An early morning residential alarm call on Tuesday has prompted Cosumnes Community Service District (CSD) fire officials to send out a word of caution about carbon monoxide.

The Cosumnes Fire Department was dispatched to a home in Galt due to an activated residential alarm. Upon arrival, the fire department found a vacant home with an alarm sounding and no signs of fire.

Once the homeowner returned, access was made to the house to investigate the cause of the alarm. It was determined that the alarm was activated by the carbon monoxide detector in the home, which was monitored by an alarm company. The alarm company alerted the fire department. Crews used gas detectors to determine if there was a leak. The investigation revealed elevated levels of CO and immediately began ventilation of the home.

The homeowner stated that recent work had been performed on the gas water heater due to a pilot light issue. Gas was shut off to the residence until the gas company could confirm the actual cause of the elevated carbon monoxide levels.

In this case, the homeowner was fortunate to be out of the house at the time of the incident and to have a working and monitored carbon monoxide detector in the home.

With weather changes, home heating becomes a priority, often with gas appliances. During the winter months, doors and windows are often closed, limiting fresh air ventilation. Be sure to have working carbon monoxide alarms installed in your home where you have gas-powered appliances, such as water heaters, furnaces and stoves.

Here are some other tips for CO alarms:

CO alarms should be installed outside each sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home. It is best to use interconnected alarms. When one sounds, all CO alarms in the home sound.

Follow the instructions on the package to properly install the CO alarm.

Test CO alarms at least once a month.

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Morning alarm prompts carbon monoxide safety reminder

Electricity to Under counter water heater

Objective 2: inexpensive, reliable solution that doesn't require much space and is simple to wire, simple to program and handles job with no chance for error.

1) Buy plastic box with 3/4 Knockout. 2) Use 3/4" male adapter so all 3 wires enter box from same knock-out. 3) Attach timer with self-tapping screws. 4) Remove timer from box to connect terminal ends to timer 5) In this illustration, I trimmed the ground wires shorter and re-applied wire nut so all wires could fit into box before putting cover over box. 6) Attach box next to water heater. Make box accessible so times can be changed. Timer must be re-set to current time after power outage.

2) Read label on dishwasher: Typical dishwasher consumes 6-11 amp at max draw.

3) Label circuit breaker that connects to dishwasher. Check other loads (lights, TV, etc) that are connected to same breaker. Add up total wattage of all items on breaker. Divide wattage by 120Volt to find total amp draw on breaker. Add 6-11 amps drawn by dishwasher to find total load.

4) Can you safely add another 12.2 amp water heater to the circuit?

Electrical capacity calculation: 1) 15 amp breaker with 14 gauge wire is recommended at 80% rated load = 12 amp load. 2) 20 amp breakerwith 12 gauge wire is recommended at 80% rated load = 16 amp load.

3) Combined load for dishwasher and water heater is 18.5-22.3 Amps. If you have 15 amp breaker or 20 amp breaker, then d ishwasher and water heater should not be turned ON at same time.

2) NO NC terminals mean water heater and dishwasher can never be ON at same time.

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How to install point of use water heater - Water Heater Timers

Review 1 for Water Heater Installation

PostedOctober 22, 2014

Overall rating

1.0 out of 5.0

Customer service

1.0 out of 5.0

No, I do not recommend this product.

The Water Heater installed was deffective and did not work properly. I had to go through the warranty process to get it replaced. They questioned me and made very clear that If they came I would have to pay for all expenses if they thought I had broken the unit myself. Finally they came and went to HpmeDepot to get a new unit, but the HomeDepot manager at the store did not know the process did not approve the exchange. The warranty people came back and installed the broken unit again (!) and told me that I had to deal with HD, that they were not going to do it. I contacted again HD and many long calls had to happen until finally someone seemed to take care of my problem. However, they told me that they would contact me the following day to schedule a visit and it took another three days and me calling repeteadly to get it fixed. After many calls, lots of frustration and wasted time, and with the broken unit in my house for two weeks, they replaced the unit. Horrible service.

