Gas or Electric Water Heaters, Which are More Effective?

save money

 

During the cold season, every person will want to use warm water, either when taking a shower or doing other house chores like cleaning.

For this reason, every homeowner wants to invest in a power source that is efficient and affordable. When it comes to the source of power, the common options are gas and electric water heaters. Note that the two alternatives provide reliable means to heat water in your tanks.

A gas water heater tends to be a cheap alternative since the energy used to heat water comes from burning a fuel, which is natural gas.

On the other hand, you need to install electric resistance coils to use an electric water heater. While the gas water heaters are not efficient like electric heaters, the high cost of electricity makes the operational cost of electric heaters high.

Gas water heaters tend to be a convenient choice for big families since they have a faster recovery rate.

 

Electric Water Heater Gas Water Heater
Power source Domestic energy: can be coal, wind power, nuclear or natural gas energy Natural gas
Operates in power outage No Yes
Life Expectancy 13 years 12-13 years
Recovery Rate ~14 gallons/hr. ~50 gallons/hr.
Efficiency 0.90. 0.60.
13 Year Price $6,769 $5,394
Price $300 to $2880 (+wiring and installation) $250 to $1500 (+gasline if there isn’t already one)
Types Storage, tankless, heat pump. Storage, tankless, condensing.

 

 

  • Gas and Electric Water Heater: which is better

  • Performance

 

A gas heater has the capability of heating a 50-gallon storage rage within 60 minutes. The time a gas heater takes to reheat a water tank after use (recovery rate) is faster compared to that of an electric heater.

Another benefit of the gas water heater is that they can operate in even when power outage occurs. For large families, a gas water heater is the best choice an electric one will have difficulties in maintaining the hot water demands of many people.

The major drawback of an electric water heater is that it has a slow recovery rate. This means that a 50-gallon tank will need more time to recover.

 

  • Efficiency

 

In most cases, gas storage units tend to be inefficient due to the heat loss from exhaust gases and walls of a tank. Water remains hot all the time and even though this is beneficial, it implies that energy is wasted. The remedy for this problem is the use of condensing units which can help in increasing efficiency.

While electric heaters are known to be energy efficient, the savings in consumption of actual power are mitigated by expensive electricity bills. Electric heat pump units are extremely more efficient but they are rare and come with the high cost of installations.

 

  • Cost and Lifespan

 

Even though the cost of installation for the two water heating options is almost the same, electricity will be expensive to use than gas since electric units are more costly to operate.

Electric heater installation can be more costly since you might need a 220-volt outlet and connection for the electrical appliances. Electric water heating units have a longer life cycle than gas water heaters, but this will depend on the quality of water and how you maintain the heater.

For many homeowners, gas is a less costly alternative than electricity and this is the reason as to why many people prefer gas water heaters. This option is much cheaper if you already have a gas line available in your home. Changing from electric to gas can be costly since you will need to install a gas line and venting to exhaust heat.  

 

  • Types

 

In many homes, the common type of water heaters is the storage tank that can carry 20-100 gallons of hot water and ready to be used at any time. The system stores a large amount of hot water but needs a recovery time once the tank has been used.

  • Tankless heating

They traditionally heat water using electric coil but has recently been adopted in the gas-fired units. The tankless system heats water on demand, providing a large volume of hot water. The units are more costly than traditional storage water heaters and restrict water flow to keep it hot.

  • Condensing boilers

Condensing boilers are the high-efficiency option for gas heaters. This system is designed to use energy from exhaust gases to heat cold water that comes into the storage tank. This can attain an increase in efficiency of 20% over traditional gas heating units.

  • heat pump device

The latest alternative in electric water heating is the heat pump device. The system uses energy from the surrounding air to warm water.   These units are the most energy efficient domestic water heating appliances though they are costly.

 

  • Pros of the gas water heater

 

  • Gas heaters tend to heat water faster than electric units.
  • Gas water heating units that are ignited with a pilot light instead of electric ignition will work even in an event of power outage.
  • Note that electricity tends to be expensive than natural gas in most towns and this makes gas heating units an affordable means.

 

  • Cons

 

  • Even though the energy bills will be low when using a gas water heater, installation and maintenance of the gas models tends to be high.
  • Gas water heating units have a short life cycle than electric heaters.

