Who hasn’t experienced the aggravation of running out of hot water halfway through a shower? Maybe the in-laws are in town and using all of your hot water or perhaps you just have a conventional water heater that is about to die. Whatever the cause, a tankless water heater could be the solution you are looking for. Although it may sound like bad science fiction, the truth is that a tankless water heater really works and is far superior to the old-fashioned gas or electric “tank” water heaters.
In a conventional water heater, be it gas or electric, hot water is stored in a tank. While this may keep a ready supply of hot water on hand for immediate use, the fact remains that the hot water just sits around when not being used. In time, the heat will dissipate and the water heater will need to reheat the water. This is a complete waste of energy and it is simply costing you money.
A tankless water heater, however, does not store hot water for later use. Instead, a tankless water heater only produces as much hot water as a person needs. So, when the hot water faucet is turned on, the tankless unit provides as much hot water as necessary until the faucet is turned off. You can literally leave the hot water faucet on for hours and the tankless water heater will continue providing as much hot water as needed. You never need to worry about running out of hot water again during a shower when you install a tankless unit in your home.
One of the biggest problems with conventional “tank” water heaters is that they leak. No matter how great of a unit you buy, the fact remains that they will start leaking water as time goes on. After all, they are constantly filled with water! That water can damage anything in the area and cause you one huge mess. A tankless water heater, on the other hand, does not store water and therefore will not leave you a big mess to clean up one day—because it doesn’t leak!
Another big advantage of a tankless water heater is its size compared to conventional units. A standard “tank” water heater may be several feet tall by 3 or more feet in diameter. But a standard tankless water heater is generally no larger than a standard laptop—although it may be a bit thicker. The point is, however, that it is generally no problem at all to mount a tankless water heater to your wall.
In truth, a tankless water heater will never force you to take a cold shower again because it never runs out of hot water. Plus, tankless units save energy (and money) compared to conventional “tank” water heaters because they don’t have to keep a large tank of water up to temperature all day long—even when not in use! Leak-free and compact, a tankless water heater is even more convenient than traditional units. So if you are tired of running out of hot water and dealing with messes because of leaking water heaters, look into a tankless water heater today and see how this modern marvel can change your life.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Why does my cat drink dirty water?
You know that cats should always have a supply of water, especially if you are feeding them dried food. There on your nice clean kitchen floor is a bowl of nice clean fresh water, in a nice clean bowl.
What does your cat do? Maybe gives the bowl a sniff and walks away from it, or just ignores the bowl completely, as if water were the last thing a self respecting cat would consider drinking.
"Okay", you think to yourself, "Kitty just isn't thirsty at the moment". But then later, you happen to spy your cat busily lapping up stale water from a puddle in your garden as if it was nectar.
Cats are self-reliant, independent creatures, but surely your cat is not going to turn its nose up at the nice clean water you provide, just to let you know it can survive without you? After all, kitty does not reject the food you provide even though it is perfectly capable of catching mice.
No, the answer is not your mouser's independence. Tap water is usually treated with chemicals, often chlorinated strongly enough for a cat to smell it. Cats noses are far more sensitive than human noses and many cats find this chemical odor very offensive. Stale water in puddles and pools has a far more attractive smell are far as a cat is concerned. Puddles may be full of rotten vegetation and microbes, but cats find this organic soup very tasty.
As well as the off-putting odor of chemicals in tap water, cats find the smell of detergents repugnant. So, because you diligently clean your cat's water bowl in the interest of hygiene, the detergent that you use deters your cat from drinking from it. You use the same detergent to wash your cat's food bowl, why then, does your feline friend eat heartily from the bowl, and not be repelled by the smell of the detergent? This is because the aroma of the fish or meat is stronger than the smell of the detergent.
With the water bowl, the combination of the two unpleasant smells, the chemicals in the tap water and the detergent, means that your cat will only quench its thirst from the water bowl if there is no better smelling option to be had.
So, what can you do? You need to rinse your cat's bowl more thoroughly than you would a plate for a human. Remember feline noses are far more sensitive than ours, every trace of detergent needs to be rinsed off. Secondly, let the water from the tap stand for a while before putting the bowl down for your cat, this will allow the chemicals to dissipate.
