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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWingham Advance-Times, 1978-11-08, Page 17Il !ingl><anit .Meati 04. aterws ees stop BATHROOMS WITH WATER -SAVING fixtures and fittings look very much like any other bathroom, but the savings in fuel and water costs add an important "plus." In recent months the plihmbing systems in our homes have been the subject of numerous articles. Nationally, household withdrawal of water amounts to 15 billion gallons a day. Quite a significant quantity until you find out it is only about 4% of the 400 billion gallons used daily for all pur- poses. 50% reduction Nevertheless, there are savings to be made to help maintain our pure water supplies and also reduce 'home fuel costs. American -Standard, one of the world's largest man- ufacturers of plumbing prod- ucts, has developed a faucet line which has built-in flow restrictors. These faucets, available for both kitchen and bath- room, reduce the flow of water from the usual six gal - Ions a minute to 3tfi.at 80'psi. The result is a savings of nearly 50% of the water nor- mally used. Most users of restricted flow fittings report no feeling of frustration at all when washing hands or rinsing dishes. The water they were wasting was not even missed. And' when the savings are translated into fuel -saving dollars, homeowners can definitely see results. Bath savings Since bathing and washing in the average family con- sume about 37% of the household water, it is impor- tant to look formethods of conservation here, too. Another American - Standard device, the Aquamizer, can save the av- erage family of four as much as 50% of the water used in showering. Again, the sav- ings can be converted into' lower fuel costs, water costs and in some areas, lower sewer charges. Rounding off the water - saving devices are three water -saving toilet models designed to flush on approx- imately one-third Fess water than conventional toilets. Sanitation The round front Cadet and Plebe water -saving toilets have a slightly shorter bowl than the Elongated Cadet. The elongated styling pro- vides greater comfort, as well as a larger water surface for improved sanitation and ease of cleaning. • The savings on energy costs for heating hot water in the home are probably the easiest to check and evalu- ate. To make sure they are not wasting hot water and heat- ing fuelsconsumersshould also check temperature set: tings for hot water supplies. Thermostats Normal temperatures should be in the 135°-140° range, unless you have a dishwasher that specifically needs higher water tempera- tures. Hotter than needed water temperatures waste fuel in heating and also due to natu- ral losses related to normal efficiency levels of ,gas and oil -fired hot water supplies. The combination of filet - saving settings.. and water - saving plumbing products can put extra dollars in your pocket! Wood heat is popular The lure of an open .fire remains powerful even though more North Americans are beginning to realize that fireplaces often are net heat losers. Since a fire needs lots of oxygen to burn, it will draw air from all parts of the house and from outside through cracks in walls and windows. This air is then expelled up the chimney, meaning the furnace has to work extra hard to reheat the rest of the house. And since the damper has to be left open until the fire is completely out - which may be all night - more hot air escapes. To combat this waste, heat- ciculating fireplaces have been developed. There are several models but the basic principle is that air is taken in, warmed through some type of heat -exchange system and then passed into the living quarters through vents. The unit may take air from outside or inside the house. But for people who live in older homes with con- ventional masonry fireplaces, there has been little recourse except to in- stall glass doors or to cut down on use of the fireplace in the winter. Now, according to Jim Johns of Custom Design Centre in London, there is a fireplace insert available which turns a conventional unit into a heat -circulator. The insert is a steel box with glass doors, and ranges in price from $399 to $549 plus a $100 installation charge. Johns says that since the unit was shown at the Western Fair this year, there has been an "astronomical response" and he has received about 250 inquiries about it. Woodtoves. are also growing ih popularity, both for heating and cooking. According to manufacturers, the Franklin type .la most