No more cold water during showers, please

By Shell Busey

May 8, 2008

Q. Is there something that I can do to prevent my shower from running hot when someone flushes a toilet or turns on a another faucet in the house. This can be very frustrating and I’m concerned that it gets so hot that it could cause an injury. Can you tell me why this is happening and is there a fixture that I can purchase or fix myself?

David

A: This happens in some older homes due to the water lines in the house being undersized, or if the cold water line has been routed to the toilet right before the shower. When you flush a toilet, it can “demand” all of the cold water in the system and leaves you with scalding hot water coming out of the shower. There are newer shower valves available that are pressure sensitive however; this is not a simple cartridge that can be installed to your existing faucet or shower fixture.

To have a new pressure/temperature sensitive shower fixture installed, you’ll require a plumber to cut into the wall behind the shower and this will also require the wall to be repaired after the installation.

Q. We are planning to replace a few single glaze windows this year with more efficient ones. We can’t afford to do all of them at once but we would like start with the north-facing windows that are very drafty. I am going to be getting quotes on the installation but first I would appreciate any advice you could give me on what I should be looking for in regards to energy- efficient windows. We are also located on a busy road so we would like the new windows to help reduce some of the traffic noise in our front living room and bedrooms?

Jennifer

A. When replacing windows, keep in mind that the installation is just as important as the window. Choose a vinyl-framed window that has substantial chambers or air cavities in the structure of the vinyl extrusion. Also, using the warm edge white super spacer product will provide you with one of the best glass spacers. Using laminated glass will help reduce the road noise and proper installation is crucial to the performance of your new windows.

Make sure that the glass includes Low Emissivity or Low E squared. Low-e (low-emissivity) windows have a clear coating on the glass to keep heat out during the summer and heat in during the winter. This is very energy efficient and reduces the heat and ultraviolet gains. Most window supply and installation services would recommend doing the entire home at the same time and will offer a payment plan. If your budget doesn’t allow you to change all your windows at once, plan to install new windows in phases starting with where your family spends most of their time. Keep in mind that is like going out in the winter with a shirt on your back and a sweater on your front; your body heat will go out your back.

When retrofitting your home with window and energy efficient upgrades you may qualify for energy efficiency rebates that are available through the federal government or your utility provider. Lastly, check warranties and how long the company has been doing installations in your area.

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