Services to the Home. Junior Certificate Home Economics

Transcription

1 Services to the Home Junior Certificate Home Economics

2 The main services to the home are: Gas Electricity Water

3 Gas

4 Gas in the Home Natural gas is found off the coast of Ireland It is brought ashore by pipes A network of pipes brings the gas all around the country Smaller service pipes lead to individual houses. Each house has a valve to allow the gas to be switched on or off and a meter to record the amount of gas used

5 Uses of Gas Cooking Central heating Water heating Portable heaters

6 Using Gas Safely Gas is a quick, clean and efficient fuel, but in order to be safe it must be used safely 1. All gas appliances should be installed by a qualified person 2. Only use gas appliances in ventiliated rooms 3. Follow the manufacturers instructions for use 4. Get a qualified person to carry out any servicing/repairs 5. Only buy gas appliances which carry a safety mark

7 Gas Leak For safety reasons an odour is added to gas so that if a leak does occur or an appliance is accidently left on, it is quickly noticed.

8 Gas Leaks Do & Don t Do - Open all doors & windows - Check to see if a pilot light has gone out in any appliance - Turn off gas at mains - Telephone the gas company Don t - use any naked flame eg match, cigarette lighter - Smoke - Use any electrical appliance or switch on a light - Ignore the smell

9 Electricity

10 Electricity Clean and efficient form of energy Not a fuel fuel (eg coal, oil) are used to generate (make) electricity Generated in power stations

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12 Electricity in the Home Enters each house through a service cable Goes to the fuse box in the house The fuse box contains the main switch this allows the electricity to be turned on/off if a fault occurs or repairs are being carried out Wires lead from the fuse box all around the house

13 Electrical Appliances The flexes of all electrical appliances have at least two wires - Live wire carries the current (electricity) - Neutral wire carries the current back to the generator - Earth wire may also be present. It is a safety device & carries the current to the earth

14 Wire Types & Colours Wire Live Neutral Earth Colour Brown Blue Green & Yellow

15 Electricity in the Home A meter records the amount of electricity used It is measured in units Some buildings may have a second meter which records off peak (night rate) electricity use

16 Electricity Use in the Home: Cooking Heating Washing Food preparation Lighting Water heating Clothes drying

17 Wiring a Plug Unscrew the central screw and remove the cover Loosen the flex grip screws and remove the fuse Loosen the three terminal screws (Eart, Live & Neutral) Slip the flex under the grip. Tighten the grip screws to hold the flex in place Insert wiring under the screw at the correct terminal Tighten the screws Replace the fuse. Replace cover and screw into position.

18 Wiring a Plug

19 Fuses Safety device Deliberate weak link If a fault occurs the fuse will blow & the electricity will be cut off Prevents further damage eg fire Found in the fuse box & in plugs

20 A blown fuse can be caused by: A faulty appliance eg overheated iron Overloading the circuit using too many appliances at the same time Faulty wiring in a plug

21 Replacing a Fuse in the Fusebox Switch off the main switch Replace the blown fuse. Some fuse boxes have circuit breakers or trip switches. These can simply be switched back on Repair the fault immediately

22 Good Lighting is important to: Provide enough light for various activities eg reading Prevent accidents Ensure good hygiene Prevent eye strain Create the right atmosphere in each room

23 Natural & Artificial Light Natural (Sunlight) Enters house through: Glass doors Windows Skylights Artificial (usually Electric) Filament bulbs Flourescent bulbs Compact Flourescent lights (CFLs) [Energy Savings light bulbs]

24 Lighting Safety Buy safe light fittings and shades Use correct strength of bulb for fitting The shade should not be too near the bulb There should be plenty of light in areas for danerous jobs like preparing food etc Light should not flicker or glare as this causes headaches and eye strain Dangerous areas eg stairs should be well lit Bathroom cords should have a pull cord switch or an outside switch

25 Replacing a Bulb Turn off the light & allow the bulb to cool Remove bulb Fit a new bulb make sure it is the correct wattage Test the light

26 Heating The type of heating will depend on: - Family lifestyle - Type of home - Family income Three types of home heating: 1. Central heating 2. Partial/Background heating 3. Individual Heaters

27 1. Central Heating Whole house heater from a central source Usually a boiler This heats the water which passes around the house in radiators Comfortable temperature (16 o 20 o C)

28 2. Partial/Background Storage heaters use off peak electricity Give off gentle background heat May have to use extra form of heating during cold weather

29 3. Individual Heaters Can be gas, electric or solid fuel Solid fuel are usually coal or peat fires Gas and electric heaters are usually portable

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31 Insulation Good insulation can reduce this by 75% Materials used in insulation are bad conductors of heat (don t let heat out) example fibreglass and air

32 Good Insulation: Makes a house warmer by retaining heat Saves money on fuel bills Helps to sound-proof a house

33 Types of Insulation Wall Cavity Wall Insulation & Foam Sheets

34 Types of Insulation Roof/Attic felt, fibreglass, foam pellets

35 Types of Insulation Windows & Doors double glazing, draught excluders, heavy lined curtains

36 Types of Insulation Hot Water Cylinder

37 Water

38 Where does water come from?

39 Water Treatment Water is treated to make it suitable for humans to use. Filtered to remove impurities (dirt) Chloride of lime added to soften water (remove chemicals which make it hard*) Chlorine added to kill bacteria Fluoride added to help strengthen teeth

40 *Hard Water Hardness in water is caused by minerals which become dissolved in the water as it seeps through the ground

41 How does it get to my house? Water leaves the treatment plant through a large pipe called mains A service pipe leads from the mains to the house This supplies water directly to the kitchen sink and the storage tank in the attic This tank supplies the rest of the house s water including hot water system

42 How does it get to my house?

43 Average Daily Water Usage

44 Burst Pipes In very cold weather water pipes may freeze. When water freezes it expands and may cause the pipes to burst. If this happens: Turn off the water at the mains Run all the cold taps to drain the tank Do not turn on central heating Call a plumber

45 Kitchen Sink The sink is located under a window for: Ventilation Good light Ease of plumbing (outside wall) Most kitchen sinks are made from stainless steel. They are easy to clean, stain-resistant, hygienic and hard wearing.

46 Kitchen Sink Underneath the sink is a pipe with a S or U bend. This is filled with water to prevent odours and bacteria getting into the kitchen from the outside drain. If the sink becomes blocked it means unsuitable substances like grease are being emptied down the sink. The sink should be disinfected regularly

47 If a sink gets blocked: 1. Remove anything that might be blocking the water outlet 2. Half fill the sink and cover the overflow with a cloth 3. Work the plunger up and down over the outlet to create suction. 4. Place some washing soda in the sink and wash down with boiling water

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49 If a sink gets blocked: 5. Try to loosen the blockage with a long piece of wire 6. If the sink is still blocked place a basin under the U-bend and unscrew the fitting 7. Flush out the pipe with water (use wire again if necessary) 8. Replace the screw and empty the basin