Making Cents of Energy - HELP Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric

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)