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New Hi-Tech Tools & Gadgets


Over the last year Ridgid has come out with several great new products that take some fairly advance technology and make them cheap enough for use by anyone. Three good examples of these are the IR Thermometer, Micro Seesnake and the Gas Sniffer.

IR-100

The IR-100 infrared thermometer is probably my new favorite toy around the shop. This is a great technology with an extremely convenient application and after using it for only a few times you’ll think, how did I get along without this before. There are many obvious applications for HVAC, plumbing, mechanic, electrician, home inspectors and the list goes on and on. Then of course there are those age old questions man has struggled with for years which can now be answered such as… how hot is this McDonalds coffee really?   

micro seesnake

The Micro Seesnake, which hopefully everyone is pretty familiar with by now as we have mentioned it several times is another gret new hi-tech gadget. Really there was nothing around before this for the price that was so versatile. Great for plumbing, HVAC, home inspection, electrician, mechanics and everyone else, it has a million uses. For plumbing it can’t really replace the larger Seesnakes for most plumbing work but with up to 30’ of extensions and at a fraction of the cost it does save lots of lugging around the big equipment for the smaller jobs.  

Gas Sniffer CG-100

The CG-100 Gas Sniffer is another great new Ridgid product. This tool makes finding combustible gas leaks very simple with an easy to read LED meter and audio or vibrate modes. Again this is a great technology with a very simple application to making many people’s job not only easier but also much safer. And at the price of only $242 it should be an obvious choice for many toolboxes.  

Original post by blogs@bobvila.com (Dave)


Over the last year Ridgid has come out with several great new products that take some fairly advance technology and make them cheap enough for use by anyone. Three good examples of these are the IR Thermometer, Micro Seesnake and the Gas Sniffer.

IR-100

The IR-100 infrared thermometer is probably my new favorite toy around the shop. This is a great technology with an extremely convenient application and after using it for only a few times you’ll think, how did I get along without this before. There are many obvious applications for HVAC, plumbing, mechanic, electrician, home inspectors and the list goes on and on. Then of course there are those age old questions man has struggled with for years which can now be answered such as… how hot is this McDonalds coffee really?   

micro seesnake

The Micro Seesnake, which hopefully everyone is pretty familiar with by now as we have mentioned it several times is another gret new hi-tech gadget. Really there was nothing around before this for the price that was so versatile. Great for plumbing, HVAC, home inspection, electrician, mechanics and everyone else, it has a million uses. For plumbing it can’t really replace the larger Seesnakes for most plumbing work but with up to 30’ of extensions and at a fraction of the cost it does save lots of lugging around the big equipment for the smaller jobs.  

Gas Sniffer CG-100

The CG-100 Gas Sniffer is another great new Ridgid product. This tool makes finding combustible gas leaks very simple with an easy to read LED meter and audio or vibrate modes. Again this is a great technology with a very simple application to making many people’s job not only easier but also much safer. And at the price of only $242 it should be an obvious choice for many toolboxes.  

Original post by blogs@bobvila.com (Dave)


Location1840nleavitt
1840 N. Leavitt, Chicago Map

Owner
Alex Pearsall

Architect
Norsman Architects

1840 N. Leavitt is an existing 100 year old multi-unit residential building being converted to a single family residence with 6,000 sf above grade and 3,000 sf below grade of habitable space, totaling 6 bedrooms and 5 baths. This is another example of the jumbo-sized home that works to counteract its large size with a variety of green measures. The project is seeking Chicago Green Homes and Energy Star certification.

Envelope basics are handled with soy-based foam insulation and triple-pane windows, but the energy approach adds in solar thermal as the primary heating source. Although many green homes in Chicago are using solar thermal for domestic water heating, only a handful are using it for space heat as well. Here, the heat is provided via warmboard radiant floor, an interesting product that serves both as subfloor and radiant heating panel, eliminating the need to pour a lightweight concrete topping slab over the radiant tubing. I’m told this product is popular in Colorado, but there haven’t been a lot of applications in Chicago; readers are invited to comment with their own experiences. Finally, cooling is provided via a geothermal system, which also backs-up the solar thermal heat.

On the materials side, existing structural framing members being removed are being re-milled on site for use as exterior cladding, and numerous other recycled-content or certified-wood products will be used. Central light cores penetrating to the basement address the challenge of providing natural light to most areas of this large home. Outside, a green roof, rain garden, and rainwater cistern help address stormwater management on an existing site with a large amount of impervious area.

Other project team members include general contractor Sutherland Pearsall, HVAC and geothermal contractor TDH Mechanical, and structural engineer Louis Shell Structures.

Original post by Erik


 
 

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