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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1977-11-10, Page 25Page 4 Move heat around efficiently • from page 3 check the belt tension. It and from radiators shou should have 1/4" to 1/2" play well insulated, especial mid -way between the pulleys. areas that don't need hea If the tension isn't right, To run efficiently, loosen the adjusting screws system needs water in holding the motor frame to radiators and in the bo the motor housing. Slide the Each fall, : before star motor until the tension is check your water -level g right. Tighten the screws — on the boiler. and check to be sure you In the fall, when your didn't disturb the alignment system goes on for the first time, bleed the air from each of the two pulleys. To increase the flow of radiator, If you don't, air will warm air through the house, stop the water flow and the increase the fan speed by . radiators will stay cold. Open adjusting the variable the vent screw at one end of 'the radiator and keep it open until hot water spurts out — into a handy cup or glass. You'll need a screwdriver or small wrench to open the vent, and when you're finished, be sure the water isn't dripping. Wipe away dust and dirt to let more heat out. Don't set bookshelves, chairs or drapes directly in front or on top because they also slow up the heat flow. Let the heat out at both top and bottom. Stay away from metallic paints and glossy light colors. Use a matte or satin finish. A sheet of aluminum foil against the wall, behind the radiator, will direct the heat into the room. Steam heating is found mainly in older homes and is similar to the hot-water system, but uses steam at 212 degrees F (100 degrees C). Water is heated to boiling in a boiler, and the steam rises through pipes to radiators in each room of the house. Here ld be the steam is condensed to ' 1Y in water, .releases heat to the t• room, and returns to the the boiler by gravity. all Water in the boiler should iler. be kept at the level recom- t-up, mended by your manufac- auge turer. Check the glass gauge usually found on the boiler. If there isn't enough water in the system, the heating unit will shut off; tiao much water ,will reduce the boiler's ef- ficiency. Once a month through the heating season, flush out and clean the boiler. Open the "flushing" valve (find it with the help of your instruction manual) and drain the water until it runs clear. Then refill the boiler to its proper level. If you have leaky joints, both steam and heat will escape. Repair them yourself or call a plumber. diameter pulley on the motor. Change the filters. Usually they're at the back of the furnace, behind a panel. Inspect them at least once a month. If they are dirty, replace the disposable fiberglas type or wash out the semi-permanent type. (You might try vacuuming the disposable type and using them again.) Dirty filters block the circulation of air, reduce the furnace's ef- ficiency and cost you money. You'll find disposable filters in your hardware or department store. The sizes are marked, such as 16 x 20 x 1". The filters fit on ledges behind the back door of your furnace and installing the right size is important, Some of the semi-permanent ones can be cut to size and washed out once a month. (But do it in cold water, please!) If you don't need extra heating in your basement, all the exposed ducting should be taped at each joint and in- sulated with fiberglas or mineral -wool insulation. (Warning: Never use foamed plastic insulation because it's a fire hazard.) A warm -air register can be accidentally blocked by simply dropping a newspaper on it. The warm air that. should be coming into the room will go elsewhere, and your furnace will have to work overtime. If the registers are under a window and you happen to close the curtains or drapes in front of them, the warm air merely heats the window. What a waste! So be sure to keep registers clear of such heat - robbers as curtains, drapes, furniture and carpeting. Almost any hardware store will have plastic deflectors for hot-air registers. They shoot the heat away from the cooler outside walls and into the main living area. Hot-water heating is the most common alternative to warm air. Water is pumped through tubes in the furnace and heated to a maximum of 180 degrees F (82 degrees C), then circulated through the house in pipes. After giving up heat to the radiators, the cooled water returns to the pump and starts the cycle all over again. r The system always has an expansion tank and pressure relief valve to prevent ex- cessive pressure build-up. A flow -control valve stops the water when the circulating pump is not working. The expansion tank has an automatic water feed. Relief valves should be checked and the water drained off to provide an air space for expansion of the heated water. Different systems use slightly different -methods to restore the air cushion in the tank, so look in your owner's manual for these instructions and the location of drain taps. Hot-water pipes going to Special house built A house in Penetanguishene, built in collaboration between Ontario Hydro and Viceroy Homes of Toronto, serves as a pilot project for what might be. called "super insulation". It was engineered and built by Viceroy to demonstrate that super insulation can become routine in average houses at no extra cost. It has been hailed by Hal. K. Wright, director of Ontario Hydro, as "an outstanding achievement in energy conservation." There are three basic in- novations, all of them major departures from conventional building techniques in win- dow, wall and roof con- struction. Every window in the house is triple sealed with two air spaces between three panes of glass. Tests by the Ontario Research Foundation show the heat loss is 40 per cent less than with conventional double glazed windows. The exterior walls of the house are framed with two by six studs as compared to the four inches which is the minimum recommended by Ontario Hydro. The R -factor, or thermal resistance, is raised from R- 12 to R-20. Besides, the Wxternal strength of the walls is in- creased 30 per cent by using heavier studding, but the cost is about the same because fewer studs are used. In the ceilings, the com- pany has placed eight inches of insulation with a factor of .1111111111111.111111, Let's taik! about car loans. And how we can get you rolling! It'you'ye decided on the het car for you, fttnk of tilontreal can help you decide on the beet payment plan For you' We've been financing cars since the \1(d l "I" And we've probably dealt with every dealer 111 town Just as cars are their specialty, loans are ours, We even have a loin that pay, the lull price atilt, car with up to lOUr years to repay. �. if you're planning to borrow money to buy 1car, tome to The First Canadian Rank firstWhether you're a I3 of M • customer now or not The First Canadian Bank Bank of Montreal 4 Victoria St., Clinton 482-3479 711NTG-) and WishingYou Stop driving and start looking! T.DBANK MAKES IT EASY NOW 1 ON NEW CAR LOANS 3 YEAR TERMS Hours of Business: Mon . Tues. Wed. 