Andy Alexander

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We live in a ranch-style home with the master bathroom at one end and the kitchen at the opposite end. I’m concerned about the amount of wasted water it takes to reach a temperature to shower or do dishes, since our hot water heater is in the middle of the basement. I’ve heard about tankless water heaters but I’d like to learn more. How much do they cost, and would it take a professional to install one?

Tankless water heaters are great but not the perfect fix for your problem. Whether you have a tankless or a traditional water heater, you still have to get the water from the unit to the fixture. It’s the same distance either way. The best solution for you is a hot water circulation system.

There are several methods for installing this type of system; it depends on the layout of your home. The purpose of a circulation system is to get the water from the heater to the fixture quicker. Instead of running water at the tap for a minute waiting for hot water, you would get hot water almost instantly.

The most common way to achieve this is to run a “loop” back to the heater from the far ends of your home. This allows the water to circulate through the pipe, keeping the water in the line hot. Without the loop, the hot water just sits in the line and has a chance to cool over time.

Rather than having a heater full of hot water, you have a supply line full of toasty warm water for you your shower. This saves hundreds, if not thousands, of gallons of wasted water per year.

If access is a problem in installing a “loop” type system, there are now ways to accomplish the same thing with new technology.

Even though some people are pretty handy, this is usually a job best left to a professional.

Andy Alexander is owner of Andy’s Pipe Dream in Lenexa ( www.andyspipedream.com). Send questions to home@kcstar.com or Handyman, House + Home, FYI, The Kansas City Star, 1729 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64108. | Lajean Keene, lkeene@kcstar.com

Posted on Sat, Oct. 31, 2009 10:15 PM

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