Check:  www.energystar.gov — check site for qualifying replacement models and more details.

Odds are, somewhere in your house is a black hole that’s sucking down a constant stream of wasted energy, and wasted money.

If you’re like most homeowners, the main culprit is the hulking tank that’s constantly keeping water hot for whenever you might decide to jump in the shower.

“Water heaters are one of the most energy-consuming appliances in the home,” says Rich Wenzel of the Sustainability Network. They can account for 14 percent to 25 percent of the energy consumed in your home.

“They’re keeping 30 to 100 gallons of water at, say, 120 degrees 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — and therefore offer an area of significant savings,” he says.

The savings potential for most homeowners is now greater than ever, thanks to the Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency.

In the case of water heaters, homeowners can get up to $1,500 back at tax time by installing a qualifying model (listed at energystar.gov). The tax credit covers 30 percent of the total cost — including installation.

Plumber Andrew Twidwell of ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heat & Air says most of the water heaters he sees in Grass Valley would be ideal candidates for replacement.

“Upgrading makes sense for anyone who has a water heater that is rated at less than 80 percent efficient. Most conventional water heaters you find in Nevada County have energy ratings of 52 percent,” he says. You can find your heater’s efficiency rating on the large yellow Energy Star sticker on the tank.

“On-demand, tankless gas water heaters are rated at above 80 percent and do not use energy when there is no demand for hot water, he says. Also, “tankless water heaters can easily exceed 20 years of use and maintain very high efficiency. Conventional water heaters average between 10 and 15 years in Auburn.”

Andrew says “the impact of this modest upgrade on a wide scale would be significant.”

“If most homeowners installed one of these hot water systems, the country as a whole would likely reap an overall energy savings of around 10 percent,” Andrew says. “With homeowners saving around 25 percent of their overall energy bills.”

Other tax credit options

Replacing your water heaters may be the most affordable, widely available way to take advantage of the tax credit — but it’s just one of several options. Tax credit incentives are also available for insulation, air conditioner replacement, furnaces and a number of other improvements.

A number variables determine whether it makes financial sense for a homeowner to invest in one of these options, says Ryan Jones of Home Inspections, a Grass Valley-based energy auditor.

First, he says, it depends on whether a homeowner is interested in helping save the environment or just saving money. If the latter, then most energy-efficiency upgrades will take at least a few years to pay for themselves in lower utility bills.

Insulation tends to pay for itself the most quickly — in four to seven years, Jones says. Woodstoves take longer at up to eight years if they’re used consistently — less if the wood is free.

In the case of roofs, windows and doors, Jones says it likely only makes sense to replace those once they’re worn out.

“If the windows and doors are moderately bad or not that bad, they will not be cost-effective to replace,” Jones says. And even if they’re very bad, they might not make sense to replace. “If the windows and doors are that old, the house probably has other areas that need improvement that would be more cost-effective.”

Nevertheless, Jones says the tax credit seems to be generating more replacement of windows and doors than any of the other energy-efficiency upgrades.

“HVAC has picked up some, but windows and doors picked up the most, because of window and door company advertising,” he says. “I think those are the only areas the tax credits have had much affect.”

No tax credit, but savings

It won’t make sense for many homeowners to take advantage of tax credits, Jones says. The upfront costs may be too high, or they may not plan on moving in a year or two. Regardless, he says there are several simple, cheap steps all homeowers can take to reduce their energy consumption — and their bills — now.

• Air-sealing the house by caulking exterior window frames and using foam weather stripping around leaking door jambs.

• Sealing air ducts — with a high-quality, aluminum-backed duct tape (not just ordinary duct tape), or with duct mastic, which does a better, longer lasting job.

• Hanging heavier drapes that extend to the floor over drafy windows.

• Using an insulating blanket on your tank water heater, and insulating foam around hot water lines.

When you think of the most important feature or use in your Auburn, CA. home that you can’t live without, what things come to mind? Well, having a constant supply of electricity is nice, whether for washing your clothes, watching the tube, or to keep from tripping over your child’s toy in the dark. Water is up there as well, whether it’s coming from the kitchen sink, lavatory, or bathroom shower. But water alone isn’t good enough; it’s got to be hot.

Hot water is the name of the game in Grass Valley and having a constant supply of hot water is essential. Tankless water heaters are growing in popularity throughout the world because of their energy and space-efficient nature. In Great Britain, tankless models now account for more than half of all domestic water heaters!

To learn why tankless water heaters are the way to go for achieving a continuous flow of hot water in your Penn Valley home, read on for the top 6 reasons to consider the tankless models.

Reason #1 – Continuous flow of hot water

Say goodbye to running out of hot water with the tankless water heater! Because the tankless model is designed to heat water as it flows through the heater there is a never-ending flow of water available. The tankless model is specifically designed to deliver as much as 14.3 gallons of hot water per minute continuously. That’s a lot of showers.