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Thurs. 10:00 a.m. . 8:00 p.m. Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. SUNCOAST MALL TORONTO DOMINION liu hank whr r, irr,r,i,', 1,,ik rfrr ri;lir Ir•rrr r MGR. BOB STUBBINGS GODERICH 524-2681 • a • a a • • Kitchen good place to start .., • from page 2 often and consume more energy to keep the cold level you want. This will tend to reduce the life of the motor so that within a few years you'll either have to replace the motor or the entire unit. Your initial saving on a cheaper model can be swallowed up in higher energy costs and shorter life. Ask yourself if you really need a butter warmer, crushed -ice dispenser and other such frills. They all consume extra energy. Where your refrigerator or freezer is located has a lot to do with how well it performs. Keep both these major appliances away from the kitchen stove, direct sunlight and heat vents. Leave enough space around the unit so you have a good • circulation of air. If there isn't enough space, the heat generated can't escape and • this puts a strain on the cooking system. Condenser coils on the refrigerator should be kept clean. Dirt acts as an in- sulator and makes the compressor work longer to keep the proper temperature. Use a vacuum cleaner to pull out dirt. (Condenser coils are usually on the back, oc- casionally on the bottom.) The door should be airtight so cold air can't escape. Otherwise, both the com- pressor' and your furnace have to work harder to correct two problems. Check the seal by closing the door on a piece of paper. If you can pull it out easily the rubber gasket should be replaced. Read your owner's manual to see if you can fix it 'yourself; if not call a ser- viceman: The frost build-up in a refrigerator or freezer should not exceed 1/4 inch. Ice reduces the cooling power by acting as unwanted int. sulation. Defrost regularly. Don't set the temperature any colder than you -need. If you tell your children a little more about energy conservation, it may help them understand why you keep nagging them to shut the refrigerator door. Especially important in summer. The refrigerator works best when it isn't overcroWded. There must be room for air circulation inside — other- wise the compressor will work too hard to keep the right temperature. fave energy by allowing hot foods to cool before putting them away. Before you go on vacation, clean out the refrigerator, wipe it and turn it off. It's also a good idea to leave the door ajar; if the light stays on, unscrew it. Shoot the heck out of rising fuel bills NOW with insulspray foam insulation WHERE HEAT ESCAPES IN A TYPICAL TWO STORY HOME Walls 37% 4% Infiltration Roof 27% Windows & Doors Source: Ahierican Society Heating, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning Engineers Handbook of Fundamentals For, an estimate of your insulation needs call Bayfield 565.2633. Bluewater Insulation Ltd. Insulspray is a registered trademark of Borden, Inc. BoR Page 5 The dishwasher has The dishwasher has a kitchen — especially with dishes after the wash is Hard -water deposits inside a. become a popular item in the heater element to dry the kettle can reduce heat teenagers who can escape completed. Stop the cycle transfec. Clean them out clean-up duty. before the element comes on Periodically. Boil only as much as you Instead of elbow grease it and open the door. The hot uses electrical energyneed. Don't boil a full kettle and a dishes will dry themselves for one cupof coffee. good deal more hot water. and you'll save some elec- The energy consumed by the tricity, Toasters — Clean out washer itself (not including Some people use the heater crumbs and burnt -on hot water) amounts to about element of the dishwasher to deposits. You'll get better 300 kilowatt hours per year"warm dinner plates for performance. depending on how it's used. serving. Use the oven's heat Check filaments. Have a Here are some ways to instead. look at the heating filaments economize:Most modern kitchens have from time to time to be sure Your dishwasher is most an assortment of small a they're not broken. (Unplug P- the toaster first!) economical at full capacity. pliances, as well as the standard stove and w Not too dark. If you're Don't use it for a few plates and forks. Save them up refrigerator. Sometimes they willing to eat light and (rinse if necessary)and do a make contributions to energymedium-brown toast, you'll save a little energy. full load at the end of the day. conservation. Often they fall Fr in Follow your manufac- into a wasteful category of y g pans — Check temperature. Check the turer's recommendations for electrical gadgets. loading and use of detergent. Use small, efficient ap- accuracy of your tem - It will run more efficiently pliances. Fry pans, toasters perature control. Set it for 212 and your dishes ' will be and kettles are more efficient degrees F (100 degrees C) cleaner. than the stove for small 'obs, and see if water boils. If it s Pre -scraped dishes can be Example: the pop-up toaster cooler than the setting, have a P P P- P repairman•look at it. washed on a shorter cycle. is three times more efficient Multi -use. You can use And you don't have to worry for toasting bread than the small aluminum -foil dividers about food particles hurting overgrill. to cook several foods at one the machine's performance. Kettles -- Clean out scale. time.' Eat up less electricity. Check the door seal, Close the door on a piece of paper. If you can pull it out easily, the gasket needs to be replaced. Keep your pots and pans bright and shiny, They'll cook faster. In the oven, use glass or ceramic utensils. This will allow you to reduce the oven temperature by as muchas 25°. arrrpfl ito 1 i Use your toaster, and other small appliances, whenever possible. They use Tess electricity than your oven or range. When you put food in the refrigerator, place it so that air will circulate,freely. save tl lot! These are a few ways you can save electricity in your kitchen. Small ways ... but they add up. If we each save a little, we'll all - save a lot 1 your hydro la a 01%4\ Choose cooking utensils that fit the elements properly. Pots and pans with straight sides, flat bottoms, and tightly fitting lids make best use of heat. Avoid opening the oven door while food is cooking. Each time you do, you lose about 20% of the heat. GODERICH PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION