March 11, 2019
Dear Ken: If you had to do one thing to save energy, which it be? A new furnace or new windows? Dennis
It's a pretty close call, but I'd go with the windows. When it comes to spending money to save energy, I always want to know the payback time. That is, the length of time it takes to recoup the expenditure before the new system begins paying dividends in the form of energy savings. It will take maybe 7 years or so to amortize the new furnace and perhaps 9 or 10 years for the windows. But a set of new vinyl windows will save energy year round, not just in the wintertime, as would be the case with the new furnace. Plus they will let in less dust and noise than you may be experiencing now--and they add to the perceived value of your home.
Dear Ken: I'd like to try to save some energy. I'm interested in solar heat and I'd like your opinion. Jeremy
Most solar systems these days are either photovoltaic (PV) panels to supplement your electrical demands, or solar heated hot water heaters. The PV option is only barely viable with government subsidies and/or large tax credits, while the water heater is quite pricey.
You still can find a few vendors who will install solar home heating systems; they basically come either wet or dry. The first will heat an anti-freeze/water solution in the solar panels and send it to a heat exchanger where it will transfer the sun's BTU's into a hot water reservoir or to a boiler. I'm not a big fan of these systems because they are somewhat complicated and require lots of attention and maintenance. Plus they are prone to leaking and freeze-ups.
The one I really like is the dry, hot air system because it’s delightfully uncomplicated. Its components consist of one or more solar panels, a small circulating fan, a thermostat and some flexible duct work. When the thermostat calls for heat, the fan turns on and sucks air from, say the living room floor, sends it through the hot panel and then blows the now warm air out a ceiling register (there's a small sensor in one of the panels that shuts down the system at night or when it's cloudy). This arrangement requires virtually no maintenance, is unobtrusive and is a great back-up for your existing heating system. The warm air from the panels will satisfy the thermostat and so the furnace will run much less often.
Dear Ken: We had a drip from our shower knob. The plumber says it's pretty old and we'll have to bust out the tile to fix it. What do you think? Bill
I think he needs to try harder. There are every few leaks that can't be fixed in an existing faucet--no matter how old. Perhaps he didn't have the very specialized tool he needed. There are unique faucet wrenches that extend into the hole and twist the recessed stem out of the wall. Then you can take a look at the valve seat. That's the hole that the rubber washer twists into ("seats") to turn the water off. If it's a little worn, you can switch from a flat washer to a cone-shaped.
If the faucet is irredeemable, then, yes, it can be replaced by cutting out the tile and drywall a little to access the piping. Then the hole gets hidden with a “goof ring”--an extra-wide flange that sits under the new faucet to hide the repair.
Dear Ken: We want a hard surface floor for our basement which is now concrete. We have linoleum now, but the seams are loosening. We like the idea of wood, but what to know what you think. Caroline
Anything but wood. Apparently some moisture is evaporating through your concrete floor and irritating the existing vinyl sheet goods. Even though unseen, almost all basement floors exude some moisture, and wood floors have a hard time in this environment. They tend to react to the damper conditions by warping and separating. If you must have a hard surface and the floor is reasonably flat, check out either ceramic tile or vinyl planking. This is a snap-together, heavy vinyl material that comes in a variety of pleasing patterns and colors—even nice looking wood grain imitations; you’ll love it.
