The Furnace Filters

Finding The Right Propane Wall Furnace Online

GuestPoster — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:24:40 +0000

A propane wall furnace can be used in many areas where a standard heating system is simply not feasible. Any outdoor structure, such as detached garage, gazebo or utility shed, can benefit from having one of these installed. This will allow these areas to be used more frequently during cold weather.

Propane wall heaters are available in many sizes, from a wide variety of very small space heaters to larger units that can heat an entire building. A propane wall furnace may also be found to be easily portable. The portable units utilize the same style tank as a barbecue grill and are easily relocated from area to area with little to no effort.

This means that the same unit can be used in the garage one minute and placed on the patio the next. This type of propane wall heater is much more versatile than an electric heater of the same size as it can be placed almost anywhere. Indoor electric heaters are confined only to areas with electrical supply where the propane heater brings its power with it.

By going online and conducting a brief search, all the sizes and styles of these propane wall heaters may be found. The manufacturers and suppliers of these heaters will have full product descriptions for each model they offer which will include actual heat output. This heat output is measured in BTUs and will help determine the size of the heater needed for the area.

A good rule of thumb is that 15,000 BTUs are necessary to heat 500 square feet. This gauge will assist in selecting the proper heater for the garage or basement in question. A propane wall furnace is a great option in particularly if there are multiple areas that need to be heated up but not all the time.

Furnace Filters Need to be Changed Regularly

Howard Kingsbridge — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:09:50 +0000

Furnace filters are greatly neglected due to the perceived inconvenience of maintaining them. This is true even though a furnace is a vital part of a home. Without it, there would be no heat during those cold winter days. After all, the furnace is all the way down in your basement where it may be damp and the lighting is bad. Who wants to go down there and fiddle around with a filthy furnace that may get your clothes all dirty? There are many reasons to take that trip downstairs regularly and to make sure that your filter is clean and your furnace is operating properly.

The Benefits of Changing your Furnace Filter

The benefits of changing furnace filters regularly are many. Think about the purpose of a filter in the first place. A furnace filter is a home air purifier meant to take the dust out of the air flowing in your home. If the filter is clogged with dust the furnace works harder trying to get air out and circulating in your home. The longer and harder the furnace works, the faster it will burn out and the higher your utilities bills will be. Imagine how hard you would have to suck on a straw with something stuck in the middle of it. You’d suck and suck to get a bit of liquid through the straw and after all that effort you could collapse. Your furnace is the same way.

Did you ever neglect a small cavity just to have it turn into a route canal? If you had just taken care of the tooth when the problem was small, you would have saved yourself a lot of time, pain and money. It is the same with your furnace. If you change the furnace air filters regularly and take care of the furnace, you’ll save a lot of time and expense in the long run.

When changing your filter, it is a good idea to use the same brand filters as your furnace. For example if you have a Honeywell furnace, use Honeywell furnace filters. I mention Honeywell because they are considered one of the best on the market. If you are looking for a Honeywell furnace filter, you can find it cheaper online.

The Dangers of not Changing your Furnace Filters

We already discussed that changing your filters regularly will save you money on your utility bill as well as the time and expensive of replacing parts or worst case scenario your whole furnace. What about the serious dangers to you and your family if you neglect your furnace? First of all, a dirty furnace with clogged filters at best will allow a lot of dust to circulate in your home which you and your family will breathe in. At worst, there are fumes that the furnace will give off that are very unhealthy to breathe in. In today’s day and age where people spend a lot of time at home on their computers, on the TV or working from home, they would spend a lot of time breathing in these toxins.

The very worst danger is that a neglected and dirty furnace can actually blow up or cause a fire. Imagine the risk to your valuable items not to mention your invaluable family members and pets. This is a danger that can be prevented by regularly checking and changing your furnace filters.

Taking the time to take care of your furnace will save you from health problems that home air purifiers can counter, will save you time and will certainly save you a lot of money.

Electrostatic Furnace Filters

An electrostatic furnace filter uses the technology of static electricity to remove dust from the air. This has the benefit of having very little impact on air flow into your furnace. The reason this is beneficial is because some filters can limit air flow significantly causing the furnace to overwork which reduces its efficiency. Electrostatic filters are considered permanent furnace filters or reusable furnace filters since they do not need to be replaced.

A reusable furnace filter is otherwise known as a washable furnace filter. This means that you do not have to spend money every month on disposable filters. Washable furnace filters will save you hundreds of dollars in the long run.

What are Fireplace Grates?

