Tom Murray, whose films focused on gay Americans, dies at 65
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
A native of Woodstock, Ill., the 65-year-old Murray was a home inspector who began making movies in 2004. The former Peace Corps volunteer, cab driver, ...

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Flush with facts
Toronto Sun
Rob Parker, a registered home inspector with the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors and certified home inspector with the American Society of Home ...

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When ranking household appliances that consume the most energy, no one is surprised to see heating and air conditioning units at the top of the list. On the other hand, many people are surprised to learn that their water heater ranks at No. 2.

"Monthly energy costs have become an important factor in the decision-making process for homeowners looking for a new water heater," says Ed Begley, Jr., actor and environmentalist. "That's why manufacturers are introducing new technologies that increase the energy efficiency of their products." In order to find the right water heater for your lifestyle, Begley points out that you need to consider both the performance of the machine and the monthly energy costs associated with it.

Your first option is a conventional water heater. These models typically include a glass-lined tank that holds anywhere from 30 to 120 gallons of hot water at a time. A 40-gallon tank is generally ideal for two or three people, while a larger family may need a 50- to 80-gallon tank.

A tank-type water heater can run on electricity, natural gas or propane. A natural gas model is generally the least expensive in terms of monthly energy costs, with an electric model costing up to three times as much to heat the same amount of water. Most homeowners simply select the type of water heater that matches their current fuel source.

A conventional tank-type water heater can operate at anywhere from 75 to 80 percent efficiency, depending on the brand. In other words, 75 cents of your heating dollar goes into heating the water, and the other 25 cents is lost.

Within the past 10 years, manufacturers have begun promoting another option - the tankless water heater. These models typically deliver about 82 percent energy efficiency. Compared to a conventional water heater, your savings will typically range from $30 to $75 per year.

A tankless water heater uses a very large burner to heat the water as it passes through a copper pipe on its way to your sink, washing machine or shower. These models are measured in gallons per minute.

If you don't use a lot of hot water, it can run almost indefinitely without running out. However, if you exceed the capacity of the machine, you will notice a drop in either temperature or water pressure.

A drawback to a tankless model is the initial cost. The unit typically has a price tag between $800 to $2,000, plus another $1,000 to $2,500 for installation. Compare that to a conventional water heater, which usually runs about $300 to $500 for the unit and another $300 to $500 for installation. That all adds up to a $1,200 to $3,500 difference.

The third option is a hybrid unit. As the name implies, the hybrid combines the technologies of a conventional and tankless water heater. The result is a product that performs better than both technologies with energy efficiency at 90 percent or above.

A hybrid allows you to have back-to-back showers or simultaneous showers because of the stored hot water in the hybrid design. The installation of a hybrid water heater is the same as a conventional model, however, the unit itself can cost $1,200 to $1,800.

"For the absolute 'greenest' option available today, homeowners should consider a solar thermal water heating system," Begley says. "These units include a solar thermal collector that goes on the roof of the home in order to supply up to 70 percent of the total energy needed to run the unit." A solar thermal system is typically more expensive, but right now they are eligible for a federal tax credit of 30 percent of the total installed cost in addition to other state and local utility rebates.

Homeowners looking for a conventional electric model have a new "hybrid" option to consider. "These water heaters include a heat pump that literally pulls heat out of the surrounding air, like an air conditioner in reverse," Begley says. "As a result, they are more than twice as energy efficient as a traditional electric model." This efficiency can translate to savings over $360 each year. These hybrid electric models qualify for the federal tax credit and there are also additional state and local utility rebate programs to encourage the adoption of these products.

If your current model is more than eight years old, you may even consider proactively replacing the older, less efficient model for one of the newer, more energy-efficient models and start saving right away.

If you need home inspection information or you are in need of a great home inspector in the Charlotte, Huntersville, Concord, Fort Mill or Rock Hill areas contact Home Inspection Carolina.  They have performed over 23,432 home inspection and will not let you buy the money pit.  We have over 100 years of combined home inspection and construction experience.  Please give us a call (704) 542-6575

 

Preston Sandlin

Home Inspection Carolina

Ask the Charlotte Inspector

Earthtimes
“Consumer Protection With Home Inspection” Law Impacts Homebuyers
Earthtimes
“HUD counseling programs will help homebuyers seek the right qualifications in a professional home inspector. There are no universal qualifications within ...

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About the House: Words, phrases and smart-thinking at home
Sturgis Journal
... using those sharp tools About the House. Rob Kinsey has been a licensed builder for 25 years and is a home inspector with more than 15 years of experience.

A fresh start for Bertha, the one-eyed giant rabbit who can't hop
Lincolnshire Echo
"Usually as a foster carer, the idea is to lodge the animal until they can be rehoused, subject to a home inspection by the RSPCA, but with Bertha's ...

