Plumb Smart Inc - July 2020

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JULY 2020

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LET’S TALK ABOUT Tankless Water Heaters

H ere at Plumb Smart, we often hear the same question from customers thinking about replacing their water heaters: Is it worth it to get a tankless water heater? Unfortunately, this question is a bit too complex to answer with a simple yes or no. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the pros and cons of tankless water heaters so you can make your own informed decision. Before we get into that, let’s briefly go over how a tankless water heater works. Unlike a traditional water heater, which stores and then heats cold water before dispersing it, a tankless water heater works on demand. That means that until you open up a hot water tap somewhere in your house, the unit remains in standby mode. When you open that hot line, the water heater fires up and heats the cold water as it passes through its heating coils, providing you with hot water as long as you need it. With that in mind, let’s dive in. Eco-Friendliness: One of the first things most people think about when it comes to tankless water heaters is the issue of efficiency. A traditional water heater first fills up completely with cold water and then heats it to be ready when you need it. When not in use, it will periodically fire up to maintain its stored water at the correct temperature. Since a tankless water heater doesn’t store water and only turns on when you need it, you completely avoid these standby energy costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a tankless water heater will cut your energy use by 8%–34%, depending on how much hot water you use per day. (The more you use, the closer your energy consumption gets to that of a traditional heater.) If you’re trying tomake your home as green as possible, then a tankless water heater is the clear winner. Cost: Here’s where things get tricky. While tankless heaters are definitely more energy-efficient than traditional ones, it’s unlikely that you’ll actually end up cutting overall costs through those energy savings. If you use Plumb Smart to install a standard 50-gallon water heater, your total cost will be between $1,500– $1,600 for the unit and the installation, and it’ll last 10-15 years. A tankless unit, on the other hand, will cost around $3,000 for the unit and installation at minimum. And, since tankless water heaters require a high-volume gas line and use different venting than traditional ones, you could be looking at several hundred to a couple thousand dollars in retrofitting costs upfront. Tankless units

do last longer (about 20 years WITH proper maintenance), but even with top energy savings (around $100 a year), it would take you at least 15 years just to break even . If you’re trying to savemoney, buy a traditional water heater. Hot Water Availability: A major selling point of tankless water heaters is that you’ll never run out of hot water. No tank means no depletion, which means you could run hot water all day long if you want. This is great for filling a garden tub or taking a long, relaxing shower. However, the unit can only heat so much water at a time. A good one puts out around 5 gallons per minute

(gpm); most bathtubs will use all of that, while a shower will run about 2–3 gpm. If you use multiple fixtures at once, you’ll still have hot water, but you may lose pressure. Of course, with a traditional unit, you still have a limited amount of hot water available at a given time. Also note that “on demand” hot water does not mean instant hot water — once heated, the water still has to travel the distance from the unit to the fixture before reaching you. The only way to get instant hot water on any system is through the use of a circulating pump, which is an option on higher-end tankless models or can be added to any system separately. Here’s the bottom line: You’ll never run out of hot water, but if your household generally uses multiple hot fixtures at once, then a tankless unit may not be right for you. In the end, it really just matters what your personal priorities are. A tankless water heater may not save you money, but it does have certain benefits that may outweigh that aspect for you. You could also consider using smaller tankless units for individual fixtures (like a garden tub), which are much cheaper and work right along with your existing water heater. If you have any further questions or would like to schedule an appointment for an estimate, then give us a call at 404.427.0302 or book online at BePlumbSmart.com.

–Sam Little

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Keep Your Brain Young 3 TIPS FOR GOOD BRAIN HEALTH FROM HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL

3. Stay connected. It’s not enough to focus on yourself. In order to maintain your long-term cognitive health, you should also focus on your connections with other people. According to Harvard Health Publishing, “Strong social ties have been associated with a lower risk of dementia, as well as lower blood pressure and longer life expectancy.” Make new friends, stay in touch with family members, and maintain positive relationships in your life. They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is certainly true when it comes to your brain health. Do what you can today to protect your mental functions tomorrow.

As we age, our bodies change, including our mental functions. Cognitive decline is one of the biggest fears of aging, but it’s not inevitable. Though we’re still learning new things about how our brains work, there’s a lot of scientific research that shows how to keep your brain young. If you want to keep your mind sharp throughout your lifetime, then follow this advice from Harvard Medical School. 1. Get a good workout. Exercising regularly helps all the muscles and organs in your body, even your brain! A good workout can lower your blood pressure and improve your cholesterol levels, which help your brain and your heart. Harvard Health Publishing,

a website of Harvard Medical School, also notes that “animals who exercise regularly increase the number of tiny blood vessels that bring oxygen-rich blood to the region of the brain that is responsible for thought.” 2. Pay attention to your mental health. Poor mental health can lead to impaired cognitive function. Chronic anxiety, depression, and exhaustion tend to cause low scores on cognitive function tests. But test scores aren’t necessarily a sign of future cognitive decline, and Harvard Health Publishing urges readers to maintain good mental health and get restful sleep, as they are “certainly important goals” for improving cognitive function and overall well-being.

