If you’ve decided to step up your water conservation tactics this year, and you’re wondering the best way to go green, start by taking a look at your water heater. How does a tankless water heater compare to a tank water heater?

Let’s start with how both systems work.

Tank Water Heater

A tank water heater comes either as gas or electric – otherwise they are very similar in nature. They both have a heavy inner steel tank that holds around 40 to 60 gallons of hot water in reserve for use. The tank is insulated to help keep the inner water warm, and a thermostat to control the overall temperature of the water, usually between 120 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tankless Water Heater

Tankless water heaters avoid standby heat loss by heating water as its needed, as opposed to keeping a holding tank filled with hot water. Tankless systems come in two varieties – point of use or whole house heaters. Point of use are smaller units that are stationed where you use hot water (i.e. bathroom, kitchen), are small in size, and fit close to the source. Whole house are larger units, designed specifically to handle the needs of an entire home.
The cost difference is broken down in two ways. First, the cost of the unit itself. And second, the amount of savings by using a system on an everyday basis.

Typically, a tankless water heater will cost two, three, even four times as much as the traditional tank water heater, depending on size and model. And if you use the point of use units, you may end up with two or three units within your home in order to keep up with demand – requiring you to spend even more on the cost of the units themselves. How long will you be living in your home? With typical real estate patterns, most people sell their homes once every 5 to 7 years. It will be hard to recoup any costs on the more expensive tankless system.

A tankless system will save on the overall energy efficiency of having to heat and reserve water. Savings can be anywhere from a few dollars to a few hundred, depending on the size of your home and how much you use.
Overall, we recommend clients think twice about the tankless system, and instead focus on the highest efficiency rated tank model. Add in a hot water recirculation system that gives you access to instant hot water, and you will quickly be saving money over today’s rates, and be greener in the way you use and conserve water.

Please contact Quality 1st Plumbing for more information on water heaters or for more information on this article.

For more helpful information on these and other home improvement projects, check in often with the TDL Blog. And don’t forget to visit TeamDaveLogan.com to find a trusted home improvement professional in Denver and Boulder that will help you with your next project!

Cabinets bring both practical and aesthetic joys to your kitchen. If you’re ready for new cabinets in your kitchen (and find yourself somewhat handy), you can take a crack at installing them yourself. Otherwise, call a pro and get the job done right. Either way, we’re going to discuss a few basic tips on base cabinet installation.

First and foremost, you need to think about the end product: sturdy and square installation. If you live in a new home, you probably have flat, square floor and wall surfaces for your cabinets to rest. In older homes, floor and wall imperfections are more common, so you may have a trickier job ahead of you. A professional contractor will be able to get around these imperfections and get you the end result you want. Afterall, they have the tools and experience for the job.

Base cabinet installation is a pretty straightforward process for the most part. Again, floor and wall imperfections can cause challenges, but they can be overcome with the right steps. First, locate the highest area on your floor and mark it with a pencil on the wall. The back of the base cabinet must be plum with the front. Use a level and shims to accomplish this. If the high point on the floor is close to the wall, shim the front. If the high point on the floor is away from the wall, shim the back. It’s critical to get this right, or your base cabinets will not be level and consequently your counter-top surface will be off as well.

Many professionals will fasten the base cabinets together before attaching them to the wall. Typically, this is simpler and just makes more sense. You can use bar clamps to secure the cabinets prior to installing the cabinet fasteners if you like. Your contractor may have more sophisticated tools, but a standard bar clamp will get the job done if you’re doing the project yourself.

Once you have the base cabinets fastened to one another, you are now ready to secure them to the wall. Make absolutely sure that the cabinets are flawlessly aligned vertically and level across the top for the mounting surface. Again, you can use shims to address any imperfections in the vertical and horizontal alignment. The cabinet fasteners must always be driven through the cabinets and directly into the studs in your wall.

