Old man winter is knocking on the door and it’s a good bet you may be reaching toward your thermostat you fight him off. The battle to stay warm this winter can be expensive, but performing a number of routine furnace maintenance tasks can help keep your heating costs down. These seven tips, which should be done before winter sets in, are relatively easy to perform and can significantly boost your furnace’s efficiency while reducing risks to your safety, such as carbon monoxide poisoning. Step 1. Turn off the Gas Before you start your furnace maintenance, turn off the gas or electricity depending on the type of furnace. Gas furnaces should have a black pipe with a shut off valve connected to it. Turn the valve so it aligns perpendicular with the pipe to shut off your gas. Most electrical furnaces have a switch to shut the system off. For older models, you may need to shut off breaker connected to your furnace in your home’s fuse box. Step 2. Replace Your Filters Air filters block dust, pollen, and other particles from flying into your home along with the warm air from your furnace. Over time, these filters become clogged. A clogged filter can cause you to lose 5 to 15 percent of your furnace’s energy efficiency, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. You should replace or clean your filters before the start of every heating season and each month during heavy furnace use. Some furnaces have reusable filters and others have disposable filters. If you have a reusable filter, simply slide it out, vacuum it off, wash it off with water, let it dry, and return it into the furnace (keep your vacuum handy for Step #3). If you have a disposable filter, replacement takes a few minutes and a $10 investment from a hardware store. Just make sure you buy one that matches your furnace model. You may want to take the old one with you to the store. Filters are usually in a slide near the bottom of the furnace at the front of the unit. It should slide out easily. Slide a new one into place and you’re set. Step 3. Check the Pilot Light If you have a natural gas furnace, make sure your pilot light flame is blue. If it’s colored yellow or orange, your furnace may have a mechanical problem. Call for professional repairs immediately if the pilot light is any color but blue. Step 4. Vacuum Using a vacuum cleaner with an extension hose, open the furnace door (with the furnace’s fuel source shut off!) and suck up any visible dirt and debris. This, again, will help your furnace run more efficiently. Step 5. Oil the Bearings This won’t be necessary on most furnaces, which have sealed bearings, but older furnaces with oil ports on the motor need annual lubrication to run efficiently. Check your owner’s manual to see whether this step is necessary. First, remove the furnace door to access its interior. Put a couple drops (don’t over-oil) of 10-weight non-detergent motor oil to each oil port. The blower shaft may have oil ports, which require the same amount of oil. Step 6. Check the Belts Fanbelts that drive your furnace blower’s motor deteriorate over time, which can lead to decreased efficiency or cause the furnace to stop working. If the belt has any cracks or fraying on the ends, you should replace it immediately. Check your owner’s manual for instructions about replacing the belt on your model. You’ll also want to check whether the belt is taut. A loose belt should be tightened. If you push on the middle of the belt, it should only move about a half inch to three-quarters of an inch. You can tighten the belt by loosening the bracket that secures it, followed by moving the motor assembly to increase tension. Once you’ve found the right level of tension, tighten the bracket you just loosened. Step 7: Buy a Carbon Monoxide Detector All the previous steps help reduce carbon monoxide, a toxic, odorless gas often labeled the “silent killer.” For $5 and a few minutes of your time, you can buy a carbon monoxide detector that will tell you the level of carbon monoxide for the life of the device (usually two to three months). Buy a passive CO test kit and place the device near the furnace. If it finds carbon monoxide, it’ll darken within 15 minutes. If not, just leave it in place and check it regularly. Read more »

Right now before seriously cold weather arrives, and like a bad house guest plans on overstaying it’s welcome, take some time to peruse this list of tips, then, go forth and implement ye lads and lassies. Save money, conserve energy. Save the planet. Booyah. This one is easy. Two words – programmable thermostat. If you’re at work all day, the kids are at school, and the Duke of Whiskers has his natural fur coat to keep him warm, then why should you heat the house to 70 degrees? With a programmable thermostat you can arrange to have the heat kick on 15-30 minutes before folks start to return home. You’ll arrive home to comfort and warmth, and you’ll feel all warm inside knowing you weren’t heating an empty house all day. Program it for around 60 degrees while you’re gone. It’s counterproductive to let the house become completely frigid and then try to heat it back up to a liveable temperature, plus, even with his fur coat, the Duke doesn’t want to spend the day in a multi-room