Important Factors While Choosing A Painting Service
Painting is one of the most commonly due to renovation or restore. It gives a new look at home without making any changes to its structure. Although many people like to makeup their house on their own, it is advisable to rent a Painting contractor for the task. A Painting is not just to create you the perfect completion, but also gives you the good professional services.
If you are looking for a painting contractor then visit progressive painting services website. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/important-factors-while-choosing-a-painting-service-799879.html
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Slow Hot Water.
The reasons for slow hot water
There are a number of factors involved with how long it will take for the hot water to reach your sink, but there are really four main variables. The first is how long the pipe is between the heater and the fixture, the second is the diameter of the pipe, and the third is the flow rate of the fixture itself. The last variable is how much heat the cold pipes pull out of the water on the way to your fixture.
Residential piping layouts
Lets begin with the piping layout. When a home is built there are no plumbing blue prints to follow, so the plumbers just connect up the piping however the individual doing the job feels like it. Whatever is easiest often is the only criteria. I’ve encountered tract homes that have identical floor plans yet the plumbing is connected up substantially different.
If your heater is 30 feet from the fixture as the crow flies you probably have at least 40 feet of pipe. The simplest plumbing layout would have a pipe connecting from your water heater outlet, running either down to the crawl space or up to the attic, or even under the slab if you have slab floors.
Now add the 30 feet of pipe to the fixture, and the pipe running either up to the fixture or down to the fixture. So you now have at least 40 feet of pipe. However, seldom is the pipe run diagonally, usually following along beams or through walls etc, making right angle turns here and there. The pipe could be 50 feet or longer by the time it reaches your fixture.
Flow rates and fixtures
The amount of water flowing through the pipe and the pipe diameter determine the speed at which the water flows. The flow rate of the water is most likely determined by the flow rate of the faucet or fixture.
At only 40 psi a ½” diameter copper pipe 100 feet long would have a flow rate of over 6 gallons per minute with a velocity through the pipe of over 10 feet per second. At that rate your hot water would arrive at your sink in about 5 seconds! Large diameter pipes would have even higher flow rates.
Low flow faucets
The Federal Energy Policy Act of 1992 required all faucet and shower fixtures made the USA to have a flow rate of no more than 2.2 GPM at 60 PSI. Since the pipe itself will allow a much greater flow rate, your water velocity in the pipe will be limited by the flow rate of the fixture. The larger the pipe is, the lower the velocity will be with a fixed flow.
At 2.2 gallons per minute, the velocity of the water in ½” diameter copper pipe is about 3 feet per second. If you are at a kitchen sink it will take about 16 seconds to get the hot water, assuming the flow rate of your fixture is 2.2 gallons per minute, if the cold pipe wasn’t sucking any heat out of the water.
Normally bathroom sink fixtures are restricted to 1 gallon per minute or less, and many shower heads are 1 gallon per minute. At one gallon per minute the time to travel 50 feet would be 32 seconds.
Heat absorbing, cold hot water pipes
Now we come to the part where the cold pipes are pulling the heat out of the water. There are some variables involved here, with the important ones being the ambient temperature of the piping material, what the pipe is made out of, and once again, the flow rate of the water.
Colder pipes absorb more heat
Colder pipes absorb more heat, heavier pipe material hold more heat and so pulls more heat from the water, and the slower the water travels, the more heat gets removed. Insulating the hot water piping helps in that it keeps the pipes from getting as cold and reduces the ongoing heat loss from the pipes to the air, resulting in a higher temperature during usage.
The time it takes to get hot water at the fixture can easily double when the heat loss to the pipes is taken into account.
Tankless water heaters add to the problem
If you have a tankless water heater, then you are even worse off, since the whole water heater is like a long cold pipe. In order to get full temperature hot water out of the outlet it has to pass all the way through the heater from the inlet to the outlet. Instead of starting with hot water your starting with cold water and a cold heater, which takes time to heat. The owners of tankless water heaters need to add 10 or 15 seconds to the wait.
The fastest hot water delivery would be provided by using small diameter pipe, insulating the pipe, using plastic pipe instead of metal, and keeping the length of the pipe to a minimum.
Products designed to get your hot water faster while conserving water
The good news is that there are several products available that help you get your hot water faster without changing your plumbing system. Not only do you get your hot water faster, you don’t run any water down the drain while you wait.