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:08:15 +0000

Fireplace grates are raised and latticed stands that are used to hold burning wood in the fireplace. They are usually made of some form of iron- either steel or cast iron. Cast iron fireplace grates are sturdy and popular. A grate improves the performance of your fireplace by leaps and bounds. Fireplace grates are also often installed as fashion statements, with a unique and well-designed grate adding character to an otherwise ordinary fireplace.

The functioning of a fireplace grate is very interesting. In a nutshell, grate fireplaces allow air to pass below the fire. Thus, the amount of oxygen supplied to the fire increases, which in turn helps the fire thrive and raises it temperature. In the process, most of the pollution that would have otherwise escaped is, instead, combusted. The increased oxygen supply also helps ignite seasoned logs quickly, with a minimum amount of kindling, whilst starting a fire.

Thus the benefits of a fireplace grate are:

A fireplace grate produces a burn of a better quality. It also increases the temperature of the air released significantly.
The floor of your fireplace is protected by a grate. Thus a grate gives your fireplace a longer life and helps maintain the concrete base.
Starting a fire is very easy when you’re using a grate due to the abundant oxygen supply it provides.
It is much easier to clean up your fireplace with a grate. All you have to do is to place a flat ash-pan below the grate that can be removed an emptied regularly.
The amount of wood one uses is significantly lowered with the use of a fireplace grate.

Hence, there are many reasons why you should consider purchasing a grate for your fireplace. However, what exactly does one look for in a grate? Here are some features to think about:

Design

A well-designed fireplace grate can really add character to a room. There are many stylish and decorative fireplace grates available on the market. Find one to fit you and your family’s fireplace needs.

Size

Measure your fireplace carefully before purchasing a grate. An ideal grate is 6 inches smaller than the width of your fireplace and 3 inches lesser than its depth. If your measurements are incorrect your fireplace grate could be ineffective.

Material

Fireplace grates are usually made of either cast iron or steel. Normally, the heavier a grate is the better it is. Cast iron is much heavier than steel and lasts much longer. Thus if you want to burn coals in your grate or you have a very large fireplace choose a cast iron fireplace grate to support it. Thick steel bars on a grate are also a good option, especially for family use.

Choosing A Bathroom Ceiling Heater

GuestPoster — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:31:12 +0000

If you live in North America or Europe, chances are you’ve had experience with cold bathrooms on winter mornings, that wake you up a whole lot faster than you would like. The tricky thing about bathrooms is that they are constantly under siege from sources of water and dampness that threaten to lead to unsightly mildew and mold.

In an effort to combat water on bathroom surfaces most homeowners have a vent to promote air circulation throughout the room. If the air is being delivered from freezing or even moderately cold temperatures outside, the issue of staying comfortable looms large. Bathroom ceiling heaters are a necessity for just this reason.

While you could simply leave the bathroom door open and turn up the heat in the entire house, this seems wasteful, especially as you and your family are most likely about to head off to work or school for the day. Another option would be to get a space heater, but there are at least two reasons why they are poor solutions: they pose safety risks in the event you overturn them, and certainly there is the risk of people or pets brushing up against these low appliances and burning themselves.

Your bathroom ceiling heater is by definition out of the way from early morning stumbles, so it is certainly safer, but in addition to that realize that their heating capacity actually fits the room in which they are installed. There is no overkill as to creating more heat than you need (and paying for it), and most ceiling heaters of this kind can be simply switched off when one leaves the bathroom.

There is no end to the selection of heaters for your bathroom, and a good place to start your search is your local do-it-yourself store or mega-retailer. Remember that this isn’t money that you’re spending on a discretionary item that will depreciate: it is actually an investment in your home. In addition to being an additional feature to complement your bathroom, your bathroom ceiling heater should serve to keep tiles and floor covering and carpeting in better shape than if you don’t have one installed.

Electric Garage Heaters Heat Up Your Garage or Shed

GuestPoster — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:19:18 +0000

For those who love to spend time working in their garage or shed on various projects, you may find that as the weather gets cold you are less and less likely to spend time working on the projects you want because it simply gets too cold outside and therefore in the garage or shed, too. One easy solution to cold temperatures is electric garage heaters, which can warm up almost any size space to make it comfortable for you to do the things you want to do.

There are all types of heaters that you can use in garages or even in metal sheds, if that is where you prefer to set up shop. There are portable models that can be moved around and placed anywhere you need them or there are more permanent models that are built into the wall. Some models run off of gas, while others utilize propane. A natural gas garage heater might save you money if natural gas is cheaper where you live then electricity but it may require more maintenance. You can also choose to incorporate a heater in your garage that taps into your home’s heating system, or you can keep it as a completely separate unit.