freezer. If you have storm windows and doors go ahead and install them. Yes, it’s sad to see the screens you’ve had up all summer leave and assume their position in the attic, but, believe in your heart that they’ll be back (no, I didn’t do an Arnie voice in my head just then) and get to the task at hand. It can be a bit of a tedious job so you might want to do the first floor on one weekend, the second floor on the next, and so on, depending on how many windows and doors you have to attend to. Let the sun shine in. Make going around the house and opening up the curtains and blinds a part of your morning routine. It’s a good idea to utilize the warmth of the sun to help warm your house during the day, then, in the evening close everything up again to help shut out the cold, dark night. Call a professional and have your furnace inspected and serviced. Go ahead and do it now before the hard-core cold weather arrives. A well-maintained heating system is exponentially more efficient and will save you a great deal of money on your energy bills. Think about any heating ducts that are located in parts of your home that aren’t heated regularly, such as the attic and basement/cellar or garage. If they aren’t already wrapped and insulated then make sure to do so this year. Warm air is cooled when it travels through these sections of duct work which can cause your furnace to work harder and thereby increase your heating costs. If you have an attic, it’s a good idea to seal off the door for the winter so that heat can’t escape through it. You can cover it with plastic sheeting that’s been trimmed to fit, or simply use tape around the door frame. Some homes have rooms that aren’t used regularly. Perhaps you have a sewing room, or bedrooms that aren’t in use due to kids growing up and leaving home, etc. The heating ducts in these rooms can be closed and the doors can be kept shut. You will save quite a bit of energy when you stop heating rooms that aren’t in use. No matter the season, you can save money by keeping the hot water heater set at no more than 120 degrees. You can also insulate the hot water heater to make it more efficient. If you have a fireplace or fireplaces in your home that you don’t use, they should also be sealed off to keep warm air from escaping. Ceiling fans are great for all seasons, not just hot weather. When you reverse their rotation and run them at the lowest speed setting, they actually grab warm air and push it back down to your level which helps to keep the room quite a bit warmer. Use these tips to stave out outrageously expensive heating costs this winter. This is a guest post from Jeremy Parker, who contributes on behalf of Advance Me America’s Leading business cash advance provider. Read more »

Summer is around the corner in the southern hemisphere and you can see the danger signs already – massive heat and even more massive cooling bills. Air-conditioners need to be switched on at all times and escaping the heat seems impossible. However, there are ways to keep your cool without actually blowing the top off the electricity bill. Here’s a look at some innovative ways to make sure that this summer, you can keep the heat down inside your homes: Shady Dealings One of the primary reasons why your home might heat up is due to sunlight that enters your home and heats up the insides. Glass windows trap heat so while they’re letting in all the energy, they aren’t letting much out. The easiest way to reduce your cooling bills is to keep the East & West windows and doors well covered. Put thick blinds or dark curtains that don’t let sunlight stream in. Sure, it might be dark indoors but “dark” is better than “sweltering”. You can even give reflective window screens a go although they might be a bit more tedious to install and remove as required! Go Green Trees make the air cooler, whether inside or outside the home. If you are looking to get some nice cool breeze flowing through, surround your house with thick trees that cover the sides. Not only do you benefit from the shade, but the air gets humidity sucked out of it as it passes through onto your home. Plant them all around but if you don’t want sultry winters, keep them out of the southern sides. Plant vines that grow along your walls because grass on the roof and vine on a wall does a lot more to cool your home than you’d imagine. Keep a Cool Head The roof of your home is hammered with direct sunshine almost throughout the day. Give it a coat of reflective paint or just paint it white to reflect some of that sunshine-fury. If you’ve got a single-storey home or live right under the roof, you’ll thank us for this bit of advice. Insulate! Now you might think that insulating the home, in summers, will make it stuffy and hot! The truth is, insulation is meant to keep cool air from escaping. If you have already cooled the home’s interiors using other techniques, or even an air-conditioner, you don’t want that cool air to escape to the hot outdoors. Just make sure that you’ve caulked up all nooks & corners and that your home is completely safe and secure. Ventilate! Okay, now on one hand we ask you to insulate your home and then, straight after that, we ask you to ventilate? Yes, that is absolutely