Showing posts with label dishwasher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dishwasher. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Yes, You CAN Improve Your Water Pressure!
May The Force Be With You!Water pressure is sort of like tires on your car: You never really notice it until something goes wrong. Showers slow to a pathetic drizzle. The dishwasher stops cleaning dishes. Garden hoses are rendered useless. Drinking water trickles out of your faucets. While most of us simply live with water pressure problems, there are several ways you can easily improve your home’s water pressure without too much fuss.
City Water Pressure
If you get your water from your local municipality, the main lines are laid underground where water pressure is very high. Friction causes the water to lose pressure as it travels through the main line and into your house. Even more water pressure is lost as it travels through your plumbing and out your faucet. The smaller the space, the more friction builds up. If you’ve got low water pressure coming from a faucet, chances are there’s too much friction somewhere between the main municipal supply line and your sink.
While this may seem like a pretty vague diagnosis, it’s relatively easy to pinpoint the problem.
Pipes that are too small generate more friction than ones that are larger. Even a fraction of an inch can make a big difference in improving water pressure. If you have ½ inch pipes in your house, replacing just the exposed ones with larger ¾ inch pipes can significantly increase your water pressure. You could also hire a professional to replace all the plumbing in your house, which will produce even greater water pressure results. If you’re building a new house, consider upgrading to larger pipes. You’ll pay a bit more, but the “hassle savings” alone will more than make up for the extra cost.
Another common problem that can affect water pressure is a blockage or build-up in your pipes. As water travels through plumbing it leaves small mineral deposits. Over time, these deposits can accumulate on the inside of the pipes and shrink their diameter, kind of like plaque that builds up in the arteries of people with high cholesterol. This essentially makes the pipes smaller and increases friction, impacting water pressure. The good news is that this kind of mineral build-up is obvious to the naked eye, so removing a small sample section of pipe will quickly shed light on the problem. There are many chemicals available on the market that will break down these deposits and flush them from your plumbing.
If your water pressure woes are sudden, the problem could be with the main water line. You should contact your water company and inform them of the issue; they will be able to provide more information or give you next steps to follow.
Well Water Pressure
If your home uses well water, you have a water pressure tank instead of a main municipal line. The water pressure tank can be the source of a whole other set of problems in addition to the ones that city water users have. A tank that’s too small can be ill-equipped to maintain adequate pressure when water is used in several places in your home at once. The tanks can leak, too, which causes a loss of water pressure. It’s wise to have your water pressure tank checked by a plumber or well professional if you experience any sudden changes in water pressure.
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Monday, February 15, 2010
Energy Efficient Kitchens
The average American home spends about 20 percent of total household energy bills on running electronic devices and appliances; things like computers, refrigerators, washing machines and dryers, televisions, stereos, and dishwashers comprise the bulk of most home energy usage. Coincidentally, many of the most common—and most heavily used—household appliances are in the kitchen. The following tips will help you boost your kitchen’s energy efficiency, reduce your monthly utility bills, and trim down your family’s carbon footprint.Refrigerators and Freezers
Be sure to set your refrigerator and freezer to a reasonable temperature. Most manufacturers have recommended temperature settings clearly marked near the climate control panel inside the appliance. If you can’t find it, a good temperature range is between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit for refrigerators, and 0 degrees Fahrenheit for free-standing freezers.
A full fridge or freezer is much more energy efficient than an empty one. Whenever possible, stock them to near-capacity to reduce the compressor’s workload. This can also delay food thawing and warming in the event of a power outage.
Try to position the refrigerator in a cool spot, away from heat sources like the oven or a window that received direct sunlight most of the day. This keeps the fridge cooler overall and prevents the appliance from having to run overtime to compensate for the extra heat.
Freezers should never be placed in an area of extreme temperatures, particularly outdoors. Drastic climate changes can force the compressor to work overtime, causing premature wear and tear. Basements and garages are suitable alternatives if you don’t have room in your kitchen.
Air should be able to move freely behind the fridge or freezer. Set the appliance a few inches from the wall and regularly clean condenser coils (if you have an older model) so there’s no dust or debris restricting air flow. Your owner’s guide will have detailed information on how to safely clean the coils, and you can find specialty cleaning brushes at most major hardware stores.
Check the door seals and make sure they’re intact and airtight. If you notice any gapping, sagging, bunching or breakage replace the seals immediately.
Only open the fridge or freezer door when necessary and close the door when you’re not actively loading or unloading items.
Dishwashers
We’ve all heard the joke about washing the dishes before we wash the dishes (in the dishwasher). While most new models can handle large food particles, many of us are still in the habit of rinsing dishes before we load them in the washer. However, you can save more than 20 gallons of water simply by scraping dirty dishes instead of hand rinsing them before they go in the dishwasher.
There’s very little difference between the amount of water and energy a dishwasher uses on a full load and on a light load, but frequent cycles obviously use more energy—and cost more. To maximize your machine’s efficiency, try to run it only when it’s full.If your dishwasher has a drying feature, turn it off or choose the no-heat option. Heat drying requires even more energy and doesn’t make a significant difference in drying results.
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