The battle is over! Tankless water heaters are here to stay. They are conclusively more efficient than their tank-style counterparts. Tankless or on-demand water heaters use less energy, take up less valuable space in your home, and can be vented directly to an outside wall. Look for tankless water heaters to be the industry standard in all new construction in the next five to seven years. There are some people who say tankless water heaters don’t work, they’re probably just a fad, or they had... more

Several companies manufacture rubber roofs from recycled tires. These products are durable (many come with 50-year warranties), as well as fire and wind resistant. Metal Roofing With a long life, metal roofs keep composite material out of our landfills. Also 100% of the material used is recyclable. Solar-Powered Attic Fan Make your home more energy effcient and save money too. Attic fans operate by solar power from sunrise to sunset at no extra cost. It’s possible to reduce the workload on... more

There is something reassuring about being helped in a plumbing and electric store by a friendly salesperson who actually has knowledge and experience with the project you are about to tackle. This is the way it used to be in all building supply stores, and remains that way today at A-Boy Plumbing and Electric. The family-owned business is, at its roots, a neighborhood plumbing, electric, and hardware store.... more

Heat is something homeowners sometimes tend to take for granted. Turn the thermostat and the home heats up, presto! What makes us sit up and take notice is when the monthly fuel bill is delivered. Energy costs are taking a bigger bite out of our household budgets and the experience can be shocking. Photo courtesy of Wirsbo There are significant ways of minimizing this shock and there is help from... more

Did you know that the water heater in your home is the number two consumer of energy, yet design and development is virtually unchanged since your grandparents drove a Model A? In America we continue to heat water 24/7 365 days a year only to be used on an average of 70 minutes per day based on a home of 3.5 occupants. Installed in a basement reclaiming valuable space. Inset photo shows the high-tech systems that run the Rinnai Unit. Installed ... more

This family-owned company has grown from a small retailer of plumbing and electrical products to a seven-store hardware and home center chain serving the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area. John Dolan founded A-Boy Supply in 1960. He first sold plumbing fixtures, electrical supplies, and appliances from a former grocery store in Southeast Portland. Lighting products and supplies were added later. Steam bath display located at the Vaughn Street store. Ask for a demonstration. A-Boy... more

How long do you have to wait until the hot water at your faucet reaches your desired temperature? Have you thought about all that water running down the drain as you find other things to do waiting to jump into the shower? If so the Autocirc® Pump System is the product for you. Another advantage is the timer that is a part of this unit. You can program the unit to activate ... more

“Have you ever thought of going tankless?” asks the Bosch USA website. Imagine, a houseful of guests for the holidays. You are worried that they will run out of hot water in the middle of a shower! Now you have to figure out who gets to shower first, or whether you can even run the washer or dishwasher. You’ve got better things to worry about. A tankless water heater may be just what you’ve been waiting ... more