Response from Home DepotByRobert G,Customer Care,October 27, 2014

We'd like to apologize for the troubles that you experienced during your recent water heater installation. We will continue to work to improve our installation services so that this type of service doesn't continue. Thank you for your feedback.

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Home Depot - Water Heater Installation customer reviews ...

Benefits of ESP reflective insulation now available to DIY market

New Oxford, Pa Environmentally Safe Products (ESP) Low-E, manufacturer of ESP Low-E patented reflective insulation, announced today that it has launched ESP Low-E Simple Solution Rolls (SSR). These smaller, conveniently packaged quantities of ESP Low-E will be available only through hardware stores and independent dealers.

Simple Solution Rolls (SSR) were created to serve the needs of DIY homeowners, car enthusiasts, campers and other end users. Some of its many household uses include: Attic insulation Pipe wrap Water heater jacket Car heat and sound insulation Garage door insulation RV roof, door and window insulation Air conditioner wrap and dozens of others.

Simple Solution Rolls (SSR) come in lengths of 25 and 50, and widths of 16, 24 and 48, as well as custom-designed garage door, pipe and water heater wrap applications. ESP has also established an SSR Starter Kit, which offers a manageable initial inventory that creates a low barrier for retailers who want to offer this versatile new product.

For 25 years, commercial and residential builders across the U.S. have installed ESP Low-E Reflective Insulation a superior product proven to drive down energy costs in attics, under concrete basement floors, as a house wrap and more.

Now, with Low-E Simple Solution Rolls (SSR), hardware stores and dealers can offer consumers the industrys leading reflective insulation. ESP Low-E is non-toxic, Class 1, Class A fire rated and easy to install. It stops 97% of radiant heat and is manufactured entirely in the U.S.

ESP Low-E is created by heat-bonding a pure aluminum facing to one or both sides of closed cell non-toxic polyethylene foam. This differs from other reflective insulation products that use Mylar instead of aluminum and bubble-wrap material instead of foam. As a result, LOW-E is highly resistant to heat, sound and moisture transfer.

Builders have relied on ESP Low-E for 25 years because it boosts efficiency in the homes they construct, said Cory Groft, President and CEO of ESP Low-E. We thought our anniversary was the perfect time to deliver these benefits directly to individual homeowners.

Dealers and retailers who are interested in adding ESP Low-E Simple Solution Rolls to their stores can call (800) 289-5693, or visit http://www.low-e.com.

Environmentally Safe Products Inc., located in New Oxford, Pa, has been a producer of high-quality building insulation products for residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural building industries for 25 years.

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Reflective Insulation stops 97% of radiant heat.

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) -

One man is dead after a fire was started at his home by a space heater and a blanket. The fire broke out at the house in the 200 block of Vernelle Avenue on Wednesday night.

It took 13 minutes for firefighters to get the blaze under control. They believe George Murphy III was trying to get out through a door in the back of the house when he died.

George's mother, Susie, got the frantic call from her neighbor while she was at choir practice.

"He was hollering, 'Come on home, Ms. Murphy. Come on,' and I said, 'What you want?' He said, 'Your house is on fire,'" she recalled.

Her son was home alone. Susie says the left side of his body was paralyzed as the result of a stroke he had in 2010.

"He couldn't get out and the patio door was locked," she said.

Despite neighbors best efforts, they could not get him out.

"We tried our best just to bust the windows and help him, but the fire was so big, it was just too late," said a neighbor.

In addition to losing her son just one week before Christmas, Susie is left without a home or place to stay.

See more here:
Space heater sparks house fire that kills 1

WACO, Texas (PRWEB) December 11, 2014

December 21 marks the official start of winter and heavy storms have already blanketed much of the U.S. Before more storms hit and even colder days arrive, Aire Serv has tips to keep houses warm and the utility bill affordable. Heating costs rise during the winter months but these tips can help reduce the amount of money spent on heating the home.

Adjust the Temperature To decrease the cost of heating a home, lower the thermostat setting when not in the home. The typical thermostat setting during the winter months is 78 degrees. Lower the temperature to 72 degrees when at work or leaving the home for more that a few hours.

