The Furnace Filters

Researching Electric Underfloor Heating

GuestPoster — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:42:03 +0000

When researching your central heating and cooling options, many stumble across radiant electric underfloor heating with a giant question mark above their head. While it is not widely known throughout standard consumers and homeowners, electric underfloor heating is a form of heating that controls the climate of an interior space by using conduction, radiation and convection through pipes, cables, mats and films. While these systems have been around for many years in Korea, more modern technologies such as the hot water heater systems are used in newer and more advanced homes.

If you are still asking what is electric underfloor heating going in further detail about how a hot water system works will give you a better understanding. In hot water systems, pipes are laid underneath the flooring in the home and above the concrete foundation. These composite or aluminum based pipes will be spaced evenly and attached at the joints for proper hot water flow. While this is an effective way to pump heat into a home through the use of hot water, it is important that proper installation is performed to prevent blockages and air bubbles from forming.

Wet underfloor electric heaters are also available that provide both heating and cooling throughout summer and winter months. The wet units will take the heat out of the system and provide a chill through the flooring pipes when necessary. While these systems are very energy efficient and can reduce your electric bill up to 40% there are also disadvantages. Because the system is in the flooring you should consider the moisture in your home, as it can reduce thermal conductivity causing heat loss. Insulation in the home must also be of high quality to insure the home stays warm or cool.

There are several choices on the market when upgrading or replacing your central heating and cooling units. Research all of your options and ask the experts what is electric underfloor heating and how it can benefit you by reducing your utility costs monthly.

Benefits of Honeywell Furnace Filters

Howard Kingsbridge — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 07:05:30 +0000

With every year that passes, the air quality that we all depend on diminishes a little more. Factors such as economic growth, overpopulation and increased use of vehicles all contribute to the fact that pollution is constantly on the rise. Our homes are supposed to be a place of solace, a place to come to get away from these types of problems. The fact is, though, that we have to do some work on our part to keep our homes free of pollution and stale air. One way to take responsibility is to use a furnace filter, and Honeywell furnace filters are available in all sizes and varieties so that a clean air environment is available to all.

Furnace filters help cleanse the air that is let in through the opening of doors and gets circulated around the home. Once dust has had time to collect on the filter, it’s a cinch to rinse it off so that it can continue to work properly. Once the filter dries it can be put right back into place to do it all over again. This process doesn’t have to be done often because they don’t clog very easily. The quality of Honeywell is put into each filter so that use and maintenance is stress-free. Take note of the measurements of the furnace when picking out a filter so that buying one and installing it will go without hassle.

Honeywell furnace filters can be bought either in person or online. It may be helpful to have an associate at the hardware store help while picking one out because they know the specs of each design. Then, when you know which one is the best fit for the home, future purchases can easily be made on the internet. With competitive pricing and simplicity of use, these filters can be the easy solution to warding off pollution in the home.

Source: Vast Home And Garden

Using A Cast Iron Radiator Cover For Home Safety

Howard Kingsbridge — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:16:09 +0000

When the temperature dips, it is time to turn up the heat. When this scenario plays out, lowering the thermostat can mean that cast iron radiators can get extremely hot to touch. This can create a safety issue and is especially a danger to young children and pets which can easily get burned by simply touching the radiator. This can also pose a safety risk if any flammable substances come in contact with the cast iron radiator which could result in fire. Fortunately, there is a simple and affordable way to make your radiator much safer.

The installation of radiator covers is a convenient way to make hot radiators much safer. Because radiator covers are manufactured specifically to fit over the radiator, they are a great way to prevent animals, people or any materials which might catch fire, from coming into direct contact with the hot metal. Additionally, the user never has to sacrifice good looks in place of safety. There are a large variety of decorative covers for cast iron radiators with designs that can be very simple to those that will simulate bookcases and many other elements of differing styles. It is usually not advisable for people to build their own radiator covers, although someone with experience with that particular type of construction could certainly make their own. Keep in mind, the task is not an easy one and there are many safety issues that will have to be considered. In addition to their decorative properties, cast iron radiator covers are effective in helping to distribute warm air throughout a room, thus increasing the efficiency and helping to reduce heating bills.

