Showerheads and Faucets Go with the Flow

Showers and faucets combined, use about 1/3 of household water. A large portion of this is heated using either electricity of gas. Therefore, new technologies are not only saving you water, but are also helping out with the rest of the utility bill.

Federal Standard for a showerhead flow is set at 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM). The WaterSense program goes better with a 2.o GPM requirement, while also requiring testing protocols for reliable pressure and even spray. In order to keep good spray pattern and coverage, manufacturers are using new technology to provide the same shower experience.

Showerheads come in two types: aerating and non-aerating. Aerated means that air is injected into the water as it goes through the showerhead. This creates larger drops, but can cause water to cool faster (since air cools more quickly than water). Your lower legs and feet might notice the difference. Non-aerated showerheads use a pressure-balancing flow restrictor. The shower can be stronger, but the force of the water may be too sharp. It basically comes down to personal preference.

Federal Standards for faucet flow is 2.2 GPM, while WaterSense is at 1.5 GPM. New low-flow faucets are seen as more a part of a remodel, rather than a stand alone upgrade. They can help qualify for points when appealing for green building certification as well. Flow can be easily adjusted during use on any faucet. Low-flow aerators are an easy modification if you want to keep your existing fixture. "On-demand" controls can help to save water and energy by making it easier to turn the water on and off. Electronic faucets use infrared beams, foot controls can operate while you hands are full and simple aerator bars put control right where the water is.

Water fixture technology now provides performance with efficiency. Styles and finish choices are numerous and options for control layout are available. Click here to search for products with the WaterSense label. Your design requirements and water needs can be met in a variety of efficient ways!

Water-Saving Toilets & Washers

Staying on the subject of water use, I want to now draw attention to the two highest water consuming fixtures in the home. Toilets and washers account for almost HALF of water use in a residential home. By focusing on new rating systems and available technology, we can drastically reduce water consumption. As I stated before, California is very drought prone and has the unfortunate condition where peak consumption occurs at odds to peak rainfall. The state also has a projected populaton of 60 million people by 2050! Making water-saving fixtures standard in homes can have a huge impact, now and in the future.

Toilets are a feature in the home that is definitely taken for granted. If it is not working, it can be a real problem. Conversely, we use the toilet multiple times per day, maybe not realizing how much water use it is creating. Older model toilets can use as much as 3 gallons or more, each time it is flushed. Have a larger family? If a family of four each use the toilet 3-4 times a day, that can add up to 330 gallons PER WEEK! A federal mandate established in 1992 now states that new toilets can only use 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF). The EPA WaterSense programs goes further with a 1.28 GPF requirement. Also under the 1.28 GPF program can be a "dual-flush" toilet, which can offer 1.6 GPF for solids and 1.1 GPF for liquids.

Traditional "gravity" flush toilets can work fine using 1.28 GPF. "Pressure-assist" toilets use air and water from a pressurized tank within the porcelain tank of the toilet. Clogging is not often an issue. These are popular for commercial applications, yet do cause a lot of noise for a residential home. One of the newest products is a "vacuum-assist" toilet. This type uses a special tube that diverts air from the filling tank to the actual trap of the toilet. This air pocket will create less water to fill the bowl, while also creating a gap in the line. This pocket will then cause a vacuum when flushed, drawing waste down the line with operation similar to traditional "gravity" units. All these types can be found in models that price for around $300.

If you don't want an entire new toilet, retrofit kits are also available. These will replace your existing flushing mechanisms with a dual-flush operation. These kits will usually run at about $30. Look for the GPF ratings so that you can be sure to meet WaterSense requirements.

Clothes washers are a bit more tricky to quantify water use. Since washers can come in different sizes and have different cycles, a standard rating had to be created. The Energy Star program therefore created the "water factor" (or WF) rating. This calculated the numbers of gallons used per cycle PER cubic foot of washer capacity. The lower the number, the more efficient the washer is. The federal standard WF is 9.5, while the WaterSense requirement is a WF of 6. Technology can help to play a role here, with specific cycle options and "load sensing" (much like a dishwasher) that can determine how dirty clothes are and how much water is needed to clean them. Highly efficient units from Frigidaire, Samsung and LG all have a WF of around 3!

