tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13933449.post3978425033578372162..comments2023-05-18T01:38:15.632-07:00Comments on DIY Insanity: Saving WaterAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08542931247957198888noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13933449.post-8901246958620441342008-03-31T11:53:00.000-07:002008-03-31T11:53:00.000-07:00The Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve is a...The Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve is a revolutionary conservation product riddled with support for it's many positive attributes! Check out the testimonials section accessible from the home page of http://hotwaterlobster.com/testimonials.html<BR/><BR/>This wonderful unit saves water, energy, and time! Just install the Hot Water Lobster instant hot water valve under the sink farthest form your water heater and you will have instant hot water throughout your entire home. It saves a lot of water that's normally wasted down the drain while waiting for hot water. The savings in water and energy easily recoups the $179.95 purchase price! More impressive is the convenience of instant hot water!<BR/><BR/>You can't beat this product! Take a closer look at the site:<BR/>www.hotwaterlobster.com<BR/><BR/>P.S. Don't forget to check out the testimonials!Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08693871124806682974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13933449.post-929759265920423162008-03-22T12:52:00.000-07:002008-03-22T12:52:00.000-07:00Thanks for the update. We've got a TK-3 as well. I...Thanks for the update. We've got a TK-3 as well. If we go with a recirc pump, it'd be on demand, not timer-based. We have 2 baths, a smaller kitchen, and a laundry for our hot water needs, but it's rare that we use it at a set time every day. My wife is up early M, W, Th, works at home Tu, and has F off; she's up earlier on some Sundays and I'm up earlier on others. In any event, it'll have to wait a bit. I'm headed for Mexico next week to take the youth group from our church on a mission trip to build a house. I'll wave when we go past Pasadena :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08542931247957198888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13933449.post-56956413832070448502008-03-16T17:42:00.000-07:002008-03-16T17:42:00.000-07:00OK, 3 weeks later.Takagi T-K3 and Grundfoss recirc...OK, 3 weeks later.<BR/><BR/>Takagi T-K3 and Grundfoss recirc pump.<BR/><BR/>We have 3 bathrooms (2 showers, 1 tub combo) washer and dishwasher, 2 kitchen sinks. (I know, I know, but I designed the kitchen to be usable by up to 4 cooks and 4 helpers and this works.) I kitchen sink and 1 bath are currently on the recirc, but there's enough capacity to add the other sink and both baths as we progress.<BR/><BR/>I talked to the folks at Takagi, and long story short, the warranty is shortened because the heater isn't designed to run more than a total of a few hours/day, and the recirc pump adds time to the hours used, right? Further, the pump has to be big enough to carry away the hot water, because otherwise the firebox would overheat, if there wasn't enough flow. And there are more considerations, but if you call the MFR of your tankless, they'll tell you how big a recirc pump you need, and it will seem t o be too big, but it'll be right.<BR/>Don't forget an expansion tank.<BR/><BR/>We use a clock timer, and it's set for 5-7:30 AM and 4 to 8:30 PM. Plus we can always turn it on manually, but in practice we don't, we just wait for water the rare times we aren't within the time zone. But if we were finding ourselves waiting too often, we would change the timer.<BR/><BR/>If you use a switch, make sure it turns off after a set amount of time. If you use 2 or more switches, use a relay to isolate them from each other.<BR/><BR/>Any questions, let me know.<BR/><BR/>Best<BR/><BR/>JohnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13933449.post-27915773889781033862008-02-21T20:06:00.000-08:002008-02-21T20:06:00.000-08:00HI Gene,I'm flying out the door, but Monday or Tue...HI Gene,<BR/><BR/>I'm flying out the door, but Monday or Tuesday I'll give you teh specs, and also the conversation I had with the tech people about the recirc system and why the waarnty is shortened.<BR/><BR/>Best<BR/><BR/>JohnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13933449.post-12194965833166829262008-02-20T16:32:00.000-08:002008-02-20T16:32:00.000-08:00I haven't found out yet if graywater systems are l...I haven't found out yet if graywater systems are legal here in Oakland or not, though at the very least I could use it for watering. But regardless, that'll be further down the line.<BR/><BR/>Out of curiosity, what make and model of tankless and recirc do you have, John?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08542931247957198888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13933449.post-57584739784338190692008-02-20T16:18:00.000-08:002008-02-20T16:18:00.000-08:00When we bought our house in Pasadena, we retro-fit...When we bought our house in Pasadena, we retro-fitted for a tankless and recirc (timer) system, which works fine. The warranty of the tankless went from 10 to 3 years, but I figure that that's mostly blah-blah anyway.<BR/>Wish I could have done a grey-recyc system, but not allowed here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13933449.post-22838211324752184052008-02-19T09:58:00.000-08:002008-02-19T09:58:00.000-08:00It's because much of the west has more water needs...It's because much of the west has more water needs than it has water. In Colorado, water is considered a 'public resource' (i.e., something for the government to control and sell). By collecting rainwater, you're keeping it from going downstream to someone else who has rights to the water. Water rights in the west are complicated, to say the least. An interesting book on water in the west is <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140178244/designsinlight" REL="nofollow">Cadillac Desert</A>.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08542931247957198888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13933449.post-10540620443861440042008-02-19T08:12:00.000-08:002008-02-19T08:12:00.000-08:00Loved the pictures of the cats! Why would it be il...Loved the pictures of the cats! Why would it be illegal to collect rainwater? I've never heard of such a thing! My grandmother (in Tennessee) used to have rain barrels. She used that rainwater for everything! I can remember when she washed my hair in it, it made my hair so soft. (that was 54 years ago!)Sandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11071236024242050143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13933449.post-56607009450310219062008-02-18T16:37:00.000-08:002008-02-18T16:37:00.000-08:00Water isn't that expensive here, either (or at lea...Water isn't that expensive here, either (or at least it doesn't seem it with the small amount we use). But we've been through too many drought years in California to not take some steps to conserve in general.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08542931247957198888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13933449.post-47400806241287124452008-02-18T16:25:00.000-08:002008-02-18T16:25:00.000-08:00Recirculating gray water into other uses makes a l...Recirculating gray water into other uses makes a lot of sense. Here in Balto. Co. MD we're spoiled in that we pay very little for water (its included primarily in property taxes)... but, being spoiled leads people to not conserve. We recently had a pretty big spike in gas and electric rates (+70%) It was quite the fiasco, but has us all conserving now.<BR/><BR/>Anyhow, its important to be good stewards of the resources we've been given - its great that all this information is available to us right at our fingertips.<BR/><BR/>Fred<BR/><A HREF="http://oneprojectcloser.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">One Project Closer</A>Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12366632000942167907noreply@blogger.com