The warm water circulation method
There are basically two approaches to the problem. One approach is to circulate warm water through the piping so that the pipe doesn’t suck heat out of the water while it’s on its way. This provides a substantial improvement in delivery time. These systems consist of a small pump that mounts under the sink furthest from the water heater, which is temperature controlled, turning off and on as needed to keep the water in the piping system at between 85 and 95 degrees F.
The water is circulated from the water heater through the hot water pipes to the pump, and then on into the cold water line and back to the water heater inlet.
The down side is that the cold water pipes no longer have cold water…it’s more like luke-warm, which some people don’t mind, and some don’t care for it. Another problem is that it uses a lot more energy since the water heater has to work harder to keep the water in the pipes at above ambient temperature.
The warm-water systems will not work with tankless water heaters.
The high-speed delivery method
The second approach is to again mount a small pump at the sink furthest from the water heater, but instead of keeping the pipes full of warm water the pump is only activated when hot water is wanted. When activated these pumps pump the water rapidly to the fixture at higher flow rates than the fixtures could provide. When the hot water reaches the pump, it shuts off.
Since the water is flowing at a higher than normal flow rate it arrives more quickly, and since it is traveling at a higher velocity, the pipe absorbs less heat from the water. Again, no water gets run down the drain. These systems are called “demand hot water systems” since they only operate on demand, i.e. when the user pushes a button that starts the pump.
Demand type hot water systems will work with tankless water heaters as long as they produce enough flow. Some pumps do and others don’t, so check with the manufacturer of the demand system to make sure it will work with your model of tankless heater.
Manufacturers of hot water systems
The warm-water pumping systems are manufactured by Laing, Grundfos, RedyTemp, and others. The demand type systems are manufactured by Chilipepper Sales, Metlund, Taco, and others. Suggested retail prices range from about $180 to about $800.
Installing one of these systems not only provides the convenience of fast hot water, but can also save thousands of gallons of water per year. A typical family of four can save over 10,000 gallons of water a year.
Hot water demand systems are environmentally friendly!
Along with the water savings comes a reduction in green house gas emissions since energy is used to pump and treat the water in most residential water systems. And don’t forget about the reduction in sewage, the same energy reduction applies to it.
Two hot water demand systems compared: Demand Hot Water Systems
For more information about all kinds of water heaters: Water Heater Tankless and tank type water heater information.
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-slow-hot-water–799946.html
How Does An Infrared Heating System Work
Are you considering installing a heating system for your home? If your prime concern is to have an effective and energy efficient system, consider installing an infrared heating system. Question is, how does an infrared system work, and how can it help you save energy and money?
An infrared heating system is also known as a heat radiation system. Unlike other heating systems, this system uses electromagnetic waves to generate heat. When the system is turned on, waves are circulated in the room. But no heat is actually generated unless the waves come into contact with a solid surface – walls, furniture, or human beings.
That is why when you have an infrared system installed, the actual room temperature may appear to be lower when compared to other more conventional systems. At least that is what the thermometer says. But the thermometer doesn’t know that heat is generated upon impact. Human beings will be able to feel the heat as it is being generated, and comfort starts to set in.
Because of this unique ability to generate heat upon contact, infrared systems can be used to produce heat for different zones. Energy is directed to zones where it is needed. In other words, the system can direct energy to zones where there are people. This helps to save energy.
The energy efficiency of the system depends on several factors. The way infrared systems work is a big bonus by itself. But other factors such as how heat is being managed throughout the house also comes into the picture.
For example, insulation plays a big part in heat retention. With proper insulation, the objects in the house can retain the heat energy for longer periods of time, hence reducing the reliance on the infrared heating system.
Windows also play a big role. If you have poor quality windows that don’t help to retain heat, you will be using up more energy to produce the heat that is being lost constantly.
When you combine these factors with a infrared heating system, you can save as much as 40% of your energy bills.
In addition, infrared heating systems are also one of the cleanest systems in the world. There is nothing to burn (think fireplaces), and there is no carbon emission. All you need to do is to flick a switch, and electromagnetic waves will be generated.
The heat is almost instant. There is no need to wait for heat to be dispersed around the house. This wait is common if you employ normal heating systems. That is because once the heat has been generated, you still have to wait for the heat to be conducted via ducts or pipes to other parts of the house.
