Problem: Calorifer cools down too fast
Our calorifer is in the engine compartment so gets colder at night and if engine not run. OK for 2 showers if taken soon after engine switched off, but too cold to shower in morning.
Possible causes:
1. not heating to maximum temperature, as engine never seems to get much over 71C (when calorifer thermostat opens): Fix - check 88C thermostat which may be stuck open or opening too early; replace if required; may need to fit tempering valve. Requires thermostat and seal/sealant.
2. reverse convection current through engine manifold cooling tank (and skin tank if 88C thermostat open): Fixes - fit non-return valve to prevent reverse flow (Done, but had little effect; may also need thermostat replaced as in 1.)
3. poor insulation: Fix - insulate pipes in engine room, possibly add extra insulation to tank. Requires pipe insulators, tank wrap or can of insulation foam.
See https://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?/topic/65697-heating-water-quicker/
Problem: Too much cold water (1L?) needs running off before hot water through
Cause: Long unlagged pipe runs. Possible fixes - lag pipes (Too difficult as mostly inaccessible); circulate hot water with pump (Too difficult as requires return run of pipe installed, plus will cool tank faster). Workaround - save cold water in kettle to avoid water waste. (However, this water is not charcoal filtered.)
Enhancement: Running central heating off engine
Currently the central heating only runs off the Eberspacher; the engine only heats up the hot water for taps.
Adding a bypass water pipe around the Eberspacher with a small electric pump and a non-return valve would push central heating water through Calorifer where it will pick up heat once the Calorifer water is hot and take it through the radiators. Requires extra pipe (size?), 2 x T joint, 2 x non-return valves, pump, pipe clips, wiring, fused switch on main board.
Sunday, 28 June 2020
Friday, 6 March 2020
Ten anti-litter tips for canal boaters
Here are my personal Top 10 Tips as a summer cruising live-aboard on the cut.
(You are free to republish this, with attribution to us)
1. Take a plastic carrier bag with you when working locks (and when walking the towpath). Use the time waiting for locks to fill or empty to do a quick tidy around the lock, and return the bag (and rubbish) to the boat.. (I used to rely on always finding a discarded plastic carrier to collect rubbish in, but thankfully the banning of them has greatly reduced the number littering the banks. :) )
2. When down the weed hatch clearing a rubbish-clogged prop, put the rubbish into your rubbish bag. (I have seen boaters just piling it on the bank, but that'll it'll get blown back in when it dries!)
3. Use a sea-side shrimping net on an extra long pole to scoop out floating bottles etc. as you motor past. This is a good one for kids wearing lifejackets! Warning: do it when standing securely in the fore-well or semi-trad, don't lean out over the side, don't do this if steering or approaching locks, bridges, low trees etc. and don't try to pick up bottles full of water or expanded-polystyrene lidded takeaway boxes - the water in them makes them too heavy for the net and pole.)
4. Rubbish in the water at or near lock gates can stop them opening fully or clogging culverts and sluices. This is especially likely at locks at each end of a long pound where wind and water movement floats them to the lock gates. Use your net for scooping plastics, boat hook for wood from the boat or banks. (Do not learn over or reach down too far from the banks - if it's in the lock, scoop it out when the lock is full.)
5. In canals where the water is clear by first thing in the morning you can often see plastic on the bottom of the canal. A short walk and quick fish with net, boat hook or litter picker will harvest these and help avoid prop-clogging and wild life.
6. Make sure your fenders, boat hooks and keys float, so if dropped they don't litter the canal bed. Fill hollow handles with long chunks of expanded polystyrene (from the canal!); or add floats.
7. Hard rubber pipe fenders last a lot better than rope fenders but can be lost on the bottom if the knot at the lower end pulls through. Make sure you've got a bit knot and a thick galvanised steel washer at the bottom end.
8. Keep a tough carrier bag or bin handy to the steersman so your own sweet wrappers etc.go straight into the rubbish rather into a pocket. Make sure it can't blow overboard.
9. Canal-side re-cycling bins can be far between, so have a recycling bag in a locker so bottles, plastic and cans doesn't become rubbish. (Some supermarkets have recycling bins in their car-park.)
10. Don't fill up bins intended for litter with your domestic rubbish; keep it for the next CRT rubbish area. If the bins there are overflowing, text a photo to CRT so they can get their contractor on to it, and keep your rubbish for the next one.
Bonus tip: make sure lids on CRT bins are shut to avoid rubbish blowing away, and put any loose rubbish in the area back into them.
Keep up the good work!
Cheers,
Bill & Daphne,
n.b. Jabulani
(You are free to republish this, with attribution to us)
1. Take a plastic carrier bag with you when working locks (and when walking the towpath). Use the time waiting for locks to fill or empty to do a quick tidy around the lock, and return the bag (and rubbish) to the boat.. (I used to rely on always finding a discarded plastic carrier to collect rubbish in, but thankfully the banning of them has greatly reduced the number littering the banks. :) )
2. When down the weed hatch clearing a rubbish-clogged prop, put the rubbish into your rubbish bag. (I have seen boaters just piling it on the bank, but that'll it'll get blown back in when it dries!)
