Making Cents of Energy - Thompson Plumbing Heating Cooling

Three Simple Ways to Save Energy

Do your energy bills skyrocket every summer and winter? Making some simple changes around the house can help you conserve expensive resources like electricity and water.

Try these three easy utility bill-cutting strategies:

• Use your dishwasher. It may seem counterintuitive, but a dishwasher actually uses significantly less water than hand-washing. To save energy, always choose the “air dry” option on your dishwasher.
• Use your microwave. Something else you may not realize – your microwave uses two-thirds less energy than your stove. Plus, it’s a lot faster!
• Keep your refrigerator and freezer full. This keeps the fridge/freezer cooler with less energy, and it helps keep the temperature stable even when the door is open. This strategy also reduces the need for frequent grocery store trips!

One more thing to think about: the average home spends nearly $2,000 a year on energy costs. Seemingly insignificant things, like using a little less electricity, heat and water here and there, add up over the long run. Start making little changes and watch your energy savings accumulate!

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Making Sense of Energy  is written and published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling. Visit our website at http://www.333Help.com

Understanding Underfloor Heating

If your home has a traditional furnace heating system in it, you might not know much about underfloor heating. While underfloor heating isn’t a brand new technology, it’s not common for houses to have it.

Underfloor heating, as you might as guessed, can come in the form of cables or mats installed underneath the floors of the home. Not only does it heat the floor you walk on, but that heat naturally rises to warm the rest of the house.

Since the warming cables or mats are installed evenly around the home, your entire house gets warm. There’s no need to worry about areas around the vents and space heaters being the only spot to warm up. You also don’t have to worry about cracks in your home’s duct system losing heat, since the floors do all of the work.

Underfloor heating does save energy, as it’s not a system working to push heated air through the home. Instead the heat naturally rises. The control panel for the floor heating will also help save energy if you utilize a schedule for it to turn off when no one is home, or at night. Although it’s small, you will save a little extra room in the house, from the old heating system.

A common myth of underfloor heating is that it can’t be used in bathrooms because of the water. It can be used in every room in the house, even steam rooms, if you’re lucky enough to have one.

Installing underfloor heating is much easier when you’re building a house, but it can be done by a professional at any time.

On the flip side, the heat from the floor makes it difficult to cool down since it is a natural  process.

As more people discover this newer way of heating homes, it might become a regular part of building a house, but it hasn’t gotten there yet.

(Flickr Photo by Bryn Pinzgauer)

What’s Wrong with My Furnace?

Have reason to believe that your furnace might be broken? Better get that fixed before the weather gets colder. Luckily, there are some things you can do yourself to investigate the problem before paying a professional to come out.

Begin by checking the thermostat, making sure it is on “heat” and that the temperature setting is sufficiently high to make the heater come on. Turn the dial a little higher to see if that turns the heat on. If you have a programmable thermostat, make sure the time and date settings are correct. Follow the thermostat wires back to the furnace, checking for breaks.

If you have a programmable thermostat, try replacing the battery. If that doesn’t fix the problem, open up the thermostat and blow out any dust or debris. Make sure it’s firmly attached to the wall and that it doesn’t have any loose wires.

Your next action should be to check the shutoff switches and breakers. Find the standard wall switch near the furnace and check whether it’s on or off. Check the circuit breaker or the fuse near the furnace as well. See that the panel in front of the blower motor is fastened securely (for the furnace to work, the switch must be completely pushed in).

Check whether the furnace filter is clogged, and if so, replace it – a clogged filter can cause the furnace to shut off completely.

You’ll also want to make sure that the gas is on by tracing the gas line from the furnace to the meter and checking that the handle is parallel to the gas pipe. Remove the front panel to the pilot light and check to see that the burner is lit.

Still not working, huh? Make sure the chimney exhaust flue is clear. To do this, turn the furnace off and the thermostat all the way down. Then, take apart the duct where the exhaust flue connects to the furnace and check for debris.

It’s also good idea to flush out the furnace drain lines, since the furnace will shut down if the drain lines are blocked by mold or sediment.

Ensure that all of the room registers are open, and then take a look at the duct work. Check for blocked ducts and seal any gaps.

Lastly, remove any debris or leaves from the intake and exhaust vents on the outside of the house to make sure nothing is obstructing them.

Well, you’ve done about all you can do! If you still haven’t found the source of the problem, it’s probably time to call in a professional.

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The Making Cents of Energy blog is written by published by Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling. Visit our website at http://www.333Help.com.

(Flickr Photo by jronaldlee) 

Energy-Efficient Windows: Are They Worth It?

Many people are replacing the windows of their home with new, energy-efficient windows. But does the amount of money you save in energy costs as a result of installing energy-efficient windows really justify their cost?

In a word, yes. But the exact amount of savings will depend on your particular home, the climate in which you live, how efficient the old windows were, and what kind of energy-efficient windows you install.

