Loading...
The Huron Expositor, 1989-10-25, Page 1010A - lilE leaiRONeEXPOSI7 R, [ 1:TOBEIV 25, 1989 - MANAGING ;`I 'YOUR IEWILMS BUlla Renovations .have become a=multMnillion dollar industry in Canada as homeowners regularly upgrade 'the appearance .and value of their dwellings At little extra cost, many homeowners are building energy efficiency into their renovation plans, .c me d:in-the knowledge that these measures .,will soon .pay •4or themselves in 'reduced treating hillstand ;in- creased home comfort, One of the most popular renovation ac- tivities, especially for do-it-yourselfers, is to turn an unused .basement into .comfor- .table living :space. Since the basement can account for .up to'30per Bent of a .home's heat loss, it presentsmany abasic and sim- ple opportunities for energy improvements. Your first step should be to carefully draftproof exterior walls. Caulk .along the sill plate, header joist and around service entrance, pipes and ducts that pass through the walls. Then frame your walls and have an electrician .install outlets, switches and. .lighting :fixtures. Once the wiring is in place, basement walls should be insulatedfano floor to ceil- ing. You can insulate from the inside unless the wall has a history of moisture problems (look for mold stains or a white .or yellow powder on The wall) or poor •=damage. Axnoisture b'art'er is usually .applied -to the abasement walls, up to .grade level, before ;insulating. 'Be sure to install a generous mount -of insulation between joists tin the header area. Consult your 'building 'supply dealer for information`.on the types 'of insulation available -and their uses. No matter what material you .use, never :insulate .directly -around 'seat -producing obstructions such .as'flliepipes (you can .in- sulate around water pipes). You should also turn off the power 'before working around electrical outles, and avoid the main electrical panel altogether. -.Before you .apply your wall ,board, it is important that you :install an air vapor ter- rier on the warm side of the •insulation. 'This will help prevent household air from moving into the wa1Ls, where water vapor in the .air can condense .and cause moisture problems. The air -'vapor -harrier should extend into the header area. The basement -ceiling area also provides opportunities :for low-cost energy improve- ment..Special tape is available for sealing all joints .in the phot air .ducts, and long runs of duct work should .be insulated to GE T REA +llri I.- FORy : a, j 190111, .:CHAN'GES *ANTI 'FREEZE •SNOW°`TIRES e'ICAR WASHING WAXING . y rch ie s Sunoco C�1p.r-7aDays.A Week .24 gioderich.Sf, .t., .5aaforth, Ont. 227488:1 1:01121KAI t y*ur i � {,f , prevent sheat loss. These measures will get more of the heat from the furnace to its destination, -KITCHEN RENOVATIONS Kitchens are another popular target for renovations. Homeowners often spend several thousand dollars making these areas more attractive and functional, so a few extra dollars on energy-saving measures will hardly be noticed. When you undertake kitchen renovations, planning .and timing are paramount. For .example, if you are replacing your 'kitchen cabinets there will be a brief interval bet- ween the removal of old cabinets and the installation of new ones 100 Take advantge of this to seal air leaks around -plumbing pipes and other wall openings that are normally hidden from view. Several caulking products have been especially designed for areas subject to high levels of moisture. No matter what room in the home you are renovating, you should caulk around the edges of windows, baseboards and elec- trical outlets on exterior walls. Weather stripping should be used to seal air leaks at the :movable joints of exterior doors add windows. If your plans call for repairs to an exterior wall, consider .upgrading the insulation. EXTERIOR WORK Energy efficiency can even be a con- ile' z, 't',<HiHi The energy crisis of the mid-70s is behind us, but high fuel prices are here now and even higher ones are likely to follow. That has lead a growing number of Canadians to ex- plore the potential for