Economics Question
chisue
2 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (101)
davidrt28 (zone 7)
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoBookwoman
2 years agoRelated Discussions
Which is more economical? Small under sink heater or recirc pump?
Comments (7)Either option you describe doesn't put the water down the drain, so that's good. The 2.5 gal water heater option, though, brings up this question: if you use appreciable hot water from it, and you now have put "tons" of cold water back into it, I doubt that it would have had enough time to recover and your hot water would now be lukewarm at best. Doesn't that kinda put you back pretty close to square one? I've always preferred the recirculating pump design. And, they can be a DIY project where you may not want to plumb a water heater. The always-on pumps should be avoided for the excessive heat loss they guarantee. The timer-based pumps are better but can only approximate your habits. The demand pumps with a touch switch (or even a motion sensor!) are the ultimate but they command a hefty price. I've done a DIY demand system with a Taco pump from eBay and the Grundfos thermostatic valve from a timer-based system with my own low-voltage control for about 1/3 the price of the Metlund system. Also, be sure to insulate your hot water lines. Here is a link that might be useful: On-Demand Hot Water pumps...See Morewhich Fleetwood Series is most economical?
Comments (0)Got a question about Fleetwood Windows and Sliding Doors... Can anyone tell me which window series AND sliding door series is the most economical (least expensive)? It is difficult to tell from their description of their products on their website. thanks....See Moreis plywood as economical as board lumber?
Comments (17)I'm not going to lift any 4x8 sheet of plywood anywhere. I'm going to pay the guy at the desk for my plywood, hand him my cut sheet, and then I'm going to go in the back and stand around while the guys who work the lumberyard's panel saw wrestle it around and cut it into 6.5" and 10" boards. I'm pretty sure I mentioned the lumberyard's panel saw. (I love their panel saw--it's got this huge room all to itself, with big long guides, etc. It does a beautiful job ripping plywood into boards--they've done it for me before, and the edges were beautiful. In my next life I want to live in Alabama and have a separate two-car garage, like my brother, so I can install a humongous panel saw, just because I can.) I personally only have to wrestle the 8'-long boards onto my FIL's table saw, or I will use the Kreg cutting jig w/ my jigsaw. I can lift just fine--I can't necessarily grip something sort of heavy that is biting into wood, and steer it. Maybe I'd be OK w/ a lightweight or small table saw. I like your suggestions about crosscutting, though. The first sheet lends itself to that very easily. I'll have to look at sheet #2 and see if I can minimize the number of cuts. It means paying the lumberyard for more cuts (since I can do the crosscuts on the boards easily enough), especially since by crosscutting the sheet, then I pay for twice as many rips. I also run the risk of them reading the cut sheet wrong and leaving me w/ pieces that don't work--that's been my experience w/ all sorts of things. I feel confident w/ my knowledge of what each board should turn into, so I don't really want to delegate that to someone else. I had planned to cut all the 50.5" pieces at once, so that if the guide is the tiniest bit off, at least they'll all be exactly the same size and so that I don't have to keep resetting the guides. Just because unit is boards doesn't mean I'm going to cut one board into all of its sizes all at once. I can set the excess aside while I continue the 50.5" cuts, and then do all the 18"-ers or 16.5"-ers at once. I figure the only real problem is keeping track of what piece is supposed to come out of what board--and that's what blue painter's tape and a marker (or a carpenter's pencil) is for, right? Isn't there a way to prevent veneer rip-out when crosscutting plywood? Doesn't everybody have to crosscut plywood at some point? For this project, I don't care--it's a closet shelf. But I'm curious. This post was edited by talley_sue_nyc on Mon, Jul 29, 13 at 12:06...See MoreHow to freeze, properly and economically?
