(NAPS)—When shopping a new home, there are many points to consider besides location, square footage and number of rooms.
These include:
- Energy usage – In a newly built home, all the appliances are new, so energy usage information should be readily available. Make sure that dishwashers, refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners use energy efficiently— it will save you money in the long run.
- Settling – New homes have a tendency to shift in the ground, so keep an eye out for cracks in the foundation. When doing a walk-through, place a pencil on the floor. If it rolls, the house may be uneven, which could lead to numerous problems if not corrected immediately.
- Water usage – Many areas are adding municipal water and sewage systems as new developments are built, putting unprecedented demands on water tables even in states where water supply has not traditionally been a problem.
- In addition, the typical home wastes more than 8,000 gallons of water per year as residents wait for hot water in the sink, bathtub or shower. Fortunately, as new homes are built, contractors can stem the tide of wasted water with the help of a new kind of hot water pump.
The pump recirculates water through the water heater so that water will be hot upon turning on the tap. In a new home, such a pump can be installed in about two hours, and generally cost less than $1,000, including parts and installation. Hot water recirculation (HWR) pumps from Grundfos not only make hot water instantly available at sinks, appliances and bathroom faucets, they can also improve the operating efficiency and effectiveness of washing machines and dishwashers, eliminating the lag time from the hot water heater to the appliance. HWR pumps can also be set with a 24-hour timer to produce hot water at peak demand times, such as early morning and in the evening.
