Plumbing Problems Getting You Down? Read This!
The difference between taking care of your own plumbing issues and hiring outside help is incredible when it comes to your cash flow. Why not see if you can do some of the jobs yourself? Or at least become a little more knowledgeable on the subject. Here are some useful facts and tips.
The next time you have a clogged drain, avoid the simple solution of dumping drain-clearing chemicals into the pipes. While this method involves the least amount of effort, the chemicals in these liquid cleaners are destructive to your piping. Instead, consider using a little bit of elbow grease with a plunger, snake, or other device designed to clear your clog without chemicals.
To avoid clogs, pay attention to what you flush. Sanitary napkins, thick toilet paper and baby wipes should never be flushed. These items can expand and cause a clog, or get caught on a pipe. Instead, dispose of them in a sanitary way that does not involve flushing them down the toilet.
Some people have problems with their plumbing system in that the pipes sweat and drip condensation. You do not have to hire a plumber to take care of this nuisance. You can purchase self-adhesive drip tape from your local hardware store. This drip tape will insulate your "sweating" pipes which are dripping with moisture built up from condensation. To make sure the tape sticks firmly, dry the pipe thoroughly before applying the tape.
You need to make sure that your lint trap is clean for your dryer. This can prevent fires and malfunctions. Inspect your lint trap every so often for tears or holes that could cause lint to go into your pipes, this could cause clogs or other problems you will have to deal with.
Every now and then, you should pour a large bucket of water down your basement floor drain. This will help to keep the trap seal full and prevent certain gases from coming up into your home. Also, be sure that you have your floor drain checked by a professional Emergency Plumber every few years.
During the winter, preventing frozen pipes when you live in a small dwelling can be something good to know. Frozen pipes will not only stop your flow of water but can crack and damage pipes. By running a little water out of every faucet during the coldest parts of the day, you can avoid this.
Get more information about a plumber before hiring him or her. An inexperienced plumber will end up being costly if they can't do the job correctly, and they cause further problems for you later. Always look at reviews on plumbers, or ask your family or friends if they know of one.
During the winter, preventing frozen pipes when you live in a small dwelling can be something good to know. Frozen pipes will not only stop your flow of water but can crack and damage pipes. By running a little water out of every faucet during the coldest parts of the day, you can avoid this.
So, now do you see why plumbing is such an exciting endeavor? Creating your own skills, learning to take care of your system, and being able to fix it yourself to save money is very exciting. The tips above should have created a good foundation for you to build upon and do your own plumbing jobs easily.
Why it's time to redesign the old air conditioner
The air conditioner is nearly 100 years old, and yet it hasn't evolved much -- the technology is essentially the same as it was the day it was invented.
It has, however, changed our lives, making it possible for humans to thrive in places where heat would otherwise make life unbearable. Air conditioning is also essential to businesses and technologies that rely on controlled temperatures and humidity, such as the very internet servers that are sending this story to your device.
But this all comes at a cost: The cooling of our air is responsible for 10% of the planet's electricity consumption, according to the International Energy Agency. And as the world heats, demand for air conditioners will only grow, especially in developing countries. This, in turn, will increase the impact that cooling appliances have on the climate, thus warming the Earth further and creating a vicious cycle.
The current technology is unsustainable. That's why a new coalition -- led by India's government and America's Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a nonprofit environmental research organization -- has launched the Global Cooling Prize, a $1-million competition to design the next generation of air cooling systems.
"The first home air conditioner was brought to market in 1926 by Willis Carrier, who's long since dead," said RMI's managing director, Iain Campbell, in a phone interview. "If we brought him back to life and showed him today's air conditioning product, not only would he know what it is, he could tell you how it works."
The prize
The artificial glacier growing in the desert
There are 1.2 billion room air conditioning units installed today, but that figure will soar to 4.5 billion by 2050, according to an RMI report. "The impact of that on electricity demand is going to be huge," said Campbell, who co-authored the report. "The dilemma is that it comes at an environmental cost we can't afford. It's a kind of climate threat you don't see much in the rear view mirror, but when you look at what's in front of you, it's massive,"
The Global Cooling Prize sets specific guidelines for participants, who were tasked with designing a cooling solution with five times less climate impact than those popular today, meaning they could help counteract the environmental effects of the expected growth in demand.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1lsY92_nmCH1u72gjMYI4ZChOCJLeKAXLe9ieG5qDeR4/edit?usp=sharing