Tips to make a home ready for sale
Helium
Hire a reputable home inspector to look over your home so you are aware of all the potential problems. Don't just gloss over the repairs, but truly fix what ...
Free home buying and selling advice in "How To" booksMidland Free Press

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“Consumer Protection With Home Inspection” Law Impacts Homebuyers
RealEstateRama (press release)
... new law to be very valuable to buyers. “HUD counseling programs will help homebuyers seek the right qualifications in a professional home inspector. ...

Is your drywall dangerous?
Stock Markets Review
If you are buying a new home, it is important you hire a qualified home inspector to check for any problems, not just the drywall. ...

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Granite Construction Inspections Announces Richard Overton of Cardiff by the ...
PR Web (press release)
... and InterNachi, a home inspector organization focused on technical skills and business management with a wealth of online resources. ...

Greater Baton Rouge Business Report
It isn't easy being green
Greater Baton Rouge Business Report
... don't hear much about it because it's basically unattainable unless you're very, very wealthy,” says Mike Jordan, a home inspector and green verifier. ...

A Read on Warranties
San Angelo Standard Times
Chartrand advises buyers to always hire a qualified home inspector to determine if the heating, air conditioning and other features are in working order. ...

“Consumer Protection With Home Inspection” Law Impacts Homebuyers
Business Wire (press release)
“HUD counseling programs will help homebuyers seek the right qualifications in a professional home inspector. There are no universal qualifications within ...

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Homeowner's persistence yields results
Baltimore Sun (blog)
After signing the contract, she used a variety of professionals recommended by her real estate agent, from the title company to the home inspector. ...

Desperate Fishwives: Mon July 26, 2010 Corrie Episode Review
Coronation Street Blog (blog)
Eileen's had a good look around Molly and Ty's place and says she's interested pending a home inspection. Molly's just about ready to bust with “mystery ...

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Washington Times
Mouse turds and ghost dandruff: rewiring an old house
Washington Times
... and it had been expanded over the years through what the home inspector called the “non-standard” practice of stapling extension cords to the walls. ...

COTGREAVE v. CORRIS
Leagle.com
Nolte then testified that if the home inspector had found a condition in the driveway that had to be addressed, the inspector would have placed a comment in ...

Advantages of Obtaining a Prelisting Inspection

Advantages of  a pre-market inspection:

· The seller can schedule the inspections at the seller's convenience.

· It might alert the seller to any items of immediate concern, such as radon gas or active termite infestation.

· The seller can assist the inspector during the inspection, something normally not done during a buyer's inspection.

· The seller can have the inspector correct any misstatements in the inspection report before it is generated.

· The report can help the seller realistically price the home if problems exist.

· The report can help the seller substantiate a higher asking price if problems don't exist or have been corrected.

· A seller inspection reveals problems ahead of time, which:

· might make the home show better.

· gives the seller time to make repairs and shop for competitive contractors.

· permits the seller to attach repair estimates or paid invoices to the inspection report.

· removes over-inflated buyer-procured estimates from the negotiation table.

·  

· The report might alert the seller to any immediate safety issues found, before agents and visitors tour the home.

· The report provides a third-party, unbiased opinion to offer to potential buyers.

· A seller inspection permits a clean home inspection report to be used as a marketing tool.

· A seller inspection is the ultimate gesture in forthrightness on the part of the seller.

· The report might relieve a prospective buyer's unfounded suspicions, before they walk away.

· A seller inspection lightens negotiations and 11th-hour re-negotiations.

· The report might encourage the buyer to waive the inspection contingency.

· The deal is less likely to fall apart, the way they often do, when a buyer's inspection unexpectedly reveals a last-minute problem.

The report provides full-disclosure protection from future legal claims.

 

If you need home inspection information or you are in need of a great home inspector in the Charlotte, Huntersville, Concord, Fort Mill or Rock Hill areas contact Home Inspection Carolina.  They have performed over 23,432 home inspection and will not let you buy the money pit.  We have over 100 years of combined home inspection and construction experience.  Please give us a call (704) 542-6575

 

Preston Sandlin

Home Inspection Carolina

Ask the Charlotte Inspector

Kalamazoo Gazette - MLive.com
Don't let your (hot) water go down the drain, recirculating systems can be ...
Kalamazoo Gazette - MLive.com
Zolton Cohen is a Kalamazoo-based newspaper columnist and former American Society of Home Inspectors-certified home inspector. Write to Zolton B. Cohen, ...

Extraordinary services of Manhattan Beach Certified Home Inspector
PR-USA.net (press release)
If the vendor of the home was sensible he will go to a Manhattan Beach Home Inspector Service which expertise in Manhattan Beach real estate inspection. ...