We all know solar water heaters can help the environment but there may be a few things you don’t know about them. They only provide 50% to 80% of the water heating needs of your home, depending on the climate. While most solar water heaters require electricity to operate, they cost only a tenth the operating cost of a regular water heater.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Here’s an experiment: Place a bottle of cold water outside in the direct sunlight. In two or three hours, feel how hot the water is. Wouldn’t it be great to make that work for the water in your whole house? Actually, you can!

There are several solar water heaters on the market, but there are also some misconceptions, such as a solar water heater will supply all your hot water. Only the extreme southern climates can have a solar water heater meet almost 100% of a home’s needs. Depending on the climate, it typically will take care of 50% to 80% of the hot water.

It’s not free to operate either, even though the sunlight is free. The good news is that it’s only going to cost about one tenth the amount to run as compared to a conventional water heater. The price is also coming down, so they’re more affordable. There are even some do-it-yourself models on the market.

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Tub and shower faucets, like this one from Moen, that come equipped with a pressure balance valve adjust to any changes in water pressure automatically. This allows your shower or bath to maintain a constant water temperature and prevent scalding when water is being used elsewhere in your house. Watch this video to find out more.

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SharkBite has developed a line of brass, push-fit plumbing fittings that are ideal for a quick fix that can join copper, CPVC, and PEX pipe without the need for gluing, clamping, or soldering. Simply slip the pipe into the fitting, and you’re done.

A special tool is available to remove the fitting for disassembly. SharkBite tees, elbows, couplings, and adaptors for 1/2″ and 3/4” pipe are available at The Home Depot. Watch this video to find out more.

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• (712) Bath Basics

Danny has remodeled a lot of bathroom over the years, but this job is personal, since it’s in his own home. What started as a simple upgrade, expanded into a complete bathroom renovation that included replacing the tub surround and tile floor, upgrading the plumbing and faucets, and installing a new vanity and accessories.

Danny’s bathroom before remodeling.

Demolition

Work began by tearing out a built-in closet and removing the existing pedestal sink. Next, the 20-year-old cultured marble tub surround was removed, along with the tile floor. In addition, part of the engineered wood floor in the powder room had to be replaced to cover the area occupied by the closet.

Wiring

Replacing the two wall scones over the sink with a single light fixture required cutting a new hole in the drywall, rerouting the wires, and repairing the holes in the existing drywall.

Plumbing and Fixtures

The faucets for the tub and sink have an oil rubbed bronze finish and are from the Vestige collection by Moen. The tub faucet includes a pressure balance valve that automatically adjusts to changes in water pressure to maintain constant water temperature and prevent scalding.

Flexible PEX pipe was used to connect the existing polybutylene water lines to the copper pipes on the new faucets.

Tile Floor and Shower Surround

Once the plumbing had been roughed in, cement backer board was attached to the studs around the tub. A plastic pan was screwed to a cutout in the backer board to form a recess to accommodate shampoo and soap.

Seams in the backer board were covered with mesh tape and coated with thin-set. Before the tile were laid, the shower walls were coated with a waterproofing compound—such as Durex Blue Shield from Durabond Products or RedGard by Custom Building Products—to prevent moisture from penetrating through the tile or grout. The concrete floor was primed as well, and a floor leveling compound was poured on the slab to make sure it was flat and smooth.

Rather starting the first row of tile on the tub, guide boards were attached to the shower walls to provide a level support for the tile. To minimize the size of the grout lines, toothpicks were used as spacers between the tile.

The walls of the tub surround were tiled with 12”x 12” Crema Cappuccino tiles from The Home Depot. Moroccan Desert mosaic blend glass tile from the Tessera collection by Oceanside Glasstile were used for the bathroom floor and accent band around the tub surround.

After the tile adhesive had set, the paper backing on the mosaic tile was peeled off, and grout was applied to the joints with a float. Darker colored grout was used on the mosaic tile floor and accent band, with a lighter grout for the tub surround.

Bathroom Vanity

Once the drywall in the powder room had been repaired, the walls were painted. When all the work was finished, a Socotra vanity with a black Galaxy Granite top and white oval sink was set in place and the plumbing attached.

After a little clean up and decorating, Danny’s bath renovation was complete.

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My water bill has been high lately. How can I tell whether I have a plumbing leak, or if there’s a problem with the water meter? -Nick

The average household in the U.S. uses a little over 10,000 gallons of water a month, but that number can vary widely depending on:

• The number of family members living in the home.
• Whether or not you irrigate your lawn or garden.
• The amount of water used by your plumbing fixtures and faucets (toilets, faucets, dishwasher, and clothes washer).
• Your water conservation practices.