3. Use a sea-side shrimping net on an extra long pole to scoop out floating bottles etc. as you motor past. This is a good one for kids wearing lifejackets! Warning: do it when standing securely in the fore-well or semi-trad, don't lean out over the side, don't do this if steering or approaching locks, bridges, low trees etc. and don't try to pick up bottles full of water or expanded-polystyrene lidded takeaway boxes - the water in them makes them too heavy for the net and pole.)
4. Rubbish in the water at or near lock gates can stop them opening fully or clogging culverts and sluices. This is especially likely at locks at each end of a long pound where wind and water movement floats them to the lock gates. Use your net for scooping plastics, boat hook for wood from the boat or banks. (Do not learn over or reach down too far from the banks - if it's in the lock, scoop it out when the lock is full.)
5. In canals where the water is clear by first thing in the morning you can often see plastic on the bottom of the canal. A short walk and quick fish with net, boat hook or litter picker will harvest these and help avoid prop-clogging and wild life.
6. Make sure your fenders, boat hooks and keys float, so if dropped they don't litter the canal bed. Fill hollow handles with long chunks of expanded polystyrene (from the canal!); or add floats.
7. Hard rubber pipe fenders last a lot better than rope fenders but can be lost on the bottom if the knot at the lower end pulls through. Make sure you've got a bit knot and a thick galvanised steel washer at the bottom end.
8. Keep a tough carrier bag or bin handy to the steersman so your own sweet wrappers etc.go straight into the rubbish rather into a pocket. Make sure it can't blow overboard.
9. Canal-side re-cycling bins can be far between, so have a recycling bag in a locker so bottles, plastic and cans doesn't become rubbish. (Some supermarkets have recycling bins in their car-park.)
10. Don't fill up bins intended for litter with your domestic rubbish; keep it for the next CRT rubbish area. If the bins there are overflowing, text a photo to CRT so they can get their contractor on to it, and keep your rubbish for the next one.
Bonus tip: make sure lids on CRT bins are shut to avoid rubbish blowing away, and put any loose rubbish in the area back into them.
Keep up the good work!
Cheers,
Bill & Daphne,
n.b. Jabulani
Wednesday, 1 January 2020
Environmental Sustainability in 2020
My resolution for 2020 is to take action to improve personal and family sustainability by reducing or offsetting my/our environmental impacts, and to share tips and hints.
To make this real, I aim to publish one tip per day. These will include many ongoing actions I already do, or already intend to do; most will be minor actions that become habitual, but some tips will look at one-off major lifestyle choices.
1/1/2020 1: Reducing (hot) water usage 1: don't wash under a free flowing tap, instead always use the plug.
2/1/2020 2: Reducing (hot) water usage 2: if your basin has a long pipe run from the hot water tank, running the tap for small amounts of hot water will waste both water and heating. Either use cold water or (if in kitchen) heat the water in a kettle or electric jug.
3/1/2020 3: Reducing (hot) water usage 3: Buy a kettle/hot jug with a water level indicator and mark it with cups (or mugs) so that you only heat what you need.
4/1/2020 4: Reducing (hot) water usage 4: Shower instead of bathing - uses 1/3(?) of the water.
5/1/2020 5: Fit a 5 function, water-saver shower head from Mitre 10; Consumer magazine rated its usability as being above full flow heads.
6/1/2020 6: Don't use a hose as a broom - use a broom!
7/1/2020 7: Wash house, car etc. in or after the rain, so the dirt is already softened. Hosing or water-blasting house is not enough - it needs a physical wipe over. Use a soft brush, sponge or an extendable brush cum hose cum soap dispenser. A mixture of washing up liquid and bleach is good, sprayed on via water-blaster or garden spray.
8/1/2020 8: Water the veggie garden in evening, so water has maximum time to soak in. (Don't forget to slug-bait round seedlings afterwards.)
9/1/2020 9: Use a water timer on sprinkler hose to remove the risk of forgetting and over-watering.
10/1/2020 10: A good layer of mulch reduces water needed, keeps weeds down, and improves the soil. Water ground before mulching if not already damp. A quality garden shreder/mulcher is a good investment if you have trees to prune/trim. It converts branches/twigs to useful mulch/brown material for compost heap.
11/1/2020 11: If possible, run electricity heavy appliances overnight (e.g. dishwasher, washing machine, bread maker, car-battery charging.) This should use renewable power, reducing need for fossil fuel electric generation.
12/1/2020 12: Fit and use a dual flush toilet, adjusted to minimum necessary flush volumes for each.
Lifestyle choices
1. Stop at 2 children. This is the single most effective choice for global sustainability. The world population is huge and still increasing. Every sustainability problem is made worse by excessive population. We are already way past a sustainable level, and this will probably become worse as populations become more prosperous and as life expectancy goes up. Continuing to advocate unrestricted breeding (i.e. banning contraceptives) is, I believe, nowadays pretty much a crime against humanity.
