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Firebox and stoves needs correct and constant draught to run well. If depression in the conduct is too high then fire regulation will be quite impossible resulting in heavy wood consumption and low comfort. Moreover if too high it will induce an uncontrolled reaction more the draught will be high, more the wood combustion will increase, inducing by the same more and more draught and so on...
Draught is determined by several factors as firebox type and mainly chimney conduct length and design. It can hardly been modified after built.
One easy to lower draught is to install and automatic stabiliser. This device is in fact very simple, a flap opens under depression and allows a certain amount of fresh air entering in the conduct. The opening regulation is made by use on a counter weight (more depression will be important more flap will open).
Fresh air has a twin effect lowering draught by the additional air amount but also lowering the conduct temperature and so the tendency of fumes to go upwards.
Several models are available on the market from simple model with a weighted flap and other more evolved with screw adjustable counter weight. For weighted flap model as presented on the picture the depression adjustment is made by turning the flap (more flap axle is vertical, more it will open quickly).
Best is to install this device during firebox installation, but if not you will still be able to add it after. For this you will have to replace the first tube of the conduct by a T section. Regulator as to be installed on a horizontal tube section. It must also be placed at a certain distance (at least 30 cm) from the main tube in order to avoid to be sooted by smokes (otherwise it would need often cleaning to work well).
Mechanism is simply attached on the pipe by the mean of two spring hooks that goes in tiny holes.
For finishing you can cut old conduct to correct length or install a new tube. Take care to attachment and sealing to avoid fumes to escape from tubing.
After installation you will need to test and adjust your draught stabiliser. Preferred method is to check with a vacuum gauge (this has to be done with a fire at running temperature) but if you don't have one you can adjust it step by step up to obtention of a good result. Caution : when adjusting do not open manually or remove the regulator from the pipe when there is a fire this could cause flashback. Adjust it carefully or proceed by steps when fire is extinguished.
If well adjusted you will notice improvement for fire adjustment and a lowered wood consumption. But remind that for optimal result always use dry wood and do not overload your fire place, this will not increase burning time.
This device can also be installed on fuel or gas boilers.
House insulation is a key element for both comfort and also economy regarding heating (or air conditioning) consumption. Principal defect will be a lack of insulating material or thermal bridge between inside and outside resulting in colder area. An other defect could be a air leakage at door or window. This will result in loss of hot air and can also lead to other issues as humidity.
Professional control would normally need a thermal camera that will directly identify on its screen the difference of temperature showing objects in different colors from blue to red. But this type of material is very expansive or quite difficult to rent.
Beside you can do a good preliminary check in order to identify major defect using an Infrared Thermometer even if it will be less accurate.
These thermometer have a scan function which is very great for such type of application. You just have to hold ON the switch and then slowly move the laser pointer on the wall doors and windows. Measure may be done not too far from surface to locate colder areas. A distance of approx 1 meter will be great. Movement must be smooth and slow to allow thermometer measurement.
Special attention has to be taken near window, doors, wall angles, stairs floor and roof junction which are critical points. A defect in the center of a wall will normally nor occur except in case of really bad built. Take care also to internal walls between heated and non heated areas as garage cellar and so on.
Measurement will be firstly done inside house but an other check from the exterior could also be great to confirm or find other issues. Obviously such check will be done when there will be a sufficient difference of temperature between inside and outside otherwise it would not be representative.
Under picture illustrate a typical insulation defect :
This correspond of the under side of a cellar stair. You can see that on the left the temperature of the stair is at 17.5°C and just next to, on the wall temp is only 16.8°C. Wall temp correspond to cellar temp which is not heated, wile stair is hotter. This shows that part of the house temperature is leaking through the stair.
Depending of the result and the defect area several options can be foreseen as insulating material replacement or repair, addition of a seal or add an other layer.
]]>An infrared thermometer allows to measure temperature of an object without any contact. Two main types are available one for medical purpose allowing check of body temp and an other one for general purpose and especially work requiring temp measurement. Note : the medical thermometers are generally limited in range and includes a compensation to convert external skin temp into real internal one, so it will not be convenient for other purpose.
Main interest of infrared thermometer is to allow measurement at a certain distance (for high temperatures for example) and gives accurate and immediate value compared to conventional thermometer needing contact and a certain time to reach the value. It can measure very high temps but also do numerous different measures in a short time. Accuracy is also very good.
Use is very easy, you just have to direct it to the area you want to measure and then press the switch to obtain value. A laser pointer is also included to ease aiming.
So it will be very useful to check temperature of your car engine, check isolation of your house and detect cold air leakage of a window or also check your fridge temperature. Many other application are also possible.
If your about to buy one first thing to look at is the range temperature, you will prefer the higher range temp between negative and positive 700°C will be a great value for all DIY applications. Obviously price will directly depend of range capacity. Some other options a
For personal use models that you can find on the net for less than 50 Usd will be sufficient compared to branded ones that will not bring any improvement even if price is far more higher.
Material :
Screwdriver's method :
This process work as an electrolysis, first thing to do is to obtain electrolyte to make the bath.
Ce procédé marche suivant le principe de l'électrolyse, il faut donc commencer par obtenir l'électrolyte :
Once this step has been done you can start galvanizing process :
After galvanizing you will obtain non shining gray coloration. You can brush the part with a metallic brush to retreive the specific shiny aspect of industrial galvanised parts.
Bath can be keept for futher use. Anyway do not dispose in toilets or outdoors as it contains pollutants.
Possible defects :