As you can see, the products you need to use less water in your home ARE available. The good news is that they are also affordable, becoming a new standard as we move towards greater efficiency and performance for your home.

Water Efficiency Standards & Practices

Water usage is becoming more of a concern for developed areas. Populations are steadily increasing while water resources are staying the same (or in shortage depending on the weather of any given year).

Water efficiency can have some small paybacks in utility bills, but there is more of a "big picture" perspective to take. The distribution, purification and heating of water uses large amounts of energy. Also, the more water we use, the more our waste systems are stressed. By cutting water shortage on a large scale, the payoff will come in the form of fewer water shortage periods, higher energy availability, less pollution and more efficient waste processing.

Federal mandates for water efficiency have been established by the department of energy. These are seen as the most basic level of water consumption for fixtures such as toilets, showers, faucets, dishwashers and clothes washers. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also established the Water Sense program, which takes efficiency even further and undercuts federal standards significantly. However, the technology available in modern fixtures and appliances can still achieve these numbers and are price competitive. Look for the official "water sense" label:

or search for approved products here.

The bonus when shopping for water efficient appliances, such as clothes laundry and dishwashers, is that they are often EnergyStar rated as well!

When examining your home for water efficiency, even before you switch out appliances and fixtures, you may want to start with looking for LEAKS.

Studies show that leaks account for about 14% of indoor water use. That is almost as much water as either bathroom faucets or showers! It can be amazing what a few drips can add up to over time! Not only is the water wasted, but it can be causing damage to the home. Look for dripping faucets or toilets that keep running. Check out the connections under your sinks. Look for water stains at the bottom of walls or on a ceiling. Many homes in the Bay Area are older and may contain water piping that can now be corroded and weak, with leaks at joints and fixtures.

Whatever the size of your home and family, using water efficient products and practices can create significant savings of this precious and irreplaceable resource. Additionally, if communities, cities and regions can band together to commit to water efficiency, the results will be of a larger scale and the rewards may span into generations to come.

Trade Contractor Interview: Dallas Carlock of Carlock Plumbing

We sat down with Dallas Carlock to talk plumbing. He has been a trade contractor for Chris Donatelli Builders and has owned and operated his own plumbing company since 1980. We wanted to tap into his experience and perspective in regards to how plumbing affects a job and what homeowners can look out for.




What is the story with tankless water heaters?

• They only fire-up when hot water is needed, saving energy over the long term.
• A large family with continuous use will create HIGHER energy bill (due to larger burner in the tankless unit)
• New technologies in TANK water heaters and boilers are now more efficient, giving a family a choice to use what fits their lifestyle.
• Proper installation, such as gas line size, is essential.

What is a hot water circulation system?

• "Circ pumps" are installed on a hot water line that does a loop through the home.
• When hot water is needed at a fixture, the homeowner presses a button to activate pump.
• The pipe will circulate the water through the lines while it is heating up, saving water from going down the drain.
• A point of use pump can also be installed, bypassing the creation of a loop in the plumbing.
• These systems can be used with a tank OR tankless water heater.
• Again, proper installation is key. If not done properly, the system can corrode pipes, wear out equipment and cause energy loss.
  

How is water efficiency is increasing?

• Toilets have new designs to flush better using less water.
• Shower heads have new water saving designs that still provide comfortable experience.
• Filltration units now waste less water and provide better taste.
• Essential minerals are no longer wasted and salt is not introduced into sewer system.
  

H0w does fixture choice influence a project?

• Best to make decisions as early as possible.
• Changing a fixture in the midst of the project can lead to re-working waste or water lines, leading to more labor charges to the client.
• Having specifications on fixtures will aid in communication between client and contractors

What is going on with solar thermal systems?