 

  • Electric water heater

 

  • An electric water heater offers a high level of convenience since it is more easy to use than a gas water heater.
  • They are cost efficient since once you install an electric heater, they effectively reduce the cost of warming more water and keeping it hot.
  • There is no wastage of energy since you only heat the water that you intend to use at the moment.
  • The electric unit heats water on demand and for this reason, they help in conserving water.

 

  • Cons of the electric water heater

 

  • They are costly in the long run
  • Can’t operate in an event of a power outage
  • Long recovery time

 

  • Final Thoughts

 

Gas water heaters are the best option for people with large families because electric heaters can’t keep up with high demands of hot water.

On the other hand, electric water heaters are a perfect alternative since they are more energy efficient than gas heaters. Additionally, electric heaters have low maintenance costs and they are the best option for small families living in cold areas. Low cost in installation and purchase makes it perfect for such conditions. When shopping for this unit, it is important you do a thorough research to define which suits your requirements.

The Most Important Fundamentals For Your Home

Running a beautiful home isn’t an accident. It’s something that happens with effort, aimed towards the result you most hope to enjoy. A family home is also a dynamic process, something you have to maintain, but also something you can repeatedly enjoy. As a family lives there over the years, the character of the place changes with it. Perhaps one of the saddest things a prospective buyer can see is a home that’s been neglected over the years, filled with potential but simply no one with the financial backing or willingness to make a real change there.

 

Of course, you’re likely in no danger of having this happen to your familial home. It’s also unlikely that you need a guide to tell you how to love your home, because you do that passively all by yourself. However, sometimes when moving into a new place for the first time and adapting to the homemaker’s mindset, a little forethought and understanding of fundamental services to use can help you in a large manner.

 

The most important fundamentals of your home are essential to take care of, and luckily they are listed as below:

 

Plumbing

 

Plumbing is among one of the most important resources any person needs to get right. This is because a shoddy job can sometimes cost expensive or irreparable damage, and that’s likely something you are absolutely hoping to avoid. Good plumbing also gives you a greater degree of freedom in how rooms are designed, and where you place certain implements. A good plumbing job can reduce the long-term designs of new difficulties by a large margin, and that can truly make all the difference in the long-term. Be sure to vet your plumbing hires well, or use a tried and tested offering such as ABC Plumbing Services for a reliable job each and every time. This often makes the biggest difference in the quality and nature of the work conducted.

 

Hygiene Maintenance

 

All homes have their own hygiene pitfalls. It might be that your home has a tendency for rot due to the setup of a wet room, the moisture of ventilation, and perhaps how hard certain weather conditions hit it. It might be you have smaller crawlspaces that often foster an outside accessway for pests, and must be thoroughly maintained and controlled. It could be that the beams in your roof are starting to rot and desperately need replacement, or that your shingles are covered in moss and might need a deep clean. Hygiene maintenance is not only important to keep on top of, but identify in the first place. With a diligent outlook, you can achieve this.

 

Repairs

Home repairs are important to ensure completion of immediately. It could be that one of your steps on the staircase is slightly weak, and could perhaps harm someone who forgets to avoid that step in the meantime. Your garden path might be uneven and promote a difficult sense of traversal, heightening the chance of falls. Repairs are important to take care of, so always keep an operational budget to fix them no matter what.

 

With these tips, you’re sure to apply the most important fundamentals for your home first and foremost.

Standing The Test Of Time: Pieces To Invest In For Your Family Home

Adding personality and decorating our home can be a fun way to refresh and update it. However, there are key pieces that are worth investing time and thought over, so that you don’t end up making constant (and often costly) changes to your interior space. The following are some ideas for those with a busy family home, who want to invest wisely.

A Place To Dine

 

The table where the family gets together to eat, play games, and discuss their lives, is often the heart of the home. If you’re always making memories while sitting at that large piece of furniture, it should be an item that will last and adapt to your life and interior space as they evolve and develop. Therefore, it’s wise to think about buying a sturdy table, in a classic design, that will last through any trend or room you might put it in. When the design of a table is fairly straightforward, it also allows for the introduction of different styles of chairs, ensuring it will withstand any drastic changes in interior movement. As with most items in this list, these investments can be expensive for most families, therefore, it might be worth looking into home equity loan vs line of credit in regards to funding any large items or perhaps renovation cost so that you can make wise financial decisions.

