsing.
These devices help restrict the flow of water from a typical rate of seven gals. per minute to about two to three gals.
FAUCETS
The third target for water saving around your Oklahoma City home is the bathroom and kitchen faucets. Like the shower or bathtub, water is consumed at the rate of about 7 gals. per minute. A restrictor (or aerator) can reduce the flow to 2- to 3- gals. Per minute.
There are models which automatically adjust the flow to 2- to 3- gals. per minute. There are models which automatically adjust the flow rate according to water-pressure changes and other models which do not make automatic compensations. Some have manual controls for the Oklahoma City homeowner to preset the amount of restriction.
Several states, such as New York and California, have code requirements on faucets and showerheads. Since these water-saving devices also control the proportion of hot water used, they have the additional selling point of being a fuel saver.
regardless of state mandated use of water saving devices, it is in your best interest to modify your water usage. Your Oklahoma City plumbing contractor knows the benefit of all these devices and can advise you as to which will be most beneficial in your case and will then gladly install any water saving plumbing fixture for you.
Article Source: http://www.acehardware.com/info/index.jsp?categoryId=1267597
If you are looking for a professional Oklahoma City plumbing company, then please call us today at 405-802-7769 or complete our online request form.
3 Gallon Shower. 30 Gallon Load of Laundry. ?? Gallon Water Heater
Whether you are buying a water heater for the first time, or replacing an old hot water heater, there are some factors that you definitely should keep in mind when shopping, such as:
How much room do you have in the space where you will be installing the water heater?
You want to make sure that you don’t buy a water heater that is too large to fit in the space you have available. So, it would be good to measure the space available and bring these measurements with you when you are shopping for the new water heater.
Does your water heater need to be electric, gas, or propane?
You can choose between an electric water heater or a gas water heater and they are not interchangeable. So, be sure the unit you buy is designed to work with your energy source.
Choose a water heater that is Energy Efficient.
A very high percentage of a Oklahoma City household’s energy costs go toward heating the family’s hot water. The average family uses an amazing amount of hot water. Twenty five percent or more of a family’s energy expenses come from just the cost of running the hot water heater. Therefore, when you are selecting which hot water heater to buy, it makes a lot of sense to buy the most energy efficient model possible. Even if this efficient model costs a little bit more in the beginning, it will save a lot of money in the long run. Most retailers who sell hot water heaters will post a sign on each unit that tells you how much energy it pulls, as well as the average yearly cost of running the unit. This information is called the Energy Factor (EF), which is calculated after a mandatory evaluation done on all water heaters. It takes into account usage, standby loss, insulation, etc. Since the “Energy Star” rating has not yet been applied to hot water heaters, you will want to use the EF (Energy Factor) rating, as well as individual information on energy effectiveness that is posted on each unit. Simply compare numbers from one unit to another.
Choose a water heater with a good warranty.
Because so many manufacturers have cut costs to lower the expense of the manufacturing process, most water heaters today will not last much longer than their warranty. So go for the heater with the longest warranty. But just a long warranty in itself is not a protection. You also have to look at the warranty exclusions. Sometimes these warranties have fine print. So it may look like a great warranty on the outside, but then the fine print could say that the causes of most hot water heater failures are not covered.
Choose the right size of water heater
Finding the right size of water heater to match your family’s needs is important. If you choose a water heater that is too small, you will find that just as you lather up the shampoo in your hair the water turns cold. But if you choose a tank that is way too big, you will have a higher than necessary Oklahoma City utility bill each month just to heat up the tank. You can ask yourself now if you frequently run out of hot water. If so, then check the size of your current water heater and you will know that you are going to require a larger size. If the size you have now seems to do the job, then ask yourself what your FUTURE needs are. Remember, you are buying one water heater to last several years, so you must consider if the family is going to expand in the future, or if you plan on buying a hot tub, spa, jacuzzi or over-sized bathtub in the future. Are you a laundry heavy family? Any additional future needs must be considered when sizing your hot water heater. Even if there are only 2 of you in the home now, and maybe it’s a 4 bedroom Oklahoma City home and you have no intention of growing your family or increasing your water needs, it is always recommended that you size the water heater for the house, in case you ever decide in the future to sell this home. An undersized tank on a house would not be desirable as a selling point and may even prevent the home from passing inspection. All this being said, keep in mind that if you do decide you need a larger water heater, the space where you are going to be putting the tank must be adequate. Hot water heaters range in size from 20 to 80 gallons, but the most common sizes used are 40-50 gallons.