In some situations, refurbished cast iron radiators may already be equipped with covers, but if they are not, covers can be purchased. These covers may need to be located with a seller different than the one who supplied the radiators. In order to have the proper fit, be sure to measure the radiators carefully and only buy a cover that closely fits the dimensions. If the radiator has an unusual shape, a custom cover may need to be constructed. Remember, precautions need to be taken even when a cover is in place because the covers can also become hot. If the cover ever has to be taken off when the heat is on some form of protection, such as oven mitts or an old towel, should be used.

Why You Should Buy a Honeywell RTH7500D Conventional 7-Day Programmable Thermostat

Jared Williams — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 06:43:09 +0000

Click on Image for pricing and more information on the
Honeywell RTH7500D Conventional 7-Day Programmable Thermostat

Browse the full spectrum of Honeywell Programmable Thermostats

The US Department of Energy estimates that the average household in America spends $2,200 a year on heating and cooling costs. They also estimate that a significant proportion of this energy is wasted heating and cooling empty houses or running the HVAC at an unnecessary temperature. The US Department of Energy recommends the use of a good programmable thermostat to save consumers money and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

One of the best programmable thermostats on the market is the Honeywell RTH7500D Conventional 7-Day Programmable Thermostat. It is certified under the Energy Star rating system and can save the average household up to 33% on their annual heating and cooling bills.

The Honeywell RTH7500D can be easily installed in a house. It can be made to regulate both single stage and multi stage systems, heat pumps, separate air-con and heating systems and even gas fireplaces. The thermostat is accurate to within one Fahrenheit and can switch instantly between heating and cooling systems to guarantee that the desired temperature is maintained in a home.

It is very easy to program the Honeywell thermostat through its three buttons and easy-to-understand menu-driven program. It allows you to set your heating/cooling requirements for each day of the week. And within each day you can set up to four different periods. Thus you can have the heating/cooling just ticking away while you sleep, have it come on just before you get up, go off while you are at work and then come on again just prior to your return from work. All these little savings add up over the year. And the less electricity you use means the less fossil fuels that are burned in power plants to generate electricity, which in turn means less green house gas emissions.

You save money, the environment is helped. The Honeywell RTH7500D Conventional 7-Day Programmable Thermostat is a win-win product.

Browse the full spectrum of Honeywell Programmable Thermostats

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Why An Outdoor Ceiling Fan Can Jazz Up Your Yard

GuestPoster — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:02:03 +0000

When you think of your yard, you probably think back to lazy afternoons doing nothing, or cooking up a storm with your grill in the hot summer’s day, key words being HOT SUMMER DAY. If you’ve ever suffered scorching heats during the summer, and had no real escape from it even under the shade maybe it’s time for you to consider an outdoor ceiling fan. Think about it, those unbearable heat waves becoming a lesser thing to worry about as you have your lazy afternoon, even modeling your ceiling fan with light, so that you can even stay out at night. Not to mention giving you porch style.

But you can’t just limit yourself to just an outdoor fan, there are several types of them just for the variety of it, like having a hugger ceiling fan, which is similar to a flush mount ceiling fan, in that they are designed to minimize size and electricity usage, but when your selecting your fan for the outdoors there are many things to consider as well. Remember that the sole purpose of your ceiling fan was to further your air circulation and to provide fresher and cooler air on hot days. So you might want to opt for a bigger style of fan, and this also regards to what style you would like, what you think would match your porch or your front yard. There’s also a lot to think about when it comes to electrical consumption and if you want a more economical type of a fan.

All in all though, when you choose your own outdoor ceiling fan, you’ll always end up having exactly what you want, and with these tips, maybe even more, so go ahead and give in to temptation, go buy your ceiling fan now and enjoy!

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A Brief Rundown of the Titan Water Heater

GuestPoster — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 05:26:06 +0000

The Titan water heater is a tankless water heater and is used to provide hot water on demand. As the name suggests, it will heat up water without the need for a storage tank.