Maintain the Heating System One way to reduce the amount of energy spent during the winter months is to make sure the heating system isnt costing more money than it should to run. Have a certified HVAC technician check over the heating system before the cold weather sets in. A proper furnace tune-up will make sure the system is ready to go for winter.

Keep Vents and Registers Open Blocked or closed vents and registers make furnaces work harder than they should. Blocked vents do not allow for proper airflow. The furnace will continue to run but the rooms will not heat up. Always unblock and open all vents and registers before running the furnace.

Check the Thermostat Before starting the furnace, check to make sure the thermostat is in proper working order. To reduce the electric bill, install a programmable thermostat to control the temperature of the home from a mobile device.

Turn Down the Water Heater Temperature According to energy.gov, water heaters can account for up to 25 percent of the energy consumed in the home. By turning the temperature of the water heater down to 120 degrees, homeowners can reduce the amount of energy it takes to run the water heater.

For more tips about energy savings, visit aireserv.com. To learn more about furnace inspection, click here.

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Five Need-to-Know Winter Energy Savings Tips

6 hours 35 minutes ago by MTN News

Looking to save money on your utility bill this winter? You may be interested in a free home energy audit by NorthWestern Energy.

As part of NorthWestern Energy's E+ program, a team of energy experts will be working throughout Montana the month of December.

The team has a number of openings for the audits, which provide a detailed report on a home's energy use, weatherization tips and information on energy-efficient practices. In some cases, the experts may, at no charge, install water-heater wraps, low-flow shower heads, low-flow faucet aerators and insulation of hot-water pipes.

The auditors will also inspect natural-gas fueled appliances and perform blower tests to spot areas of air leakage in homes.

The free audits can be scheduled by calling (800) 823-5995 or customers can fill out a form at NorthWesternEnergy.com/audit and a representative will call the customer at their convenience for scheduling.

Residential customers whose space or hot-water heating fuels are delivered by NorthWestern Energy, have not had an E+ audit in the past and whose home is more than five years old are eligible for an on-site energy audit. Other restrictions may apply and funding for the audit program, provided by the Universal System Benefits program, is limited.

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Chilly? Free home energy audits available in Montana

Lakewood, New Jersey (PRWEB) December 01, 2014

Aquatherm Industries, Inc. has filed with the United States Patent & Trademark Office for three new patents. Two of the patents pertain to mounting and connection hardware used in the installation of its solar collectors, while the third relates to a method of draining said collectors. The manufacturer currently holds 16 patents and trademarks in the United States.

The first of the companys three concurrent patent applications is for a design patent for a piece of hardware necessary to install transverse polypropylene-coated stainless-steel hold-down strapping called a Strap Hold-Down Clamp (Part Number 10011). Though the clamp has always been an integral part of the manufacturers installation hardware, "the new patent pending design allows the part to be made using a roll-forming process," says Dave Sizelove, President & CEO of Aquatherm Industries, "which makes for an even stronger, more secure connection."

The second patent application pertains to a leak-resistant solar panel connector, used as a coupler to join two or more solar collectors, or panels, in parallel. The manufacturers patent pending elastomeric connection hose design employs multiple degrees of hardness as well as a central reinforcing lumen, to achieve two things. First, the softer ends of the hose where the sealing actually occurs allow for a more complete and leak-resistant fluid seal. Secondly, the hose's reinforced central lumen eliminates any possibility of a burst or collapse due to pressure changes within the system. According to Sizelove, in the past the solar industry has relied on connections borrowed from other technologies and applications. "Our patent-pending design is really the first of its kind - designed from the ground up with solar thermal applications in mind."