As a general rule of thumb, you can go by the number of people in your Oklahoma City household to determine the water heater that would most likely be required under normal demand circumstances. Normal demand capacities are based on a home with typical appliances, such as a washing machine, dishwasher, and normal sized bathtubs. It would be considered an extra demand, or more than normal demand, if you had a home with a hot tub, spa, over-sized bathtub, children over the age of twelve (teenagers can use a lot of water), or even small children (large amount of laundry). For a family of 1 or 2, under normal circumstances, a 40 gallon tank should be sufficient. More than normal demand would probably require a 50 gallon tank for 1 or 2 people. If your family has 3 or 4 people, then a 50 gallon tank would usually suffice under normal circumstances. For a greater demand, then a 50 gallon gas water heater would probably still be sufficient, but if your tank is electric, you might consider an 80 gallon heater. Gas heaters are usually able to heat up the water in a tank faster. And, finally, if your family has 5 or more people, then a 50 gallon gas heater is probably still adequate under normal circumstances. If your tank is electric, then an 80 gallon heater would be recommended under normal demand. If you are in a situation where your demand would be more than normal, then go to a 75 gallon gas tank, and perhaps even a 120 gallon electric, if the space you have available for your hot water heater is large enough to accommodate. Remember, you want to buy the water heater that will do the job NOW and in the FUTURE. So keep in mind what your future requirements will be. You may be surprised at how much water on average some everyday activities use:
- Showering - 3 gallons/minute
- Bathing - 15-25 gallons per bath
- Shaving - 1-3 gallons
- Washing hands - 1/2-2 gallons
- Washing dishes - 4-6 gallons
- Running dishwasher - 5-20 gallons
- Running clothes washer - 25-40 gallons
- Cleaning house - 5-12 gallons
- Food preparation - 1-6 gallons
Choose the proper method of installation - Use a Professional Plumber.
Installing the water heater is not a job for the layman. It involves plumbing work, as well as gas or electric work. Mistakes in installation are one of the most common causes of injury and water heater failures, so this job is best left up to your professional Oklahoma City plumber. Installation also involves knowledge of current local code ordinances to make sure the tank is installed in such a way as to pass those codes for Oklahoma City. Also, your plumber will be familiar with the water quality of Oklahoma City and any unique characteristics.
For further direction and guidance, ask a respectable and knowledgeable Oklahoma City plumber. They will be able to share a wealth of information and make professional recommendations.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rick_Romero
If you are looking for a professional Oklahoma City water heater contractor, then please call us today at 405-802-7769 or complete our online request form.
Read Any Good Oklahoma City Water Meters Lately?
how to read your water meter allows you to easily and quickly track water usage in your Oklahoma City home, including trends and potential spikes due to leaks. If you discover high usage, it would be advisable to contact your Oklahoma City plumber who will be able to find the exact location and repair the leak before your water bill continues to increase needlessly. Most water meters are one of two types: a straight-reading meter or a dial-reading meter. A straight-reading meter contains a simple number tally that provides the readout, while a dial-reading meter contains either five or six distinct dials that are used to determine the overall usage.
Instructions
Things You’ll Need
- Screwdriver
1. Reading a dial meter
- 1
Use a screwdriver to remove the lid of the water pit. Check the area for any dangerous insects or animals before proceeding.
- 2
The dials are labeled in increasing tenth values (i.e. 10, 100, 1000, etc). Begin reading the water meter with the highest value dial, generally the 100,000 dial. Note the smaller of the two numbers nearest to the needle as the first digit.
- 3
Read the dial labeled 10,000 and note the smallest of the two numbers nearest to the needle. Continue this procedure until you have read all dials and have a full six-digit number. The final number provides the units of water in either gallons or cubic feet that have been consumed since the meter was installed.
- 4
To monitor water usage, simply subtract the “before” reading from the “after” reading and the result will be the amount consumed over a specified period of time. This value can assist with monitoring usage.
- 5
If the value given by the readout is in cubic feet, you may want to convert the value to gallons. One cubic foot is equal to 7.48 gallons. As a general rule, water companies will charge you based upon usage in terms of either 100 cubic feet or 1000 gallon units. The best way to know how you are charged is to check your Oklahoma City water bill, which should indicate the unit of measure.
- Reading a straight meter
- 1
Locate the number tally on the water meter and record the number listed. It is the area that looks similar to a car’s odometer.
- 2
Determine the unit of measure. It is generally listed as either cubic feet or gallons in the area above or below the number tally.
- 3
Subtract the “before” reading from the “after” reading to determine usage.
- 4
Convert the value of the readout as needed (between gallons and cubic feet) for consistency with how your Oklahoma City water company bills you for usage.
Tips & Warnings
- To determine whether or not a leak is present, turn off all of the water outlets in your Oklahoma City home and note the position of the 1-cubic-foot-dial on your water meter. After 30 minutes, check the dial for movement. If the dial has moved, then you have a possible water leak in your home. Call your Oklahoma City plumber for assistance in finding and repairing the leak before your water bill skyrockets.
- Many new water meters have digital readouts which provide a straight number for consumption and do not require any special techniques for reading.
References
- H2ouse: How to Read Your Water Meter
- “Complete Home Plumbing;” Scott Atkinson; Sunset Books; 2001
Read more: How to Read a Water Meter | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5809560_read-water-meter.html#ixzz1iPjqq9tx