How a Tankless Heater Works

The device warms up water as you need it, and instead of storing water in a tank before heating it, the instantaneous heater warms it up as the water flows through the device. The device is connected to a main water supply, and it warms up only as much as you need each time. This means significant savings in electricity costs, as no hot water is wasted, and it does not have to be stored in a separate tank. The Titan also provides hot water faster than traditional tank heaters because you will not have to wait for a whole tank to fill up before you can start to use warm water in the house, becoming immediately available to a hot water dispenser, shower, or any other point of use device.

Installing the Heater

The Titan tankless water heater, sometimes also called instantaneous water heater, is connected to the main water supply and is installed directly on a wall. You will need to have access to a power source, and there should be around 12 inches of space both below and above the device. Often the Titan is installed in the space that used to hold a water tank. It is always best to get a professional plumber to install it to avoid any damages.

Up to 4 gallons of water can pass through Titan tankless water heaters in a minute, depending on the exact model; some models can only heat up just less than 2 gallons every minute. You can adjust the water’s temperature to make sure it does not get too hot. The water heats up immediately and you can get as much or as little water as you need each time.

Tips for Buying a Titan

One of the main things to consider before purchasing a tankless heater is the required water flow rate. You should estimate how much hot water you need at any given time, and use this information to determine the best brand and model for your household. You should also pay attention to the energy factor, which is used to measure the heater’s energy efficiency. The higher the energy factor is the more effective the heater will be. It is always best to discuss your needs with a professional sales advisor to make sure you get a model that best suits the needs of your household.

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Underfloor Heating Systems For Your Outdoor Pavilion

Howard Kingsbridge — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:57:03 +0000

If you are in the planning stages of building a backyard or pool pavilion for your home, then keep in mind some added options that may create a more inviting user experience for yourself, family, and friends when they are visiting. The few things that come to mind are of course a big screen flat panel LCD TV for watching sporting events with your buddies while enjoying the outdoors, and for those cooler crisper evenings an underfloor heating system to help keep your guests warm, and enjoy the night for a longer period of time. Perhaps you need to answers questions such as “what is under floor heating” and “how will it help my home”?

If you are installing an in ground pool and are planning to have a covered pavilion next to your new water feature, then of course this type of heating system will be a welcomed relief as swimmers get out the water and become instantly chilled. Flooring choices may need to be considered in such a project, as tile flooring is very slippery when wet. Ask your flooring retailer what alternatives are available to have a slip and fall free area, but at the same time be able to use a sub-floor heating system. Also, do a cursory search online for slip-free organic tiles to see what is available.

Backyard pavilions have been gaining steady popularity in recent years, especially in areas where the climate is warmer year round, that does not have to stop the home owner in Chicago, or Columbus from realizing the same outdoor benefits even during colder days of the year. By creating a multi purpose pavilion, you can have an open-air covered area during the warmer months and seal of the perimeter with removable glass walls during the winter part of the year. By sealing up the area, and utilizing in floor heating, you can extend the use of your pavilion year round.

Just think of all the uses for your new pavilion; family reunions, birthday parties, Fourth of July celebrations, and in the fall having an outdoor get together after your son’s high school football games to celebrate his victory. The backyard pavilion is a perfect place for many occasions, but with the combination of sub floor heat it will be a comforting experience for all who attend when it’s a little chilly the evening of the event. Underfloor heating is very versatile and of course weatherproof to provide years of indoor or outdoor use, and it is maintenance free as well.

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The Micathermic Heater: Another Step in Heating

Howard Kingsbridge — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:15:07 +0000

Are you living in a drafty apartment? Do you not want to mess with bulky space heaters? Are Snuggies just not your style? Well, your answer is here: a micathermic heater. The micathermic radiator heater uses electricity to provide heat and are also energy-efficient, so they save you money. They use 80% convection and 20% reflective heat so that it will warm up the room quickly to make you comfortable. It even has a 12-hour timer on it to control when it tuns on and off. Micathermic heaters heat up in about one minute and it even has a digital thermostat so that you can control the temperature easily. When you get to the desired temperature the micathermic heater cuts down the power to one-third of its normal output in order to conserve energy. They can also heat up a room of about 150 square feet.