• They combine solar input to water heating systems and lead to less utility usage.
• Work along with water heater and even space heating.
• Proper design and equipment choice is key due to complexity of systems.
• Tax refunds are available to homeowners.
• Solar thermal systems can be MUCH more affordable than solar power systems.

For more information or to discuss anything read here...please call our office at (408) 287-4886.

Lead Safe Work Practices Now Required

As of April 22nd, all contractors involved in remodeling work of pre-1978 residential homes or child-occupied facilities must be certified by the EPA for using "best practices" in reference to lead paint.

Lead was added to paint in the first half of the 20th century as an agent for durability. Lead helped to protect the paint from weathering and mold/ mildew. Unfortunately, it has been found that lead can have adverse affects on the human body. Lead can affect the circulatory system, the kidneys, the gastrointestinal system and most notably the nervous system. Children and pregnant women are much more at risk, due to the state that their bodies are in. Children exposed to lead can have developmental and behavioral problems, lowering IQ or even leading to personality issues or aggression. Any neurologic damage that takes place is permanent. Children and pregnant women have been shown to absorb up to 50% of lead that they are exposed to, compared to 10-15% for an average adult!

The main avenue of transmission is by breathing in dust that contains lead particles. Peeling paint provides chips that are then worn down to dust. Lead can also be ingested directly as paint chips or from hands covered by lead dust.

New gudelines from the EPA require contractors to be certified in "safe practices" for lead paint. This translates to providing proper information to clients (in the form of a EPA pamphlet) , sealing off work area from rest of home and cleaning job properly with dust containment as the prime focus.

Chris Donatelli Builders now has staff with this EPA certification. We are ready to assist you with any remodeling work no matter what the age of your home!


Learn more about the threat of lead and how you can protect your family and yourself by visiting the EPA website:

http://www.epa.gov/lead/


Please contact our office with any questions regarding lead or other remodeling related issues!

Quartz counters...the best of both worlds?

Quartz counters blend the look of stone with the technology of a solid surface. The material is usually over 90% natural quartz combined with a type of resin (usually polyester) to act as a binder as well as pigments for color and texture. Similar to solid surface counters, quartz is non-porous and resists stains, bacteria, mold and mildew. Quartz is also very dense, making for a scratch, crack and dent resistant work surface. Also like solid surfaces, quartz comes in a variety of different colors and patterns. These can mimic stone or provide interesting combinations of color and particle size. Numerous color options to match your own personal design palette are the key attribute of the material. Some current options even include recycled content.

The drawbacks of quartz are few, but may be of concern. The finish is not easily repaired and will show damage from surface mistreatment. The material is heat resistant (more so than solid surfaces), but can me marked by high heat items. Repairs are not a realistic option as in solid surfaces, since quartz as a material cannot be cut and plugged on site. For large installations that join manufactured sheets, seams can be evident in the finished product. Most residential applications will rarely have trouble with a quartz countertop.

Cost is somewhat high, about $90-$105 per square foot installed, depending on color, edge treatment and complexity of your countertop configuration.
Quartz manufactured as a countertop is one of the best choices out there. Some precautions have to be taken, but the available colors & patterns, the durability and the unique nature of the material make it well worth it! One of the most well known manufacturers of quartz surfaces is Caesarstone. See their color and pattern options here.

Contact our office via our website if you are looking to make a quartz countertop a part of a remodel project!

Stone...a "natural" choice for counters

Stone is a traditional yet high-end choice for countertops. The natural look of stone can be unique and work beautifully into an interior design. The material can have many colors and variations depending on how it was formed in the earth.

