(PRWEB) November 24, 2014

As snowstorms and record low temperatures sweep the United States this week, it is more important than ever to take the proper winter precautions. According to CNN, the National Weather Service reported that about 50% of the country had snow on the ground on November 18. Because this is still relatively early and still not officially the winter season U.S. citizens need to be cognizant of the consequences of the upcoming winter.

If this weeks low temperatures and significant snow accumulations are any indication of the winter ahead, homeowners must take the initiative to become educated about the valuable water heating options available. While heating is certainly a costly expense, it is a necessity. A November 13th article published by Eco Seed, an environmental organization, stated, Heating water accounts for around 18% of the average US household's energy use. After climate control, pumping hot water into a home to clean clothes, dishes and ourselves is the largest energy expense of running a modern house, costing a homeowner about $600 annually, and the planet much more.

Pursuing an eco-friendly option for water heating is, perhaps, the most efficient way to save money during the wintertime. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that by utilizing a tankless water heater, also known as an on-demand unit, homeowners can save up to 30% on the cost of heating water when compared to a traditional storage water heater. The five different types of water heaters available include storage water heaters, tankless water heaters, heat pump water heaters, solar water heaters and tankless coil and indirect water heaters. After factoring in price and efficiency levels, storage and tankless water heaters are currently the top choices. However, tankless water heaters have proven to outpace storage water heaters in respects to efficiency, for many reasons.

Because tankless water heaters heat water on demand there is no standby energy loss, thus leading to major energy savings. In addition, tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of 20 years, compared to 8 to 10 for storage units. Tankless units also present less of a risk of flooding because they don't store large volumes of water. Meanwhile, these eco-friendly water heaters can be placed outside, fit on walls, slide into cupboards, and take up significantly less square footage than other models.

Establishing that an eco-friendly water heater will prove to be beneficial is fairly simple. However, finding a reliable and knowledgeable company to install and maintain your system is slightly more complicated. While eco-friendly appliances are a fairly recent trend, it is important to find an honest company that has perfected all facets of tankless water heaters, to ensure the highest quality and value. With many years of experience, 1st Choice Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning has the knowledge to provide homeowners with the insight necessary for an affordable and efficient water heating system.

In addition to unparalleled knowledge and expertise, 1st Choice Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning guarantees homeowners the highest value with eco-friendly water heater financing options. Their Home Climate Card credit card program does not require a down payment or annual fee. In addition, the Home Climate Card helps customers gain credit for future repairs, maintenance and installations. 1st Choice Plumbings water heating financing includes low monthly payments, generous credit lines, competitive interest rates and a straightforward application process.

Brave the cold months ahead with the most environmentally and economically sound option available. By replacing a basic water heater with a tankless water heater homeowners will not only save money, but also conserve energy, allowing for the best of both worlds. For more information about eco-friendly water heaters, call 1st Choice Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning at 201-288-0390 today!

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Turn Your Winter Green with Eco-Friendly Water Heaters

GE Heat Pump Water Heater Install
This video describes the installation of a GE hybrid electric heat pump water heater. I searched for how to videos on this model but couldn #39;t find any so dec...

By: Jeff Bonner

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GE Heat Pump Water Heater Install - Video

For many people with backyard ponds, fountains and other water-garden fixtures, the arrival of cold weather means draining the pipes and pulling the plug.

But water gardens can be attractive winter gardens, too, with the right preparation and landscaping.

Turning off a garden's water fixtures might not be necessary, depending on where you live, said Keith Folsom, president of Springdale Water Gardens in Greenville, Virginia. Their wintertime effect is always different and attractive with the use of landscape lighting and the right plants.

We had an extremely cold winter here last year but it wasn't a problem, he said. Pay attention and know how much water you're using below the ice. You have to keep that flow topped off.

Ensure that water lines and fixtures are drained if you do decide to turn them off so they won't expand with freezing and break, Folsom said. Running water, on the other hand, prevents icing. That's one of the reasons I tell people to keep them running.

Landscaping around water fixtures can mean simply adding a few evergreens for contrast against snow, or stringing some lights around the ice.

Tips for preparing your pond for the winter freeze-up:

Remove debris before it can decompose. That prevents organic rot, loss of oxygen and an accumulation of toxic gases. But the bigger problem comes if you stir it up, Folsom said. That can turn up bacteria that will be harmful to fish in winter.

Use netting. Cover the water with a screen, sweep the surface with a long-handled net or install skimmers like those used to vacuum swimming pools.

Prune. Pinch off aquatic plants as they die. Reposition your hardy potted water lilies into deeper water.

