Tankless water heaters provide a continual supply of H²O
The newer tankless water heaters can give you unlimited hot water for as long as you need it. In most cases, they can save you money on your energy bills as well, and there's always the bonus of the extra space that your old water heater used to take up.
Of course, you do have to buy the right model and install it correctly. If you would rather have a pro do it, use this knowledge to know what to look for. Here are the basics of how it should be installed. Check your local codes to make sure you do it properly.
Shut off the water and electricity or gas to the existing water heater. Drain the water from the tank via a garden hose and the faucet on the front of the tank. Then you can wrestle it out.
You then will need to add conduit and electrical wiring or a gas line to the location of the new, tankless water heater. You probably will need to extend the water-supply line as well.
Tankless water heaters are heavy, so mount it to a sturdy stud wall. If your new water heater is gas-powered, it also will need to be vented. The venting system is a little different from the one you used for your standard water heater, so make sure you follow the directions and install it properly.
After all of your connections have been made, you can give it a try. There is very little regular maintenance required. You probably will want to clean out the supply-line filter occasionally, but that's about it.
This sounds a lot easier than it might be for you. Each installation will be a little different, and you need to have additional electrical or gas lines run, which can run up the cost and installation time. In most cases, it will solve a lot of your water-shortage issues and save you big bucks on your utility bills each month.
Pipe brackets do the trick
Tool storage in the garage or shed is much easier if you have exposed wall studs. Those shallow areas between the studs are the perfect place to store long-handled tools, like shovels and rakes. It's also a great place to store pipe, trim and other similar materials. The easiest way to hold these items in place is to add a couple of pipe straps, metal brackets used to run pipe along walls or ceilings, on a couple of the studs and secure a scrap of pipe through the straps.
A funnel in a pinch
There are times when you really ought to use a funnel. Hopefully you can have one ready before you need one. If not, you can make one in a hurry from a sheet of paper or an empty envelope. For shop liquids, a piece of cardboard or vinyl works best. Just fold it into a square, and then, with the open ends facing upward, open up one side of the square. Now cut the tip end off so that the liquid will filter through the inside of the square as you pour it. When you are finished, you can throw the "funnel" away.
Super hintsbull; If your knees are creaking and your ankles get sore and your back just can't take standing up to work in the shop any longer, you need to try an anti-fatigue mat. They are available at your home center and will really make your life easier.bull; If you have a plain glass door or window and want to give it an "etched" look without permanently changing the glass, use stencils and white or gray paint. Dab the paint over the stencil on the glass surface, and you will be surprised how much it will look like an expensive, etched-glass surface. If you don't like it or want to change it, just clean it and start over again.bull; Batt insulation is easy to install, and it does a great job. To cut it, just set a two-by-four over your cutting line and press it down. Run a utility knife along the edge of the two-by-four to cut through the layers.Q. My air conditioner is still working, but I'm glad I don't have to use it anymore this season. It was starting to squeal a lot. Do I need to replace it, or is there something I can do to fix it?A. That depends on what is making the squealing sound. If it's just the fan motor, which is common, then you might be able to oil the motor. If that doesn't work, or if the problem isn't the fan, then you probably need to have it serviced by a professional. If you do this in the off season, you will be ready to go next summer.Q. Our basement has become an overflow area for junk in our home, and I want to turn it into a nicer family room. I want to install carpet but want to try to clean the musty smell from the concrete floor first. What will do the job best?A. Use a cleaner from the pet store that is made to deodorize and clean concrete. It's the same thing that kennels use, so if your pet store doesn't have it, check with a kennel-supply store. Use a concrete sealer next. Then you can pad and carpet.Q. Our shower door is frosted, so I didn't notice the soap-scum buildup. My mother-in-law did and embarrassed me. How can I get rid of the problem?A. We assume you mean how can you get rid of the soap-scum problem, not your mother-in-law. Hot vinegar and a scouring pad will remove the scum, as well as mineral deposits. Q. I have noticed that the railing on my deck is drying out and starting to splinter. Is there a good way to smooth and protect it from further deterioration?A. Sand it smooth first. Then you can apply a penetrating stain or paint whatever you had on there originally. You also might add a clear coat of polyurethane. Choose one that has UV protection and can be used outdoors.Reader tipsbull; I've seen some pretty interesting tools to paint with, but I ran across a new one the other day a paint mitt. It's a large mitten that you wear, load with paint and use to spread the paint on the surface. It's great for painting surfaces like railings, spindles and other odd-shaped areas. You may have run across it before, but I had not. I was amazed by its versatility, and I can't wait to give it a try.bull; My trash can has made it through windstorms, dogs and angry trash men. But it isn't pretty, and I have had to get creative in protecting it, too. To prevent the lid from getting lost or run over, I have tied a nylon cord from the can to the lid. So far, it's stayed around, and is still in one piece. I know a new trash can wouldn't be very costly, but it's the principle of the thing, at this point. I may not win the war to keep the can, but I plan on winning most of the battles.bull; I've been hesitant to throw away the garden hoses and reel that I have been using for years, even though we now have a sprinkler system in the yard. But I have, at last, put the hoses away, since I rarely need them. I have converted the hose reel to a cord reel, and use it to store and carry my extra-long extension cord that I use for my mower, edger and weed whacker. It's so much easier to bring outside to use, and even easier to wind back up when I'm finished using it.bull; I have trouble getting oil into my ceiling fans when I need to lubricate them. I have to do this a couple of times a year, and I have made some really bad messes while trying to do it. My son suggested that I use a flexible straw on the oil bottle to get it into the right spot. It worked great. I can bend the straw into the right position and give the oil a squirt. It goes just where it's supposed to go. No more drips.bull; Here's my crazy idea for stirring paint: I use a wire whisk. I actually had an extra one in my kitchen, so I tried it on a thick paint I had to stir. It worked really well, and I felt like it did a better job than the old paint stir stick. You should try it, if you haven't!Shop talkbull; If you need a small pocket driver, check out the Stanley 4-in-1 Bi-Material Pocket Driver. You get the convenience of a good set of precision drivers all in one tool. The nonslip, textured surface of the blades makes tightening and loosening screws a little easier, and the magnetic bits help you in tight spots. It even has a soft, comfort-grip handle. It's great for the toolbox, car, boat and, especially, kitchen drawer. Stanley tools always are a good bet, and the Pocket Driver carries a limited lifetime warranty against deficiencies in material and workmanship. You can find this tool and other Stanley tools at most hardware stores and home centers, and online at www.stanleytools.com.bull; Loctite Threadlocker Blue is a great addition to the workshop. It's designed to seal and lock a variety of threaded fasteners. It protects the threads from rusting and corroding so they can be removed when needed. But it also prevents loosening from shock or vibration, so they won't come undone until you are ready. Use on metal fasteners from #188; inch to #190; inch in diameter. Great for all sorts of tools, bikes, automobiles, boats and tons of other things around the house. You can find Threadlocker at hardware and auto-supply stores, as well as many home centers. For more information, visit www.loctiteproducts.com.bull; If you have spent a lot of time and money to get a piece of furniture to the stage where it's ready for a good finish, don't forget to clean it thoroughly with a tack rag. This special rag will remove any dust left over from sanding or just from sitting in your shop or garage while you work. You can buy tack rags if you like, but you also can make them fairly easily yourself. A good tack rag will last you through several woodworking projects and will make your efforts worthwhile. You even can renew them over and over again. bull; Write to Al and Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006, or visit the Carrells' website at thesuperhandyman.com.#169; 2010, Cowles Syndicate Inc.