Having and using an instant hot water heater can be a great convenience, as well as a tremendous energy-saving device. While instant hot water heaters can be a distinct advantage over the other tank-type models, there are some issues that you should take time and think through before you purchase one.

The first issue with an instant hot water heater system is the issue of capacity. Remember that an instant hot water heater must heat your water to a suitable temperature before it can be released to the tap or spigot. Most instant hot water heater systems are rated in terms of how many hot-water using devices can be operated simultaneously (for example, a shower and two separate sink areas) — and obviously you will pay more for an instant hot water heater system with a larger capacity.

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Many homeowners recognize the value and quality of Kohler — their faucets, sinks, lavatories, and shower equipment are unmatched for beauty of design and durability. Yet, occasional repairs may be necessary — and in that case you will need some good Kohler plumbing fixture replacement parts — these are available from a number of outlets:

First of all, from the Plumb Shop — a set of two lavatory handles. These fashionable Kohler plumbing fixtures are in a traditional clear, faceted design. Priced at around $30, these handles can be used with any compatible installation, and can be used for either hot or cold water faucets.

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There are many situations where a point of use water heater would be very handy. For example, in an older home with an already overtaxed hot water heating system, you can provide some relief on the main hot water system by installing point of use hot water heaters.

Another instance would be if you needed to install a small sink in an out-of-the-way area of your home which is located some distance away from your existing hot water lines. Rather than running a new hot water line extension to this location, a point of use water heater can be installed underneath the sink — this will allow you to have both hot and cold running water from just a single water pipe source.

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Do you practice residential hot water heater safety? It’s a safe bet that most homeowners have probably never heard of water heater safety — and that can really be a problem because a malfunctioning water heater can cause damage — a lot of damage — to your home and to yourself as well.

Perhaps the most obvious danger from a residential hot water heater would be the danger of scalding or burning, due to an excessively high water temperature. Most people don’t realize that if your water temperature reaches 190°F, it can cause a third degree burn instantly! And if the temperature of the water in your residential hot water heater goes above 212°F it can come out of your faucet and inflict steam burns.

An important device that you can have installed on your residential hot water heater is a temperature and pressure relief valve. This special-purpose valve will cause water to be ejected if it gets too hot, or has developed too much pressure (usually through a pipe that runs down the side of the tank). When purchasing a residential hot water heater you should make sure that this type of valve is installed.

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If you’re working with PVC pipe, for sure you’re going to need some good quality PVC plumbing fittings. And that’s the purpose of this article — to spotlight and highlight some of the very best products that you can purchase today on the Internet.

A very reputable manufacturer of PVC plumbing fittings is Charlotte Pipe & Foundry. As an example, they manufacture SCH 40 PVC caps in packs of 25 — these are fully certified to meet all applicable plumbing codes. These PVC plumbing fittings are 1 1/4″ FPT and are colored in standard white.

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