LET’S TALK ABOUT GALVANIC CORROSION

A lot of metals won’t rust, which is great. Copper pipes can carry water, and your kid’s aluminum bike won’t rust over when they leave it out in the rain. However, rust is only one type of corrosion, and no metal is completely immune to all types. What is galvanic corrosion? The most common type of corrosion that we plumbers encounter is galvanic corrosion. Galvanic corrosion is an electrochemical process that occurs when two dissimilar metals come into electric contact with each other, which effectively fuses them together. Ever had a hose that just wouldn’t come loose, even with a wrench? You were probably dealing with the results of galvanic corrosion. Some garden hoses have aluminum fittings at each end. On the surface, this seems like a great idea since aluminum doesn’t rust, but remember: Rust is only one type of corrosion that destroys metals. Hose bibbs (faucets) are usually made from brass, which is safe to use in contact with copper because it’s an alloy of copper and zinc and is, therefore, not dissimilar. You can buy a garden hose with brass or even plastic connections and do just fine, but beware of aluminum! Combining certain metals with water leads to galvanic corrosion. Neither aluminum nor brass will corrode on their own in contact with water, but when they’re put together, you’re

in trouble. The aluminum acts as an anode, and the brass acts as a cathode, creating an electron flow every time the two metals are in contact with an electrolyte — or every time you run water through your hose. The aluminum will start to dissolve,

reform itself, and fuse to the brass. Just like that, your hose is stuck. If not addressed, it will eventually melt away, leaving you with a

hose that leaks like a sieve and still won’t come loose.

The moral of the story? Don’t put dissimilar metals in contact with each other — especially not in the presence of water! If you’re in the

market for a new hose, make sure to buy one with brass connections at each end, and check the metal on your sprayer, too! If you already have a hose with aluminum fittings, throw it away. And if you can’t get it loose to throw it away, give us a call.

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WORD SEARCH

WATERMELON AND TOMATO SALAD WITH TURMERIC OIL

Ruby Sparkler

Larkspur Peaches Picnic Popsicles

Caesar Fireworks Grilling Independence

Sunglasses Swimming

Inspiredby BonAppetit.com

SUDOKU

Ingredients

•

1/4 cup virgin coconut oil

•

1 tsp peppercorns, coarsely crushed

• 1 tsp coriander seeds, coarsely crushed • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric • 4 cups seedless watermelon, diced into 1/2-inch pieces • 2 medium heirloom tomatoes, diced into 1/2-inch pieces • 8 oz mild feta, diced into 1/2-inch pieces • Flaked sea salt

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, heat coconut oil, peppercorns, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and turmeric for about 3minutes or until fragrant. Let cool slightly but do not let coconut oil solidify.

2. In a large bowl, place diced watermelon, tomatoes, and feta. Drizzle with oil mixture and finish with a dash or two of salt.

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Let’s Talk About Tankless Water Heaters 1

Harvard’s Tips to Keep Your Brain Young

Let’s Talk About Galvanic Corrosion 2

Watermelon and Tomato Salad With Turmeric Oil

Puzzles 3

Enjoy July With These Fun Facts 4

Fun Facts About the Month of July

Most Americans associate July with Independence Day and everything the holiday entails, including traditional barbecue cuisine, fireworks, and summer vacations. However, in addition to the Fourth of July, this midsummer month has a rich history and offers fun opportunities for everyone to celebrate.

marks the birth of Canada. The following year, Charles Monck, the 4th Viscount Monck and Canada’s first governor-general, signed a proclamation requesting that everyone in Canada celebrate their country’s independence on July 1. However, it wasn’t until 100 years later that the date officially became Canada

Day. Most celebrations include fireworks and red and white attire, much like how Americans celebrate the Fourth of July. Got Wings? While chicken wings are a staple of Southern dining, they actually originated in upstate New York. In 1964, Teressa Bellissimo, co-

‘What’s in a Name?’ You’ve likely heard of Julius Caesar, the famous Roman dictator and general known for changing the Roman Empire’s political structure, innovating war tactics, and eventually dying after a legendary assassination. But did you know that July, Caesar’s birth month, wasn’t always called that? It was initially named Quintilis , which means “fifth” in Latin, because it was the fifth month of the ancient Roman calendar. Shortly after Caesar’s death, the month of Quintilis was renamed July in his honor. Of course, Caesar’s legacy didn’t end there. Before he died, he implemented the Julian calendar, which he based off of the Egyptian solar calendar, and it remained in place for over 1,500 years until the Gregorian calendar was introduced in the 16th century.

owner of the Anchor Bar, started cooking leftover wings dipped in hot sauce for her son and his friends. After receiving enthusiastic feedback, Bellissimo put them on the menu. Over the next few years, the recipe’s popularity spread, and in 1977, former Buffalo mayor Stan Makowski declared July 29 to be National Chicken Wing Day. The reputation of the famous Buffalo wings continued to spread nationwide, and in the early ‘90s, wings

became an international hit when McDonald’s, KFC, and Domino’s Pizza began selling them in the variety of flavors we know and love today.

Red, White, and Who? Similar to the Declaration of Independence for the U.S., Canada’s Constitution Act of 1867, signed on July 1 of that year,

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