These two things should have kitty drinking happily from the dish, unless, of course, kitty has got so used to drinking from puddles it just can't kick the organic water habit!
What does your cat do? Maybe gives the bowl a sniff and walks away from it, or just ignores the bowl completely, as if water were the last thing a self respecting cat would consider drinking.
"Okay", you think to yourself, "Kitty just isn't thirsty at the moment". But then later, you happen to spy your cat busily lapping up stale water from a puddle in your garden as if it was nectar.
Cats are self-reliant, independent creatures, but surely your cat is not going to turn its nose up at the nice clean water you provide, just to let you know it can survive without you? After all, kitty does not reject the food you provide even though it is perfectly capable of catching mice.
No, the answer is not your mouser's independence. Tap water is usually treated with chemicals, often chlorinated strongly enough for a cat to smell it. Cats noses are far more sensitive than human noses and many cats find this chemical odor very offensive. Stale water in puddles and pools has a far more attractive smell are far as a cat is concerned. Puddles may be full of rotten vegetation and microbes, but cats find this organic soup very tasty.
As well as the off-putting odor of chemicals in tap water, cats find the smell of detergents repugnant. So, because you diligently clean your cat's water bowl in the interest of hygiene, the detergent that you use deters your cat from drinking from it. You use the same detergent to wash your cat's food bowl, why then, does your feline friend eat heartily from the bowl, and not be repelled by the smell of the detergent? This is because the aroma of the fish or meat is stronger than the smell of the detergent.
With the water bowl, the combination of the two unpleasant smells, the chemicals in the tap water and the detergent, means that your cat will only quench its thirst from the water bowl if there is no better smelling option to be had.
So, what can you do? You need to rinse your cat's bowl more thoroughly than you would a plate for a human. Remember feline noses are far more sensitive than ours, every trace of detergent needs to be rinsed off. Secondly, let the water from the tap stand for a while before putting the bowl down for your cat, this will allow the chemicals to dissipate.
These two things should have kitty drinking happily from the dish, unless, of course, kitty has got so used to drinking from puddles it just can't kick the organic water habit!
Are You Drinking Enough Water?
You probably already know that it’s important to drink enough water. A minimum of eight glasses of water a day is recommended. You should aim for more if it is really hot, or you are working out and sweating a lot. Getting enough water in your body will prevent you from getting dehydrated.
According to WEBMD the early signs of dehydration are increased thirst, dry mouth, sticky saliva and reduced urine output with dark yellow urine. You may also experience a lack of energy and a headache.
None of these sound very fun. I know it is hard sometimes to drink that much water; especially when sodas and coffee tempt us. However, to stay healthy and feel great, we should strive to drink those eight glasses of water a day.
Here are a few tips to help you remember to drink the water, and to make it a little more pleasant or interesting.
1. Keep a Log
This can be as simple as a little piece of paper on the fridge, or a page in your day planner. Just make a little checkmark, or dash on the piece of paper every time you drink a glass of water. The log will help you keep track of how much water you have had in any given day. You’ll also be surprised how motivating it is to try to get those eight little checkmarks on there every day. Another idea would be to use little stickers instead.
2. Add Some Lemon Juice
I tend to get bored with drinking just water after a few days. Change things up and add a little flavor by adding a teaspoon or less of lemon to your water. You can also try some other fruit juices. Just make sure you are still drinking mainly water. Just a splash of juice should be enough to make things interesting and give the water some flavor without adding a lot of sugar and calories.
3. Try Some Club Soda
If you are craving the fizz of a soda, try some Club Soda. Most brands have a little too much fizz for me. I end up watering them down with – guess what – water. If you want to get really fancy, check your local grocery store for flavored club sodas. Alternatively, you can also add a splash of fruit juice to your watered down club soda.
4. Drink Some Water When You Feel Hungry
Unfortunately many of us have gotten so out of tune with our bodies that we feel hungry when we are actually thirsty. If you feel hungry, try drinking a glass of water first. You may just be thirsty.
5. Carry A Water Bottle
It’s much easier to drink water when you have it readily available. Carry a bottle of water around with you in the car, at work, while running errands, in the yard, and even while you are working around the house. You’ll be sipping away the water without even noticing it.
6. Drink More If You Are Working Out
We already touched on this, but it bears repeating. Make sure you drink a few extra glasses of water if you work out, or if you spend some time outside while it’s hot. Your body uses and needs more water when it sweats a lot. So don’t forget to fill back up on water during and after your exercise.
Just pay attention to how much you drink and implement some of these ideas if you don’t get the recommended eight glasses of water a day. Your body will thank you for it in the long run.
According to WEBMD the early signs of dehydration are increased thirst, dry mouth, sticky saliva and reduced urine output with dark yellow urine. You may also experience a lack of energy and a headache.
None of these sound very fun. I know it is hard sometimes to drink that much water; especially when sodas and coffee tempt us. However, to stay healthy and feel great, we should strive to drink those eight glasses of water a day.
Here are a few tips to help you remember to drink the water, and to make it a little more pleasant or interesting.
1. Keep a Log
This can be as simple as a little piece of paper on the fridge, or a page in your day planner. Just make a little checkmark, or dash on the piece of paper every time you drink a glass of water. The log will help you keep track of how much water you have had in any given day. You’ll also be surprised how motivating it is to try to get those eight little checkmarks on there every day. Another idea would be to use little stickers instead.
2. Add Some Lemon Juice
I tend to get bored with drinking just water after a few days. Change things up and add a little flavor by adding a teaspoon or less of lemon to your water. You can also try some other fruit juices. Just make sure you are still drinking mainly water. Just a splash of juice should be enough to make things interesting and give the water some flavor without adding a lot of sugar and calories.
3. Try Some Club Soda
If you are craving the fizz of a soda, try some Club Soda. Most brands have a little too much fizz for me. I end up watering them down with – guess what – water. If you want to get really fancy, check your local grocery store for flavored club sodas. Alternatively, you can also add a splash of fruit juice to your watered down club soda.
4. Drink Some Water When You Feel Hungry
Unfortunately many of us have gotten so out of tune with our bodies that we feel hungry when we are actually thirsty. If you feel hungry, try drinking a glass of water first. You may just be thirsty.
5. Carry A Water Bottle
It’s much easier to drink water when you have it readily available. Carry a bottle of water around with you in the car, at work, while running errands, in the yard, and even while you are working around the house. You’ll be sipping away the water without even noticing it.
6. Drink More If You Are Working Out
We already touched on this, but it bears repeating. Make sure you drink a few extra glasses of water if you work out, or if you spend some time outside while it’s hot. Your body uses and needs more water when it sweats a lot. So don’t forget to fill back up on water during and after your exercise.
Just pay attention to how much you drink and implement some of these ideas if you don’t get the recommended eight glasses of water a day. Your body will thank you for it in the long run.
Make Water Count
Millions of us don't feel as good as we should because we don't drink the eight or more glasses of water we need daily. Water is an often overlooked nutrient, one that's involved in practically every bodily process.
I know that if I'm dehydrated, I feel really tired. But when I drink water regularly, I have more energy. That's because water assists in the loading and storage of energy-giving glycogen in the muscles. It's also a solvent and carrier for nutrients. It helps in digestion, circulation, and joint lubrication and even helps decrease the risk of some cancers. It also flushes toxins and metabolic wastes from your system. The more toxins and wastes in your body, the less capable it is of burning fat and losing weight.
There's a guy I've known for a long time who is 6 feet 3 inches tall, big-boned, and age 50-plus. He's also the most overweight person I've ever met. He once weighed around 210, but now he tips the scale at 500 pounds. He also has hyperinsulinemia -- meaning he has high levels of insulin in his blood -- which makes him prone to heart disease and diabetes and keeps him heavy, since insulin is a fat-storage hormone. His diet basically consists of meat and potatoes and diet soda by the gallon, and he gets no exercise. But in all the years I've known him, he has refused to drink water. Once I asked him why. It turns out that he hates the taste of plain water, and he says he'd have to be "desperate" to drink it.
Since metabolism is a chemical process requiring adequate water, and he doesn't drink it, every system in his body has become sluggish. He has no energy. His thinking is muddled. His body can't burn fat effectively. While it's true that many factors figure into these problems, his refusal to drink water is certainly a bad influence on his metabolism.
Keeping your body well hydrated is important for preventing dizziness, cramps, and exhaustion during exercise, too. It's generally a good idea to drink 1 to 2 cups of water 2 hours before you exercise, then drink more during your workout. When I work out, I drink a few ounces of water for every 10 minutes that I exercise. After your workout, you should replace the water you've lost through perspiration -- about 2 cups of water for each pound of lost body weight. If you can make the commitment to start drinking more water, you'll definitely notice a change in the way you feel and in your energy, and you'll feel the mental kick that sufficient water gives.
Try this with me: In the morning, instead of your usual cup of coffee or tea or can of cola, drink a glass of cold water. Supposedly, drinking cold water gives a little boost to your metabolism since your body burns calories to warm up the water. Then take a minute to notice how rejuvenated you feel.
I prefer to drink bottled water, mainly because it's easy to take with me, and I really don't like the taste of tap water. Bottled water fits my needs and my lifestyle. I am very picky when it comes to water; let's just say I'm spoiled.
There are different types of bottled water, so it helps to read labels. Spring water, for instance, comes from an underground formation from which water naturally flows to the Earth's surface. Purified water has been processed to remove minerals and contaminants; distilled water is one example. Some purified water is actually purified tap water, and the label must state that it comes from a municipal water supply.
Mineral water contains naturally occurring minerals and trace elements. In other words, these are in the water at its source and can't be added later. Sparkling bottled water, which I often enjoy with a meal, has a bit of a fizz caused by the carbon dioxide it contains. Artesian water is taken from an aboveground well that taps an aquifer, a water-bearing layer of rock or sand. Well water comes from a hole bored, drilled, or otherwise constructed in the ground to tap the water aquifer. All bottled water is strictly regulated at the federal level by the FDA and at the state level by state agencies.
Tap water can be contaminated with lead found in household plumbing materials, nitrate from fertilizers, disease-causing microbes that pass undetected through filtering systems, and other pollutants. In fact, I've read that there are 85 possible contaminants that can get into drinking water, according to the EPA. Fortunately, though, because of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, municipal water systems serving 25 people or more are constantly tested for harmful substances. If there is a problem with your water supply, you'll be warned through the media or other outlets.
On the whole, Americans have good, clean drinking water. You can get information about your community's water supply by logging on to www.epa.gov and following the proper links. Filtering out contaminants from tap water with a home water filter is another good option for making sure your drinking water is safe.
Following Through
Drink a glass of water upon rising in the morning, one to two more before lunch, and more before dinner and during exercise. We need at least eight 1-cup servings, or 64 ounces, of water a day.
Sip water in your car on the way home from work.
The next time you pick up lunch at the local deli, reach for bottled water rather than a soda.
Buy or use 16- or 24-ounce bottles rather than 8-ounce ones. Then you can track how many bottles you need each day.
If you don't like the taste of plain water, try adding some fresh lemon or lime, cucumber slices, or fresh mint for a refreshing new taste.
Be sure to drink plenty of water when traveling by air, since airplane cabins are notoriously dry, and you can become dehydrated.
I know that if I'm dehydrated, I feel really tired. But when I drink water regularly, I have more energy. That's because water assists in the loading and storage of energy-giving glycogen in the muscles. It's also a solvent and carrier for nutrients. It helps in digestion, circulation, and joint lubrication and even helps decrease the risk of some cancers. It also flushes toxins and metabolic wastes from your system. The more toxins and wastes in your body, the less capable it is of burning fat and losing weight.
There's a guy I've known for a long time who is 6 feet 3 inches tall, big-boned, and age 50-plus. He's also the most overweight person I've ever met. He once weighed around 210, but now he tips the scale at 500 pounds. He also has hyperinsulinemia -- meaning he has high levels of insulin in his blood -- which makes him prone to heart disease and diabetes and keeps him heavy, since insulin is a fat-storage hormone. His diet basically consists of meat and potatoes and diet soda by the gallon, and he gets no exercise. But in all the years I've known him, he has refused to drink water. Once I asked him why. It turns out that he hates the taste of plain water, and he says he'd have to be "desperate" to drink it.
Since metabolism is a chemical process requiring adequate water, and he doesn't drink it, every system in his body has become sluggish. He has no energy. His thinking is muddled. His body can't burn fat effectively. While it's true that many factors figure into these problems, his refusal to drink water is certainly a bad influence on his metabolism.