It’s possible that the increase in your water usage could come from a faulty meter, but it’s much more likely that you have a leak in the buried water pipe between the meter and your house, in a pipe under your house, or in the lawn irrigation system.

How to Check a Water Meter for Leaks

The best way to find out if you have a plumbing leak is by monitoring the water meter. Here’s how to go about it:

• Turn Off All Water: Start by making sure there isn’t any water being used inside or outside your home including lawn or garden irrigation, toilets, clothes washers, dishwashers, faucets, icemakers, and automatic backflow cleaning in whole house water filters.
• Check Flow Indicator: open the cover on the water meter at the street to see if it has a flow indicator. This is a small rotating wheel on the meter that can detect even small amounts of water flow. If the flow indicator is moving, you have a leak somewhere in your house or yard.

How to Read a Water Meter

If your water meter doesn’t have a flow indicator, or you would like to determine the amount of water that’s leaking, write down the numbers that appear on the meter followed by the number on the hand of the large rotary dial. Check the meter again after an hour and write down any changes in the numbers or dials.

Some older water meters have small dials for each digit with numbers indicating the unit of measure. For example, a dial that reads 8 with the number 100 printed next to it would be read as 800 and recorded as an 8 in the hundred place of the meter reading.

Water meter readings may be in either gallons or cubic feet, with a cubic foot equal to 7.48 gallons. To convert cubic feet into gallons, multiply the number of cubic feet by 7.48 (example: 3 cubic feet would be 3 x 7.48 = 22.44 gallons).

If you have trouble determining how to read your water meter, measure out a gallon of water in a bucket or pitcher, and note the changes on the dial.

To find out how much water the leak is using in an average month, multiply the amount of water used in an hour by 730 hour (example: 3 gallon per hour leak will use 3 x 730 = 2,190 gallons per month.

If you do have a leak:

• Yard Leak: Start by examining your yard between the meter and house during dry weather for signs of a soft or muddy spot or a patch of greener grass.
• Crawlspace Leak: Check the crawlspace under your house. Pipes in crawlspaces may be buried and the ground covered by plastic sheeting, so the leak can be hard to find.
• Slab Leak: If the leak is in or under a concrete slab, you will need to disconnect the leaking pipe, then run a new water line through the attic and down a wall.

If the meter does not indicate a leak, contact your water company and have them check the meter to be sure it is working properly.

It’s a good idea to check to flow indicator on your water meter for leaks every few months even if you don’t notice an increase in your water bill.

Good luck with your project,

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Moen Tips to Make Your Home Remodeling Project Pay

Moen Caldwell High-Arc Faucet in Classic Brushed Nickel

Thinking about updating your bathroom, but not sure what to budget – or if you’ll even recoup the costs in today’s market? The good news is that modifying a bathroom not only adds daily enjoyment and comfort, but will enhance your home’s value as well. Plus, there are a number of changes you can make yourself, which can help you save even more while adding to the appeal of your humble abode.

“Any changes you make on your house now should increase your home value later,” says Kermit Baker, project director for the Remodeling Futures program at Harvard University.

Still not convinced? According to Consumer Reports, a 5 x 7- foot bathroom remodel, at a national average cost of $15,000, provides a solid return of 78%.

Get Started

To make your bathroom transformation pay, begin by creating a list of “must-haves,” “nice ideas” and “dreams.” This will help you understand the numbers before starting your renovation and prioritize what makes the most sense for your investment.

Following are a few bathroom projects, with low- and high-end options, as well as costs to consider before getting started.

Fixtures

Lindley Single Handle Faucet

Must-Have

Fixtures, including sinks, toilets and tub/showers, are all must-haves in your bathroom and according to House & Home Magazine, basic versions can cost $350 to $900 to replace, so plan accordingly. Upgrades such as double or undermount sinks, dual-flush toilets or deep soaking tubs can range from approximately $1,300 to $2,250.

Nice Idea

If you don’t want to spend extra money replacing some of the basics, why not give your tub or shower a quick touch-up? Try hiring a surface-restoration company, such as Miracle Method, for approximately $465 to $600 to make your ceramic, porcelain and fiberglass fixtures shine like new.

Dream Big

Or, if you’ve always dreamed of a luxury spa shower and have room in your budget, try installing a custom glass shower enclosure. Retailers, such as The Home Depot, offer a variety of glass or glass block options ranging from $2,000 to $3,500 that will have you singing with delight in the shower.

Faucets

Must-Have

Faucets are not only a must-have, but can also be the focal point in the bathroom. Basic faucets range from $50 to $350 with different finish selections and configurations. Before going faucet shopping, be sure to do your homework first and review your sink set-up. Today’s faucets are available in three primary styles: four-inch centerset (the most popular), eight-inch widespread and single-hole (typically seen in a vessel sink application).

