The Benefits of Tanklessness
On-demand Water Heaters Take Up Less Space, Can Lower Bills
Imagine cutting your water-heating costs and having an endless supply of hot water in your home.
With a tankless water heater at work in your house, reduced bills and long, guilt-free showers can both be yours.
Tankless water heaters, also called “instantaneous” or “on-demand” water heaters, provide hot water only
as it is needed. Conventional water heaters, on the other hand, produce standby energy losses that can cost you money.
You’ve probably heard that you should turn your thermo-stat down while you are away from home during colder
months, right? Consequently, you only heat your home fully when there is a demand for heat.
A tankless water heater follows the same principle: It springs to action only when there is a demand for hot water.
When a hot water valve is opened in your home, the tankless hot water heating device activates as water begins to flow.
Once activated, the heater delivers a constant supply of hot water.Some types of tankless water heaters are
thermostatically controlled. They can vary their output temperature according to the water flow rate and the inlet water
temperature. All tankless units benefit from having no physical water tank involved, storing water and consuming energy.
In contrast, a conventional storage-type water heater raises and maintains the water temperature according to the
designated setting on the tank (usually 120-140 degrees). Even if no hot water is drawn from the tank, the heater will
operate periodically to maintain the temperature of the 40-50 gallons of stored water. “Going tankless” can save you
energy and money, but may not be perfect for every household. Some tankless systems on the market work best for
providing hot water for a single task. You can shower for hours, but might have problems trying to wash clothes in
hot water and run the dishwasher at the same time. Some homes today utilize both conventional and tankless water heaters.
With heating units that can be mounted on a wall, tankless is the way to go when floor space is tight.
A few “add-on” applications where tankless water heaters are ideal for residential use:
• Hot tubs
• Poolhouse or pool shower
• Remote bathrooms or outdoor sinks
• To serve as a booster, eliminating long pipe runs, useful for solar water heating systems, dishwashers and sanitation
Common in Europe and Japan, tankless units have been around for 50 years. Increasingly, U.S. homeowners are
discovering tankless water heaters. When you want help in the battle against high energy prices – or need a system
that doesn’t occupy as much floor space – it may be time to “go tankless.” As always, contact us to find out which
kind of water heater will work best in your home.
We’re happy to answer any questions!
From the Desk of …
A History of Of fering Customers the Best
By Steve Grohn
Many people know that Benjamin Franklin was one of America’s Founding Fathers. Did you also know that he was
a trailblazer in the fields of advertising and publishing? The value and tradition of the printed word was something the
original Ben Franklin knew very well. It’s because of his legacy that you are reading the free information in our
newsletter today. A true pioneer in publishing and printing, Franklin developed The Pennsylvania Gazette into the
most popular publication of the early colonies that eventually formed the United States. In 1741, he founded The
General Magazine, and also trained protégés to set up their own publications. Franklin was the original voice of
America, offering the best products and services through the written word.
At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, we’re proud of our name and our history. We have a strong track record of
communicating effectively and truthfully with customers. Part of our commitment to you comes by virtue of this
newsletter.When it comes to plumbing, let’s face it: there’s a lot to know today. People crave trustworthy information
and may not have the time to hunt it down. That’s why we bring you the latest information and money-saving tips
several times each year. Our name matters – and our commitment to you matters most of all. Thank you for
putting your trust in Benjamin Franklin Plumbing.
Preventing Pipe Build-Up the Natural Way
So you run water in your sink late one evening, turn off the faucet and notice something unnerving. It’s a pool of
water swaying back and forth slowly, taunting you with the occasional bubble. The accumulated H20 lingers,
defying your best attempt to will it down with a stare. A clogged drain you’ve probably been there. We all have.
Whether it’s a stubborn puddle at the bottom of your kitchen or bathroom sink, or a shallow pond creeping
up to your ankles in your morning shower, no one likes it when the water just won’t go.Sadly, one of the first things
people do is reach for the commercial drain cleaner. These can contain harsh chemicals, and may or may not do the trick.
The vast majority of clogs can be prevented – or pre-empted – before you ever get to this point.
BioBen® from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing contains a naturally occurring microorganism that feeds on
waste found in plumbing and treatment systems and eliminates it from the environment.
Pour it down your household drains and BioBen quickly goes to work for you. It digests oil, grease, food and
other pesky organics that like to hang out in pipes and give you fits down the road. BioBen works great in
resi- dential drain lines, commercial grease traps, and residential and commercial septic tanks.
“It’s an innovative product that is easy to use, inexpensive and safe,” says David Benson, product manager for BioBen.
“It uses Mother Nature to eat fats, oils and grease.” The product is so environmentally friendly, in fact,
it carries the Design for the Environment seal of recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency stating
it’s an environmentally friendly alternative to chemicals and solvents. BioBen does not actually unclog blocked
drains.Instead,it eliminates the build-up that slows down and clogs drains and pipes. Available in liquid or
powder form, BioBen® is your best bet for an effective “pre-emptive strike” in the battle against household clogs.