Keeping your body well hydrated is important for preventing dizziness, cramps, and exhaustion during exercise, too. It's generally a good idea to drink 1 to 2 cups of water 2 hours before you exercise, then drink more during your workout. When I work out, I drink a few ounces of water for every 10 minutes that I exercise. After your workout, you should replace the water you've lost through perspiration -- about 2 cups of water for each pound of lost body weight. If you can make the commitment to start drinking more water, you'll definitely notice a change in the way you feel and in your energy, and you'll feel the mental kick that sufficient water gives.
Try this with me: In the morning, instead of your usual cup of coffee or tea or can of cola, drink a glass of cold water. Supposedly, drinking cold water gives a little boost to your metabolism since your body burns calories to warm up the water. Then take a minute to notice how rejuvenated you feel.
I prefer to drink bottled water, mainly because it's easy to take with me, and I really don't like the taste of tap water. Bottled water fits my needs and my lifestyle. I am very picky when it comes to water; let's just say I'm spoiled.
There are different types of bottled water, so it helps to read labels. Spring water, for instance, comes from an underground formation from which water naturally flows to the Earth's surface. Purified water has been processed to remove minerals and contaminants; distilled water is one example. Some purified water is actually purified tap water, and the label must state that it comes from a municipal water supply.
Mineral water contains naturally occurring minerals and trace elements. In other words, these are in the water at its source and can't be added later. Sparkling bottled water, which I often enjoy with a meal, has a bit of a fizz caused by the carbon dioxide it contains. Artesian water is taken from an aboveground well that taps an aquifer, a water-bearing layer of rock or sand. Well water comes from a hole bored, drilled, or otherwise constructed in the ground to tap the water aquifer. All bottled water is strictly regulated at the federal level by the FDA and at the state level by state agencies.
Tap water can be contaminated with lead found in household plumbing materials, nitrate from fertilizers, disease-causing microbes that pass undetected through filtering systems, and other pollutants. In fact, I've read that there are 85 possible contaminants that can get into drinking water, according to the EPA. Fortunately, though, because of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, municipal water systems serving 25 people or more are constantly tested for harmful substances. If there is a problem with your water supply, you'll be warned through the media or other outlets.
On the whole, Americans have good, clean drinking water. You can get information about your community's water supply by logging on to www.epa.gov and following the proper links. Filtering out contaminants from tap water with a home water filter is another good option for making sure your drinking water is safe.
Following Through
Drink a glass of water upon rising in the morning, one to two more before lunch, and more before dinner and during exercise. We need at least eight 1-cup servings, or 64 ounces, of water a day.
Sip water in your car on the way home from work.
The next time you pick up lunch at the local deli, reach for bottled water rather than a soda.
Buy or use 16- or 24-ounce bottles rather than 8-ounce ones. Then you can track how many bottles you need each day.
If you don't like the taste of plain water, try adding some fresh lemon or lime, cucumber slices, or fresh mint for a refreshing new taste.
Be sure to drink plenty of water when traveling by air, since airplane cabins are notoriously dry, and you can become dehydrated.
How much water to drink
There's no easy answer to how much water you should drink every day.Just as you are unique, so are your water needs. How much water you need depends on many factors, including your health status, how active you are and where you live.Though no single formula fits all people, several guidelines are available to help you.
Health benefits of water
Water is crucial to your health. It makes up, on average, 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends
on water.Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don't have enough water in your body to
carry on normal functions. Even mild dehydration can sap your energy and make you tired. Dehydration poses a particular
health risk for the very young and the very old. Signs and symptoms of dehydration include:
Excessive thirst
Fatigue
Headache
Dry mouth
Little or no urination
Muscle weakness
Dizziness
Lightheadedness
Every day you loose water—through sweating, exhaling, urinating and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you need to replace this water by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.
At least three approaches estimate total fluid (water) needs for healthy, sedentary adults living in a temperate climate.
1. Replacement approach. The average urine output for adults is 1.5 liters a day. You lose close to an additional liter of water a day through breathing, sweating and bowel movements. Food usually accounts for 20 percent of your fluid intake, so you if you consume 2 liters of water or other beverages a day (a little more than 8 cups), along with your normal diet, you can replace the lost fluids.
2. Eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Another approach to water intake is the "8 x 8 rule" — drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day (about 1.9 liters). The rule could also be stated, "drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day," as
all fluids count toward the daily total. Though this approach isn't supported by scientific evidence, many people use this
basic rule as a guideline for how much water to drink.
3. Dietary recommendations. The Institute of Medicine recommends that men consumeabout 13 cups of total beverages a day and women consume 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day. These guidelines are based on national food surveys that assessed people's average fluid intakes.
You can choose any of these fluid intake approaches to gauge how much water to drink. Your current total fluid intake is probably OK if you drink enough water to quench your thirst, produce a colorless or slightly yellow normal amount of urine,and you feel well.
Factors that influence water needs
You may need to modify total fluid intake from these recommended amounts depending on several factors, including how active
you are, the climate, your health status, and if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.
1. Illnesses or health conditions. Some signs and symptoms of illnesses, such as fever, vomiting and diarrhea, cause your body to lose extra fluids. To replace lost fluids, drink more water or oral rehydration solutions (Gatorade, Powerade, CeraLyte, others). When water loss can't be replaced orally, intravenous water and electrolytes may be necessary. Increased water intake is nearly always advised in people with urinary tract stones. On the other hand, you may need to limit the amount of water you drink if you have certain conditions that impair excretion of water — such as heart failure and some types of kidney, liver, adrenal and thyroid diseases.
2. Environment. You need to drink additional water in hot or humid weather to help lower your body temperature and to
replace what you lose through sweating.
3. Exercise. If you exercise or engage in any activity that makes you sweat, you'll need to drink extra water to compensate for that fluid loss. Drink 2 cups of water two hours before a long endurance event, for example, a marathon orhalf-marathon. One to 2 cups of water is also adequate for shorter bouts of exercise. During the activity, replenish fluids at regular intervals, and continue drinking water or other fluids after you're finished.
Health benefits of water
Water is crucial to your health. It makes up, on average, 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends
on water.Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don't have enough water in your body to
carry on normal functions. Even mild dehydration can sap your energy and make you tired. Dehydration poses a particular
health risk for the very young and the very old. Signs and symptoms of dehydration include:
Excessive thirst
Fatigue
Headache
Dry mouth
Little or no urination
Muscle weakness
Dizziness
Lightheadedness
Every day you loose water—through sweating, exhaling, urinating and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you need to replace this water by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.
At least three approaches estimate total fluid (water) needs for healthy, sedentary adults living in a temperate climate.
1. Replacement approach. The average urine output for adults is 1.5 liters a day. You lose close to an additional liter of water a day through breathing, sweating and bowel movements. Food usually accounts for 20 percent of your fluid intake, so you if you consume 2 liters of water or other beverages a day (a little more than 8 cups), along with your normal diet, you can replace the lost fluids.
2. Eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Another approach to water intake is the "8 x 8 rule" — drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day (about 1.9 liters). The rule could also be stated, "drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day," as
all fluids count toward the daily total. Though this approach isn't supported by scientific evidence, many people use this
basic rule as a guideline for how much water to drink.
3. Dietary recommendations. The Institute of Medicine recommends that men consumeabout 13 cups of total beverages a day and women consume 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day. These guidelines are based on national food surveys that assessed people's average fluid intakes.
You can choose any of these fluid intake approaches to gauge how much water to drink. Your current total fluid intake is probably OK if you drink enough water to quench your thirst, produce a colorless or slightly yellow normal amount of urine,and you feel well.
Factors that influence water needs
You may need to modify total fluid intake from these recommended amounts depending on several factors, including how active
you are, the climate, your health status, and if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.
1. Illnesses or health conditions. Some signs and symptoms of illnesses, such as fever, vomiting and diarrhea, cause your body to lose extra fluids. To replace lost fluids, drink more water or oral rehydration solutions (Gatorade, Powerade, CeraLyte, others). When water loss can't be replaced orally, intravenous water and electrolytes may be necessary. Increased water intake is nearly always advised in people with urinary tract stones. On the other hand, you may need to limit the amount of water you drink if you have certain conditions that impair excretion of water — such as heart failure and some types of kidney, liver, adrenal and thyroid diseases.
2. Environment. You need to drink additional water in hot or humid weather to help lower your body temperature and to
replace what you lose through sweating.