Comments (31)Couple of things....some plastic does allow moisture to escape..."freezer bags" not so much.,..and of course foil is moisture proof but only as good as the seal. As an experiment put a cut onion in a non freezer zip lock bag and lay it on your counter....see if you can still smell it. Secondly it's not the warming and cooling that allows for freezer burn , but the presence of air between the moisture barrier (plastic bag or wrap) and the food. Even at sub zero temperature frozen water sublimates and becomes water vapor...if there is air present for it to dissipate into. If there is no airspace, the frozen stuff doesn't lose moisture....even if partially thawed. It's sort of the same reason why you lay plastic wrap on the surface of a cooling custard to prevent a skin forming...you are preventing the loss of moisture. Also a full freezer runs more efficiently than one partially empty. Experts recommend you fill a freezer with jugs of water as you use up food, to keep it running more efficiently. Also more modern self defrosting freezers don't have a heater plate that defrosts accumulated frost as the old ones did and don't defrost every so many hours, but are "smarter" and the defrost time is adjusted for the time based on the time it took previously to defrost, and consequently keep your frozen food better....even as they defrost themselves. And the reason a chest freezer works more efficiently than an upright, even if both are not self defrosting, is because cold air is heavier than warm air....and literally "falls out" or an upright when you open it, and it takes more energy to cool the freezer down after it has lost some cold air. With a chest freezer, the cold air stays in the bottom as you open it. In years back, the Maytag Repairman used to be a good friend! Not to name drop...but one Sunday I was having a rather informal dinner party for 4 other couples...one of the men happened to the the President of the Maytag Company. My Maytag dishwasher had some broken prongs on the rack and I couldn't load 10 plates. anyhow the next morning a repairman appeared at my door with a new rack, installed it and took the old one away! Sorry to get off track.... LOL!...See MoreAnnie Deighnaugh
2 years agoZalco/bring back Sophie!
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoblfenton
2 years agoElmer J Fudd
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
2 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
2 years agochisue
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agonicole___
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoToronto Veterinarian
2 years agonicole___
2 years agoLoneJack Zn 6a, KC
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agonickel_kg
2 years agocarolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoElmer J Fudd
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoElmer J Fudd
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
2 years agoElmer J Fudd
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agocarolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
2 years agoToronto Veterinarian
2 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
2 years agolucillle
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agojmm1837
2 years agoElmer J Fudd
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agojane__ny
2 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agocarolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
2 years agolucillle
2 years agonicole___
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agocarolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
2 years agoElmer J Fudd
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agochisue
2 years agolucillle
2 years agoElmer J Fudd
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
2 years agoKathsgrdn
2 years agocarolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
2 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
2 years agoToronto Veterinarian
2 years agoElmer J Fudd
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
2 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
2 years agobragu_DSM 5
2 years agoElmer J Fudd
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoToronto Veterinarian
2 years agoElmer J Fudd
2 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
2 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
2 years ago
Related Stories
ORGANIZING4 Questions to Help You Organize Your Favorite Photos
Organize your keeper photos with a system that's just right for you, whether it's in the cloud or you can hold it in your hand
Full StorySELLING YOUR HOUSE15 Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Real Estate Agent
Here’s what you should find out before selecting an agent to sell your home
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESSurvive Your Home Remodel: 11 Must-Ask Questions
Plan ahead to keep minor hassles from turning into major headaches during an extensive renovation
Full StoryEXTERIORSCurb Appeal Feeling a Little Off? Some Questions to Consider
Color, scale, proportion, trim ... 14 things to think about if your exterior is bugging you
Full StoryLATEST NEWS FOR PROFESSIONALSRemodeling Pros Are Optimistic About 2019
However, the national economy remains a question mark for firms, the 2019 U.S. Houzz State of the Industry study finds
Full StoryARCHITECTURE5 Midcentury Design Lessons for Modern-Day Living
The era’s simple and economical materials and open, energy-smart floor plans still have relevance today. See why
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGN9 Ways to Save on Your Kitchen Remodel
A designer shares key areas where you can economize — and still get the kitchen of your dreams
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNA New Kitchen Exudes the Beautiful Simplicity of Yesteryear
Economizing owners go for upcycled brass garden faucets and scaffolding-plank counters over slick chrome and granite
Full StoryBACKYARD STUDIOSMaster Builder Crafts a Dream Workshop
A design-build firm owner uses an economical building method for his large shed and finishes it off nicely to blend into the scenery
Full StoryCustom Craftsmanship & Construction Solutions in Franklin County
lucillle