Obviously, electromagnetic waves travel much faster. Homeowners will start to feel warmer and more comfortable very quickly.
Learn more about infrared heating system and other home heating systems
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/how-does-an-infrared-heating-system-work-798480.html
Time To Renovate – According To Canadian Federal Budget
This is a great year to tackle that major renovation project that you’ve been putting off for the past couple of years. Yesterday’s Federal Budget has made it easier and more affordable than ever to get on with getting that project done.
Starting yesterday ,Jan. 27, 2009, and going to
Feb. 1, 2010 is the time line to take advantage of this great program.
It looks like the tax credit can be used for many different types of projects around your home and yard. The Budget is giving a tax credit of 15% on projects over $1000 and up to $10,000. The maximum amount that any individual/couple can claim is $1350.
That is a pretty good motivation to get to work and tackle that list of yours starting this week.
What are some of projects that you can do that will qualify? Well, here are a few: renovating your bathroom, basement or kitchen; putting new flooring down; painting – inside or out; building the deck you always wanted; putting in a new driveway; landscaping your yard with new sod; or putting on that new addition.
Now, as we all know, it is pretty easy to spend $10,000 on a renovation.
This program won’t cover all the expenses for all of the projects that
you may want to do on your house but it will certainly help with one or two
of them.
Cheap Home Improvement Projects That Won’t Break The Bank
For most homeowners, tackling a home improvement project can be a very expensive time in one’s life. Depending on what you want to do to your home, time and money will be big determining factors.
In many cases, people usually use loans from their banks or credit cards to pay for these upgrades. If you can pay the amount back quickly then this is a fine route to go. Unfortunately, too many people max out their credit lines and end up taking years to pay off these loans or credit cards.
It might be nice to dream about transforming your house into a dream home with a designer kitchen, home theater room and a spa-like master bathroom. You know what I mean…the kind that everyone in the neighbourhood talks about. If you have the money and the time to do this kind of a major project then go for it. It is great to see homes updated and made more elegant and comfortable for their owners. There are lots of options available.
However, with the cost and time involved to tackle a big project, you may find that you could do some easy and cheap home improvement projects that will transform your home into a great place and it won’t break the bank. A home that you can be proud of.
Here are a few ideas for you to do some cheap home improvement projects:
1. Decide what you would like.
Check out many different home improvement magazines, books, TV shows and stores to get ideas. There are many options and even more ways to achieve a similar look and feel for what you would like. Even go to some real estate open houses to get some ideas from other people’s places. Put your ideas down on paper in drawings, in short descriptions and create a swipe file of pictures from magazines and catalogs for you to look at and refer back to.
2. Practicality.
There are numerous projects that you can undertake to improve your home. Take the time to think about the practicality of each one that you want to do before starting them though. You might want that new bathroom but do you really want to deal with the noise, mess and disruption by having contractors tear out the old sink, toilet, bathtub and walls and then rebuild it all to look new again?
3. Changing the layout of rooms.
Changing the layout of the furniture in your home can be one of those very good and cheap home improvement projects. Just by putting your furniture in different positions often changes the overall ambience and feel of your home.
4. Painting the walls and moulding.
Colors play a big part in terms of a home’s ambience. One of the quickest and cheapest ways to change the look and ambiance of your home is to wash your walls with T.S.P. (tri sodium phosphate) and then grab a brush, roller and new paint and get to work repainting each of your rooms.
You can do most of the repainting jobs yourself along with other members of your family which will, hopefully, make the job easier and more fun.
You may find that with with a new coat of paint on the walls and trim, along with some new accents, that you can make it look great with out spending a bundle.
5. Try a little greenery.
Plants and flowers give rooms an inviting and warm feeling. The life that they add to your home is wonderful and dramatic. The difference between a room with plants and one without can be absolutely amazing. With thousands of types, sizes and colors of plants to choose from you are sure to find some great greenery to change the look of your home.
The above tips and ideas are just a few of the ways that you can do some cheap home improvement projects to upgrade and improve your home without breaking the bank. It is often the little and inexpensive touches and projects that you do to your home that can give you the most pleasure. As well, your return on your investment of time and money can sometimes be better than by doing a big project.
The most important thing to remember is that your home is your castle and that you need to enjoy it and feel comfortable with it even if it isn’t the biggest house on the block.