Going Green – Green Plumbing Layouts, Tankless Water Heaters and Hot Water Demand Systems

Green Plumbing – What Is It And What Can It Do For You?

Green Plumbing is when residential or other plumbing layouts are designed for maximum efficiency and minimum wasted energy and water. Most plumbing layouts are not planned, they just happen.

The blueprints do not show plumbing layouts, it’s left up to the person doing the actual plumbing as to how the pipes are laid out. Often the person doing the piping is un-trained and their biggest concern is getting the job done quickly. As a result, the home owner must wait for hot water longer than necessary thus wasting it.

The cold plumbing is not much of an issue. Generally people don’t have to purge the hot piping to get cold water, it’s already cold enough. The hot is another story.

Hundreds of billions of gallons wasted

Hundreds of billions (yes billion with a “B”) of gallons of water are run down the drain every year as the result of people waiting for it to get hot. Grundfos, RedyTemp, Metlund and other sources claim a savings of anywhere from 10,000 to 16,000 gallons per year for a typical family who installs a demand hot water system, which eliminates the loss from waiting.

There are over 50 million single-family homes in the U.S. and many apartments, condos, and other residences that could benefit as well. But just taking the 50 million homes and multiplying it times 10,000 gallons per year results in a theoretical savings of 500,000,000,000 gallons.

Add in the potential savings due to apartments, condos, and multi-family housing and we are talking about trillions of gallons wastefully run down the drain in the U.S. alone.

Reducing wastage reduces greenhouse gas emissions

Much of the time the water you use has been pumped from somewhere and possibly treated as well. That takes energy, and generating energy usually causes the emission of green house gases, at least if it comes from a natural gas or coal burning plant. Unless you have a septic system, your drain probably ends up at a sewage treatment plant where more energy is consumed treating it.

For the cold efficiency one has to rely on ones appliances since as noted earlier cold water in the cold piping is generally not wasted. However, the hot side of the story is one of waste and inefficiency.

Poor plumbing layouts

Since in many instances you purge the cooled off hot water from the hot lines before you use the hot fixture, you want the hot piping from the heater to the fixtures to be as short as possible. Traditionally plumbing when done with rigid pipe tends to follow joists and walls, and is piped with 90 degree elbows and straight sections of pipe.

This type of plumbing layout is wasteful of water and pipe. Make the pipe runs directly from the heater straight to the fixtures. That minimizes the length of the pipe, and consequently the amount that needs to be purged before the hot water arrives.

Point-of-use tankless heaters are green

Consider the using point-of-use tankless heaters if possible. This virtually eliminates the waste from purging and that long wait for hot water. Insulate your hot piping. You will get your hot water faster and the outlet temperature will be a little higher, so you use less hot and more cold when taking a shower. The change in ratio of hot to cold saves energy.

Whole house tankless heaters are a mixed bag. You waste more water because tankless heaters have to heat the water first since there isn’t a tank full already waiting. But you save energy, since you don’t have that full tank of hot water leaking heat into its surroundings 24 hours a day.

Demand systems are green

If you do opt for a whole house tankless heater then get yourself a hot water demand system. Demand systems such as the Metlund D’Mand System and the Chilipepper CP6000 eliminate the water being run down the drain while you wait, and they deliver your hot water to you faster, which is always nice.

These pumps only run for a few moments until the water reaches the fixture and then they shut off. With so little running time they usually consume less than $1 or $2 per year in electricity costs.

By combining a tankless heater and a hot water demand system you get the best of both green worlds, reduced energy consumption and heavy duty water savings. If you loop your plumbing from fixture to fixture, and then place the demand system at the end of the run, all of your sinks and fixtures will have fast delivery and no wastage.

Make your plumbing system green and efficient

If you are planning on building a new home, or you are remodeling an older home, then consider green plumbingalternatives to the standard practices. Keep pipe runs as short as possible. Insulate the hot pipes. If using a tankless heater install a demand system.

By implementing a green plumbing strategy you can add convenience, save water, reduce energy consumption, reduce green house gas emissions, and make the world a better place for all of us.

How to Avoid a Drain Plumbing Emergency

Clogged drains are common plumbing troubles that can escalate to plumbing emergency complications in no time without the appropriate plumbing solution. Do it yourself repair can be performed on a minor blocked drain, provided that you are equipped with suitable plumbing tools and the right plumbing know how. Just in case your D.I.Y repair hits unforeseen emergency plumbing complications, it is always advised to have your local plumber accessible should the above happen.

Whether you decide to DI.Y repair or take the easy and safe way out and call in your local emergency plumber, get familiar with the plumbing basics on unclogging and clearing drains. The bottom section of the drainpipe is called a trap that functions to “trap” some water in the line and create a water seal preventing offensive sewer gases from penetrating the home. Bathroom drains of showers, tubs and sinks may become blocked due to a build up of hair, soap scum and bodily oils and fats.

A slow running bathtub’s drain points in large to a partially clogged drainpipe that requires prompt clearing to prevent complete closure of pipe indicating a plumbing emergency. The following plumbing steps will guide your actions in an event of a blocked bath drain.

1. First examine the opening of the drain for hair and other debris that can be easily pulled out by you to relief the clog. Otherwise take an old coat hanger and bend its wires to plug the clog and pull out.
2. Failing to detect the source of the clog employ the plunger into your do it yourself repair. Place the plunger over the opening of the drain and fill the tub with sufficient water to cover the plunger’s cup. After sealing with a rug the overflow outlet, push up and down the plunger. This action should be repeated for up to 6 times in which the pressure created with the help of the plunger should lift the block and open up the pipe. When lifting the plunger water quickly drains away then you have effectively removed the clog, otherwise repeat the plunging action until reaching a point of quick water drainage.
3. If a plunger won’t clear a blocked drain despite your repeated plunging efforts move to a plumber’s snake. Run water, feed and turn about 3 feet of the snake into the drainpipe until hitting the obstacle. Turning the plumber snake as you push forward enables the device to hook onto the clog for you to pull out. Repeat action until you manage to break open the clog.
4. If after using a plunger and a plumbers snake your drain is still blocked then it’s time to summon your local emergency plumbing services to take over.

Whatever you do avoid pouring chemicals to clear the blocked drainpipe because it is a serious hazard should the drain overflow and spray dangerous chemicals on your or your plumber’s faces. In addition to being highly dangerous for users, chemicals also damage the environment.

Emergency plumbers urge customers to place strainers on drain openings to catch debris that will otherwise clog the pipe. Further still monthly preventive maintenance can go along way in avoiding blocked drains. Carefully pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain to melt grease and fats. Every three months, run down the drain half a cup of baking soda followed with half a cup of vinegar. Let the mixture sit and fats a few minutes rinse out with hot water. Taking care of your drains will prevent costly emergency plumbing complications in the long run.