In addition, instead of being big and bulky like most space heaters, micathermic heaters are very thin, making them more movable. They can even be hung on the wall. This means that you have practically unlimited choices of where to put your heater and you are not restricted to one particular location. There’s also another good side to this piece of technology… it is contemporary style makes it fit in well with any modern home decor.

A micathermic heater is priced on the market these days at about $120. For this low price, the energy savings, the style, and the quality, this is one piece of technology that you want to have in your apartment or your home during the late Fall and Winter months. They only problem with this type of heater is that if the power goes out during the Winter due to snow or ice then you will not have any access to the heat due to the fact that it runs on electricity.

Overall, micathermic heaters are great for their energy conservation, style, and price. However, they will leave you in the cold if the power goes out. But they are still a great addition to the home if you need something other than that Snuggie to keep you warm.

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One Big Heater, or Two Smaller Heaters: Calculating Electric Heater Efficiency

Howard Kingsbridge — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 02:17:09 +0000

There are several easy ways, when purchasing heaters, to mathematically calculate how many watts it will take to heat up a room as well as plenty of online sites with calculators that are fairly easy to use. This information is your first step when looking for an efficient electric heater. Before figuring this out you will want to determine other information, besides the overall size of the room that needs to be heated. For example, you will need to take into consideration how high the ceilings are, how well insulated your home is and how many windows are in the room when deciding on electric heater efficiency.

The first step is to take a look at the room you want to install a heater in and see how much insulation it has. If your room has little or no insulation, you should figure 15 watts of heat per square foot. This would apply for rooms such as a garage where there is usually little insulation, or many rooms in older style housing. If you do have some built in insulation, but would not consider the room to be very well insulated you should allow about 12 watts of heat per square foot. A well insulated room, such as most rooms in more modern houses, will only need around 10 watts of heat per square foot.

In a room with many windows, such as a conservatory or a living room or dining room with large windows or sliding doors, you will need to increase your estimated wattage by around twenty five percent. If the room has a ceiling higher than eight feet you should also increase your calculated wattage by around twelve percent for each additional foot of wall height.

One tip to help your room to heat up better is if you find you will need a 2000 watt heater, or more, buy two heaters as opposed to one. Setting two heaters at opposite ends of the room is more efficient than just having one larger heater at one end. Finally, when in doubt as to exactly how big your heater should be, err on the side of getting a larger heater as opposed to a smaller one. That way you will be sure to stay warm.

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Beat the Heat with a Window Air Conditioner

Jared Williams — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:40:04 +0000

Window air conditioners are a convenient way to cool down certain areas of your house. Oftentimes, it’s simply not economical to cool down an entire house. There are plenty of rooms in your house that you probably don’t enter on a regular basis, and there’s no need to waste energy cooling those areas down.

Finding the right window a/c unit for your room begins with measuring both the room and the window. You measure the window for the obvious reason of not wanting to buy an air conditioner that won’t fit. You measure the room to make sure you are finding the most efficient air conditioner for the space you’re planning on cooling. Air conditioners are labeled for the room sizes that they’re best used for in either square feet or cubic feet, so make sure you measure the length, width and height of the room.

The EER (energy efficiency ratio) is a number that represents how efficient an a/c unit is. The higher this number is, the more efficient it is considered. Right now, these typically range from 9-12, but as technology improves this average range continues to increase. Another important efficiency factor to look at is to see whether the unit has the Energy Star seal which requires that a cooling unit be at least 10% more efficient than minimum government standards.

Finally, consider the style of your window before running out to buy an air conditioner. If you have the type of windows that slide open horizontally, then you can’t simply tilt your air conditioner on its side and hope for the best. They actually make vertical window air conditioners specifically for this style of window. These air conditioners have a taller, and thinner profile than standard window unit air conditioners.

Shopping for a window air conditioner can be a bit difficult at times. Look online for the best possible deals, but before you purchase make sure it’s rated to cool the size of the room you’re putting it in, energy efficient enough to keep your bills low, and of the proper style for your type of windows.

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