RENO ADVENTURES

By ELIZABETH RAND-WATKINSON
Globe and Mail. Friday, January 20, 2006 Page G3

Device will ensure you're toasty wherever you are at home
'The Smoother' distributes hot-water radiant heat evenly

This is a heads-up to homeowners with hot-water radiant heat who like to save money while conserving energy -- and who love cool product names. I know it's a bit of a niche market, but I have exciting news, so even if you don't personally have hot-water heating, share this with loved ones who do.

There's a new invention in town that will eliminate common frustrations associated with the hot-water heating systems that are still so prevalent in older homes. It's called "The Smoother" (I love that name!), and its purpose is to make your system deliver constant, comfortable heat levels to all zones of your home while -- wait for it -- lowering your energy bills! (If you're always at a loss for what to talk about at the water cooler, this could be your ticket.)

No more freezing downstairs while sweltering upstairs. No more endless tweaking of creaky old valves in futile attempts to balance a stubborn system that, admit it, you've kicked and cursed at occasionally. And no more supplementing the heat in cold zones with scary space heaters that can, I shudder to think, tip over and start fires.

It's The Smoother to the rescue, and I'm gobsmacked that no one thought of this before 2005, when Matt Higginson, its inventor, launched the product through his Toronto-based company, New Current Inc.

Matt concurs. For years, he assumed that someone else had already come up with the idea. So, as a mechanical engineer who was annoyed with his own home's uneven hot-water heat distribution, he developed a device to balance the heat. After a few years of enjoying the benefits of his creativity, he mentioned it to a heating industry acquaintance at a party and discovered no such product existed commercially. What I'd give to have such a light-bulb moment! The patent office was his next stop.

As Matt explained it to me, The Smoother is a heat-balancing pump control that, by being connected to your boiler, runs your hot water heating system's boiler pump when it needs to run in order to provide the even heat of continuous circulation. It takes less than an hour to install and it does all this while using about 75 per cent less electricity than you would if you had your boiler pump running non-stop.

Unfortunately, running boiler pumps continuously is the energy-gobbling solution many homeowners turn to in order to maintain even heat without having to fumble incessantly with valves. However, doing so consumes about the same amount of electricity as it would to run four full-sized refrigerators continuously. From an energy conservation viewpoint, that's truly scary.

The Smoother offers an efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative. If you were to use a typical two-amp boiler pump at current energy rates, Matt's company figures you'd shave about $165 off your hydro bill every year with The Smoother.

At that rate, consumers can recoup their investment over about two years, since the unit lists for less than $300. Installation rates will vary among heating contractors and depend to some degree on how easy it is to access your boiler. This might be another good reason to clean up that cluttered basement.

Once you've had The Smoother installed and its busy keeping your radiators at a constant temperature, here are some additional tips, courtesy of New Current, on how to further maximize the efficiency of your heating system.
Ensure your radiators are the right size for the rooms they service. While they might have been the right size when they were originally installed, that may no longer be the case if your home has been renovated. A qualified heating contractor will be able to confirm whether they're the right size through a simple test and space calculation.

If the radiators are not the right size and replacing them isn't in the budget, there are some easy countermeasures you can take. If a room is cool because the radiator is too small, ensure that draperies, other coverings and furniture aren't restricting airflow to the radiator. If a room is too warm because the radiator is too big, insulating it with furniture or some sort of enclosure will reduce the heat output without sacrificing efficiency because the heat stays in the water and flows to the rest of the house.

Don't use draperies to insulate radiators. They should always be kept behind radiators or they'll direct heat up the wall and out the window. Even when windows are closely tight, they can still be a source of heat loss, especially older windows.

Insulating the radiator in the room where you have your thermostat will increase the heat in the rest of the house without cooling the room with the thermostat.
Consider placing heat-resistant radiator reflectors between your exterior walls and the radiators to reflect heat back into rooms.

And now for that name. I don't know about you, but to me, the idea of something called "The Smoother" attached to my boiler seemed somehow sexy and intriguing, like a trench coat-clad, fedora-shaded stranger you might encounter at Café Américain while Dooley Wilson (aka "Sam") croons As Time Goes By.

After investigating this particular Smoother, it seems I wasn't far off in my imaginings. What could be sexier or more intriguing than something that keeps me toasty, saves me money and respects the environment?

You can find additional technical information, lists of wholesalers, qualified installers, and contact information for sales representatives at New Current's website, http://www.thesmoother.com, or call its office at 416-703-7683.

Elizabeth Rand-Watkinson is the principal of Terrier Group, which specializes in interior design. Reno Adventures appears weekly, covering all aspects of home reno-vation. Send your feedback and suggestions to lrandwatkinson-@globeandmail.com.

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