right because early mornings and evenings are the time when the sun’s heat becomes more bearable. Once the outside temperature becomes cooler, it makes more sense to remove those blinds, open those windows and ensure that air circulates through your home. This is a good time to make sure that those fans are running too! Speaking of Fans Ceiling fans are rarely found in modern homes because air-conditioning seems to have taken over. However, the problem with air-conditioning is that it takes much longer to circulate the air than the average ceiling fan. When you’re opening your home to the cool air outside, these ceiling fans aid circulation and make things cooler, quicker. They come in some really interesting designs so you’re sure to find something that suits your home’s interiors. Have a Barbecue! In ancient and medieval times, summer cooking was always done outdoors – in summer kitchens. Cooking inside did just one thing – raise the temperature of the entire house. Even in kitchens where ventilation is abundant, cooking hot food can unnecessarily raise the temperatures and prevent your home from cooling down. Hang outside your home, have a barbecue and cool down with a beer because inside, you might just burn the house down! Attic Fans Along with your ceiling fan, the home’s attic aides ventilation too! By merely installing an attic fan, you can begin circulating the air in your home using these wonderful fans. Just switch them on and watch them suck air in through the windows and out the attic – cool air blowing through and the home’s suddenly looking much better! Turn off the Light Okay, now this isn’t really to save on the electricity bill only – it is to prevent overheating as well. It is a known fact that all light bulbs and tubes generate heat. While fluorescents are cooler than incandescent bulbs, they are still generating heat when switched on. If you aren’t sitting in the room or if there’s enough natural light to do your thing, turn them off! Every drop of heat adds to that ocean of warmth you don’t need! Leave Laundry for Later Laundry, during the day, is a sure-fire way of increasing humidity in the home. The clothes dryer generates a large amount of heat and the wet clothes, themselves, are prime candidates for increasing humidity. Dry your clothes outside, on a drying line, if you can prevent them from burning up under the Sun. Just following these few small tips can help you reduce the temperature in your home. Make sure that you remain cool and calm yourself and if the regular bath or cool drink doesn’t bring your temperature down, look at your cat and do what they do – sleep! With an interest in unusual and eco-friendly home design, Matt Pollock is an architectural writer who is currently researching the benefits of Queensland’s movable prefab homes during an extended stay in Australia’s sunshine state. Read more »

Choosing a home heating system is a big decision; because your choice also affects your monthly budget, maintenance expenses, and initial cost. No system is wholly better than the others, as they all have their pitfalls. However, becoming knowledgeable, and weighing the pros and cons against your personal needs, is most beneficial in choosing an efficient way to heat your home. Below is information regarding five of the most popular heating options that might help you decide. Gas Furnace  Pro’s •95% efficient. •Lower temperature exhaust. •Fuel isn’t stored on the premises. Con’s •Is a non-renewable heat source. •Costs more and has a shorter life span than other furnaces. •Installation can be expensive. •Requires professional maintenance. •Natural gas service is not available in all neighborhoods. •Ventilation is very important, as the system produces carbon monoxide. •Potential risk of fires and explosions. •Can be noisier than other options, specifically if lacking maintenance. Oil-Burning Furnace Pro’s •Less expensive and longer lasting than gas furnaces. •Lower risk of explosions. •Produces less carbon monoxide than gas. •Allows you choose your fuel provider by price. •No monthly service fees. Con’s •Requires piping, ductwork, and a fuel oil tank. •Unpredictable prices. •Not a “green” option. •Requires annual burner maintenance. •Only a 65% efficiency rating. •Produces a high temperature exhaust. Solar Heating Systems Pro’s •100% efficient. •Non-polluting. •Can drastically lessen utility bills. •Tax credits are available for solar energy use. •Sun light is a free and renewable energy source. •Low maintenance and long life. Con’s •High equipment and installation cost. •Manufacturing of these products does produce pollutants. •Requires an abundance of sunlight and is not plausible for all areas. •A backup heating source is required for darker days. •Availability in rural areas can be slim and may cost more for special ordering. Electric Furnace Pro’s •95% -100% efficiency. •Cheaper and have a longer life than gas or oil units. •Convenient and quiet. •Units are generally smaller than others. •Installation is easier and cheaper. •Easy owner maintenance and trouble shooting. Con’s •Rising electricity costs could produce high utility bills. •Consumes more energy than gas or oil. •A larger electrical service is often required. •Depending