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Keep backyards alive in winter

A truly smart home should not only make your life easier, it should also save you money. And while theres no shortage of smart thermostats, lighting controls, door locks, and even smart irrigation systems, few solutions focus on the activity that consumes the second-highest amount of energy in the home: heating water.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that heating water accounts for 17.7 percent of a typical homes energy consumption (space heating consumes 41.5 percent). Thats because a traditional electric, gas, or propane water heater keeps 30, 40, or more gallons of water hot in a tank all the time. Every time the water heaters thermostat detects a drop in the water temperature below a preset threshold, it fires up its heating element and reheats the water, even though on most days you need hot water only in the mornings and evenings.

One of the best ways to reduce the energy your home uses to heat water is to install an on-demand heater that fires up only when you need hot water. I have one in my house and its fabulous. But these so-called tankless water heaters can be very expensive, especially if you need to hire a pro to install one in place of a conventional water heater (theres both plumbing and electrical work to be done).

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, heating water consumes the second-highest amount of energy in the typical home.

Sunnovations, a company with a background designing and manufacturing solar water-heater monitors, has a better idea: The Aquanta Smart Water Heater Controller. Cool technology for hot water, as the company describes it. We aim to bring this dumb appliance into the connected-home ecosystem, Sunnovations CEO Matt Carlson told me in an interview several weeks ago. The company has launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring its new product to market.

The Aquanta is a box that sits on top of your water heater and is connected to a probe (an enthalpy sensor, to be technical) that dangles inside the tank. The sensor feeds through a fitting that attaches to your water heaters T&P (temperature and pressure) relief valve and measures both the energy going into your tank and the energy consumed as you use hot water. The box connects through your Wi-Fi router to the cloud, which you link to with an app on your smartphone (it could also be integrated into your existing smart-home network).

By heating water only when you need it, it shouldn't take long for you to recoup your investment in an Aquanta water-heater controller.

Having a very finely grained view of your households hot-water usage patterns enables you to cycle the heating element, Carlson said. The Aquanta can learn your hot-water usage patterns, much like the Nest Learning Thermostat monitors your heating and air-conditioning use, and can suggest a water-heating schedule. You can also establish your own schedule for turning the water heater on when its needed and off when you dont expect to be home. Finally, you can turn the heater on and off manually, using the smartphone app. The box can send you text messages when it determines you havent used hot water for a while.

In addition to its energy-savings features, the Aquanta can also alert you to water leaks. A leaking water heater can do tremendous damage because your water heater is usually out of sight, and a leak can go undetected for days or weeks. Sunnovations product roadmap includes the development of a networked valve that can shut off the water supply to the heater in the event of a leak.

The Aquanta app will help you program the controller, remind you about maintenance chores, and alert you to problems such as water leaks.

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The Aquanta smart water-heater controller promises to slash your energy bill

Water Heaters NJ Special: 40 Gallon Rheem Water Heater Installed for Only $750

Rheem Water Heaters have been in business since the 1920s. We recommend them for their quality and value they offer. All Rheem Water heaters meet or exceed industry standards for quality, reliability and efficiency. In the state of New Jersey Rheem Water Heaters is the best deal we can offer you.

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Water Heaters NJ can get you any size you need. General sizes people request are 40 Gallon, 50 Gallon, 65 Gallon, 75 Gallon and 100 Gallon Rheem Water Heaters. If you are not sure what size you have or need please give us a call. We are here to help anywhere in NJ.

We sell and service residential and commercial Rheem Water Heaters. We also offer any size you need. The most common sizes are 40 Gallon Water Heater, 50 Gallon Water Heater, 75 Gallon Water Heater and 100 Gallon Water Heater. If you feel you need a different size than these listed, please call our office to see what options we have available.

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Rheem Water Heaters - Installation and Repair

The Las Cruces Fire Department offers these safety tips for the proper use of gas furnaces, fireplaces and wood-burning stoves:

Fireplaces, wood stoves and gas furnaces should be installed according to manufacturers instructions and in accordance with all building codes.

Have your heating system, water heater, stove and other fuel-burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician at least once a year.

Change heating furnace filters often to increase efficiency and avoid overworking the system.

Ensure adequate ventilation for fireplaces and wood stoves.

Use only the fuel thats recommended for the specific fireplace or stove.

Do not burn paper or paper products in a fireplace or wood-burning stove.

Check chimney or stovepipes often for creosote buildup and clean when needed.

Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.

Use a metal container for removing ash and coals.

