I was reading an old trade journal and found a stat about furnace heat loss that blew my mind

It was in a 1998 issue of 'Modern Casting' from a university study. They said a single, unsealed peephole in a cupola furnace, just 2 inches across, can waste over $1,200 worth of fuel in a year. I always thought those small openings were no big deal, but the math is clear. Everyone I work with just shrugs about them, saying the heat 'goes up anyway'. After seeing that number, I started plugging every inspection port when not in use. Has anyone else actually measured the cost of small leaks like that at their shop?

3 comments

3 Comments

wade7671mo ago

Wait, over a thousand bucks from just one two inch hole? That's insane, I mean I knew it was bad but that number is way bigger than I pictured. It makes you wonder how many little gaps like that get ignored in a whole plant. I'd probably start plugging stuff too after seeing the math laid out that clear.

michael_fisher551mo ago

That math only works if your air is made of gold, @wade767.

seth_wells4915d ago

Ever seen a leaky pipe waste a whole shift's pay?