I just changed out my 25year old thermostat for my heating/ac. Probably been discussed before but I missed it. Two questions. Why was there a mercury switch in the thing in the first place? Is it because its a 24volt system?
And secondly, what do I do with this dangerous stuff?
quote:
Originally posted by waterboy
I just changed out my 25year old thermostat for my heating/ac. Probably been discussed before but I missed it. Two questions. Why was there a mercury switch in the thing in the first place? Is it because its a 24volt system?
And secondly, what do I do with this dangerous stuff?
Probably because it's a 25 year old thermostat.
All those old thermostats had mercury switches in them. They were connected to a coil that would either tighten or expand. The would cause the mercury to move to one side or the other, causing the thermostat to tell the furnace to turn off or on.
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Originally posted by Wilbur
All those old thermostats had mercury switches in them. They were connected to a coil that would either tighten or expand. The would cause the mercury to move to one side or the other, causing the thermostat to tell the furnace to turn off or on.
Thanks, just curious. Now what do I do with the thing. Thought immediately about my neighbors yapping dog, but then that wouldn't be right...would it?
No, you don't use mercury for a yapping dog. Anti-freeze is better.
Seriously, anti-freeze is one nasty poison and it reportedly tastes sweet. Animals will lap it up so it's important to dispose of it properly. Dunno about Tulsa, but I think the recycle center in Owasso will take it.
Frankly, I'm at a loss about the mercury, but I'm glad you brought it up. I have an old thermostat to replace too. Sure enough, it's a mercury unit.
I will take it at my twice a year Fairgrounds Pollutant Collection event. The next one is the first weekend in November.
Here is a new website we created earlier this year to answer some of your questions...
http://www.mercuryfreetulsa.com/
quote:
Originally posted by Ed W
No, you don't use mercury for a yapping dog. Anti-freeze is better.
Seriously, anti-freeze is one nasty poison and it reportedly tastes sweet. Animals will lap it up so it's important to dispose of it properly. Dunno about Tulsa, but I think the recycle center in Owasso will take it.
Frankly, I'm at a loss about the mercury, but I'm glad you brought it up. I have an old thermostat to replace too. Sure enough, it's a mercury unit.
does it work on humans as well??[:O]
quote:
Originally posted by Ed W
Dunno about Tulsa, but I think the recycle center in Owasso will take it.
All of our recycling centers take anti-freeze seven days a week.
http://metrecycle.com/depots.htm
We were talking about this at the coffee shop this morning, Michael, and one guy said they run all the oil, anti-freeze, and transmission fluid into a single tank, and then separate it later. Is that true? Wouldn't there be some cross-contamination?
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Originally posted by RecycleMichael
I will take it at my twice a year Fairgrounds Pollutant Collection event. The next one is the first weekend in November.
Here is a new website we created earlier this year to answer some of your questions...
http://www.mercuryfreetulsa.com/
Great suggestion. Remember mercury thermometers, both oral & rectal? I still have one. I replaced my old 1954 Honeywell mercury thermostat back in 1988 with an electronic, programmable thermostat, but I had the new unit installed in a different location. I still have the original thermostat on the wall in its original location, mostly because I didn't want to patch a hole in the wall! It's still there today, unfunctional, but intact.
I WOULD BUST IT OUT AND PLAY WITH IT,MERCURY IS COOL!
quote:
Originally posted by mdunn
I WOULD BUST IT OUT AND PLAY WITH IT,MERCURY IS COOL!
Give me your address...I'll mail it to you.[;)]
Went with the round non programmable because it doesn't need batteries, my family is hopelessly non digital friendly, the cost was significantly less and less to go wrong.
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Originally posted by waterboy
quote:
Originally posted by mdunn
I WOULD BUST IT OUT AND PLAY WITH IT,MERCURY IS COOL!
Give me your address...I'll mail it to you.[;)]
Went with the round non programmable because it doesn't need batteries, my family is hopelessly non digital friendly, the cost was significantly less and less to go wrong.
I guess I was sort of a local pioneer, having installed a programmable thermostat in my house back in 1988. But my experience has been that the program feature is much more beneficial in the winter, and a detrement in the summer. If I cut back the temp in the summer, it takes all evening long for my house to cool down, defeating the energy saving function. But, in the winter, it takes much shorter for the house to warm up, so I think the winter benefits of a programmable thermostat in Tulsa are good.
quote:
Originally posted by waterboy
quote:
Originally posted by mdunn
I WOULD BUST IT OUT AND PLAY WITH IT,MERCURY IS COOL!
Give me your address...I'll mail it to you.[;)]
Went with the round non programmable because it doesn't need batteries, my family is hopelessly non digital friendly, the cost was significantly less and less to go wrong.
hell yeah!here it is...1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500
Steve, I have actually read that as a suggestion. In the winter you gain from turning down the thermostat, but in the summer the energy required to re-cool your house can be greater than just leaving it chilled IF you allow the temp to go up more than a little.
I can not attest to the truthfulness of this, but I have heard that your observation is correct. I bump my AC up to 82F during the day, then down to 75F or so when I get home. Seems to be a reasonable range (75F is a bit warm, but it's not like I'm working out in my house).