3. Exercise. If you exercise or engage in any activity that makes you sweat, you'll need to drink extra water to compensate for that fluid loss. Drink 2 cups of water two hours before a long endurance event, for example, a marathon orhalf-marathon. One to 2 cups of water is also adequate for shorter bouts of exercise. During the activity, replenish fluids at regular intervals, and continue drinking water or other fluids after you're finished.
Replace your refrigerator water filter often and keep your drinking water clean and fresh...
You can avoid drinking unwanted chemicals, particles and bacteria by changing your refrigerator water filter on a regular basis. Manufacturers recommend that you change your filter every 6 months.
The life of your water filter depends on the amount of water you use and the quantity of contaminants in your water. If you enjoy drinking lots of water or if you are on a well, you will need to change your filter more often.
Replacing your refrigerator water filter at least every 6 months is the best way to keep your water tasting great. You can install the filter yourself and feel confident that you and your family are drinking clean water.
The life of your water filter depends on the amount of water you use and the quantity of contaminants in your water. If you enjoy drinking lots of water or if you are on a well, you will need to change your filter more often.
Replacing your refrigerator water filter at least every 6 months is the best way to keep your water tasting great. You can install the filter yourself and feel confident that you and your family are drinking clean water.
Water Filter Changing Instructions
The goal is to provide filtered house water to the three diffractometer heat exchangers ("A,B", "C" and "D") with sufficient flow to carry away the heat from the X-ray tubes. Clean water filters are essential to maintaining a constant source of X-rays for an experiment and to preserving the life of the X-ray tube and generator. Note the sequence of events: dirty water filters --> reduced tap water flow through heat exchanger --> reduced heat exchanger heat removing capacity --> increased temperature of circulating water --> circulating pump(s) stop --> X-ray generator turned off.
Recent experience indicates that the water filters last about 1 month with the refrigerated heat exchanger ("D") and a week or two with the ambient heat exchangers ("A,B", "C"). The filters are arranged in parallel with a pair of valves to isolate each one; the procedure for a pair of filters for a given heat exchanger is (starting with two new filters and all valves closed):
- open both valves for one filter allowing water to flow through only one filter
- after one week ("A,B", "C") or one month ("D") open both valves for the second filter allowing water to flow through both filters
- after one week ("A,B", "C") or one month ("D") change both filters:
- close both valves for one filter
- place a bucket beneath the filter housing (to catch any drips)
- use custom wrench to loosen filter housing
- unscrew filter housing
- decant excess water from filter housing into bucket
- take filter housing with filter to large trash can
- remove filter element from filter housing:
- place two fingers into hole in filter element
- spread fingers apart (to grip filter element from inside)
- lift filter element out of filter housing
- discard filter element into large trash can
- rinse out filter housing in sink
- get new filter element from shelf over "D" heat exchanger
- ensure "O"-ring in filter housing is properly seated in groove
- place new filter element into filter housing ensuring that hole in the filter element fits around the short centering tube in bottom of filter housing
- fit filter element around short centering tube in filter housing base
- screw filter housing onto its base
- hand tighten filter housing
- slowly open supply valve while watching thread area of filter housing for leaks; if leaks are found:
- close supply valve, briefly open and then close other valve
- cautiously tighten filter housing using custom wrench
- check for leaks (and cautiously tighten filter housing and re-check for leaks, repeatedly, until no leaks
- "burp" the water line of trapped air by opening supply valve and then briefly opening other valve and closing it and waiting a few seconds, repeatedly, until all air bubbles have passed through the filters and into the drain
- close both valves
- repeat this procedure for the other filter
- leave both valves open for one filter, both closed for the other filter
Note that it is especially bad when the X-ray generator is turned off because of dirty water filters as the hot X-ray tube, which was running at full normal power levels and was experiencing only minimal cooling from the higher temperature circulating water, suddenly has NO cooling water flowing past its hot anode. These are the conditions (hot X-ray tube, no cooling water flow, and THEN the X-rays are turned off) which can result in a perforated/melted anode and an X-ray tube full of water!
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Is Your Water Safe For Your Children To Drink?
No one would argue that clean, healthy water is essential for the health of children. It is important to understand, however, that contaminants in drinking water have a far greater impact on the health of children than they do on adults. And it is even more important to understand that most tap water in the US does contain contaminants, including lead, which pose a serious health threat to children.
