Ideas Flow When Remodeling Kitchen, Bathroom (NAPSA)—Whether you're adding a hot water dispenser in the kitchen or a whirlpool bathtub in your bathroom, here are some pointers that keep the ideas—and the hot water—flowing. During remodeling, it’s important to remember that when you update hot-water-hungry appliances, your hot water usage will likely increase. And, since the average family today uses more hot water than it did 10 years ago,it is critical to think about your future hot water needs as well. For example, a large whirlpool tub demands a lot of hot water, and depending on the specifics of your project, you may need to increase the hot water capacity in your home. This typically means a larger water heater. Custom showers with multiple body sprays have also grown in popularity. A custom shower will consumea lot more hot water than a traditional shower and will increase demand on your water heater. In the kitchen, hot water dis- pensers, secondary pot washing sinks and multiple dishwashers add to whole-house hot water needs. In either case, you might consider increasing the tank capacity of your water heater, installing a supplementary tankless water heater, or adding a small capacity under-cabinet tank-type electric water heater to help meet hot water demands. “When people upgrade their kitchens and baths, their main con- cern is ‘how it looks, and they don’t consider the possibility that the modern upgrades can impact the whole-house hot water supply,” says Cliff Deidiker, residential product manager at A. O. Smith Water Products Company, a leading Adding a large whirlpool tub to your bathroom may increase demandonyour water heater. manufacturer of residential and commercial water heaters. Whatsize water heater will you need to meet these new demands? It’s best to consult your contractor, as a home’s hot water supply is determined by a combination of tank capacity and energy input. If your homeis older and you are installing a large whirlpool tub to replace a traditional bathtub, be sure your existing water heater has the capacity to supply enough hot water. If you are considering upgrades in the kitchen and bath, you should confirm that your existing water heating sys- tem will be able to handle the increased hot water usage and think about upgrading to a water heater with a 75-gallon capacity. It comes downtothis: If you are updating the kitchen or bath, then you may need a larger water heater. Plumbing contractors are increasingly recommending and installing 50- to 75-gallon-capacity water heaters as opposed to smaller models. In order to meet changing lifestyle demands, a comprehensive selection of A. O. Smith gas and electric water heaters is available from professional contractors nationwide. To learn more, visit www.hotwater.com.