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Tips for safe use of furnaces, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves

The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION

By: Dean Fosdick, The Associated Press

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014 at 8:28 AM | Comments: 0

Enlarge Image

This Nov. 10, 2014 photo shows a fountain that will be shutdown and drained before the cold weather arrives to prevent damage from ice build-ups in Langley, Wash. People living in warm climates generally dont have to drain the pipes or pull the plug on their water fixtures in winter. (AP Photo/Dean Fosdick)

For many people with backyard ponds, fountains and other water-garden fixtures, the arrival of cold weather means draining the pipes and pulling the plug.

But water gardens can be attractive winter gardens, too, with the right preparation and landscaping.

Turning off a garden's water fixtures may not be necessary, depending on where you live, said Keith Folsom, president of Springdale Water Gardens in Greenville, Virginia. "Their wintertime effect is always different and attractive with the use of landscape lighting and the right plants."

"We had an extremely cold winter here last year but it wasn't a problem," he said. "Pay attention and know how much water you're using below the ice. You have to keep that flow topped off."

Ensure that water lines and fixtures are drained if you do decide to turn them off so they won't expand with freezing and break, Folsom said. "Running water, on the other hand, prevents icing. That's one of the reasons I tell people to keep them running."

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Garden water fixtures can be as attractive in winter as they are in summer

Carlsbad Solar panel Reviews 2014 | 888-688-1411 | Home Install Solar Energy Testimonials
888-688-1411 http://www.solarsymphony.com/about-us/mission- To provide the most compelling value in the solar energy in Carlsbad. Value, as defined by our customers, means designing and ...

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Carlsbad Solar panel Reviews 2014 | 888-688-1411 | Home Install Solar Energy Testimonials - Video

News Release: Lowndes County November 13, 2014

Lowndes County, Ga. Due to the arrival of cooler temperatures, Lowndes County would like to remind citizens to take precautions necessary to protect themselves and their pets from the elements. Lowndes County Fire Chief, Richard Guyton, encourages citizens to follow safety standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in order to safely heat homes. According to the NFPA, Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths. Please follow these simple tips to keep your family safe during cooler months:

Special attention should also be paid to pets as temperatures begin to drop. Lowndes County Animal Welfare Officers are prepared to ticket citizens with pets kept in conditions that do not meet the minimum standards of care outlined in city and county Animal Welfare Ordinances.

Pet owners are required to provide adequate food, water and shelter at all times. During periods of cold weather, a little extra food for animals that must remain outside will provide the calories their bodies need to keep warm. Animals can still become dehydrated in cooler temperatures; a constant supply of clean drinking water is required by the local ordinances. In addition, pets left outside must be provided with proper shelter and bedding which is normally defined by a house type shelter and bedding manufactured for pet use. Common examples of shelter methods that DO NOT meet local ordinances include:

Attention to detail and the appropriate preparedness measures will ensure the safety of all Lowndes County citizens as temperatures begin to dip over the next few months.

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Cooler Temperatures: Please Keep People and Pets Safe

The first hard freeze has hit Texoma. While you're preparing your home, appliances, and vehicles for the winter air you also need to prepare your water well systems.

There are a number of problems that can occur if you do not properly winterize your pumping system, those problems can start with parts of your system freezing up with water inside. If the pipes burst you could be faced with water flowing from your system down your streets.

However, the well's themselves are not at risk of freezing up because they are underground, but anything sticking out of the ground could possibly cost you if you do not take the right steps to prepare.

The first way to do it is turn off the power to your above ground equipment, pull the plugs and disconnect certain pipes where you can, said Michael Kussavage, Contracts and Operations Manager at AOC Environmental, Inc.

It's recommended to shut down your system for the season, until the warm weather returns. However, if you do want to leave your well up and running you need to make sure you winterize accordingly.

Your second option is you could leave it all together and everything operational, but you have to fully insulate it, said Kussavage. This means wrapping blankets and special tapes around all above ground equipment so the pipes don't freeze and burst.

The best way is to install a well house, said Kussavage. It's basically a small little shed that goes over all your equipment.

Inside the shed you would put a little light bulb, or small heater. You would leave either of those in the shed during cold days. The heat that generates from those appliances would need to be strong enough to keep the temperatures inside from reaching the freezing mark.

Officials at AOC Environment, Inc said if you have any part of your well above ground you need to take those winterizing steps. If you have a well with all electrical wiring and pipes below ground, you will not have to winterize.

For more information on what you need to do to keep your water well from being harmed by the winter freezes you can contact Michael Kussavage at (940)692-8989, or you can head to the website http://www.aocenvironmental.com .

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Winterize Water Well