This product is not available in stores. Be sure to ask your Ben Franklin plumber about BioBen,or give us a call today.
Save Water and Save Dollars
This Winter do. Doing so helps you keep more of your hard-earned cash. Below are a few tips to keep in mind.
Bathrooms
• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth and shaving. This saves 4 to
10 gallons per day.
• Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket. Saves 3 to 7 gallons per flush.
• Close the tub drain before turning on the water. Saves 3 gallons or more.
• Fill the tub only halfway. Saves 5 gallons or more and saves hot water costs.
Kitchen and Laundry Rooms
• Fill the sink or basin when washing and rinsing dishes. Saves 8 to 15 gallons per day and reduces hot water costs, too.
• Run the dishwasher only when it’s full. Saves up to 15 gallons per load and hot water costs.
• Wash vegetables and fruit in a basin and use a vegetable brush to remove dirt. Saves 2 to 4 gallons per session.
• Run the washing machine only when full and adjust the water level setting to match the load. Saves 22 to 25 gallons per load. Saves hot water costs, too.
Faucets and Showerheads
• Find and fix dripping, trickling or oozing faucets and showerheads. Leaks can waste from 75 to several hundred gallons of water in a week. The main cause is usually a 25-cent washer.
• Install a low-flow faucet aerator. This can save as much as 25 percent or
1 1/2 gallons per minute.
Toilets
• Put a stop to leaky toilets. That trickling sound you hear can waste as much as 50 gallons per day.
• To check for leaks, crush a dye tablet in its envelope and empty the
contents in the center of the tank. Allow it dissolve, wait about 10 minutes and inspect the toilet bowl for signs of the dye. If you see dye, your flapper or flush valve may need to be replaced. The parts are inexpensive and easy to replace.
Don’t let money wash away this winter. With a few simple habits in place, you can take better control of your household water use.
Hard Water: Not Hard to Understand and Manage
of homes throughout the hard water is everywhere.The vast majority country are served by municipal water suppliers
that carry hard water.So what exactly is “hard” water,and what should you do about it? Hard water is any water
containing a significant quantity of dissolved minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium.
Hard water is not a health hazard. In fact, it contributes toward our calcium and magne- sium dietary needs. It is
generally safe for people, pets, plants and lawns. But drinking and watering consti- tute only a small portion of our
water use. Washing, bathing and appliances consume the rest, and that’s where hard water can create problems.
Clothes washed with hard water often look dingy, get stiff when air-dried and still have soap scum or detergent
residue in the fibers after the rinse cycle. Hard water also reduces the cleaning power of your detergent.
Bathing with soap in hard water leaves a film of sticky soap curd on the skin and may prevent soil and bacteria
from washing away. Soap curd interferes with the return of skin to its normal, slightly acid condition and may
lead to irritation. Hard water contributes to inefficient and costly operation of water-using appliances, mainly
dishwashers and water heaters. Heated hard water forms a scale of calcium and magnesium minerals
(“limescale” deposits) that can clog pipes over time. So how can you “soften” the effects of hard water?
The most common solution is a mechanical water softener, available through Benjamin Franklin Plumbing,
which can be permanently installed into the plumbing system.Newer electromagnetic water condi- tioners push
water through a magnetic field, altering the calcium and magne- sium ions in such a way that they lose their ability
to cause problems.
Let us know if you have questions about your water’s hardness or possible solutions. We’re here to share our expertise!
Toilet TLC: Feel the Love
By Paul Gavic
The bowl, the porcelain god, the stool, the john, the commode, the latrine: yes, you know it by many names.
Your toilet might not be the most glamorous item in your home, but it certainly has notoriety among your bathroom
lineup. Toilets consume about 27 percent of the water inside the home. As such, many homeowners regard their
bowls with a sense of fear and dread, especially when something leaks or otherwise goes wrong. Fortunately, the
humble toilet doesn’t have to be a source of plumbing nightmares.
Every bowl can benefit from a little “toilet TLC.” That’s why we offer to pamper your toilet with a total unit tune-up.
“What’s a toilet tune-up?” you might ask.The Benjamin Franklin 29-Point Total Toilet Tune-Up includes everything
from checking the flappers, washers, valves and seals to making sure the tank, bowl and seat re crack-free and
properly aligned. It’s your chance to keep your toilet operating in tip-top condition, so it will ver leave you flushless,
exhibit slow leak symptoms or fer from the dreaded lazy flush syndrome. This amazing up guarantees top
performance for your bowl. If not, vice is free. inly, there’s a lot more to being a responsible toilet than just sitting
and flushing. We’re here to help.
Call us and schedule appointment for a Total Toilet Tune our bowl will love you for it.