Granite is the most well-known stone used for counters. It is very hard (scratch resistant) and can stand up to heat from hot pans. However, since it is a natural stone, it is porous and can stain (extent varies by the specific type). Some stones can even be etched by acidic foods or cleaners. A sealer must be re-applied at least once per year (depending on wear). Mild detergent and water is the recommended cleaning agent. Harsh or abrasive cleaners may damage the sealer and stone underneath. Repairs can be difficult to do and require a costly stone finishing professional.

Cost is about $80-120 per square foot for fabrication and installation. Many local stone fabricators have preferred suppliers who can offer warehouse viewings of slab materials.

View some photos of kitchen counters in our online gallery. Contact our office for recommended stone fabricators in the South Bay Area, or to talk about a project you are considering.

"Solid Surface" Counter Tops

“Solid surface” materials, with their many colors and pattern choices, are a popular choice for kitchen and bathroom countertops. The material is a hard type of plastic that is formed into slabs of varying thicknesses. Their soft smoothness is appealing to the touch and the eye. This material can mimic the look of other choices such as stone, cement and quartz. Seamless joints and integrated sinks are also another plus.

The most popular solid surface is Corian, manufactured by DuPont. It is an acrylic polymer and comes in over 100 color/pattern options, with several product lines. The material color and pattern run throughout the thickness, making it possible to create any edge treatment that you desire. This also helps with maintenance and repair. The material is soft, so cuts and dents may happen. Light damage can be removed with a “scotch-brite” pad and abrasive cleaner. If any significant damage is done, like a burn from a hot pan, a plug can be cut out, replaced with new material, glued and sanded. A seamless surface is once again seen. The surface is non-porous, meaning stains do not penetrate and can resist bacteria growth with proper cleaning. No sealers are needed.

Corian is said to generally be about 30% lower in cost than stone countertops, around $60-90 per square foot for fabrication and installation. Price will depend on type of application, edge treatment and color/pattern choice.

The DuPont Corian lines and the glue used to install it also offer qualification as “low-emitting material” and “recycled content” for U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program( Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design).
See the various choices of DuPont Corian here.

Tankless Water Heaters...Are They For You?

The popularity of Tankless Water Heaters has risen sharply in recent years. With manufacturers siting energy savings and "endless" hot water, many old and new homes are now using them. Replacing a water heater is a popular and basic upgrade to a home, so many of our clients will consider the difference between Tankless and traditional Tank water heaters. Here is an outline of the major characterisitcs of the Tankless units:

• Tankless water heaters provide an “endless” flow of hot water. This means that you don’t have to keep track of who’s used the hot water before you! Depending on the unit size, this flow can provide for multiple outlets (shower, sink, dishwasher, laundry, etc).

• Tankless water heaters only turn on when water is flowing and needed. This means that the unit is not operating when the homeowner is away. With most units expecting a lifespan of 25 years, this will translate into huge utility savings for the homeowner.

• Due to the technology and manufacture of tankless water heaters, safety is another benefit. Sealed combustion chambers, sealed exhaust, accurate temperature control, no pilot lights, and sleek unit design provide a safer home environment.

• Tankless water heaters are also popular in the “green building” movement, due to their long life, smaller design, use of readily recyclable materials (copper, stainless steel, aluminum) and low emissions.

• The compact design of tankless water heaters also results in less floor space required and ability to locate units closer to water fixtures (for less heat loss and faster hot water availability). Recess boxes are also available to hide unit in a wall, with only a door and trim showing!

• Digital technology allows for precise temperature management, with ability to install wireless remotes to adjust temp for each user’s preference!

Words of Caution:
• Units that are on interior walls or in small spaces need to be a “direct vent” type. These units have both an exhaust outlet (needs to be double wall stainless steel) and an intake inlet (can be Galvanized, ABS, or PVC pipe) running to the exterior of home.

• In most applications (check with local codes & inspectors), interior mounted units need to have a condensate line run to a nearby sewer line. This is due to condensate that can result from exhaust gas reacting with vent pipe material.