The defense systems which protect us from disease and toxins develop over the course of childhood and adolescence. Children’s bodies are therefore more sensitive and vulnerable to carcinogens, lead, bacteria and water-borne parasites than are healthy adults. Our children are exposed, through air and water pollution and our mass produced and treated foods, to far more toxins than our parents or even our own generation was during our childhood. While we are limited in our ability to affect the quality of our air and food, it is possible to remove virtually all toxins from our drinking and showering water. And that is good news, since an abundant daily intake is essential not only for overall health, but for our bodies to effectively be able to remove all the other toxins to which we and our children are exposed.
The list of chemicals commonly found in tap water and even in many bottled waters is quite sobering. Lead is found in virtually all house tap water, due to the fact that the source of lead is the household pipes themselves, making it impossible for lead to be removed from water at any centralized facility. Lead itself is the greatest health threat to children in the US, according to the EPA, however it is hardly the only hazard. Chlorine, herbicides, pesticides and other contaminants are commonly found in tap water, and in some areas water borne parasites and bacteria are also found. Even trace levels of these contaminants have been shown to have detrimental health effects. Children are at the greatest risk, not only because of their still developing immune systems, but also because of the way that water quality is both studied and regulated.
Water quality research has been conducted to determine the effects of all of these contaminants on human health. However, the way such research is generally conducted is to study each toxin individually to determine the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for each one. Such research has little value in the real world, where many toxins are found at the same time in virtually all drinking water, and where the interactions between two or more chemicals may be far more detrimental than the effect of any one of them in isolation. Furthermore, the “safe” levels that are determined are based upon their effects on adults rather than children. For these reasons, it is clearly unwise to rely upon the public health system and governmental regulations to ensure the health and purity of the water you give your children.
So what is the best way to ensure an abundance of healthy, clean water for your family? The most reliable and cost effective way to ensure safe, healthy and delicious water for daily consumption is with a home water filter. Bottled water is both a more expensive and less certain option, since bottled water regulation only requires that the water be as safe as tap water. A quality home water filter removes all of the contaminants discussed above, at a fraction of the cost of bottled water.
The defense systems which protect us from disease and toxins develop over the course of childhood and adolescence. Children’s bodies are therefore more sensitive and vulnerable to carcinogens, lead, bacteria and water-borne parasites than are healthy adults. Our children are exposed, through air and water pollution and our mass produced and treated foods, to far more toxins than our parents or even our own generation was during our childhood. While we are limited in our ability to affect the quality of our air and food, it is possible to remove virtually all toxins from our drinking and showering water. And that is good news, since an abundant daily intake is essential not only for overall health, but for our bodies to effectively be able to remove all the other toxins to which we and our children are exposed.
The list of chemicals commonly found in tap water and even in many bottled waters is quite sobering. Lead is found in virtually all house tap water, due to the fact that the source of lead is the household pipes themselves, making it impossible for lead to be removed from water at any centralized facility. Lead itself is the greatest health threat to children in the US, according to the EPA, however it is hardly the only hazard. Chlorine, herbicides, pesticides and other contaminants are commonly found in tap water, and in some areas water borne parasites and bacteria are also found. Even trace levels of these contaminants have been shown to have detrimental health effects. Children are at the greatest risk, not only because of their still developing immune systems, but also because of the way that water quality is both studied and regulated.
Water quality research has been conducted to determine the effects of all of these contaminants on human health. However, the way such research is generally conducted is to study each toxin individually to determine the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for each one. Such research has little value in the real world, where many toxins are found at the same time in virtually all drinking water, and where the interactions between two or more chemicals may be far more detrimental than the effect of any one of them in isolation. Furthermore, the “safe” levels that are determined are based upon their effects on adults rather than children. For these reasons, it is clearly unwise to rely upon the public health system and governmental regulations to ensure the health and purity of the water you give your children.
So what is the best way to ensure an abundance of healthy, clean water for your family? The most reliable and cost effective way to ensure safe, healthy and delicious water for daily consumption is with a home water filter. Bottled water is both a more expensive and less certain option, since bottled water regulation only requires that the water be as safe as tap water. A quality home water filter removes all of the contaminants discussed above, at a fraction of the cost of bottled water.
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