sought-after. This -ingenious stove, invented by nen)arnin Franklin in 1742, used air from a draft beneath the floor, employed some for combustion and spewed the rest back into the room. The stove has been modified a great deal, not necessarily for more ef- ficiency. With doors in front that can be opened or closed, it is not as effective as a closed stove but it does provide the esthetic pleasure of an open fire. And the open -fire concept is a draw to prospective buyers, says Ned Fisher, president of the Enterprise Foundry Co. Ltd. He found that as the public became more aware of. the limits on oil and natural gas, wood stoves seemed a natural replacement, because they would be energy -savers and because "there's magic in an open fire." Fisher cautions that the wood stove is not the answer to all home -heating problems since it operates most ef- fectively when heating a limited space. To heat the whole house with wood, a wood -burning furnace would be required. For those who are still reluctant to invest in a wood stove, who are not lured by the romanticism or the potential energy savings, Fisher offers one last-ditch inducement: A wood stove offers protection- against a power failure. There are hazards as well as joys in using wood stoves or fireplaces. House fires are more common in dwellings heated with, wood, no matter how carefully the installation is supervised, simply because of the nature of the heat source: A burning fire gives off sparks and flames. A smoke detector is practical for any home, but aeipecially for one in which wooWheat is used. (If it's installed too close to the stove, however, smoke might set the alarm off everytime you put a fire of 1 r. 'Energy is fast becoming a scarce And expensive ,l e- . s uro e And coni e re. be coming more and more aware of the need to conserve. - .But perhaps -one of the largest areas of energy waste is Outfit ignored. The,walls of most private bows have lit: tie or no insulation, even though they represent an op- •portunity, for significant en- ergy savings. Certainly, a wall is one of the more difficult areas in your home to insulate. It is relatively easy to add insula- tion in the attic, or beneath the house in the crawlspace or basement.. You can't take the sante approach with a.. wall. There are,two ways to in- sulate a wall. One is to blow insulation into the wall cav- ity. But this means drilling ;,:kw;y holes throughthe outside wall' of your home, whi+ later '•timus Lbe tch match the extetforlinish. Also, the' insulation often doesn''t: Flit the wall coiii- pletelY, because.of obstruc- tons in the internal: framework. And many in- sulating materials, will settle in the Wall cavity, which re- duces their insulating value. Finally, this method doesn't insulate the entire wall since there is no insula- tion over the studs.. The other alternative is to apply an insulating layer to the outside of a house, then cover it with siding. But what materials should be used for the -job? First off, standard insula- tion, such as fiberglass bat= • ting, won't work because of space limitations. If it's Take it Iran Discount DAVE... applied to the wall,: ;then compressed by the siding, .it loses nearly all of its i n .ulA- tion val,te, Also, it may trap moisture.. Many contractors are turn- ing to an insulation board of . one form or another. These materials, usually one-half inch thick or greater, provide the same in- sulation value as a much thicker layer of standard in- sulation, depending on the composition of the board. Depending on the indi- vidual product, it carries a limited warranty up to 40 years. Specimen warranty certificates are available through individual dealers. l Also, the siding will not red rust, an important considera- tion in many areas; and soffits, strutters and down- spouts made of aluminum can he 'color ;coordinated: :to add character to a me.. . Steel siding, slightlyhosnore expensive t n a11PROA U m, is also -available in a wide range afcolors and styles. Because of o itscosheav tsmorier e -w -for ieight,nstalstee ls-l als tion. The main drawback to. steel relrustis. its susceptibility to Vinyl plastic siding is used for conventional residing work, but in some cases, its application over plastic foam insulation board is prohib- ited. Traditionally it's -only, been available in white and pastelstyles- colors, and in limited Since vinyl's expansion/ contraction ratio under tem- perature change is higher than any other conventional siding material, it has te;bl installed mo car