Nice Idea

When looking to replace your faucet, choose one that offers both style and water-saving benefits. Moen’s Lindley™ and Caldwell™ bathroom faucets use 32% less water than traditional faucets and are WaterSense® labeled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indicating they meets guidelines as environmentally responsible and efficient products.

Lindley offers traditional, mid- and high-arc designs that are available at The Home Depot for between $89 and $154*. Lindley is offered in today’s most popular finishes including Chrome, LifeShine® Classic Brushed Nickel and Old World Bronze.

Moen’s Caldwell faucets, available at Lowe’s, feature a classic design with soft curves and rich details, in finishes including Chrome, LifeShine Classic Brushed Nickel and new Mediterranean Bronze – a warm hue that coordinates well with other popular bathroom finishes. Caldwell faucets range in price from $58 to $172.*

And with your new hardware updates, don’t forget to add finishing touches with matching accessories such as towel bars, towel rings, robe hooks and pivoting paper holders to help pull the design of the room together. Moen Accessories offers a variety of options (www.csi.moen.com) starting at only $20.

Storage & Countertops

Lindley in Oil Rubbed Bronze

Nice Idea

Need more space? Try installing a new or antique dresser-like vanity for approximately $100 to $1,500. It adds storage and style with many options to personalize – or you can save even more by recycling an old dresser.

Dream Big

If high-end countertops are your dream, add a custom-built vanity. Prices range from $2,000 to $5,000, but allow you to customize dimensions and choose from materials including natural stone, marble, frosted glass or exotic and engineered woods. It’s also a great way to give your bathroom a brand-new look.

Flooring

Must-Have

Going for an upscale look to complete the room without the cost? Try installing ceramic or porcelain tile. For approximately $1 to $3 per square foot, you can choose from a variety of colors, shapes, sizes and finishes.

Nice Idea

Like the idea, but are worried about stepping on to a cold, uninviting floor in the morning? A nice idea is to install an electric floor warming systems for under your tile. Companies such as SunTouch Floor Warming Mats (www.suntouch.com) can help with costs between $400 and $1,600, depending on your bathroom’s size.

Dream Big

Or if you dream of high-end porcelain tile and good-quality stone and glass, options range from $7 to $18 per square foot. Want a customized glass tile mosaic for your bathroom floor instead? For between $20 and $200 per square foot, you can design your own masterpiece without any visible grout lines.

No matter your budget or dreams, by investing and renovating your bathroom today, not only will you enjoy an improved room for years to come, but also add some extra cash in your pocket.

For more information on bathroom faucet collections available from Moen, visit www.moen.com, or call (800) BUY-MOEN.

*Prices are approximate and may vary by region.

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With the rising cost of gas and electricity, finding ways to cut back on your energy consumption is more important than ever. To help you cope, we’re taking a look at four great ways to make your home more energy efficient that are also eligible for the Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credit by upgrading your heating and cooling system, water heater, windows, and attic insulation.

Home Energy Audit

Blower door test.

One of the best ways to find out how to reduce the amount of energy you use is by having an energy audit conducted on your home. Your local utility provider will often conduct the audit at no cost, or you can hire a private company.

Tests conducted include installing a blower in an exterior door to create negative air pressure inside the house. A smoke pencil and infrared photography are then used to identify areas of air movement and infiltration. Similar tests on the heating and cooling system are used to detect air leaks in the ductwork, which on average account for a 25% to 40% loss in conditioned air in your home.

Once the tests have identified problem areas in walls, around windows and doors, in the attic, and in the heating and cooling system, steps are then taken to seal up any cracks or gaps to make the house tighter and more energy efficient.

Heating & Cooling

In addition to sealing up ductwork, consider replacing an older HVAC unit with a newer, more energy efficient model that has a higher Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER).

Danny discusses water heaters with actor and environmentalist Ed Begley, Jr.

Water Heaters

Heating water accounts for approximately 13% of the total energy usage in a home. Replacing an inefficient hot water heater with a new high efficiency model can save up to $300 a year on your utility bills. Energy efficient models include:

• Solar water heaters
• Heat pump water heaters
• Tankless water heaters
• High efficiency tank water heaters like the Vertex from A. O. Smith.

Windows Replacement

Up to 50% of the heating and cooling loss in older, existing homes is due to heat loss and gain through the glass in single pane windows and air infiltration in the weather stripping around the sash. While you can replace the entire window unit, JELD-WEN Windows and Doors also offers sash packs that retain the existing window frame while replacing just the sash and balance tracks on each side. The new sash have double pane glass with a low-E coating—to make them very energy efficient—set in a low maintenance, vinyl covered frame.

