count on at least two things; freezing cold weather and the inversion that
keeps a layer of smog hanging over the valley.
I grew up in Cache Valley and didn't notice the smog problem. Like most
people I don't pay attention to a problem until it starts to affect the
way I live. Now that we're to the point of having red and yellow air days
we need to come up with more creative ways to travel and heat our homes.
This brings me to my topic that will hopefully spark some interest for
those who would like to be "green" and also for the ones who live in Cache
Valley and want to have better air quality.
I am a plumber by trade and am frequently in and out of homes in Cache
Valley and surrounding areas. I am constantly in mechanical rooms and
basements so I get a first hand look at what is heating your water and
homes. I began to realize that maybe the car emissions aren't responsible
for the whole air quality problem.
I regularly see water heaters and furnaces in homes that are not energy
efficient. Water heaters give us the hot water to shower and clean, but
that isn't the problem. The problem is with the water heater. These
heaters keep anywhere from 5 or 10 gallons to hundreds of gallons of hot
water so it's there when we need it, but is also there when we don't need
it.
With that in mind let's talk about why regular hot water heaters aren't
very efficient.
All day most of us are at work or play. Most of us shower at one point
during the day, but all day our water heater is doing its job heating
water we aren't using. There are advertisements that say, "You wouldn't
let your car run 24/7, why heat your water 24/7?" Why do we waste our
money on a water heating system that heats water during the times we don't
use or need it? This problem is also compounded by hard water.
As hard water builds up in your water heater it sits over the burner or
around the electric elements causing the heat transfer to heat through
"rock," which is what those mineral deposits are. There is more heat loss
while the unit is not being used because the burner kicks on and off more
often than needed because it's heating through those deposits. This wastes
energy, causes more smog, gives you less and less hot water, and you get
to pay more money every month because the older your water heater is, the
more hard water deposits are piling up in it. Now those of you with water
softeners are laughing to yourselves, saying "We aren't the problem it's
those guys who don't have a water softener!" BUT you're still heating
water you're not using and some of us have 1 or 2 water heaters in our
homes. How often are you actually using those 100+ gallons of water to
justify having them there?
It's time we start looking at a greener solution. Although I'm a plumber
and selling hot water heaters is part of how I make my living, I am also
concerned about the environment, especially when it comes to my home. We
want to keep Cache Valley green, in more ways than one, for our children,
our neighbors, and our friends. Some "green" solutions may depend on your
pocketbook. The one with the most rebates available right now is the solar
hot water system. You may have seen our truck with the "75% off on a total
Solar Thermal System after the rebates" sign on the back. Solar hot water
has been around since the beginning of time. Some of you may remember the
rise of solar in the 1970's followed by the decline in the late 1980's and
90's.
Solar hot water is simple to explain and understand. There is solar hot
water panel that's mounted on your roof which heats up. We put these on
the south facing roof since that direction collects the most heat from the
sun. The panels have water tubes with black metal attached, as the water
passes through the tubes in the panel, it heats up from the sun. Here is a
diagram to help illustrate what I am describing.
The water enters the panel at a slow rate of speed so the heat from the
sun is transferred into the water. This water goes into a specially
designed tank to hold heat and to withstand high temperatures. These tanks
usually have coils inside to transfer the heat into the water that you use
to bathe and clean with. The controls on the solar system are simple.
There is a temperature sensor inside the solar panel and a sensor inside
the tank. When the panels are at a warmer temperature than
the water in the tank, it turns on a pump and the heat is transferred.
When the panels cool down the pump turns off stopping the water to heat
transfer.
Some of you hear the word "solar" and think one thing, "How much?" The
system is expensive, but you get what you pay for; most solar hot water
systems last 30-40 years with very little maintenance. If you factor in
the cost of the solar hot water system, the longevity of the equipment,
the feel good factor of helping the environment, AND the money you save
every month, combined with the rebates, you really aren't paying as much
as you think.
The federal and state governments have been very generous in giving back
our tax dollars to allow us to upgrade our current water heating devices
for more energy efficient models. Questar, with the Thermwise program, has
allowed natural gas customers to receive cash rebates. Also, the State of
Utah still has cash rebates left in their program for upgrading your water
heating appliances. These rebates start around 30% up to almost covering
the entire cost of the system. The more you spend, the more you get back,
which allows homeowners to choose a system that fits their budget and
their green initiative.
Basically Cache Valley, as a community, needs to do something about the
air quality problem. If we can decide to "go green" as a community then we
can watch our valley become a cleaner, healthier place to live. Take
advantage of these great rebates to save money, save the environment, and
feel good about it!
If you're interested in getting a FREE quote on a system please call or
visit our website at www.bridgeplumbing.net.
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