ully; • vinyl, Mite mostli ti_s.. susceptible.to!fj, loess cold teemjtnllElatrli' pr000ngeil,. e light. Also, vinyl burp Regardless,, the rtnitt 'I to do:w.hen choosing; siding: s to ignore the rumorsyiitt' re heard. • - Man,y people tilt that - metal siding INITATtraet light- ning, for example 1.ot true•...' Lightning has noreference. for any materilal. The deter: mining factor is height The.tallesfoh ect:ii!n•an ar '-\ will attract Iightfing, regattU less of composition, ff thin weren't 'thecaner- lightning would never strike trees, Another false rumor about 1, • tellelt surrounding reel; interferencee a function or M. ',ridiculous t, ca amount of Alton nu used in a si0ng40 s x i) St tti net de`t btil ali sing a silty li -ii}a rial,a so think in te •maintenance is vlrlgs- -- make a big dilerence'a budget. Aluminum _ R-12 AND R 2O FIB $G INSULATION SOLE #0r# 14 to Iwo', fin -resistant: moisture -resistant and it'll sorb • yes a bends on Misting a toorfeg bills. 2 FOR WALLS AND FLOORS Oar Using Cash a Carry 18' Sq. Ft. NOW 20 BETWEEN RAFTERS Our Meal Cashes Carry 20, Sq. Ft. ' NOW "IF YOU -DON- HAVE. --D; ADEQUATE INSULATION U'RILOSING HEAT AND WASIING Et. RIGHT NOW, OUR- R-12 AND R-20 FRICTION FIT BAiTS ARE ON SALE AT 15% OFF OUR USUAL CASH CARRY PRICES... BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER WAYS YOU CAN REDUCE •HEAT LOSS, CUT DOWN ON FUEL BILLS AND SAVE ENERGY CHECK'DUR USUAL CASH AND CARRY PRICES ON THESE ITEMS i LID EJ, V. Prices Are Cosh & Carry Insulate with Cellulose Fibre Insulation...buy one of our Roof Vents to reduce moisture build-up and -protect your insulation in the attic...use Korolite on basement walls...change your furnace filter; wrap your pipes...caulk your windows and weatherstrip your doors! Everything you need to save fuel and conserve energy is at Discount DAVE'S 1 �VAv Ill t ir• inn I ��--- ---� i ,�:_�-- � �i�ulgl Ijr I r `, r� I � Ilitl � 'Ili • Ii k '0 \ —11 roc ha"IP r1011.--)\ nu CHARGla VISA Your Visa and Mastercharge cards are as good as cash at Discount Dave's.. Delivery And Credit Terms Available At Extra Cost 18 Branches to Serve You:. AMHERSTBURG EXETER GODERICH GRAND BEND HARROW KINCARDINE KINGSVILLE KITCHENER 738.2151 235.1422 524.8321 238-2374 738.2221 396.3403 733-2341 744.8371 OWEN SOUND RIDGETOWN SOUTHAMPTON THEOFORD WEST LORNE WINDSOR EAST WINDSOR WEST MATTHEW'S .i feb.:71. WITH GLASS DOORS...IT REDUCES UP -THE -CHIMNEY HEAT LOSS WHEN THE FIRE IS 0T® Shown at left is our 8136 Regal Built-in Fireplace with glass doors. It's a real energy saver! Can be installed at less than half the cost of a masonry fireplace. Comes complete with refractory base and firebrick back, por- celain side walls. high temperature insulation, positive seal damper. Or Buy One 0f Our Efficient SUNFIRE UNITS WITH 3 -POINT ADVANCED DESIGN Has a built-in humidifier that circulates warm fresh air throughout the house. Stale air feeds the fire and Sunfire exhausts it outside. Special Fire Control Wheel saves fuel and safely extends late night heating. Everything You Need is in our Fireplace Corner INCLUDING FIREPLACE ACCESSORIES FIRELOGS, SMOKE PIPE AND EVEN THE CHIMNEY ITSELF! 378.3181 874.5465 797.3245 298-4991 ' 788.1520 727.6001 734-1221 254-1143 KITCHENER Out-of-town Cell Free of Charge: 1-800-285-8090 or 8991 MATTHEWS MON.-THURS 8 A.M -6 P.M FRIDAY 8 A.M -9 P M. SATURDAY 8 A.M. • 5:30 P.M. KiTCHENER KINCARDINE WINDSOR EAST WINDSOR WEST MON.-THURS 8 A.M.-5:30 P.M FRIDAY 8 A.M.-9 P.M. SATURDAY 8 A.M.-5:30 P.M. Amhertburg, Goderlch, Kingsville, Owen Sound, West Lome, Harrow, Ridgetown, Southampton. MON.-FRIDAY 8 A.M. • 5:30 P.M.; SAT till 4 Exeter, Thodford• Grand Bend; MON.-FRIDAY 8 A.M. • 5:30 P,M.; SATURDAY till 1:00 P.M. NO Fairway Road tooth near the MK Mone 7444371 Hwy. 21 North opposite the Button Perk leg. Phone 808-2403 On Highway 21 et Sprinpmount Corner, Phone 278-3181 -Bc Hwy. 82 approx. 11 miles west of Thedtord. Phone 244-aa111 ►ecuaemn E. I-- oau. 7 � C sU,vcsm°m° WINDSOR I WEST . add Tecumseh Bypass on Hwy. 2 3500 Front Rd. ih LeSs Ie on Phone 7276001 Hero. 1A, Phone 734-1221 FRANKLIN FIREPLACE If you're looking for a good buy on a Franklin, see Discount Dave's. Ours combines quality with extra value. Comes complete with grote, firescreen and or- namental brass balls. Can be used as a hearty open fire or enclosed heater. Overall size: 37" wide by 26" deep. A DIVISION or rer.iat It048re i, •) trn MATTHEWS LOTSFREE OF PARKING Loom Ina 700 Tecumseh Rd. W, at Lansdowne Ave at the tracks, Crawford. Phone 254-1143 Phone 733-2341