Depending on the above-mentioned factors, a household will save anywhere from $125 to $465 a year in heating and cooling costs when upgrading from single-paned windows, and you’ll save about $100 a year if you’re upgrading from double-paned windows to energy-efficient windows. On average, energy-efficient windows will pay for themselves in about two years. And the savings don’t stop there.

While your climate will impact how much you save, you’ll continue to save some money in energy costs every year as a result of installing energy-efficient windows, no matter where you live. Moreover, you might be able to get a tax credit t

o replace the windows in your house with energy-efficient ones.

So, just what makes energy-efficient so … energy-efficient? Well, the main difference between a regular window and an energy-efficient window is that the glass of the energy-efficient window has a transparent metal coating which reflects sunlight. The frames of energy-efficient windows also help to insulate your home by preventing hot or cool air from escaping.

Yet another benefit of energy efficient windows is that not only do they keep the weather out, but they also keep the noise out. Energy-efficient windows typically provide excellent noise insulation in addition to weather insulation.

(Flickr Photo by stefg74) 

Window Insulation Tips For Your Home

If you’re looking to keep the air in your home—warm air in the winter, cool air in the summer—weather stripping is a good solution to seal any drafty areas in your home. However, there are several different types of weather stripping, each one with a different purpose. Use the list below to figure out what type will work best for your needs.

Before purchasing any type of weather stripping, you’ll want to asses your home to find out exactly where the air is escaping. This way, you can by strips for the right areas. It’s also a good idea to measure these areas and add about ten percent to the total, just to make sure you buy enough.

Consider the location for the weather stripping. Low-traffic areas are good for felt and open-cell forms of weather stripping. 

Tension seal weather stripping is good for inside the track of a double-hung or sliding window, and the sides and top of a door.

Felt weather stripping can be used around a door or a window as long as it’s fitted into a door jam.

Reinforced foam can be installed at door or window stops, at the top or bottom of a window sash, or at the bottom of a door.

There are a few different types of tape weather stripping, including nonporous, closed cell foam, and open cell foam. Tape can be used at the top and bottom of a window sash, in  door frames,  and also in attic hatches and windows that are permanently closed. It is also ideal for blocking corners and irregular cracks.

A door sweep model of weather strip can come in aluminum or stainless steel, and a brush is attached, which is made of plastic, sponge, felt, or vinyl. This is good for the bottom of a moderately high door that swings inward or outward.

Making Cents of Energy is written and published by

Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling.

(Flickr Photo by eflon)

 

Don’t Leave Plumbing Out of Your Baby-Proofing Checklist

When a new baby is expected to arrive in your home, all sorts of things need to be altered to ensure their safety. Often, electrical outlets get covered and sharp cornered are padded, but the plumbing in your home also needs to be addressed.

Start by installing special doorknobs for your kitchen and bathrooms. Whether you have standard doorknobs or lever-handled doors, there are childproof locks that are easy to install. If your kitchen doesn’t have a door, consider placing a baby gate in the doorway. These efforts will keep babies out of rooms with possible hazards, and will prevent them from getting locked inside.

There are also special covers for your faucet handles that will prevent your baby from turning on the water in your kitchen and bathroom, which could cause a whole mess of problems.

Even a special soft sleeve is made to cover the bathtub faucet to prevent your baby from bumping or scratching itself on the sharp faucet during bath time. It’s also a good idea to place a secure rubber mat in the bottom of the tub at all times, even if you use a seat during bath time, just in case they climb in the tub. 

In your kitchen and bathroom, don’t forget to put away any electronic appliances such as curling irons, blow dryers, toasters, etc. Any of these could harm the baby if accidentally turned on, or just dropped, or broken.

Install locks on the cabinets in your bathrooms and kitchen. This will block the baby from venturing where pipes, cords, and dangerous chemicals can reside.

Following this checklist, your home and your plumbing will be safe from the new baby and Vis versa.

 

 

Shower vs. Bath: Which is More Water-Efficient?

If you want to reduce your water bill, monitoring how much water you use for bathing is a good place to start. Do you take a lot of baths or super-long showers? Both of these habits consume a lot of water. But which uses more water – a shower or a bath?

Generally, you’ll use less water by taking showers instead of baths.  However, this depends on how long you typically spend in the shower. 

If you take a quick, five-minute shower, you’ll only use about 10 to 25 gallons of water -- compared to about 70 gallons of water required for a full bathtub. Even if you take a 10- or 15-minute shower, you’ll still consume less water than you would by taking a bath.

On the other hand, if you take lengthier showers lasting 20 minutes or longer, a bath is probably the most water-efficient choice for you.

If you have a shower that has a bathtub (not a standalone shower), a good way to measure your water usage when showering is to put the plug in the bathtub and let the tub fill up while you shower. When you’re done, if there’s less water in the tub than you would use to take a bath, then you’d save water by taking showers instead of baths.

For an even more water-efficient shower, conduct your usual shower activities that don’t require water -- e.g., pumicing your heels, applying face and hair masks, etc. -- before you start the shower. Once you get in the shower, using a loofah or body brush will allow you to use less soap, which will also reduce your water (and soap!) costs.

