Kitchen & Bath
WATER HEATERS
Standard Vent. This top-of-the-line water
heater includes automatic sediment clearing, a cross-link
polymer dip tube, a factory-installed pressure-relief valve,
and a glass lining that the maker says provides twice the
corrosion resistance of competitive models. The 40- and
50-gallon Conservationist units each deliver 40,000 Btu per
hour using natural gas (an electric model is also available)
and recover 41 to 44 gallons per hour at a 90°F rise.
Standard ventilation is required. The units cost $600 and $700,
respectively. A.O. Smith, 800/527-1953,
www.aosmithwaterheaters.com
Hot on the Spot. Continuous hot water on
demand isn't a new idea — but it's a good one, given the
right application. At a temperature rise of 45°F, the
Pronto! RTG-74 claims a 7.4-gallon-per-minute flow rate, enough
to supply one or two single-head showers without depriving the
next person in line of hot water. The unit measures 24 by 133/4
by 95/8 inches, takes 3/4-inch water and gas (natural or
propane) connections, and requires a 4-inch-diameter vent.
Suggested retail price is $1,149; a smaller, 4.2-gpm unit costs
$889. Rheem Water Heaters, 800/621-5622,
www.rheem.com
Loop System. The D'Mand Hot Water Delivery
System is a button-activated pump that kicks in to deliver hot
water to an outlet in mere seconds. A point-of-use temperature
sensor deactivates the pump when the hot water arrives. The
system requires a return water line to the cold-water inlet at
the water heater, and it is compatible with the manufacturer's
proprietary cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubing. Model 100
serves systems with tubing runs of less than 100 feet and costs
$395; Model 200 handles longer runs and costs $650.
Uponor Wirsbo, 800/321-4739,
www.wirsbo.com
A Tankless Job. Thoughtful clients eager to
conserve natural resources may worry that a tankless heater
won't be up to the task of supplying more than one major outlet
at a time. Fear not: The gas-fired GWH-635-ES heater is more
than capable, says the maker, with a maximum output of 6.35 gpm
at a 45°F temperature rise. It costs $1,200.
Controlled Energy, 866/330-2725,
www.protankless.com
CABINET HARDWARE
Keep Out. EasyLock hardware discreetly
prevents access to cabinets containing household poisons or
prescription medicines. The magnetic card-actuated device is
easy to retrofit or relocate, says the maker, and costs $32.60.
Hettich America, 770/887-3733,
www.hettichamerica.com
Wired for Efficiency. Drawers are arguably
more efficient than shelves for storage, and drawer organizers
extend that argument to the max. The 5389 and 5390 Series of
heavy-duty chrome wire pull-out cookware and dinnerware baskets
ride on full-extension slides. The wire is coated with a
transparent epoxy to reduce contact noise. Organizers come in
two sizes, for 21- and 33-inch-wide base cabinets, with a
suggested installed cost of $315 to $395 each.
Rev-A-Shelf, 800/626-1126,
www.rev-a-shelf.com
Around the Corner. Can you use "hypocycloid"
in a sentence? No matter — now you can use it in your
corner cabinets. The Crazy Suzy is a three-cornered shelf with
a unique rotation that allows it to extend out of the cabinet.
This configuration also provides more usable surface area than
a standard carousel. The shelf costs $129 and requires about 20
inches of clearance for installation inside the cabinet.
Turn the Corner, 412/343-3305,
www.turnthecornerllc.comMetal Option. Whether you're making custom
cabinets, ordering them, or just replacing the faces,the AF
Series Aluminum Cabinet Doors are worth a look. The five
tempered-glass options in this collection come with aluminum
frames, which can be ordered in 1/16-inch increments and arrive
fully assembled. Costs are competitive with those of comparably
sized solid-wood doors, says the manufacturer, and there are no
minimum orders. Element Designs, 704/332-3114,
www.element-designs.com