Now you’re ready for hardware! Some cabinetry comes with existing hinges and even pre-drilled holes for installation. Whatever the case with your base cabinets, just make sure you install all drawers and doors so they line up perfectly across the face of the cabinet space.

For more helpful information on these and other home improvement projects, check in often with the TDL Blog. And don’t forget to visit TeamDaveLogan.com to find a trusted home improvement professional in Denver and Boulder that will help you with your next project!

Considering a Major Remodel? You May Need a Service Upgrade.

If you are contemplating a major remodel such as the addition of a room or garage, a new kitchen, a basement finish, or even adding a hot tub, you should consider upgrading your electrical service.

50-60 years ago, the average new home was equipped with a 60 amp electrical service. 40 years ago, it had increased to approximately 100 amps. The current home is built with a 150-200-amp service. Therefore, any home improvements you may decide to do on an older home will need an upgrade.

In addition, 2008 electrical code changes require that all new circuitry in homes have arc-fault/GFCI protection throughout the house. More than likely, this would require an upgrade to your electrical service.

In addition, many old-style distribution panels can be considered fire hazards, especially those with screw-in fuses. The contact points can degrade and often, oversized fuses are mistakenly installed, causing the potential for high currents on smaller grade wire. This can cause the conductor to overheat and the insulation to break down, which can be a fire hazard. In many areas, insurance companies will not renew homeowner insurance if the home is equipped with an electrical distribution panel that has screw-in fuses.

There are also some types of electrical panels that have been reported to fail calibration test requirements. There are several expert opinions about panels made by Federal Pacific and Zinsco. According to Douglas Hansen, Code Consultant, Expert Witness, Instructor, and Author (CodeCheck Series, “FPE Panels – Hazard or Hype?”):

Federal Pacific panels have at least five design issues that are no longer allowed by code: the gutter space, the wire bending space, spring-mounted bus, breakers that are on when down, and the split bus service equipment. These issues mean that a panel that has been sitting on the hardware store shelf for 20 years would not meet today’s code, despite the UL listing of the panel at the time it was manufactured.

We recommend that our customers who have these panels investigate the data that is available regarding the safety of these panels.

As you plan for remodeling projects in your home, if your current electrical service is less than 150 amps or if it has a distribution panel that uses screw-in fuses, its replacement should be at the top of your priority list.

Please contact Specialized Electric Company for more information on electrical service upgrades or for more information on this article.

For more helpful information on these and other home improvement projects, check in often with the TDL Blog. And don’t forget to visit TeamDaveLogan.com to find a trusted home improvement professional in Denver and Boulder that will help you with your next project!

Staining the unsightly brick on your home’s exterior gives it a new and impressive facelift with minimal cost and a little sweat equity. Staining brick is also something you can do on interior surfaces as well like an exposed brick wall or a fireplace. Staing your damaged brick is a great way to mask bad repair work or just give your brickwork a new, fresh look. By staining your brick, you will be able to maintain the existing brick’s texture and not worry about peeling. Staining lasts longer and maintains the brick’s integrity much better than paint.

The following are a few tips to help you tackle the project yourself.

Choose the appropriate brick stain (and color) and polyurethane mixture. The nice thing here is that the protective polyurethane is already mixed with the stain so you don’t have to apply it separately, causing additional work.

Protect your skin and lungs. Wear gloves when applying the stain and wear a dust mask so you don’t directly inhale the stain’s toxic fumes.

Use a disposable, shallow plastic container for the stain mix. You can pick up something like this for cheap. Just make sure the container is big enough and easy to pour the stain into, and that it’s something you can throw out when you’re done.

Experiment with different types of stain and polyurethane on some sample bricks. You obviously want to make sure the stain achieves your desired look before letting it loose on your home’s exterior or interior.

Use an artist’s paintbrush for the actual application. Or, if you are covering a very large exterior surface, you can use a roller or sprayer. For textured looks, try experimenting with a rag or towel, which will give the brick a faded, aged look.