 

Somewhere To Sleep

 

On average a human spends a third of their lifetime asleep in their beds, making it an integral part of any home. Nowadays, people also tend to watch T.V, read, and spend time on social media when snuggled up under the duvet; therefore investing in a quality bed will ensure you’re comfortable and well-rested for years to come. Bedsheets, cushions, and even the bed frame can be affordable things to change when interior themes and style move on, but the mattress is the most important part of bed and should be chosen wisely.

 

A Chill-Out Zone

 

Again, interior styles will continue to evolve and change; so you want to buy furniture that will stand the test of time. Cushions and throws can be updated to suit colour schemes in a living room and to introduce pattern; however, a sofa is a risky way to directly update the overall look of a room, as interior trends can change quickly. It’s a smart move to pick a sofa style that will have longevity, like an old school classic design, or a simple and clean silhouette, for those who prefer a modern feel to a space.

 

Something Special

 

There are few items in your home that will actually appreciate in value; however, art can be one of them. Aside from bringing back special memories from where and why you bought it, art can inject your true style and personality in a room, and make it truly unique. When spending more money on art, it’s a wise choice not to pick it simply because it fits in with an interior scheme. Instead, choose art that you love and reflects who you are, that way you’ll continue to admire it wherever it sits in the house. Invest carefully, and you’ll have homewares that will last you for a long time ahead.

Products For Your Home You Will Love

With winter on the way, and fall finally here (thank goodness for the end of that scorching summer heat!), we are going to be spending more time indoors. Keeping that in mind, here are some interesting and useful new items that you can use year round.

Calamityware serving-ware brings whimsy and art to the dinner table. These fantastical porcelain-plates will also serve as conversation starters, with hidden pictures created by Calamityware and artist Don Moyer. These clever takes on flatware are both pretty and unique, while using a traditional blue and white color scheme. Unexpectedly decorated plates, mugs, and more are covered with depictions of sea monster creatures, giant robots, frogs, and more creatures from sci-fi.  Dishwasher and microwave safe, they are as functional as they are interesting. While they aren’t cheap- $42 for each plate, for example, they make your table a more fun place to dine. Check out all the options at  https://calamityware.com

dinner plates

Save money and single-use-plastic waste by filling and refilling water glasses and  bottles at home. Safe Home Drinking Water Test Kits help provide peace of mind, letting you know what’s in your water. Learn about your tap water with these helpful and easy to use home test kits. Test your water, and make sure that your family’s health is protected.  There is a lot of nonsense in most town’s water nowadays, find out if there is trouble with yours. 80% of the body is water, and you use it for everything- cooking, bathing, drinking, washing, and more. It’s vital to have safe water.  According to the brand, “Safe Home® and Safe Home® Pro EnviroTestKits from Environmental Laboratories, Inc. (ELI), one of North America’s largest EPA Certified Laboratories for testing drinking water, provides several testing options in three easy steps.  Upon receiving the results, you’re empowered to make appropriate decisions – for instance, installing a water treatment or filtration system or disinfecting your well system, among other solutions.”  They are easy to use, the directions take only about a minute to complete and are all but foolproof. There are options for test at home as well as sending a sample out for more detailed information. For more information, visit http://envirotestkits.com/drinking-water-test-kits/

at home testing kits

For your pets, check out HandsOn Gloves (in several colors and sizes, including for children). Get rid of all the excess hair and shedding, which will help your home as well as your allergies. Some dogs (and many cats) hate being brushed, but with the use of these gloves, it just feels like some petting and attention. You can use them in the water at bathtime, or dry. Get your kids to help out, and take care of the pets like they promised to- it’s not work and it’s very easy. It’s also effective, which many products can’t claim honestly.  They take off huge amounts of unwanted and excess fur with no pain or struggling- we were amazed by the huge clumps of fur made by our youngest dog, especially. Good for all hair types, although with very long haired pets you might want to supervise the kiddos so they don’t create knots (as with any brushing). Made with hypo-allergenic, bio-friendly components that are proven to be safe for use with humans and animals, it does it’s job by keeping everyone healthy. For more information, prices, and to choose yours, please visit https://handsongloves.com

easy to use pet brush

5 Ways to Make Your Home More ‘Green’ and Save Money

The crazy weather and horrid hurricanes and storms plaguing the entire planet are more than enough proof of the climate change. Scientists have yet to determine whether we are past the point of no return. However, one thing is perfectly clear now and it’s that reducing the carbon footprint of your home is essential. It’s the contribution everyone can make into the fight for preserving our planet’s health. It’s also a wise way of saving a bit of money, as making your house more energy-efficient will cut down your bills. To make your home more ‘green’ you’ll need to replace some appliances with a solar installation companies and do some minor but effective changes to the décor.