on the electric source, it may not be a “green” choice. Wood-Burning Stoves Pro’s •Is a renewable, low emission, “green” energy source. •Wood can be obtained fairly cheap. •Stoves cost less than furnaces. •Low cost or homeowner preformed maintenance. •Works in the event of a power outage. •Provides you with exercise. Con’s •Only 50% efficient. •Can be messy and may produce odor. •Requires labor and a place to store wood. •Buying wood mid-winter can cost more. •Involves routine chimney cleaning. •Requires consistent attention. •Possibility of chimney or house fires. •Heating a house evenly can be difficult. For all of these heating systems, when twinned with a heat pump, or a larger scale commercial heating system, these will be sure to meet your heating needs. However, it is well worth looking into your local governments renwable heat incentives, as these grants and loans can really help out with initial expenses.     Geothermal International are a multinational company offering alternative energy heat sources for commercial and residential area. Read more »

1. Price Have a price range in mind before beginning your search. While there are units available for virtually any budget, it is a good idea to know your limits. If you have trouble deciding on a model, consult a salesperson or the vendor. 2. Safety Safety is a concern with all appliances. Convection radiators are ideal for families who have a home that includes children and pets. Fireplaces and traditional gas and electric radiant heaters carry a higher risk of burning someone who gets too close. Convection units are cooler to the touch. 3. The Environment Thinking of going green? There are now more environmentally friendly choices for those going green with their appliances. Convection units emit far lower levels of pollutants than other heating appliances, as well as using less energy. 4. Room Size Measure the rooms you wish to install heaters in before you shop. Room size will affect which appliance you buy. A small space will overheat with a unit made for heating a large area, but a large room requires a more powerful unit to warm it to a comfortable level and retain the heat. Be sure to keep in mind whether you are purchasing a heater for a large family home or for a smaller flat. Additionally, towel radiators are excellent for heating the average size bathroom. 5. Windows and Doors Room construction – how many windows and doors are in the rooms you need to heat? While modern window construction means that they don’t lose as much heat as they did in times past, windows still allow more heat to dissipate than do solid walls because of their glass. More windows and doors mean more heat will be required to keep the room warm. 6. Type of Radiator Think about how much heat you’ll need. You should also decide whether you want a double panel appliance or a single panel one. The former choice will be more expensive, but it will also provide you with much more heat. 7. Installation Decide whether you will be having your units installed professionally or if you’ll be installing them yourself. If you are experienced with moderate to difficult home improvement, installation will be a snap. Just remember to pick up the tools and extra attachments you’ll need for your DIY project while shopping for your radiator. 8. Home Value The value of your home goes up with home improvement. Having heating units installed in your home will drive up its resale value significantly, making them a great investment in your future. 9. Positioning Keep in mind where you will be positioning your unit. Never put the appliance in a place where curtains or furniture might block it. While a convection unit does not get hot to the touch, having furniture or curtains blocking the appliance will trap the heat between the object and the wall, keeping it from sufficiently warming the room. In the past, the appliance was almost always positioned beneath windows to offset the cold glass surfaces that leaked heat. However, with double-glazed, thermally-efficient, modern windows, this is not as much of a problem as it once was. You can place your unit wherever you want with consideration for maximum comfort and aesthetics. Energy efficiency experts recommend plating heat-resistant reflectors between the unit and the wall it sits against to help in retaining heat. 10. Convenience And, of course, convenience. Convection units are quiet, easy to use, and easy to maintain. Screwfix is the UK’s largest direct and online supplier of trade tools, accessories and hardware products. With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, we despatch tens of thousands of parcels every week for next day and weekend delivery to tradesmen, handymen and serious DIY enthusiasts all over the UK. To view our range of radiators from Screwfix customers can visit the Screwfix website.   Read more »

