Handyman Guide > Fuel Economy

One of the chief advantages of a thermostat is that it maintains an even temperature in the house throughout the day.

Avoid heating the house to a high temperature during the winter months. It is generally agreed that an overheated house is detrimental to health, particularly when the system is exposed to sudden, sharp changes in temperature on leaving the house. Keep the room temperature at 68 to 70 degrees.


Another point to consider is that when a house is overheated, doors and windows must be opened to cool it off. The loss of heat - and therefore fuel - that accompanies this practice is most uneconomical. Again, from the standpoint of heating economy, it should be remembered that when the house temperature rises above 70 degrees, fuel consumption will go up sharply. A house heated to 80 degrees will require about 15 per cent more fuel than is needed at 70 degrees.

The first step in saving fuel is to avoid letting the fire burn so rapidly that it must be allowed to die down to reduce the heat. For hand-fired furnaces, keep a full bed of coal and regulate burning by means of the drafts.

Keep the temperature of the house as near 70 degrees as possible during the day. There is a general practice of letting the fire burn very low at night and forcing it in the morning. A better plan is to reduce the fire slightly during the night, so that the house does not become chilled. When a room is thoroughly chilled, it requires a great deal of heat to make it comfortable again. Heat must be absorbed by the walls and ceiling before the air is warmed.

Most people like to sleep with a window open, and this can be a source of considerable loss of heat unless the radiators in that room are turned off and the door shut, to prevent chilling the rest of the house.

WARM AIR SYSTEM

The warm air heating system is one of the oldest in use today, and, in recent years, its compactness and efficiency have been markedly increased. Many revolutionary types of warm air systems are being put on the market, and some of them differ as greatly from the older systems as the automobile of today differs from early models. Since these new systems are not in general use, however, this section will be concerned with the conventional hot air system found in the majority of homes.

Operation of this system depends upon the principle that warm air, being lighter than cold air, will rise; and, if pipes or openings are provided, the warm air will flow through these and into the rooms of the house.

Some types of warm air systems have numerous ducts, blowers, and registers, so that the warm air from the furnace will be forced through the entire house. Additional registers and ducts are provided so that the cold air will be brought back to the furnace to be heated. Other types of warm air systems draw the cold air directly from outdoors by means of a large duct, heat it by circulation through the furnace, and thus provide a continuous supply of warm, fresh air.

The kind of warm air system installed will depend upon the heating requirements of the house. A pipeless furnace, for example, sends a blast of hot air through one central register. The inefficiency of this kind of system in a large house is that the warm air will escape through the first available opening upstairs and leave the rooms on the lower floor unheated. Also, if the rooms have high ceilings, there will be a concentration of heat in the upper portion of the room, while the lower part remains relatively cold. A. pipeless furnace is best suited for small, compact homes where ample opportunity is provided, by means of doors and other openings, for the warm air to circulate about the house.

Continue to Increasing Efficiency





Tools and Materials

Hammers - Handsaws - Screwdrivers - Chisels - Brace and Bit - Hand Drill - Brad Awl - Planes - Files - Measuring Tools - Rules - Squares - Marking Gauge - Levels - Pincers - Nail Set - Drawknife - Cabinet Scraper - Small Tool Kit - Putty Knife - Pliers - Wrenches - Paint Scraper - Sharpening Tools - Nails - Wood Screws - Corrugated Fasteners - Mending Plates - Bolts - Abrasives - Woodworking Glue - Splices and Joints.

The Workshop
Equipping the Workshop - Heating - Fire Precautions - The Workbench - Saw Bucks - Tool Rack.

Home Construction
Elements of the House - Building Materials - Lumber - Molding - Kinds of Wood and their Characteristics - Plywood Wallboard - Roofing Materials - Concrete - Mixing Concrete - Cement Mortar - Concrete Forms - Concrete Blocks - Cinder Blocks - Bricklaying - Fieldstone - Anchoring in Masonry - Soldering.

Furniture
Upholstered Furniture - Furniture Upkeep - Removing Stains - Removing Dents - Leather Upholstery - Cane Seats - Furniture Repairs - How to Repair Breaks - Levelling furniture - Remodeling Furniture - Polishes and Polishing - French Polishing - Painting Furniture - Sticking Drawers - Metal Furniture.

Painting
Paint Brushes - Storing Brushes - Varnish - Water Paint and Plastic Paint - Types of Paint - Paint Thinners - Mixing Paints - Preparing the Surface - Painting Flaws - Removing Paint - Exterior Painting - Painting New Wood - Repainting - Metal - Interior Painting - Calcimine - Painting Woodwork - Old Wood Trim - Staining - Fillers - Varnishing - Bleaching - Enameling - Painting Radiators - Painting Concrete - Shingles - Stoves and Stove Pipes - Whitewash.

Heating
Home Heating Systems - Chimneys - Coal Furnaces - Fuels - Burning Wood - Furnace Dampers - Starting a Coal Fire - Removal of Ashes - Coal Stokers - Oil Burners - Kerosene Heaters - Thermostats - Boiler Dampers - Fuel Economy - Warm Air System - Steam System - Vacuum System - Hot Water System - Radiators - Boilers - Maintaining the System - Insulating the System - Home Insulation - Storm Windows - Weather Stripping - Insulating Your Home - Blanket and Rigid Insulation - Unfinished Attic and Exterior Walls - Winterizing a Cabin - Preparing the foundation - Winterproofing a Cottage - Fireplaces - Reducing Condensation - Humidity.

Plumbing
The Plumbing System - Fresh water supply - Low Water Pressure - Hot Water System - Hot Water Heaters - Hot Water Tanks - Dirty Hot Water - The Sewage System - Sewage Disposal - Cesspools - Septic Tanks - Clearing Sewer Pipes - Clearing Drains - Plumbing Traps - Toilet Traps - Noisy Plumbing - Leaks in Water Tanks - Frozen Pipes - Clogged Water Pipes - Hard Water - Faucets - Shower Mixing Valves - Leaky Flush Tanks - Flush Valves - Removing Toilet Bowl - Leaky Pipes - Draining the Plumbing - Sealing Traps - Draining the Heating System - Types of Pipe - Insulating Pipes - Water Corrosion - Cleaning Fixtures.

Electricity
Definition of Terms - Ohm's Law - Alternating and Direct Current - Sources of Electrical Power - The Electrical System - Overloading the Circuit - Rewiring - Reading a Meter - Precautions - Fuses - Types of Cord - Splicing Wires - Replacing Plugs and Switches - Home Lighting - Electric Motors - Signaling System - Transformers - Burglar Alarms - Repairing the System - How to Install a Bell System.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter about how to start a handyman business. Get tips for finding clients, managing work and more.

More articles about starting a handyman business:

How to Start a Handyman Business

Handyman Business Cards

Handyman Clients: How to Find the Best Ones

Are You Cut Out to Be a Handyman?

Tools for a Handyman Business

Payment Options for Handymen

How To Advertise a Handyman Business



Customer Service Tips for Handymen

Choosing a Name for a Handyman Business

Record Keeping Basics for Handymen

Being a Handyman Versus Having a Handyman Business or a Franchise

Getting a Website for Your Handyman Business

Getting Paid Upfront: Deposit Policies for Handymen

How Much To Charge Per Hour

Should You Charge by the Hour, or by the Job?

Insurance for Handymen

Handyman Business Book Reviews

The Handyman Guide: How to Fix and Build 1000s of Things Around the House