California – New Laws Start July 1, 2011

 1.  Whooping Cough Vaccination Proof – Public and Private school students in CA will have to prove they’ve had a booster shot against whooping-cough to attend grades 7-12 this fall.

2. Hybrid Vehicles Lose Carpool Lane Privileges – Now hybrids will have to have 2 or more passengers to drive in carpool lane.

 3. Carbon Monoxide Detectors Required – CMD are to be installed in all single family homes that have an attached garage, fireplace or heater that burns fossil fuels.

4. Cell phones in the Car – Push-to-talk phones are now subject to the same rules as others.

 5. Carpet Tax – For 18 months carpet manufacturers must add 5 cents per square yard to the price of all carpet sold in CA.

 6. State Vehicle Laws trump Local Laws – Prohibits cities and counties from substituting local ordinances from those in the state’s vehicle code.

San Diego News

City trash service provided to more than 14,000 households on private streets ends today.       Read more: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jun/30/free-trash-pickup-ends-friday/

Tankless Water Heater vs. Tank Water Heater

It’s time to replace your water and you have heard  about tankless water heaters but is the expense worth it?

The experts report it all depends on your needs.  For example if you only have two occupants in your place a tankless water heater may not be cost-effective for your needs.  If you have a large family that needs multiple showers running in the morning you might want to consider a tankless water heater.  If you tend to run multiple hot water appliances while four people shower you may need more than one system in your home. 

Lets start with what is a tankless water heater.  A tankless water heater also called an on demand hot water system heats water only when needed.  There is no storage tank, which lowers energy costs since water is not kept hot all the time.  Some units are as small as a suitcase and can be mounted on a wall to save space. 

I have decided on tankless so what do I need to know before I buy?  What size do you need? First you are looking at how many gallons of hot water it can produce per minute (gpm), not how many gallons it can hold.   It is the gpm that is matched to your water usage and it is recommended that you consult a licensed plumber to determine the capacity you need. 

For those of you wanting the best of both worlds there are now hybrid tanks.  It is reported that they are energy-efficient as well as having a back-up reservoir that won’t run out.   

Rebates and Tax incentives:

Some states give rebates for going tankless go to http://www.geappliances.com/heat-pump-hot-water-heater/downloads/geospring_state_tax_incentives.pdf     to see if state tax incentives or various utility rebates are available in your area.

To learn more about the $300 federal tax credit: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index

Check if permits are needed in your state to install a hot water heater.  In the State of California it is required that an installation of any hot water system be permitted and it is recommended that a licensed plumber be contacted.

Will this add value to your home?  Depends.  Contact a licensed real estate appraiser that specializes in energy efficiency for assistance. 

Recommended: www.socalappraisalserv.com

 

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