How to “Go Green” with Indoor Plumbing

Posted on August 18, 2015 by weilhammerplumbing

Indianapolis Plumbing Repair 317-784-1870

In today’s world, eco-friendly practices and lifestyles are popular ventures for families, homes, businesses, schools, and more. “Going green” is a positive trend that almost anyone can achieve with a few mindful changes. Simply turning the water faucet off while you brush your teeth, for instance, is a great start; as well as, recycling your water bottles and soda cans, keeping the lights off in unoccupied rooms, closing the shades on a hot day, investing in rain barrels for water flowers, and much more.

The possibilities are endless for greener living, and as for plumbing, the principle is the same. There are several options for home and business owners that desire an Eco-friendlier plumbing system. So if you are interested in going green yourself, continue reading to learn how indoor plumbing can be eco-friendly and energy efficient.

Pressure Reducing Valves (PRV)

Contact a reputable master plumber to have your plumbing valves replaced with pressure reducing ones. You see, the average home’s water pressure is usually set too high, around 70 psi or more. It can stand to go a little lower, closer to 35 or 40 psi, for the sake of saving energy and reducing water consumption. Installing pressure reducing valves can improve energy efficiency and conserve water, which of course reduces monthly utility costs as well!

High-Efficiency Toilets (HET)

A great way to conserve more water each month is to replace your existing toilet with a high efficiency version. Older model toilets still use over 3 gallons of water per flush, but fortunately, modern federal regulations mandate that all new toilets must not use more than 1.6 gallons per flush. This was certainly a leap in the right direction, but it can get better. Installing a high-efficiency toilet can get the amount of water per flush down to as low as 1.2 gallons!

High-Efficiency Water Heaters

Just like toilets, you can also replace your existing water heater for a modern high-efficiency version. Tankless and on demand water heaters are common examples of a high-efficiency water heaters. They only heat water when it’s requested, rather than running all day to store hot water in a tank. This reduces energy and lowers utility costs.

Plumbing Fixtures

There are a couple plumbing fixtures you can replace to make your home more energy efficient and environmentally conscience. For example, you can choose to swap out your shower-heads for high-performance versions. These eco-friendly versions use virtually 30% less water than the average standard shower-head fixture. And you won’t even notice the difference in water pressure because they are designed to effectively use water to produce a satisfying and fulfilling shower experience.

In addition to shower-heads, you can install water-saving faucets too. These eco-friendly faucets use less water but still maintain adequate water pressure. This saves up to one gallon of water per minute! This is a wise installation for bathrooms, kitchens, outdoor faucets, and more.

Indianapolis Master Plumber

Weilhammer Plumbing Company 317-784-1870

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 when you need a licensed master plumber in Indianapolis and its surrounding towns. Master plumber Mark Weilhammer, and his team of licensed plumbing contractors, provide a wide range of skilled plumbing services for both residential and commercial properties. Call 317-784-1870 for prompt and professional plumbing repair in Indianapolis you can trust!

Three Signs a Tankless Water Heater is Right For You

Posted on August 12, 2015 by weilhammerplumbing

Tankless Water Heater Repair 317-784-1870

If you are in the market for a new water heater, and you can’t quite decide which make and model is the right choice, it is time to take a self-evaluation of your hot water habits. There are so many types of water heaters, including solar, gas, electric, portable, and more. For this reason, it can be a little overwhelming for first-time appliance shoppers. Many people are making the switch to more energy efficient versions of water heating, like solar or tankless water heaters.

Since solar power is not quite efficient enough to be cost-effective for the average homeowner, tankless versions are worth consideration. There are three tell-tale signs that may suggest a tankless hot water heater is right for you. Continue reading to learn these three signs, and discover if an eco-friendly tankless water heater is the best option for you and your home.