Insulation

Adding more insulation to your attic is one of the best and most economical ways to increase the energy efficiency of your home and reduce utility bills. A common, inexpensive solution is to install batts or blow in fiberglass or cellulose insulation on top of the existing insulation in your attic. Another option that is gaining in popularity, is to spray expanding foam insulation between the rafters and wall studs.

Spaying foam between the rafters prevents heat from entering your attic and allows your HVAC system to perform more efficiently. While more expensive than traditional insulation, foam has a higher insulation R-value and seal out air infiltration better than fiberglass or cellulose.

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Extreme cold weather can be hard on both you and your home. Here are some tips to put into practice when freezing weather, snow, and ice hit your area.

How to Deal with Frozen Pipes

• Disconnect and drain garden hoses.
• Cover outside faucets with insulating foam covers.
• Turn off water to outside faucets, if available, and open valves on faucets to allow them to drain.
• Turn off sprinkler system and blow compressed air through the lines to drain them.



• Close or cover foundation vents under house and windows to basements.
• Close garage doors.
• Insulate exposed pipes (both hot and cold) under house with foam pipe insulation.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks.
• Drip hot and cold faucets in kitchen and bath. Drip single control faucets with lever set in middle.
• Set icemaker to make ice if the water line to it runs under the house.
• Don’t forget to check on pipes to your washing machine in the laundry room
• Locate water main cut-off valve, and have a cut-off key handy.
• Use a hair dryer, heat lamp, electric heat tape, or a portable space heater to thaw frozen pipes that have not burst.
• Keep the faucet open when thawing frozen pipes to allow water to begin flowing through it.
• After the weather has warmed above freezing and any frozen pipes have thawed, turn off dripping faucets and monitor your water meter to check for unseen leaks.

How to Keep Warm in Your Home

• Have your furnace inspected before cold weather arrives. Inspect the heat exchanger for cracks, install a clean air filter, and check the thermostat to see if it’s working properly.



• Inspect fireplaces, and chimneys before using, and have them cleaned if needed.
• Keep drapes and blinds closed, except when windows are in direct sunlight.
• Put up storm windows, or install sheet plastic window insulation kits on the inside of windows.
• Cover or remove any window air conditioners.
• Insulate electrical outlets and switches on exterior walls with foam seals available at home centers.
• Caulk any cracks or holes on the outside of your house.
• Repair or replace weather stripping and thresholds around doors and windows.
• Run paddle ceiling fans on low in reverse (clockwise when looking up) to circulate warm air.
• Put draft snakes on window sills, between window frames, and against doors.
• If you heat with propane or fuel oil, make sure the tank is full.
• If you heat with wood or coal, have plenty of fuel on hand.

How to Protect the Outside of Your Home

• Clean your gutters and downspouts before cold weather arrives to prevent ice from forming in them.
• Spray an ice repellent solution on steps and walks before freezing weather arrives
• Check antifreeze levels in cars. Add if needed, then run the engine to circulate the new antifreeze through the radiator and engine block.
• Add freeze resistant windshield wiper fluid, and spay to circulate it in lines.
• Check air pressure in tires, since cold weather causes the pressure to lower.
• Bring in container plants, add mulch around plants, and cover plants that are prone to frost damage. Remove covering when temperatures warm above freezing.
• Drain birdbaths and fountains
• Gently sweep snow off plants and shrubs in an upward motion with a broom.
• Use rock salt, sand, or clay based kitty litter on walks and drives (NOTE: Salt can damage grass and other plants).
• Don’t overdo it when using a snow shovel.
• Stay off your roof during freezing weather, but once the ice and snow have melted, inspect your roof for any damage.

How to Stay Safe in an Ice or Snow Storm

• Stockpile nonperishable food and water.
• Refill prescription medications in advance of storm.
• Fill car with gas.
• Charge cell phones.
• Have flashlights, batteries, a weather radio, and a manual can opener on hand.
• A portable generator can come in handy when the lights go out, but take precautions to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning when using.
• Make sure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and the batteries powering them are fresh.
• Have a working fire extinguisher on hand for emergencies.
• A chain saw can come in handy for removing broken limbs after an ice storm.

Watch Danny’s CBS Early Show segment on:
How to Protect Your Home from the Cold

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When choosing a faucet for your kitchen sink, it’s important to take into consideration:

• Style
• Finish
• Controls
• Sprayer
• Accessories

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Toilets account for a quarter of the water used in the average home. Older toilets use up to five gallons of water per flush, three times that of newer models. Dual flush toilets save even more water by giving you two flushing options, one for liquid and one for solid waste.

While you can replace your existing toilet with a water saving model, another option is to modify your existing toilet with the HydroRight dual flush converter. The kit costs less than $30 and reduces the water used by a toilet by 70%. Installation is easy and takes less than 10 minutes.

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