heating their homes with wood. Energy-efficient wood -burning stoves are now'available in a wide variety. of designs, including traditional -looking equipment -that has .all. the benefits of modern technology. Homeowners interested in heating -with woodare almost certain to find an appliance that matches their decor. Appearance:isimportant, but it is.oniy:one of many considerations when purchasing wood -burning equipment. In fact, before you even 'begin .to look at appliances you should ensure that you have: access to a secure. reasonably priced wood supply. If you do, and you are willing to devotethemi- tratime and attention required to ;operate a safe and efficient'system, yet -ill find that heating with "wood can be a rewarding ex- perience in terms of comfort, aesthetics and cost. APPLIANCES Selecting the appropriate "woodburning appliance for your needs will probably re- quire somerr�esearch.and comparrative.shop- ping. You'lIfind that' proper -installation of wood heating .equipment is 'expensive, ob- viously, it costs more to install a central sideration in esiterior renovation work. If you have excavated to repair leaky foun- dation walls, you may ^want to take 'this opportunity to insulate uhfiniahed basement walls from the outside before filling in the hole. Similarly, if you are ineta'lling new siding you can incorporate additional in- sulation in the job. Energy, Mines and Resources Canada can provide helpful information on perfor- ming many of the projects diseussed in this article, as well as other energy -saving measures. Simply mail your request for information to Home Energy Publications, Energy, Mines and Resources Canada, 680 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ontario, 'MA 0E4. is it right you? heating system than a free-standing stove. Also, central heating systems do not lend themselves to self -installation. Wood stoves and furnaces range in price from a few hun- dred toseveral thousand dollars, and an ap- proved chimney system can cost more than the appliance. Wood -burning appliances come in a varie- ty of types, shapes and sizes. They include space heaters, pellet -burning stoves, cookstoves, forced -air wood furnaces, boilers, add-on furnaces and boilers, and dual fuel furnaces. The equipment you select will.depend largely on the role you in- tend it to play in the home. Spend some time becoming familiar with the various options. With sufficient informa- tion about your heating requirements and the proposed location of the appliance, an in- formed dealer can usually recommend the appropriate type and size of equipment for your needs. It isimportant to buy -equipment that has {heentestedandlabeled to the standards of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) orthe Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC). Before you purchase any equip- ment, .check with your insurance agent about coverage. Some companies charge higher :premiums for homes equipped with wood -burning appliances. •+WEATHERSTRIPPING •FURNACE FILTERS •ELECTRIC -HEATERS •GLOVES *WINDOW "GLASS "SILLS fiiCAU.LKIN.G 43,, 'FOAM INSUL, `TION *PATIO 4/1/IND.OW INSULATION 'STOV.E:•A "FURNACE rIMPES *SNOW:SHOVELS HOME HARDWARE ',PLUMBING , .HEATING ;nand.7ELECTRICAL SI Pp:4JES -,M'AIN.ST.,SEAFORitd =7-:1620 'Rome e illardwart c .A 1 L E Y.cS -©f ~WEN& 9):L.Z+ , N • It,feels,daoo; goodnwliennsopleone .,tares. Aad Garnier,oates;totheehlneaof ;up.,to a$4250O1HB$ATEretbnatutal gasrefficieacy. bimply,TiaamQ a>.lotli Lazrieroflome, G;omfortSystem,con• -sistiag-xof ail igh'uHfltiency ,Natllfai ,fins iruace; tittraliikS iliitlOw rand a-PoweriJJwu lli er benisave .,againatul Ogaia lit uiatu ralsgas... tthetconomiedlakrAauive. illuu i6*tfos)tari • ' alp rt)s5R181l43fReem , .,,sberAli$l9• eeettetialeee rrttdi��s�' eat, e ,n4s :SEE US FOR m m e Tune bps • 'Tires .Lube Jabs r� :Full 'Cooling System Service * Brakes* 'Exhaust Systems a Batteries Personal Service C.4; �,. , 01V, 0,10 FIX! :PEIRMIUM ATO tiNe 52740333 23 Uoderich i., E. $aeafprth 110 Erlitimthe.comfp> and effitciertr,00fffmel ai.L Ask•.Zb..R.akinirlsonvlel it ne AL0404Monsi HE2.alilable. Fuel rder �w HOME „,WARM SERVICE ietedi perglia iebeatandlieerse tiseI tWhen ,ypu• sojas tswathUs,'welllts e -drat,you're-reetinudllyss.!ppJi d fi worth-deaneefcientsheatin.