[Hot Bath Management Cost Defense] Survival Strategy in the Era of 145 Yen Heavy Oil! "Zero Heat Loss" Piping Maintenance to Combat Soaring Fuel Costs
To all managers and maintenance staff of public baths, hot spring inns, and bathing facilities nationwide, thank you for your hard work today!
I am Packy from ONLINEJP, a specialty store for plumbing, drainage, and repair parts.
I am sure many of you watched the news yesterday, the 18th, with a heavy heart.
It was reported that a long-established public bath in Aichi Prefecture is being forced to shorten its business hours due to heavy oil shortages and price hikes caused by rising tensions in the Middle East (150,000 yen per ton in April, and 145 yen per liter in May, about three times the price in 2020).
They are facing a situation where they are forced to shorten operating hours.
Because there is an upper limit on bathing fees regulated by the Price Control Ordinance (550 yen in Aichi Prefecture),
they are truly on the edge of a cliff, unable to "raise prices voluntarily" even as costs increase.
Mr. Yamada, Secretary General of the Aichi Public Bathhouse Business Association, also expressed his bitter decision, saying, "There is a limit to saving, and there is nothing more we can do."
However, we at ONLINEJP will not give up! Even if you cannot control the fuel costs themselves,
"not wasting even 1.0% of the heat of the boiled water" and "reducing the loss from the boiler to the bathtub to the absolute limit" are things we can do,
and for [piping and valve defense measures] that are just one step before capital investment, there are steps you can take right now.
I will thoroughly explain "defensive renovation and maintenance" for hot bath management while incorporating today's latest trend words.
1. Create a "robust ecosystem (circulation)" like the Rakuten Group in the boiler room
Today's trends include "Rakuten Group" ranked in.
Just like Rakuten's economic zone where various services are organically connected, hot bath facilities must also build a system where "boilers, piping, bathtubs, and drainage"
circulate without loss.
Shut out heat leakage like a "ticket gate": Just like the "ticket gate" at a station, which only lets necessary heat pass through,
you need to thoroughly shut out wasteful heat dissipation. Are there any slight steam leaks or seepage from the valves or pipe joints in the boiler room? A "small leak," when converted to the current heavy oil price (145 yen per liter), is the same as throwing money down the drain every day.
Let's deliver 100% of the heat to the bathtub with high-durability pipe repair tape and by re-wrapping insulation materials.
Let's deliver 100% of the heat to the bathtub with high-durability pipe repair tape and by re-wrapping insulation materials.
Towards "low fuel consumption and high efficiency" on the level of the new Elgrand: Just as Nissan's "new Elgrand" achieves both fuel efficiency and comfort with the latest technology,
hot bath facilities also need to shift to "low fuel consumption (reduced heavy oil)." If scale (water scale/hot water scale) accumulates inside the heat exchanger piping, thermal conductivity will drop significantly, consuming extra heavy oil. Regular cleaning and replacement of deteriorated valves are the best energy-saving measures.
👇 If you want to differentiate your home or facility's waterfall bath from other shops or homes, look here!
2. Learning from the Dodgers' "Ironclad Battery": Inspection of Circulation Pumps and Valves
In the sports world, the intense battle of the "Padres vs. Dodgers", is a hot topic. Just like the ultimate battle woven by pitchers Darvish, Ohtani, and Yamamoto, in hot bath management, "one mistake (one drop)" can be fatal.
To maintain the "beloved water volume" like announcer Mami Mito: To have customers say, "My home bath is small, the abundant hot water at the public bath is the best!" like announcer Mami Mito, who gives a sense of security to many people, you need to keep the circulation pump pressure normal.
Outstanding combination like the "Riku-Ryu" pair: A well-coordinated connection like the figure skating "Riku-Ryu" pair is required between the boiler, circulation pump, and various "check valves" and "pressure reducing valves".
Troubles where valves mesh poorly and the hot water you worked hard to heat flows backward and cools down are the "hidden costs" you want to avoid most in hot bath facilities.
3. "Equipment Defense" at the Brink: Overcoming the Crisis of "Reiwa no Tora Retirement"
Entertainment words like "Reiwa no Tora Retirement", director Makoto Shinkai (Makoto Shinkai), and Fujii Kaze (Fujii Kaze) are lined up in the trends, but the closure or suspension of public baths is also a loss of culture.
Being particular about "tools" like Koji Seto's reviews: Just as gadget YouTuber Koji Seto thoroughly compares the performance of tools, hot bath operators should also be particular about the "repair parts used." Instead of making do with cheap gaskets, choosing Teflon gaskets with excellent heat and chemical resistance, or high-heat-resistant repair materials made of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber), can extend the maintenance cycle and reduce total costs.
Bringing "beauty" like Yuko Araki to piping: Like the sophisticated beauty of actress Yuko Araki, a boiler room that is organized and beautifully wrapped with insulation leads to early detection of trouble. To make leaks easier to see, ONLINEJP also offers various piping indicators and high-brightness sealing tape.
■ [For Hot Bath Managers/Maintenance Staff] "Heat Efficiency Maximization" Checklist to Beat Rising Fuel Costs
To bounce back from the 200,000 yen monthly burden increase, check "here" in the boiler room, dressing room, and bathroom right now.
[ ] Inspection of valves and gland packing: Is there any trace of steam or hot water leakage from the stem (shaft) part?
[ ] Check for deterioration of piping insulation (insulation tubes): Has it become tattered due to aging, leaving the pipes bare and radiating heat?
[ ] Cleaning of strainers (filters): Is unnecessary electricity cost (power consumption) occurring due to pump overload caused by clogging?
[ ] Inspection of shower heads and temperature control valves (thermostats): Is there any "dripping" when customers are not using them, or wasted hot water supply due to temperature fluctuations?
ONLINEJP supports 100 years of history with plumbing materials.
Like "Ikesu Onsen" in Aichi Prefecture, protecting "a place where people who walked through the noren saying 'I'm tired' return home laughing saying 'I feel refreshed'."
That is the wonderful culture of Japan's public baths and hot spring facilities.
Instead of just being pessimistic and enduring by asking "how long will this last?", let's maximize the efficiency of your existing equipment to its limit and build a defensive line together until the situation improves. From special heat-resistant gaskets required by hot spring and public bath professionals to large-diameter valves and piping materials, ONLINEJP delivers even a single item at lightning speed.
"Can I get an equivalent for this valve around the boiler quickly?" If you have such concerns, send us a photo at ONLINEJP right now!
Our professional staff will find the compatible parts for you in seconds!