Read the instructions. A good idea for all projects! Some stains will have variations of the basics (depending on whether you are using latex or oil based stains, for example), so take a few moments to read the instructions and you will be fine.

For more helpful information on these and other home improvement projects, check in often with the TDL Blog. And don’t forget to visit TeamDaveLogan.com to find a trusted home improvement professional in Denver and Boulder that will help you with your next project!

There are many benefits in relying on good ol’ Mother Nature for your home’s heating and cooling systems. From our view, the biggest benefit of geothermal heat pump systems (GHPs) is that they use up to 50% less electricity than the conventional systems. According to the Department of Energy, a GHP system costs about $2,500 per ton of capacity, or about $7,500 for a 3-ton unit, which is the typical size requirement for a residence.

While conventional systems cost less up front (with air conditioning), the benefits of going geothermal will put money back into your pocket almost right away. For example, if you roll the cost of the GHP into your mortgage, you may increase your payment by only $30-$50 per month. The energy cost savings will easily surpass that amount over the course of a single year. Also keep in mind that good financing deals can often be achieved for purchasing a GHP.

There are many other benefits of migrating to a GHP system, whether you’re installing one in a new home or retrofitting a system in your existing home. GHP systems use far fewer mechanical components, which make them more reliable out of the gate. Add to that the fact that they are sheltered from all weather, and you have a system that will last for decades. You can get up to 50 year warranties for the underground piping sytems, and the pumps themselves are designed to last at least 20 years, in most cases longer.

Like a conventional furnace and air-conditioning system, a geothermal system uses ductwork. This is certainly a cost benefit in retrofitting a system if that’s your situation. The GHP pump itself operates in complete silence, so it’s nice to not have the sudden air blasts you get from conventional systems.

I think you’ll find a GHP system to be a low-maintenance, cost-effective solution for your new or current home. Do a little of your own research to make sure the installing your own GHP system is right for you at this time.

For more helpful information on these and other home improvement projects, check in often with the TDL Blog. And don’t forget to visit TeamDaveLogan.com to find a trusted home improvement professional in Denver and Boulder that will help you with your next project!

Lower electricity bills and tons less in global warming pollution are two very attractive benefits of making the permanent switch to energy-efficient lightbulbs. In these hot summer months they lower your cooling bills, too, because they don’t burn nearly as hot as traditional bulbs. If every household replaced three incandescent bulbs with CF bulbs, the pollution savings would be equivalent to removing millions of cars from our country’s highways. Such a simple change to make for such dramatic, positive results.

Here are a few simple ways you can make the switch to energy-efficient lightbulbs:

1. Start with just a single bulb. Given the abundancy in choices out there, make sure you’re using a bulb that produces the kind of light you want. We recommend looking for Energy Star bulbs labeled “warm white” and see what you think.

2. Make sure the size and shape are right. CF bulbs can be bigger than standard bulbs, so make sure your lamp or fixture can accommodate the specific CF bulb you’re considering. You shouldn’t have any problems finding one that fits; you won’t have to replace your favorite lamp or anything!

3. Understand the wattage. A CF bulb will have about 25% of the total watts as compared to a traditional incandescent bulb. A 20-watt CF full-spectrum bulb equals the light output of a 75-watt incandescent light. You might even qualify for a utility rebate by using less energy!

4. Recycle your old CF bulbs. CF bulbs contain small amounts of mercury (far less than thermometers, for example), so be sure to recycle them when they burn out years down the road. Check with your garbage service to find out if they offer recycling for CF bulbs. There are now over 2000 Home Depot locations that will take them as well. You can also check with Earth911 to find your nearest recycling location.

For more helpful information on these and other home improvement projects, check in often with the TDL Blog. And don’t forget to visit TeamDaveLogan.com to find a trusted home improvement professional to help you with your next project!