• Tankless water heaters only work with hot water circulation pump systems if proper steps and calculations are taken. If pump is too small, it will not create enough flow for unit to activate. If pump is too large, it can stress mechanical parts of unit AND cause unit to fire for longer periods of time (eliminating energy savings). Other options are to locate unit closer to demand area, or to use multiple units located in different parts of building.

Product Feedback:
• Rinnai Inc. has been in business since 1930. Their units have been used in:
o “Habitat for Humanity Builders Blitz” in Georgia and Mississippi,
o Sunset Magazine Demonstration House in Alamo, CA
o California Sustainable Task Green-Belt Idea Home in Menlo Park, CA.
• Rinnai offers a 12 year limited warranty on the heat exchanger and a 6 year warranty on all other parts.
• Noritz Inc. has been in tankless water heater business since 1951. They offer a 12 year warranty on heat exchanger and a 5 year warranty on all other parts. A number of units have been installed by Carlock Plumbing (one of our preferred sub contractors) with good feedback on reliability and performance.
• Takagi Inc. has been doing tankless heaters since 1952. They offer a 10 year warranty on the heat exchanger and a 5 year warranty on all other parts. They have been said to offer very good technical and customer support, along with reliable units with great performance.

• COST: Range for a standard residential home is $2500-$4500. This wide range is due to variables in where the unit is installed. This can dictate new or larger gas line runs, re-configuring of water piping and how venting is run.
Lower cost variables:
o Outside (no venting materials)
o Close to gas meter (less gas line labor)
o New construction (lines pre-run & included in new work)
o Less re-working of copper supply and output (from existing unit)

Tankless Water heaters, when properly installed, can be a great energy conscious and convenient feature for your home. Contact Carlock Plumbing (information at top of page) or our office with questions about getting your own unit. Let us know if you are looking to integrate a tankless unit into a more extensive remodel.

Old Homes and Bad Electrical Connections

The housing stock in the San Francisco Bay Area is quite varied. Our jobs have been located in houses ranging from turn-of-the-century Victorians to modern townhouses or condominiums. This difference in ages will undoubtedly lead to an assortment of previous construction practices that we see.

A majority of our business is to upgrade old homes to modern standards. When we open up walls, we are able to see how the last builders did things. A particular area that has come to our attention is the electrical systems in late 1950s and early 1960s homes. A common practice of connecting wires then has been shown to possibly cause problems further down the road.

Residential electricity is AC or “alternating current”. This means that the electricity will go on and off about 60 times a second. Back in the time period mentioned, a wire connection was either simply “crimped” (pressed together with a wire inside) or the wires were first twisted before being crimped inside the connection. Both ways used electrical tape to finish the job. The problem with only a crimp is that, because of the alternating current, the wire will expand and contract over time. This can loosen the connection, and if done enough, the wire can heat up and possibly “arc”. An “arc” is where electricity jumps across any space, in this instance, within a connection.

This situation can lead to power loss at the least and a fire hazard at the most. We have seen extreme examples where an area within the wall was burned. This is by no means a normal occurrence, but being mindful of the possibility is important. New electrical connections are done by tightening a nut, ensuring a strong fit and bypassing this problem.

A few things to look out for:
• Warm wall outlet, switch or light outlet. Dimmer switches are meant to run warm and are of no concern
• Flickering lights
• Appliance motors running slow
• Coffee makers or toasters not heating quickly
• Burning smell of plastic or wood

Places to look for a problem:
• The first light outlet closest to the meter/main (where power comes to the house from the street) or sub-panel (where breakers are inside home).
• When using an aftermarket wall heater, check outlet closest to meter/main or sub-panel.
• In the sub panel, check for warm or hot circuit breakers by touching them on the front side.

This information and first-hand knowledge was provided to us by Alan Woertink of Woertink Electric. His contact information is at the top of this blog. Feel free to contact him regarding any electrical concerns or repairs. Please call us regarding any other “old house” issues you may have. We have been repairing and upgrading homes since 1994.