The type of heater you choose will depend in part on your needs, the climate in which you live, your budget, the size of your garage or shed and how much time you plan to spend in there. If you spend a good deal of time in the space and it is very cold outside, you may want a unit that is connected to your home’s heating system so that the garage always stays warm, whether you are busy at your workshop or just stepping out of the car with some groceries.

If you only occasionally spend time in your garage or have set up a workshop outside in your shed, a portable style electric garage heater may be best. With these models you can just turn them on when you need them and off when you don’t and they can be moved almost anywhere they are needed. This is often a great solution for many homeowners.

Fireplace Grates: What You Need to Know

GuestPoster — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:00:33 +0000

Fireplace grates have been around since the 1600’s. Grates were used to hold the burning wood off of the stone base of a fireplace. They were made of iron, and set a few inches off of the fireplace base. This also helped keep the stones from cracking. During this time period, Prince Rupert discovered that raising the fireplace grate, helped to improve the venting system, as well as the airflow. This allowed more air to get below the flames and increase the temperature of the heat, making the flames burn much hotter, and even brighter. It also allowed the smoke to blow upwards more.

Before grates were discovered, people built their fires in the middle of their homes and allowed the smoke to escape from the roof. This idea lasted for thousands of years. The downfall to this was that some of the smoke stayed inside the home. This caused many people to experience burning eyes and coughing.

Fireplace grates have evolved quite a bit since that time, and today there are many types available including the cast iron fireplace grate, solid steel, and various other materials. You can also find them in many different sizes and shapes. The size of the grate is more important than anything. Small grates tend to have small fires that do not put out as much heat as large fires. However, larger grates tend to burn wood much faster. Some fireplace companies will offer a small mesh screen to go on the bottom of the grate, so that it can keep the embers from falling to the base of the fireplace.

You can find fireplace grates at your local home improvement stores; however, there is a much better selection over the internet. It may require a little research on your part, but the choices that you have are well worth your efforts. You can then enjoy the warmth and the crackling sounds of a good warm fire.

Want more information on fireplace grates? Check out the Heating and Air Guide, the home heating and cooling site.

Wood Or Gas For Your Fireplace

GuestPoster — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:20:28 +0000

Millions of single unit homes are equipped with a fireplace. It is a choice people make for several reasons. To use as a supplemental heating source and save on energy bills, to use for ambiance and decor, and some for ecological concerns. Often people wonder whether to buy a wood or a gas fireplace.

If you choose to use wood here are somethings to consider.
First you will need an outside outlet for smoke, that is a chimney or a conduit. It is not possible to have an unvented wood fireplace.
When buying wood you will have to consider whether to buy hardwood like oak, or cherry or softwood like pine. The choice of wood will determine the amount of heat your fire will provide. Hardwoods provide a better fire but are more expensive. Wood is usually sold by volume and you may want to order a chord or more at a time, to save on delivery charges.

You should not burn fresh cut wood for several reasons. The first reason is environmental, burning “green” wood emits more pollutants than a seasoned wood. Another reason is that dry wood burns better and produces more heat than fresh wood. Finally “green” wood causes more soot to be deposited on your equipment and in the chimney. To have seasoned wood you must store it outside but with some protection from the elements (a tarp with open sides will do.) It takes about 16 to 24 months depending on conditions. Poor quality wood should be shunned.

If you choose gas you can have a vented or a vent free fireplace. Once gas fireplaces were the mockery of many people because they looked fake, with a blue flame. Today both ventless gas fireplaces and vented fireplaces have improved and the illusion of a wood fire is perfect, without the inconvenience of wood. The advantages are that you no longer have the wood chore, you never need to have the chimney cleaned and you can start a fire with the click of a switch. Heating output of a gas fireplace is very good depending on the model you choose and the level of flame you select.

Whether you choose a wood burning or gas fireplace, many people choose to cover the opening with fireplace glass doors. The glass doors allow you to see the fire and gives a very elegant yet cozy look to your room.

How To Save Money On Heating Vents

GuestPoster — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:01:48 +0000

Let’s face it, your heating vents are white, boring, and probably really dirty. So you start shopping around for new vents and you realize that they really don’t cost that much. You find really cool ones for $20, some that would look great in your bedroom for $15, and perfect wooden ones for the kitchen that cost $25. Then you stop for second, take a walk around your house, and realize that you have over 20 heating vents in your house! That’s going to cost a lot to replace all of those!

