A look at switches, decks and pumps
DIMMER SWITCH SAVINGS
Question: Is it worth installing dimmer switches to save energy?
Answer: The short answer is no. Although dimmer switches do save energy, it’s such a tiny amount it’s not worth feeling good about. A 9 watt LED bulb, for instance, uses 3.25 cents of electricity burning full blast for 24 hours. If you throttle that same bulb back to half brightness you actually don’t even save half the power. It’s more like 25 per cent savings for 50 per cent less light. So instead of using 3.25 cents per day, you’ll spend about 2.5 cents. It probably caused more environmental damage manufacturing a dimmer switch than the power a dimmed light could save in 100 years of use. The main benefit of dimming lights is to create a better esthetic for your home, not save the planet.
DECK FINISH TIP
Question: Can you direct me to a deck finish based on tung oil? I’ve heard this works well, but I can’t find a product to buy.
Answer: I’ve run an ongoing deck stain trial since 1990, but I’ve never tested a deck finish where tung oil is the main ingredient. That said, tung oil is a traditional wood finish that has worked well for me in interior applications. There are exterior versions available. So what about just using straight tung oil on your deck? I’ve never tried this, but it would be worth experimenting. Google “exterior polymerized tung oil” and you’ll find suppliers. Finish some sample boards to see how they look, then put the test sample on your deck and see how it holds up under weather.
INSTALLING A WATER WELL PUMP
Question: How far from the bottom of my 150-foot deep well should I install a submersible water pump? I’d like to do the job myself, but can’t find anyone who will give me a good answer to the depth question. I was thinking 135 feet down would be good.
Answer: It’s entirely possible for a handy person to install their own submersible water well pump. I’ve advised lots of people doing what you have in mind, but I need to ask you some questions first. How far down from the surface is the water when the well is at rest? They call this the static water depth in the trade. And while that 135 foot depth you have in mind is almost certainly going to be good, there is always the possibility that the water level might drop below this during long periods of heavy water draw. The way of answering this question is by measuring the distance of the water from the surface after drawing a lot of water from the well over a period of time. In the case of my son’s well, we did this test on his 155 foot deep well. The water is normally only about 15’ from the surface, and the level doesn’t drop more than a couple of feet even after pumping 10 gallons a minute for several hours. In his case we just put the pump down 30’ since any more wasn’t necessary to reach water. The short depth of installation means less pipe and wire is needed, and the pump is easier to pull out when repairs are needed. In the case of my own well, things are different. I have the pump only about five feet off the bottom. Any less than this and we can pump the well dry after lots of water use. I wouldn’t go any closer to the bottom than five feet since there could be pumpdamaging sediment resting down below.
Visit baileylineroad. com/8491 for a detailed tour of submersible pump installation. (Link for online version: https://baileylineroad. com/the-right-way-to-install-a-submersible-pumpin-your-water-well/ Anchor text: submersible pump installation)