Learn Your Hot Water Habits

In order to decide whether or not a tankless water heater is right for you, you must first take a closer look at your hot water habits. This means paying attention to your showers, baths, dish-washing, laundry, and gardening for the nest week. Take note of how much water you are using, and how much of that water is hot. Think about when you use hot water the most, and how long it takes to reach the desired temperature. Also, think about your home; the size, square footage, number of bathrooms, available space, number of occupants, and even your budget. Now you are ready to ask yourself the three questions that will tell you whether a tankless hot water heater is a wise choice!

Do You Need to Save Space?

Many people benefit from tankless versions because they live in small apartments, mobile homes, efficiencies, and similar dwellings. If you need all the space you can get, tankless water heaters are a good choice because they do not come with a large, secondary tank that stores hot water like traditional systems do.

Do You Use A Lot of Hot Water?

If “yes” is your answer, then a tank-free water heater could be a good choice. Since tankless water heaters provide instantaneous hot water, they can keep up with your hot water demand.

Do You Use Little Hot Water?

If you are not a big hot water consumer, a tankless version can also be of good use. Since they only heat water on demand, they are not wasting energy sustaining a hot water reserve, which successively saves you money on energy and water each month.

If you have questions about hot water heaters, consult a licensed master plumber for expert advice you can trust.

Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc.

Weilhammer Plumbing Company 317-784-1870

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 for questions about water heaters in Indianapolis. Master plumber, Mark Weilhammer, and our licensed team of plumbing contractors, are happy to answer your questions about choosing a water heater that’s a right match for your home. We offer water heater repair and installation, replacement, maintenance, service, and sales for both residential and commercial properties. Call 317-783-1870 for water heater service, repair, and sales in Indianapolis, IN today.

How Do Instantaneous Water Heaters Work?

Posted on August 5, 2015 by weilhammerplumbing

Indianapolis Plumbing Repair 317-784-1870

Instantaneous water heaters are more commonly referred to as “tankless” water heaters, as they do not use a storage tank like most standard units. They are meant to deliver hot water on demand, or as needed, thus eliminating the need for a storage tank altogether. In fact, they are also called “on demand” or “demand” water heaters.

Tankless water heaters have a lot to offer residential and commercial property owners, and operate in a unique way to allow instantaneous hot water whenever requested. They come in various make and models to fit any property’s hot water needs. Continue reading to learn how instantaneous water heaters work and who to call for installation and price-point information in your town.

On Demand Hot Water Heaters

On demand hot water heaters are known for their energy efficiency since they do not waste energy to heat water on the standby like most traditional models do. This not only reduces overall energy consumption, it can save money on monthly utility bills as well. Tankless units heat water in a direct way, as soon as it is requested; whether by faucet, washing machine, dishwasher, or other household appliance.

How It Works:

1. Cold water travels through a plumbing pipe and enters the unit.

2. A heating element (gas or electric) heats the water to the indicated temperature. Gas-powered units use a gas burner to heat water, while electric units use an electrical element to heat water.

3. It’s that simple!

With tankless water heaters, there is no waiting for a tank to fill with water, or running out of hot water. On demand water heaters provide a constant supply of hot water without wasting energy. However, the output does limit the units flow rate. Instantaneous hot water heaters generally provide hot water at a rate of 2 to 5 gallons per minute, but gas-powered units have a higher flow rate than electrical ones. Either way, a tankless unit might limit a property’s ability to use multiple hot water appliances simultaneously. This means there might not be enough hot water to wash a load of whites while taking a shower upstairs. A common quick fix for this is to install two or more tankless water heaters in larger homes and homes with multiple occupants.

If you have questions about tankless water heaters, including sales and installation, call a licensed master plumber for accurate and reliable answers, as well as, trusted service. They retain the proper tools, training, experience, and knowledge to guide you in the right direction.

Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc.

Weilhammer Plumbing Company 317-784-1870

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 for hot water heater repair, service, and installation in Indianapolis and its surrounding counties. Owner and master plumber, Mark Weilhammer, offers a wide range of residential and commercial plumbing repair services, including water heaters and water softeners. We also offer additional plumbing repair services at the most competitive prices in town! Call 317-784-1870 when you need prompt and professional Indianapolis water heater repair services you can trust.