I think most would agree that technology is hard to keep up with, especially when you’re talking about plumbing. We all know the latest smartphone and its capabilities, but what about the newest showerhead, water heater, garbage disposal, or dishwasher? A water heater can sit tucked away in the garage for 10 to 15 years and never gets a second look. Most people wait until an appliance breaks down before they replace it. There is nothing too appealing about plumbing technology until an appliance falls apart.
New Plumbing Technology For Water Heaters
Since the fixtures we use are so connected to our energy consumption, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has funded companies such as A.O. Smith Corporation to develop improved energy-efficient water heaters. A.O. Smith developed Vertex™ water heater which operates at up to 96 percent thermal efficiency, and the development was funded EERE. The latest advancements in Vertex’s technology allow it to achieve up to 30 percent energy savings. The progress doesn’t stop there with more funding from the energy department. G.E. put its hat in the game and developed the GeoSpring Hybrid Water Heater. The water heater is part heat pump and part conventional storage water heater. The standard 50-gallon electric storage water heater can save an average household at least $300 a year on its electric bill.
Advanced Technology in Garbage Disposals
Another plumbing product that can boast of advanced technology is InSinkErator. InSinkErator is a leader in the garbage disposal industry. Already known for their high quality, environment-friendly products as well as being a best seller. It doesn’t seem that long ago when our garbage disposal broke down, we would drive down to the local home center and buy a new one for $80 to $100. We would either have our plumber come out and install it or install it ourselves. Not the case anymore, the latest craze in garbage disposal technologies includes the Evolution Excel 1.0 HP Household Garbage Disposer made by InSinkErator. With SoundSeal technology, you barely know it’s grinding, no more obnoxious sounds coming from your sink. Additionally, it has MuliGrind technology which grinds your food waste multiple times, eliminating a clogged kitchen drain and making it better for your sewer line as well.
Homeowners Move Toward Tankless Water Heaters
Another area of advanced plumbing technology is tankless water heaters. A tankless water heater is also known as on-demand water heaters because they deliver water almost instantaneously. Their ability to provide an endless stream of instant hot water makes them a favorite for homeowners ready to replace their old storage heaters. They also take up a fraction of the space compared to a storage tank heater. According to the Department of Energy, a tankless water heater can be 24%–34% more energy-efficient than traditional storage-tank water heaters for homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily. You can see more significant savings of 27%–50% if you install a demand water heater at each hot water outlet.
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