You can save a little bit of water when taking a bath by putting the stopper in the drain before you begin filling it (instead of waiting for the water to warm up).

And of course, you can also save water by taking fewer baths or showers altogether. Just make sure you don’t go overboard with this tip!

 

Making A Happy Home For The Holidays

Side from the usual hustle and bustle of the holidays, you might be expecting family and friends in your home. Before their arrival, it’s a good idea to get your plumbing and heating in-check as most service companies are very busy around the holidays and sometimes charge an extra fee. Follow these steps to prevent a holiday disaster.

Start by doing your usual maintenance and changing the air filter in your furnace, clear any drains that are clogged, and be sure to check your smoke detectors.

If you’re hosting guests in your home this holiday season, your plumbing will get a run for its money. More people means more showers, toilets flushing, dishwashers running, and clothes washer, too. If your toilet acts up often, address the problem before the holidays hit. If, for some reason, the problem cannot be fixed by the time your guests arrive, inform them to avoid further issues. 

For extra protection, be sure not to flush items down the toilet that don’t belong, such as cotton balls, facial pads, or cotton swabs.

As for the shower, wait ten minutes between showers just to make sure the drains are cleared.

Although the holiday meal might be the most anticipated event of the season, the cleanup can be hard on your home if not done properly. During cooking or cleanup, make a mental note not to pour any oils or fats down the drain. These will cool, solidify, and block your drains. Instead, store these oils in jars or cleanup with paper towels and throw it in the garbage. 

It is also important not to toss any food that is high in starch or fiber down the garbage disposal such as celery, or potato or fruit peels. These could get wrapped around the disposal’s blades or even clog then unit entirely. During cleanup, make sure it is running before you rinse food into it. You don’t want to clog it and have to pull food scraps out of the disposal.

(Photo by Ed Yourdon)

Save Water and Impress Your Friends with Urinals

Okay, this one’s for the guys only. Believe it or not, there’s a growing trend among men installing urinals in their homes. And why not? It’s more natural, involves less fuss, and even better – urinals use significantly less water than traditional toilets. In fact, there are currently urinals on the market that don’t use any water at all. Put another way, a zero-flush urinal can save up to 40,000 gallons of water each year, or the equivalent of three large swimming pools.

Although installing a urinal in your home involves an initial extra investment (you will have two toilets in your bathroom, after all), let the savings begin thereafter. A urinal will begin providing immediate return on investment that will pay for itself before the year is up, and after that the savings go on and on.

If you go with a zero-flush option, installation fees plummet because there is no water line or flushing device. Amidst projections of rising water and sewer charges, zero-flush urinals are sounding better all the time.

Beyond the savings and convenience, there’s the wow-factor to consider. Can you imagine the reception you’ll get from your friends? No more worrying about lifting the toilet seat ever again.

I’m reminded of an episode of Seinfeld in which George Costanza has a urinal in his personal bathroom. Before he knows it, everyone’s stopping by to give it a go and commenting on how much nicer it is. On second thought, you probably don’t want everyone stopping by to use your bathroom do you? Oh well!

No matter your plumbing question or predicament, contact Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling for all the answers and red carpet service today.

 

Saving Money with Microwave Meals

If you’re like me, you use a microwave because you’re simply too lazy to cook, or because it’s mindless, easy, etc. I’ve always enjoyed microwaves because I can get home from work and not worry about grocery shopping, cutting, slicing, peeling, deboning, baking, scrubbing and loading the dishwasher. It’s much easier to open a box, remove a carton, peel some plastic and push a button. If you know which microwave meals are actually good, eating a good meal in minutes is a wonderful reality.

As it turns out, my laziness has actually been saving me considerable money on my energy bills. In fact, I’ve recently discovered that my trusty microwave uses between 50 and 65 percent less energy than my conventional oven (which does get used, every now and again). Additionally, as this summer has attested, using a microwave in lieu of a conventional oven doesn’t produce nearly the same amount of heat that can contribute to already stifling conditions (usually resulting in jacking up the air conditioner, which costs more money). The next time Mother Nature hands us a 90+ degree day, consider nuking your food rather than steaming up your kitchen with a hot oven.

Why are microwaves so much more efficient? It’s simple: microwaves use high-frequency waves that get inside the food, heating the water molecules, which drastically speeds up the cooking time. What could take an hour in the oven can take 8 or 10 minutes in the microwave. Check out this chart, called the Cost of Cooking from the Consumer Energy Center’s Web site:

Appliance	Temperature	Time	Energy	Cost
Electric Oven	350	1 hour	2.0 kWh	$.16
Electric Convection Oven	325	45 minutes	1.39 kWh	$.11
Gas Oven	350	1 hour	.112 therm	$.07
Electric Frying Pan	420	1 hour	.9 KWh	$.07
Toaster Oven	425	50 minutes	.95 kWh	$.08
Electric Crockpot	200	7 hours	.7 kWh	$.06
Microwave Oven	"High"	15 minutes	.36 kWh	$.03