2. When buying/renting a house, check for good public transport, shops, library, doctor, takeaway, liquor store etc. in walking/biking distance etc.
3. Make your next car electric or hybrid if at all possible. If you must have petrol, look for good mileage; avoid SUVs, utes etc unless you need to e.g. tow a boat, or for work.
4. Aim for maximum efficiency/minimal waste when shopping. This is likely to mean good quality new or second-hand, and avoidance of cheap short-lived or unnecessary items.
5. Buy energy efficient appliances and tools, and (especially) heat-pumps.
6. Avoid flying if possible; if unavoidable, consider fuel efficientcy of airline/aircraft when booking, and buy carbon emission offsets.
7. Plan trips and holiday travel to minimise energy use and maximise benefit gained. E.g. fewer but longer holidays.
Action plan
Questions I need to find answers for:
Is it worthwhile (i.e. energy efficient) and practicable:
To make this real, I aim to publish one tip per day. These will include many ongoing actions I already do, or already intend to do; most will be minor actions that become habitual, but some tips will look at one-off major lifestyle choices.
1/1/2020 1: Reducing (hot) water usage 1: don't wash under a free flowing tap, instead always use the plug.
2/1/2020 2: Reducing (hot) water usage 2: if your basin has a long pipe run from the hot water tank, running the tap for small amounts of hot water will waste both water and heating. Either use cold water or (if in kitchen) heat the water in a kettle or electric jug.
3/1/2020 3: Reducing (hot) water usage 3: Buy a kettle/hot jug with a water level indicator and mark it with cups (or mugs) so that you only heat what you need.
4/1/2020 4: Reducing (hot) water usage 4: Shower instead of bathing - uses 1/3(?) of the water.
5/1/2020 5: Fit a 5 function, water-saver shower head from Mitre 10; Consumer magazine rated its usability as being above full flow heads.
6/1/2020 6: Don't use a hose as a broom - use a broom!
7/1/2020 7: Wash house, car etc. in or after the rain, so the dirt is already softened. Hosing or water-blasting house is not enough - it needs a physical wipe over. Use a soft brush, sponge or an extendable brush cum hose cum soap dispenser. A mixture of washing up liquid and bleach is good, sprayed on via water-blaster or garden spray.
8/1/2020 8: Water the veggie garden in evening, so water has maximum time to soak in. (Don't forget to slug-bait round seedlings afterwards.)
9/1/2020 9: Use a water timer on sprinkler hose to remove the risk of forgetting and over-watering.
10/1/2020 10: A good layer of mulch reduces water needed, keeps weeds down, and improves the soil. Water ground before mulching if not already damp. A quality garden shreder/mulcher is a good investment if you have trees to prune/trim. It converts branches/twigs to useful mulch/brown material for compost heap.
11/1/2020 11: If possible, run electricity heavy appliances overnight (e.g. dishwasher, washing machine, bread maker, car-battery charging.) This should use renewable power, reducing need for fossil fuel electric generation.
12/1/2020 12: Fit and use a dual flush toilet, adjusted to minimum necessary flush volumes for each.
Lifestyle choices
1. Stop at 2 children. This is the single most effective choice for global sustainability. The world population is huge and still increasing. Every sustainability problem is made worse by excessive population. We are already way past a sustainable level, and this will probably become worse as populations become more prosperous and as life expectancy goes up. Continuing to advocate unrestricted breeding (i.e. banning contraceptives) is, I believe, nowadays pretty much a crime against humanity.
2. When buying/renting a house, check for good public transport, shops, library, doctor, takeaway, liquor store etc. in walking/biking distance etc.
3. Make your next car electric or hybrid if at all possible. If you must have petrol, look for good mileage; avoid SUVs, utes etc unless you need to e.g. tow a boat, or for work.
4. Aim for maximum efficiency/minimal waste when shopping. This is likely to mean good quality new or second-hand, and avoidance of cheap short-lived or unnecessary items.
5. Buy energy efficient appliances and tools, and (especially) heat-pumps.
6. Avoid flying if possible; if unavoidable, consider fuel efficientcy of airline/aircraft when booking, and buy carbon emission offsets.
7. Plan trips and holiday travel to minimise energy use and maximise benefit gained. E.g. fewer but longer holidays.
Action plan
- Review, record, compare and reduce household energy use.
- Check and move savings to ethical, sustainable investment funds.
Questions I need to find answers for:
Is it worthwhile (i.e. energy efficient) and practicable:
- adding more loft or underfloor insulation
- switching flouroescent lights to LEDs
- switching gas water heating to mix of solar and electrical
- switching gas hob to electric
- retrofitting double glazing or secondary double glazing
- fitting photo-voltaic panels. Has efficiency gone up and price gone down enough yet?
- fitting heat-exchanger in shower waste water flow
- making use of grey water
- making more use of rainwater
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