�g• oft SAFETY Wood -burning heating appliances require more maintenance and attention than elec- tric, oil or natural gas systems. This is because creosote, a flammablebyproduct of incomplete wood combustion, continually accmnulates on the .inside surfaces of .the heating equipment, particularly in the flue pipeand cldnmey. As littleas 6 nun (1/4 in. i of creosote can result in a chimney fire. Although creosote is the common enemy, carbon monoxide (an odourless, colourless and tasteless gas is the most dangerous product of incomplete wood combustion in the home. To avoid this problem, ensure that your system has good draft land that you burn small, hot fires•rather than large smoulderingones. You can slow down the 'build-up of creosote by using a chimney that is in- sulated and an efficient appliance, by burn- ing well -seasoned wood, and by building hot, quick -burning fires. However, regular chimney inspection and cleaning are the best ways to avoid problems. Your home should also be equipped with smoke detectors. A comprehensive booklet on burning wood in the home, Residential Wood Beating: A Homeowner's Guide, is.avaflable.by writing to Energy, -Mines and Resources Canada, Residential Energy Management Division, 580 Booth St., Ottawa, .Ontario'K1A 0E4. �s Rating your furnace No .matter how you look. at it, heating the typical Canadian homethrough thewinter is an expensive pro.position. While homeowners have no control over the 'cost of the fuel, they ean.ensure that itis: put to,good use by 'maintaining an efficient heating system. Furnace efficiency is measured in two ways: seasonal ,efficiency .and steadyestate efficiency. Seasonal efficiency measures theperfor- mance of .a furnace over; the entire heating season,_taking into: account equipment start- ups .and shutdowns, .when furnaces ,are generally least efficient. Seasonal:efficiere cies can only be calculated; under. extremely controlled conditions, and.are not available for most 'furnaces ,in Canada. 'That means most homeowners .must rely on steady tate.efficiency ratings .to :deter- mine just how well,their furnaeegis+doingats job. This rating measures•oniy the pereen- tage of:available heat delivered :by the 'fur- nace duringits,peak;eperating•stages (after bus warmedup,and'before;it.begins:tueool down' Steady-state efficiency- ratings ;ace almust.always higher than seasonal ratings for the.same furnace. In nther.:words, the ac- tual ,performance over .the .entire heatin ! ,season.,willnever beas:good.as indicated by -at test. Most furnace technicians ,are ,equipped aril trained:•to eunductatearlyaslate:efficien- cy tests.: Efficiencyratwgslor oil ;furnaces can fluctuate ;,widely from year to -your, eso it's a good idea. to test your furnaee's,effi- -;ciency :once a year Inuring your routine niainteaance check. If .you own a natural gas .furnace, you .inlay decide to ;have it .tested Mess ,often Since.effici)encies :will ,not vary ^signifiroantlyfromayear ,to year (YOU sjlou ldytillhave:the;furrlac serviced before eaeh •heating ,aeoson to .ensure ,that it is operatingAPOraitingliatelYaind,effieientlYa AA,ft rigour furna s bee ern crating for Rbopt lO ort minutes. your ter duel swill -perform-.two :tests .to leteinine its .steady- ° tateefficiency''Thell jestrneasuresear- jipndio ideconeeijtra ouusinthefllue„gases, ,.whilethe$ecppd:measuresthetemper titre ?of,- esdOl^thegjoe.ofgases e .results of+,these.tests;wUl tighle the tec ,hn :Pik o rate•!tbe efficaenev[o °ypur ;doe i osnpared with ether ;emitter ..p*. Awe t e d of this will a ule you to,re1ate ie carbonic jdepon AJL HF T it ce• on crezal � n det etilileeA1;gau b,pu�r tra MYsPrO PRP. If ,ppte neto bv,ptkspion uAmnts.a?d enyy, perAgg,sp ercs1eSY��.i�ny*Pa0e). stie d FhAs "l . ++ p t OIKAROtth s 274117 ,1104C';aeatO hrEPSAter, ;asi fig., 1.r rn,i,BMPAIS 10,0klCil ,10014;9 §t&. r` illltr r e?k*Aa 6.-5 ..A0..b 1 v,rd,', , M of. ia. ^:9a1°'} 3.k.ei; .ata