5 Steps to an Energy-Efficient Home Everyone Can Afford

Forget about your clothes dryer

There are energy-efficient variations of all important house appliances. You can check the Energy Star website to choose the best devices for your home. You’ll be able to find clothes driers there. However, the truth is that this particular appliance is never worth the energy it uses. Regardless of how little of it the device consumes.

A washing machine with a high RPM (rotation per minute) rate can ensure your clothes come out nearly dry. Therefore, unless you are living in a place where air-drying is a complete impossibility, using a dryer is always a waste of money as well as a major addition to the carbon footprint of your home. Note that it’s also not good for the majority of fabrics.

Reduce your use of an AC unit

Fans are over a dozen times more energy-efficient than air conditioning systems. The Huffington Post also brings to light some important research on how AC units can be a cause of sickness. Therefore, the best way to keep your room cool in the summer is to get a high quality stand fan. This particular type of device allows you to cool a specific area and offers you something an AC cannot, meaning a pleasant breeze.

Ceiling fans are also more efficient than air conditioning and require less maintenance. They can make an entire room cooler, but overall, their ‘effect’ is less pronounced than that of a pedestal fan.

Make your house ‘leak-proof’

The most ‘leaks’ your house has, the more energy you are wasting when cooling or warming it. If you can’t afford to renovate and add another layer of insulation or replace your windows, you can look up DIY options. There are affordable kits that will allow you to reduce the waste of heat through the windows and doors. You can find many cheap insulation materials and cut the costs further by looking for discounts. Also, don’t forget about simple things, like sealing off your chimney when it’s not in use or finding some thick curtains.

Reorganize your home (if necessary)

Sometimes, to make your home more energy-efficient you only need to move the furniture. Make sure none of the vents are obstructed by anything. Lift the curtains up or away from the radiators. Place big pieces of furniture near the walls so they don’t obstruct the air circulation.

You also need to make sure that your fridge isn’t located anywhere near the stove. Even if your kitchen is very small, try to have at least one cupboard between them.

Get a dishwasher

Even when you are on a tight budget, you should consider buying a dishwasher as soon as you are able. Studying your water bills should inspire you to do this as using this appliance. Think that washing a load of dishes by hand might use up 27 gallons of water.

An Energy Star approved dishwasher will need about 3 gallons per one load. This difference easily makes up for the bit of electricity used by the appliance and still allows you to save money in the long run.

Qualities to Look for in the Best electrician

There is a lot to think about when you need to hire an electrician. You need to think about your budget, the work that needs done, whether you need to the work done now or whether you want to wait, and so on. Added to this is the extra burden that not everybody who labels themselves as an electrician is qualified to do so, which can leave you in a worse position than you started out from. These people take the money and word-of-mouth recommendations which should by rights go to an actual electrician.

Certification

A qualified electrician will be able to show his certification if you ask for it. Aside from being able to ask him or her to specifically show you certificates which say that they are proficient in the skills you need, they are usually legally required to show such certification on their websites or promotional material. The certificates show that governing bodies have seen fit to say that the person you have engaged for your electricity work is actually capable of the job.

Price

The old adage that you get what you pay for is still very true when it comes to industries that involve electricians. If someone is asking an amount of money in payment for their work which seems too good to be true, assume that it is. Prices vary within the electricians – this is why you should get quotes from at least three different people before making a decision on what to do – but in general the prices should be reasonable for the work you actually need done. This can mean that it is a bit higher than you might otherwise have thought.

Recommendations

This can mean word-of-mouth recommendations, but this is also how fake electricians get their work, so tread carefully. Reviews and recommendations are now available in various places online – so long as the electrician has an online presence, you should be able to find some reviews about them online. These reviews can lead you towards or away from certain electricians, depending on how good the service was.

Another way to use recommendations is to ask the electrician themselves to give you letters of recommendation from previous customers.

It can be difficult to see how anybody could tell the difference between an actual electrician and one who is just running a scam, especially since anybody can set up an online presence these days. But there are ways to ensure that you get a properly qualified electrician, and while this article is only the start of how to go about that, it is definitely a good place to start, and a good place to get some ideas for how to proceed in finding more information. Finding a good electrician can take a lot of work, but it is something that is entirely worth the effort, as good electrical work can last a lifetime, while bad work can be something which leads to your entire house being put in danger.