The third patent application relates to a method to ensure positive water drainage of active direct solar thermal systems using a bypass line, which diverts a portion of water from the feed line of the solar collector to an inlet of a water pump. Proper drainage of solar thermal systems ensures collectors and components are protected from damage resulting from freezing conditions. When water is used as a heat transfer fluid, such as in a solar pool heating system, it must be drained back from the collectors to storage when not being actively circulated through the collectors. This drainage typically occurs when the circulation pump shuts off, however in commercial pools it is not always possible to shut off the circulation pump. Commercial swimming pools must maintain a specified turnover rate in order to comply with health department regulations, and shutting off the filtration pump to drain collectors is not possible. The manufacturer's patent pending method of draining collectors does not interfere with the operation of the pump, and utilizes a series of valves and float switches to divert fluid inside the collectors to the suction side of the pump, positively evacuating the collectors.

About Aquatherm: An ISO 9001:2008 registered company, Aquatherm Industries, Inc. is the largest U.S. manufacturer of low-temperature, unglazed polymer solar collectors primarily used for residential and commercial swimming pool heating as well as domestic hot water and process pre-heat applications. Within the companys pellets to panels approach, Aquatherms extrusion, welding, and injection molding processes have been awarded four U.S. and two International Patents for its technology. In addition, Aquatherms collectors were the first NSF-50 listed solar collectors in the world. Aquatherm distributors currently serve Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, all of North, Central, and South America, France, Egypt, and Jordan.

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Solar Pool Heater Manufacturer Aquatherm Industries, Inc. Announces Three New U.S. Patents Pending

Nathan McGinty

Nathan McGinty started writing in 1995. He has a Bachelor of Science in communications from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Arts in international journalism from City University, London. He has worked in the technology industry for more than 20 years, in positions ranging from tech support to marketing.

The vent pipe on a water heater carries off noxious fumes generated by the burning of natural gas in gas water heaters. The fumes rise naturally, are funneled through a vent hood and into a ductwork system. From there, the ductwork carries the fumes to a roof vent, where they are safely dispersed. One of the last steps in home water heater installation is installing a vent pipe.

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How to Vent for Water Heaters. If you ever had a gas-fired water ... How to Install a Water Heater Vent Pipe....

When replacing a water heater, many homeowners install a tankless water heater. This is a system in which water is instantaneously heated...

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How to Install a Water Heater Vent Pipe | eHow

Tank Water Heaters, Tankless Water Heater, Hybrid Water Heater

Hot water heaters are complicated pieces of equipment. They should only be installed by professional, fully-licensed plumbers, like those at Arrow Plumbing. Dangers come with trying to repair water heaters yourself, including shock, gas leaks, serious water damage, carbon monoxide poisoning, and explosions. Dont take chances call Arrow Plumbing when you need hot water heater repair & installation.

Regardless of the issue you have with your hot water heater,contact Arrow Plumbingfor immediate assistance. Our team of highly trained Houston area plumbers will walk you through the process of a water heater repair or choosing the appropriate new hot water heater for your home aTraditional Tank Water Heater,Tankless Water Heateror aHybrid Water Heater.

Arrow Plumbing water heaters include one of the top plumbing guarantees in the Houston area. Our plumbing trucks are stocked with thousands of parts, meaning were ready to fix or install your new water heater in a single day. Additionally, we carry only the best water heater brands for use in your home.

At Arrow Plumbing we analyze your water heater service needs and make recommendations based on your individual requirements. If you need water heater service, repair or installation of an entire water heating system from the water source, to the heating equipment, were ready to help you today!

Most water heaters are tank water heaters, which keep a tank full of hot water in your home at all times. When hot water is required, the water is circulated to the open faucet. Traditional tanks utilize electric, natural gas, propane, oil, solar or geothermal power as an energy source to heat the water in your home.

Arrow Plumbing installs and services all major Water Heater brands, including: Bradford White, State, AO Smith, Rheem, American, Premiere, GE, Whirlpool, Reliance, Eternal and many more.

A tankless water heater, also called instantaneous water heater, only provides hot water as needed, saving energyand saving you money. They are designed to heat water directly without the use of a tank and are more efficient than tank water heaters.

Arrow Plumbing installs and services all major Tankless Water Heater brands, including but not limited to: Rinnai, Navien, Nortiz, Takagi, Rheem, Paloma, Bosch, Seisco and many more.

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Hot Water Heater Repair & Installation | Arrow Plumbing ...