If you’re planning to buy air conditioners for your home or office, then you have to make sure on which type of air cooling system will work best for you. Would you like to use the window-type unit which is known to give cooler air or the portable type which is more economical and easier to install? The Haier portable air conditioner is one of the leading brands in air conditioning systems today. Not only are the prices reasonable and affordable, but every unit is loaded with different features too. There are those that only carry the basic functionality of being an air conditioner, and there are also those that have a dual functionality of being a heater too. So this will be like a 2-in-1 appliance that you can use for any season. Like most models of air conditioning devices today, the Haier brand also carries additional options of using a dehumidifier and an ionizer. The dehumidifier helps in getting rid of stuffy air while the ionizer is a healthy feature as negative ions are known to strengthen the immune system. Both of these features have separate controls from the air conditioner itself so you can choose to use it at anytime you want. Keep in mind that an air conditioner’s capacity will depend on its BTU rating. An average room size of 200 square feet needs around 8,000 BTUs in order to keep the room comfortably cool; so a bigger room will need a higher rate in BTU. The information regarding this can be found on the description and specifications of a particular product. Be sure to check this information carefully as some customers complain on a unit’s inability to cool a room only to find out that they purchased the wrong BTU rating for the particular room in their house. This can be a little disappointing and returning a purchased item can be tedious and frustrating too. Always do a thorough investigation on the different brands before buying air conditioners. It is wise to compare not only the prices but features as well. And there is no reason why you can’t do this task efficiently as all the necessary details are well provided for on the internet. Read more »

A heating pump is an essential part of any heating and cooling system. There are various manufacturers which offer these pumps, but the Carrier name is one of the very best. The Carrier Infinity heat pump is one of the most popular heat pumps on the market today and this is no surprise. This particular pump offers two stages that operate with less power, to conserve energy and save you money as a result. There are some dynamic features on this heat pump, including that it offers efficiency up to 19 SEER and a 10 year limited warranty. This ensures if anything happens to your pump over the course of the 10 years that the cost will be covered. This Carrier pump has even been rated with an Energy Star Rating which is the highest rating of its kind. In terms of the price of the pump, this can vary from one store to the next. Other features on the Carrier Infinity pump includes superior humidity and temperature control, as low as 69 dB, Silencer System II for quiet operation, WeatherArmor Ultra System for ultimate protection and a Puron refrigerant.  It is also a good size, small enough to be easily portable but large enough to hold the maximum power to output a large amount of heat. The paint is even powder-coated which provides complete coverage and ensures the paint has a long life. The best idea is to shop around for the best Carrier Infinity series heat pump prices. Different stores offer different heat pump prices and this ensures you get yours for the best deal. You can read consumer reviews to get more detail on the pump and see what other consumers had to say about it. This helps you recognize different things about the pump that you may not have noticed otherwise. Read more »

Following are some electric heater safety tips that, if adhered to, will ensure that your home remains safe. Many household fires are started because of improper use of electric heaters or because the electric heaters that are used are unsafe. First of all, be sure to read the instruction manual you received when you bought your heater as it will no doubt include tips on how to safely use it. You should also have anyone else in your home who operates the heaters read the instructions. It is always a good idea to unplug any heaters when you are not using them. It is also generally recommended not to leave the heater on if no one is in the room. The only exception to this would be if your heater has a timer that allows it to turn on automatically when programmed to do so. Heaters should not be plugged into an extension cord. They should only be plugged into a wall socket. For this reason, it is always a good idea to make sure the heater you are buying has a long enough cord. Also, make sure that the cord attached to the heater is always in plain view and not hidden behind furniture or under mats. If it is out of sight you will not be able to tell if it becomes frayed or if it begins to melt. It is best to make sure is that there is around 3 feet of clear space around every heater. Frequently, objects that press up against the heater will either melt or catch on fire. This is how many home fires start. Even if your heater is not hot to the touch, for example if you have an oil filled radiator, you should not hang towels or wet clothing over it. The only exception to this is if you install an electric towel radiator in your bathroom that allows towels to be hung over it. Generally, electric heaters should not be used around water. If you want to install a heater in your bathroom, buy