HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1985-10-09, Page 54Get the
most for
your dollar
Water
heater
consumes
energy
The water heater is the second largest
energy -consuming appliance in the average
house. Some steps can be taken, however, to
reduce the amount of energy used for
heating water — and many of them will cost
little more than a bit of your own time and
effort.
Lowering the temperature "setting on the
tank will result in immediate savings at no
cost. A temperature of 50 degrees C will pro-
vide water hot enough for most household
uses. If you have a dishwasher without a
booster heater, the water heater
temperature should be set at 60 degrees C.
The power supply to an electric water
heater should be turned off before any ther-
mostat adjustments are made. Draining
about five litres of water every month from
Ithe hot water tank will remove sediment
and reduce scaling; this lets heating
elements work more efficiently and will pro-
long the life of the system.
You can install 'flow restrictors and
aerators on faucets and showerheads. The
water pressure should still be more than
adequate for all household purposes.
Leaky faucets should be fixed promptly.
One drop per second from the hot water tap
will waste 720 litres of hot water per month
— enough for about 16 hot baths.
An insulation kit for your water heater
can• be purchased from hardware stores;
follow all installation instructions that ac-
company the kit: Make sure. there is an
opening for the drain valve, thermostat and
other controls. If your water heater is fired
by oil or gas take great care not to plug the
draft hood or the air intakes. You should
• also contact either the manufacturer or
• your local utility for details before installing
an insulating blanket.
If a• new hot water heater is installed in
your home, keep heat loss from the pipes to
a minimum by putting the tank as close as
possible to the kitchen or the bathroom,
thereby reducing the length of pipes through
which the water must pass to reach the
faucets. A 'heat trap' can reduce heat loss
from convection of hot water in the pipes;
have a contractor include a heat trap with
new hot water tank installations.
Watch for these important features when
• selecting a new water tank; tanks that have
. 75 mm of glass fibre or thick foam insulation
are wisely available; make sure the bottom
is insulated. An accessible •on-off switch ori
or near the tank will enable you to turn the
heater off when it will not be used for ex-
tended periods. An on-off switch is not part
of an electric hot water heater system, but a
switch can be installed or the appropriate
fuses removed or circuit breakers switched
f. Thermometers
A'stack thermometer on the flue pipe is
the easiest way to keep' track of how the fire
is burning in your wood stove. Look for the
type with a inetal probe rather than the
magnetic type, and insert it in the flue pips
between 30 cm and 60 cin above the flue col-
lar. For the best, perforinance the flue
temperature should not exceed 330 degrees
C or fall below 110 degrees C during nurnial
operation. .
If your home isn't as :energy efficient as it
could be, and you've decided to do
something abobt it — the Canadian General
Standards Board (CGSJ1 may be able to
help. Whether you intend to do, the work
yourself' or hire a contractor, CCSB pro-
motes professional standards to aid you in
getting the most for your retrofit dollar.
CGSl3 develops standards that 'can help
yon choose products such as caulking, ther-
mal
hhermal insulation and insulated glass that will
stand up to the Canadian climate. CGS$ is a
member of the National Standards Syste�a
and has developed over 1500 standards
covering more than:7 isubjeeet areas.
if you have decided: to hire someone to do
- the work for you, LOSS eau give you even
more assistance. In 1984 the National Per-
' tification Listing Program for residential in,
sulation contractors was set up. Now
homeowners can check a listing number to
find contractors who have achieved
minimum standards of teoiinieal,
knowledge, who are inameted by SS f4
ensure consistent quality of work and Who
are bonded, There are 13 listin with over
6705 individuals qualified to work under this
program.
An index of companies participating in the
National Certification Listing Program for
residential insulation contractors and a
catalogue of all approved products are
available.
4b WEST ST.
nODERICH PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION G(DDEittCW
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Warm winters, cool summers
broughtyouthe remarkable
�h to
heat pump
If you're thinking of converting to a new heating system or adding
central air conditioning, think about the heat pump - a system so
different that it actually delivers more energy than it takes AO run.
• It's remarkable! A heat pump works in the winter .
by moving' heat in from the outdoors (yes there's lots there).
And the system is so versatile that, in summer, it reverses its cycle
and air conditions the house. -
-
Savings is a big advantage. A heat pump in your home could
save you up to one third of what you're now paying to heat with
an oil or gas-fired system. Remember, a heat pump gives you -
year-round comfort and maximum energy efficiency:
Need more information? Contact
Your
Local
Dealer
Ask about the new.
EnerMark\(_LOAN PLAN
77,eEiectnatyPeople . ROYAL BANK
Customers of Ontario Hydro should contact their Local Area Office.
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