Lead poisoning is serious business. From deficient physical development, to kidney problems and muscle irritations, to brain damage. None of it sounds too appealing. Lead-based paint is a major source of lead poisoning in children and can also affect adults. In Colorado, contractors can now face extremely steep penalties and fines if they don’t actively test for lead on painted surfaces.

The challenge with lead is that you cannot see it, smell it, or taste it. You might have it in your home and not even know it. Lead also doesn’t break down naturally over time, so it will remain a health threat until you have it removed.

About 75% of all homes built before 1978 contain at least some lead-based paint. Lead paint is most common on exterior surfaces, windows, and doors. After 1978, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned all use of lead-based paint in housing.

It’s simple: if you live in an older home, you are at a higher risk of lead-based paint exposure. So how do you check for it? If your home was built before 1978, the first thing to do is purchase a test kit from your hardware or paint supply store. It’s important to remember that these kits are designed to detect only the presence of lead. The kits will not tell you if the lead levels are low or high. If necessary, ask for help in choosing a kit, and follow the instructions on the kit to test a surface.

The bottom line is that in order to completely – and safely – remove lead-based paint from your home, you will need to hire a Colorado professional painting contractor. Not only will a professional have the knowledge and skills for the task, but also a pro will likely be able to inform you of Colorado lead paint regulations. Check out our list of qualified painting and home improvement pros in Denver, Boulder, and the front range. And finally, consult the Colorado Department of Health and Environment – Air Pollution Control Divisionfor lead-based paint questions and more information.

For more helpful information on these and other home improvement projects, check in often with the TDL Blog. And don’t forget to visit TeamDaveLogan.com to find a trusted home improvement professional in Denver and Boulder that will help you with your next project!

Summertime and warm weather make me think of one thing: an outdoor party! If you’re like me, nothing beats sharing the beautiful weather with friends, family, great food, and drinks. The flowers are blooming, the nights are warm, and the smell of freshly cut grass radiates throughout the neighborhood. Here are five outdoor party tips to help you prepare for your first party this summer.

1. Get set up. Mow the yard, sweep off dust/dirt/debris from the deck or patio, trim your plants and shrubs, and re-position your flowers so they are close to the party area. Set up your tables, bring out all the flatware, glasses, china, etc. the day before your outdoor party. You can get inexpensive cloths to cover your tables. Try going with white so you can rely on your flowers to bring all the color to your event. If your party is going to carry on into the night, create a border of candles (citronella or other) or string lighting.

2. Take advantage of the space. Try to be creative with the space in your back yard. If you have a deck or patio, this is easier because people naturally feel comfortable on outside spaces like decks and patios. Spread your patio furniture out so it encourages not only relaxing, but also mingling. Try keeping the bar and food close together, too. It keeps people moving around the area and the energy positive.

3. What’s for dinner? Depending on the “vibe” you are going for, there are many food options that will be great for your party. People look forward to eating, but it’s the socializing and relaxing that is top priority, so don’t agonize too much over the menu. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and a few sides are always fun. Whatever you decide, stick to easy preparation items and don’t forget about dessert!

4. Consider renting additional furniture if you must. If your patio furniture cannot accommodate your guest list, don’t let that hold you back. You can rent some extra furniture from a party supply store for a reasonable price. Or if you’re comfortable with it, simply ask a friend or guest to loan you some furniture for the party. Just make sure you get it at least a day in advance so everything is set when friends arrive. Again, it’s the company and spirit that are most important so just do what it takes to make it happen. And don’t forget about the music! Some nice background music encourages conversation and keeps your guests enjoying themselves for many hours.

5. Participate in your own party! Once the guests arrive, it’s time to relax and enjoy yourself with your company. It’s very easy to get caught up in ongoing cleaning, picking up, and making sure everyone is happy. Try to resist these temptations. People will help themselves to whatever they need and you don’t have to be responsible for them having a good time. Rest assured, they will! When the party’s over, see your guests out and tell them you’re looking forward to hosting the next party. Trust me, they will want to come back!

For more helpful information on these and other home improvement projects, check in often with the TDL Blog. And don’t forget to visit TeamDaveLogan.com to find a trusted home improvement professional in Denver and Boulder that will help you with your next project!

You have a couple of options when it comes to today’s custome steam showers: you can go for a pre-packaged one (typically at a higher cost), or you can transform your existing shower into a spa for as low as a couple thousand dollars. These systems are digitally controlled and you can quickly install them. The result is a highly-relaxing and enjoyable steam shower that is as good as any experience you can get at your local health club.

The steam generator houses the element that creates the heat necessary to produce steam. The steam then moves through the steam head and fills the shower area. You can install the steam generator in a location that is out of sight: the bathroom vanity, under the floor, or in the bench seat. The steam generator runs on electricity (208, 220 or 240V is common) and connects to your home’s existing water supply.

You can get some pretty nice upgrades with your steam shower, too, including aromatherapy features. These allow you to add essential oils to an attached steam head reservoir, and when the steam head heats up it vaporizes the oils and mixes with the steam. Steam and aroma therapy offer many health benefits:

➢ Reduces stress
➢ Encourages relaxation
➢ Cleanses toxins
➢ Increases circulation
➢ Relieves aches and pains
➢ Enhances your respiratory system
➢ Destroys pathogens in the body
➢ Increases your metabolism
➢ Enhances cardiovascular fitness

Call your trusted plumbing professional to discuss which system will work best in your home. A quality plumber can guide you on features, too, like custom spray systems, steam heads and generators, hand sprays, multi-directional shower heads, and any upgrades. Once you get your steam shower system installed, it will require little maintenance other than regular cleaning and component inspection.

You will be able to enjoy reduced stress and an overall increased sense of well being by regularly enjoying your steam shower. And I’m sure your significant other will want to enjoy the experience right along with you.

For more helpful information on these and other home improvement projects, check in often with the TDL Blog. And don’t forget to visit TeamDaveLogan.com to find a trusted home improvement professional to help you with your next project!

At last, the weekend is here. What better way to spend your time this weekend than knocking out some fast, inexpensive home improvement projects? These are small projects with big home improvement power!

Slap some new paint on the wall. Few home improvement projects create such dramatic results as fast and inexpensive as painting, especially if you do the work yourself! For the weekend, you will want to focus on walls that don’t have signifcant damage or demand any repairs. You should be able to easily knock out at least two average sized rooms, and let’s face it: you’re ready for some new colors anyway!

Install a new vanity. The bathroom is typically a smaller space with projects ranging from very serious to easy weekenders. Replacing your current vanity and faucet with a new, updated version requires some basic carpentry and plumbing skills. But even a beginner can knock this one out over the weekend! To be sure, pick a new vanity that’s the same size as your old one. This way you keep the work nice and easy while giving your bathroom a much-needed facelift.

Install a kitchen backsplash. Whether it’s paint, ceramic tile, tin, wood, or even cork, a new backslplash can add tons of life to your kitchen space. Read this post for more details. Once you pick your favorite option, you can get this one knocked out easily over the weekend.

Replace your cabinet hardware. This really makes a big difference in your kitchen, as well as bedrooms and bathrooms. I love this idea because it only takes a few hours of easy work and has such a dramatic effect on the applicable rooms.

Get new lighting. How about adding some new undercabinet lighting in your kitchen? Or installing a dimmer in the entertainment room or master bedroom? Maybe some pendant lights over your kitchen island? Whatever fits your style, updating your lighting can add lots of character to any room and can be done easily over a weekend.

The best advice is to make your plan and pick up your materials and supplies on Friday so you have the whole weekend to knock out your project. Afterall, Monday will be here sooner than you want…

For more helpful information on these and other home improvement projects, check in often with the TDL Blog. And don’t forget to visit TeamDaveLogan.com to find a trusted home improvement professional to help you with your next project!