one that is specifically designed for this purpose. Also, be careful of using heaters in laundry rooms and kitchens as there is often water lying on the floor in these areas. If the cord is damaged or frayed you should not use the heater until the cord is replaced. Also, keep an eye on the actual plug and make sure it is in good condition and that it has not melted. Do not leave a heater on in a bedroom with a child who is sleeping. Be sure to teach your children the dangers of heaters and help them learn not to touch them or pull on the cords. Unless a heater is a tabletop heater, it should always sit on a flat surface such as a floor. Following these simple safety rules will ensure that you and your household stay safe. Do not underestimate the danger a heater can be if it is improperly used or if it is damaged in any way. If you have any doubts about the safety of your heater, do not use it until it has been repaired. Read more »

Everyone are looking for ways to live their lives in an eco-friendly way. This is because of global warming or for health concerns. The idea is to leave lesser carbon footprint behind as we proceed with our daily lives. This can be done in ways that are so simple you wouldn’t know that you are contributing to the climate problem of the globe. For instance, the type of radiator you have in your home can have a part on this. Most residential buildings today install a central heating radiator as a heating solution for colder seasons. There are so many types and models of heating radiators that you might end up confused which one emits lesser carbon. There are types of radiators that are claimed to be eco-friendly. These include heating systems that are of bark chips, wood blocks and willow wood. What about cast iron heating radiators? Cast iron radiators are already proven in its functionality as a heating solution. Today, this type of radiator is also proven to have lesser carbon emission and hence included on the list of household items that are eco-friendly. Cast iron radiators are considered as the oldest type of heating system. However, they are now revived to be the most efficient units that are both reliable and safe heating systems. Modern heating radiators are made of steel and aluminium. These kinds of materials can’t retain more heat. The cast iron radiators, unlike most of the modern units, have more heat capacity. This is because of the base material they are made from which has the capacity to contain more heat. Compared to the latest models of radiators that are made of non-corrosive materials, the cast iron radiator is more efficient and reliable. The more recent units rapidly loose cool down upon turning them off. Cast iron radiators, because of their high heat capacity, lose their heat in a gradual manner. This makes them emit a pleasant type of heat even if they are already turned off. With a cast iron radiator, you can warm your home efficiently while being friendly to nature. Read more »

People living in cold areas of the globe can’t help but depend on the life-saving comfort only an electric heater can provide.  However, with today’s advent of economic crisis in the global scale, paying huge amounts of money monthly for overly used electric energy  is just too much for some.  Luckily though, we now have an electric-indepedent heater available in the market today: the propane wall furnace.  A propane wall furnace functions by depending on its propane fuel reserve.  However, to understand why you need a propane fuelled furnace more compared to electric heaters, you must first understand what propane wall furnaces really are. As the name itself implies, a propane wall furnace is a portable appliance that can easily be mounted on your wall.  It is ideal to be placed specifically on an external wall due to the presence of the built-in wall-through vent that is usually located at the back of the main body of the furnace.  This genius design eliminates the need for chimney use during the installation of the device.  A propane wall furnace can also be used as a floor heater; however, doing so will require you to buy additional equipments in order to redirect the fumes that are designed to come through the furnace’s built-in vent.  Being electricity-free, a wall furnace has no electric wires of any kind.  This is valuable for those of you who have home spacing issues.  In terms of safety, a propane wall furnace usually goes through several levels of safety standard testing before they are made available to the public.  Most designs even have their own auto shut off feature that activates when the propane gas for some reason can’t get out.  This added feature prevents any forms of explosion thay may result to massive property loss and life threatening situations.  As for the quality of heat produced, an average propane wall heater can make up to 35,000 British Thermal Units (BTU) of heat.  This amount is more than enough in providing heat for a small to a medium sized room.  A propane wall furnace is also eco-friendly as it does not emit carbon monoxide as long as the combustion is controlled well. With these benefits right within your reach, what are you waiting for?  Buy a propane wall furnace now and be amazed. Read more »