Plumbers. These are the guys most of us only call when we have a problem. Toilets backed up, kitchen waterline went, or even worse pipes freezing. Admit it or not, that can shade our view of them. They are only called when things go drastically wrong, so we forget that a good plumper can not only help us bail out a basement flooded with water, he can also save us a few bucks.
An old toilet works just fine, but if you are in an area where a water bill is of concern, they are adding to that bill with each and every flush. A reputable plumping service company is more then capable of sending a service representative to give you an estimate as well as giving you the figures on how much a new, high efficiency toilet would save you in the long run. We are more and more aware of how or actions effect our environment, and there is a lot of hype to it. A gimmick here and a gimmick there, but the only practical solution is find solutions that not only save the planet, but also our wallets.
Believe it or not, older furnaces and water heaters are far less efficient than modern models. Replacing your ten, twenty or even thirty year old water heater might seem like a bit of a hassle. However, let's face it, it is a forgone conclusion that the price of propane and heating oil will go up. It is simply a measure of supply and demand.
A tankless water heater has other benefits as well. For one, they work by heating water as it is needed. Nothing is worse then taking a nice hot shower and having the water go frigid half way through it. Having that hot water whenever you need it is certainly helpful. Getting the tax credit that more and more states are including as a tax write off or credits for home owners making similar home improvements, is another plus.
Preventative maintenance is another area that gets disregarded in our search to be more eco-friendly. Taking steps to prevent cold temperatures from bursting pipes by properly insulating them, or periodically arranging for sewer cleaning to keep your sewer lines clear and preventing any back flow issues is a good idea. Simple steps like these end up saving you frustration, stress and more money than you would think at first.
Burst pipes or worse, or a sewage back flow have the potential to do serious damage to possessions or your property. Worse, repairing them can involve expensive and time consuming excavations. A little bit of money invested now ends up saving you a great deal in the long run. Saving the planet shouldn't be about the newest hype. It should be about all of us making long term decisions that not only save our world, but also our pocket books.