On the November 4th edition of The KTSA Home Improvement Show, we had some great questions from callers regarding their water heaters and amp breakers! We even gave some tips on how to improve your home for the winter.
Water Heaters 101
We had a call from George regarding how to get hot water to the furthest point of his house. This is a fairly common question, and there are a few ways someone can do so. First of which would be the use of a booster pump. Alternatively, one can apply a point-of-use hot water heater at the source of where they would like their hot water. Lastly, if all else fails, one can always call up their local plumber. Thanks again, George!
Amp Breakers
Patrick called in with concerns over whether it’s a bad idea to turn off his 200 amp breaker on the outside of his barn. We advised Patrick not to turn off his breaker because they are not designed to be switched on and off. Amp breakers are designed to interrupt power in the event of an overcurrent. Instead, we suggested that Patrick use a knife switch on his breaker, which is something that is designed to be turned on and off. Thanks again for the call, Patrick!
Tips for winterizing your home
Now winter is just around the corner, so we thought it would be a good idea to give our listeners some tips on how to improve their home for the cold, winter months ahead. Read these five tips below to find out how to save money, be safe and stay warm this winter:
- Check for drafts – Use a candle, and see if your flame flickers. If it does, you may have a draft. If you have a draft, replace the seals and caulking around your windows and door frames. Caulk is a maintenance item that needs to be redone every so often. Get heavier drapery if you don’t fix your windows.
- Get your furnace inspected – Don’t run your furnace/heater without getting it checked. They can be very dangerous because they can produce carbon monoxide in your home. They could potentially cause a fire, as well.
- Get a programmable thermostat in your home – With a programmable thermostat, you can set the temperature in your home to automatically change via how you program them. This way, you don’t have to run your heater all day while you’re away!
- Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors – Goes without saying, but we thought it was still important to mention!
- Have carbon monoxide testing done if you have gas appliances – Gas appliances can sometimes emit toxic carbon monoxide gas, which is lethal if enough is breathed in. Please be sure to have your home checked for carbon monoxide gas and stay safe!