Reason #2 – Energy conservation (and money conservation, too!)

The environment and conservation are becoming increasingly important to today’s consumers in Nevada and Placer County, which is a plus for tankless water heaters. Any water heater expert will tell you that tankless water heaters are energy-efficient. But how does that energy efficiency translate into saving dollars for you? Tankless water heaters can save you more than 50% off a traditional tank water heater’s energy costs! Tank type water heaters heat the water before it’s needed, you could have 100 gallons of hot water just waiting to be used. Tankless water heaters only heat water when you are using it and do not waste energy. The traditional tank heater contains burners that switch on and off to keep the water hot 24/7/365. Plus they have a pilot light that never turns off wasting huge amounts of fuel.

Reason #3- $1,500.00 in Tax Credits

In addition to the satisfaction of knowing that you are conserving energy, take comfort from the fact that while you owe it to the environment, the federal government owes it to you in the way of tax credit. Homeowners can now get tax credits from the federal government for purchasing energy-efficient appliances. (For more information, please see Energy Star’s web site ) This means that you can get up to $1,500.00 (or up to 30%) in tax credits just for purchasing and installing a tankless water heater!

Reason #4 – Less space for tankless model, more space for your home

Space can be a problem for many homeowners in Auburn, Ca. With the tankless water heater, you won’t need to worry about finding space to fit the heater in. Because of its uniquely small size, a tankless model can be installed in tight places where the traditional water heater would not otherwise fit. A traditional tank heater must be stored in a space that will support 400-600 pounds and take up to 128 cubic feet. A tankless water heater provides you with that extra space that you can utilize for something else to fit your life better, like say a linen closet.

Reason #5 – Lasting effect

Replacing appliances can be costly, not to mention a huge time consumption in picking out new models and having to reinstall a new system. With the tankless water heater, you can avoid the frequency of replacing it because it lasts at least on average twenty years! The average amount of time that a traditional tank heater lasts is anywhere from only 8 to 10 years. Of course, if you ever face a problem with your tankless water heater, you can get it repaired easily by ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heating & Air Conditioning, unlike a traditional water heater that usually requires a replacement if a malfunction occurs.

Reason #6 – It costs less!

Owning a tankless water heater can impact your home in more ways than just energy efficiency and durability. The costs of purchasing and installing a tankless water heater in your home in Penn Valley may cost you more in installation cost over a Tank type water heater. But with the tax credits you receive today, it may actually cost less; it will depend on the size of your home and the model that is best for you. With the purchase of a tankless water heater, you can expect it to pay for itself in a very short time!

Yes, tankless IS the way to go

Hot water is a necessity in today’s world, so if you can have that continuous flow of hot water while saving money ($1,500.00 Tax Credit), conserving energy, utilizing space better, and owning a long-lasting appliance with the tankless water heater, then why not do it today?

If you are looking for a plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning contractor in the Grass Valley, Auburn Ca, Penn Valley, Colfax, Loomis, Rocklin, Nevada or Placer area, please call us today at 530-272-9120

We Know Tankless
With over 120 tankless water heaters installed in Nevada and Placer Counties and over 20 years of tankless experience, when you call ABT Plumbing for instant, on-demand hot water, you are calling Nevada and Placer County’s tankless water heater experts. Not only do you receive the benefit of our expertise, you can also be sure of a level of service that is second-to-none.

Are You on the Fence About Going Tankless?

1. You may be eligible for a tax credit of up to $1,500 for your new tankless system. Call us for details.
2. PLUS up to $300 UTILITY REBATES! Check with your utility company for eligibility.
3. The best warranties in the industry.
4. Great, on-time service and FREE estimates.

Some of the Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters:

Endless hot water
Energy savings
Space saving
Tax credits
Tankless water heaters last on average twice as long as tank type water heaters

What They Can Do For You:

Tankless water heaters give you endless hot water, heating the water only as it is needed. There can be energy savings from not having to heat water that doesn’t end up being used (because its not sitting in a tank waiting for you to use it), and for homes with limited space, the extra room provided by going “tankless” can be a real bonus. If you’re interested in a new tankless water heating system for your home or business, contact ABT Plumbing today for your FREE on site quote 530-272-9120.

Ask Someone Who Knows About Tankless Water Heaters:
It is absolutely essential that your new tankless water heating system is correctly sized and installed for the needs of your home, family and lifestyle. So it’s important that you speak with a plumber with the experience of installing over 100 tankless water heater systems in the Nevada and Placer County area. We can help you choose the right system that will give you endless hot water both conveniently and efficiently.

We’ll also service your existing tankless water heater!

Noritz, Rinnai, Takagi, Aquastar, Myson, Rheem Ruud, Poloma, Bradford White.