Let me show you how to save some money on all of this!

The first step to saving money is to figure out whether or not you really need to replace every heating vent in the house. Do your kids need a designer heat vent in their bedrooms? Probably not, so you can save one or two for each of those rooms. Take a hard look at the bathrooms, office, and other lesser used rooms in the house to figure out whether or not you should swap them out.

Another good idea is to shop for heat vents online. The prices there are way lower than your local home decor store, and they have a ton more choices. In order to save as much as possible online you have to get a shipping deal. Paying full price for shipping will erase most of the saving that you’re going to get online because shipping a dozen or so floor registers is heavy! There are a few dozen different retailers online that specialize in these, so if you shop around you are bound to find free shipping on at least one of them.

Upgrading the heating vents in your house doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Be smart, buy only what you need and shop around for them. Patience and persistence is going to get you a good deal!

For more DIY home improvement tips, visit ematerials.net.

Honeywell Furnace Filters

Howard Kingsbridge — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:29:20 +0000

Furnace filters are of utmost importance in maintaining your home and selecting the correct type of filter can go a long way in helping you save money and benefit you with good health in the long run. Honeywell furnace filters are considered to be some of the best ones available on the market. If you already own a Honeywell furnace, it is recommended that you install a Honeywell furnace filter for optimum efficiency. Furnace filters are designed to block dirt, dust, microscopic insects and particles and allergens to keep your home clean and improve the air quality of the room.

There are many types of Honeywell furnace air filters available. One type is semi-permanent. In other words, you can wash it at periodic intervals instead of having to go out and get a new one every time the filter is dirty. These types of filters are known as washable furnace filters. However, you must make sure to wash the Honeywell furnace air filter at least once a month. This ensures that the furnace remains in a good condition. Washing furnace air filters regularly is a vital part of your furnace maintenance.

There are certain things to keep in mind before purchasing Honeywell furnace filters. They can be purchased through a store online or from any general hardware or home improvement store that carries Honeywell products. However, if you use disposable filters, it is easier on the pocket to get Honeywell furnace filters online from an internet store as you can purchase them in bulk and have them delivered to you. This way you can store them and always have them handy in case they need replacement.

Standard one-inch furnace filters are used in the majority of homes. These filters only just meet the minimum standards of filtration and also require replacement frequently. It is helpful to picture a furnace filter as a device that captures particles from an air stream flowing through it. Therefore, the bigger the net the better, as it can capture smaller particles.

Electronic Honeywell furnace filters are not only easy to use, but also block up to sixty times more of particles when compared to standard one-inch filters. These are four-inch filters that are replaceable and can easily last up to 12 months. These Honeywell furnace filters need very little maintenance and only periodic washing.

In the long run, purchasing electronic Honeywell furnace filters will reap many returns when compared to one-inch filters. Also, whole-house filters can block around 98% of pollutants and dust from the air. Hence, as an added advantage, you will notice that there is a great difference in the air quality of your home.

Humidifier Filters and Other Humidifier Features

Hillary Mason — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:00:13 +0000

While the filter is the part of the humidifier that probably gets the most attention, it is only one of many features that you should take into consideration when shopping for a humidifier. Even the best humidifier filters will not make up for something that lacks in other areas. A humidifier filter is an integral part of your system but there are other parts as well. Here is a quick rundown of 4 features that should greatly improve the experience and enjoyment of owning and operating a humidifier.

The first thing you want is a humidity meter. This is not at all an advanced feature but the most basic models do not always offer this feature. It makes using the humidifier more hands free by allowing the user to preset a desired humidity level at which point the unit turns off to prevent over humidification.

The next important feature is not as apparent upfront and will require a little investigation. This is the ease of use of the design and will be the difference between long term gratification from your product or just owning another item to store away forever in your closet. Humidifier filter cleaning should be made as easy as possible or most people will just go out and buy another one next season.

Noise considerations are also important when shopping for a humidifier. This is especially true of people who do not like background noise or intend to use their unit at night. Most brands have significantly improved their products in this regard so this shouldn’t be too hard unless you are particularly picky.

A lower water indicator light is useful since it alerts the owner of low water levels. It is a waste of energy to run a humidifier without any water. Some units come with an auto shut off feature that turns off the unit automatically when there is no water in the tank.

Those are the most important features that should make it that much easier to operate your humidifier. It is usually a good idea to avoid hybrid models that offer functions such as dehumidification or air purification as they tend to be of subpar quality compared to dedicated units. Of course that is personal opinion and you are free to make your own decision.