Decorating Your Outdoors for the Holidays

Getting ready for the holidays? These decorations are super fast and easy to put up- as someone who isn’t the tallest person in the world, I can appreciate non-strand-light holiday lights, LOL.

Say goodbye to tangled Christmas lights and giant inflatables that deflate into a messy heap on your front lawn. These two Christmas décor/lighting products for the home that are a snap to install and low-maintenance.

Star Shower Window Wonderland is a projector that transforms your windows into animated holiday displays. Place the projector near any window, hang the included screen, and choose from six included holiday movies to play with the touch of a button. Turn dreary windows on dark wintery nights into colorful, entertaining exhibits in minutes. This product is also great for apartment-dwellers. (Video: https://tinyurl.com/ybvsqe2n.)

Next, use Star Shower Slideshow to transform the entire front of your home into a merry canvas of dazzling color. Setup is easy—choose the slide you want to use, insert it into the unit, and watch it play. Star Shower slideshow is safe for use in wet winter weather and covers up to 3200 square feet with colorful, LED light images of snowflakes, bows, trees and more—and can be adapted for indoor use as well. (Video: https://tinyurl.com/y9doevqz.)

These very easy to use, easy to set up decorations are great for the winter holiday season- and for other holidays, as well. And they aren’t expensive at all, so you will definitely get your money back on use.  Depending on where you buy them, I have seen them online and in stores as low as $20, so you really can’t go wrong. Check it out for yourself!

Happy holidays, Seasons Greetings- and enjoy your decorations.

How to Avoid the Creepiest Spring Pests with Natural Pest Repellant

Spring is finally here! By now you may have started to see the first signs of winter coming to an end such as warmer weather, flowers blooming and even the return of a few unwanted guests that have been hiding away all winter long. Spring brings out the pests, which makes the beginning of this season the perfect time to prevent an infestation before it begins, and doing so doesn’t have to mean exposing your household to dangerous toxins. Fortunately, Stay Away® by EarthKind® offers natural pest repellants that are both safe and effective.

If you are afraid of spiders, here’s a creepy thought- during the spring is when the spider population multiplies! Spiders mate in the fall and their baby eggs hatch in the spring. To prevent spiders and their babies from infesting your home, Kari Warberg Block, pest prevention expert and founder of EarthKind® , recommends the following:

  • Use a spray made of half a cup of water, half a cup of vinegar, two tablespoons of liquid dish soap and 20 drops of thyme oil. The scented mixture has been used to prevent them from attaching their silk to sprayed surfaces.
  • Invest in a natural spider repellent, like Stay Away® Spiders. Made with Citronella, Lemongrass and Rosemary, Stay Away® Spiders disrupts a spider’s sophisticated senses, keeping them out of treated areas with a scent pleasant to people, but offensive to the insects  that spiders eat. No food, no spiders! Use one pouch anywhere webs or spiders are noticed, such as basements, closets and attics, increasing the number of pouches until desired results are obtained.

A recent entomological survey of North Carolina homes found spiders in 100 percent of them, including 68 percent of bathrooms and more than three-quarters of bedrooms. If you live in an area with a warmer climate, chances are you have at least one creepy crawler lurking around your home.

Not afraid of spiders? Finding a moving box of rice inside your pantry might be enough to make your skin crawl. The pantry moth is considered to be the true definition of the word pest. These pests can affect everyone no matter where you live or how clean your home may be. Pantry moths live in dry food products throughout the United States such as cereal, flour, grains and even pet food. It only takes one female to enter your home and she can quickly cause an infestation with her ability to lay 300 eggs at a time. Once the eggs hatch, they will feed on and infest all the dry food in your pantry. Kari has the following tips to prevent pantry moths from making themselves home in your food this spring:

  • Check all packages inside and out for small holes, cocoon webbing, or off-white moth larvae.
  • Store foods in airtight glass, metal, or plastic containers.
  • Place a non-toxic Stay Away ® Moths pouch in your pantry to prevent any moths you may have brought home from reproducing. Stay Away® Moths works by using a unique blend of essential oils that smell offensive to moths, but pleasant to people. It’s safe for your family, the environment and your food.

Stay Away® products are available for purchase online and at your local Lowe’s and  in select ACE locations nationwide.