Electric vs. Fuel Heaters

When purchasing a heater, is it rather difficult to decide which features are the most important. One of the most common questions surrounding heaters is the one concerning the different types of heaters: heaters that run on electricity and heaters that run on fuel. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages:

Electric heaters:

• are much less expensive.
• are easy to maintain.
• don’t emit pollutants or chemicals into the air.
• can be costly when used very often.
• have all passed rigid safety tests.
• feature many different safety features, including tip-over safety switches and overheat shut-off features.
• usually have lower surface temperatures.
• are relatively silent.
• can feature fans to speed up airflow.

Propane heaters:

• are perfect for instantaneous heat in large, well-ventilated areas.
• operate efficiently by using combustion to directly heat areas.
• don’t waste energy “heating up.”
• provide much more heat than electric heaters.
• are much more cost-effective for larger areas such as warehouses and construction sites.
• are not suitable for areas that are closed off, as they may emit carbon monoxide.

If you are still having a difficult time deciding which type of heater to use, you can even settle for the middle ground: kerosene heaters. These heaters run on fuel as well as electricity. They burn cleaner than propane heaters and warm more area than electric heaters. Kerosene heaters, like those that run on propane, should be used in well-ventilated areas such as patios and backyards, as they also emit carbon monoxide.

Tips for Efficient Heating

Contrary to popular belief, it is actually very easy to save energy and money during seasonal months. Now that winter is nearing, you may be worried about your bills taking a big chunk out of your wallet. You can stop worrying because you can actually keep your bills low and your home warm in many different ways with little to no hassle!

1. Keep your curtains open during the day and closed during the night. Keeping your curtains open during the day let the sun's rays warm up your home without costing you a single penny! At night, you'll want to keep the shades closed to reduce heat loss and to keep the heat trapped inside your home.

2. Use a programmable thermostat to maintain the temperature in your home. Thermostats like the Honeywell TH8321 help you control the temperature depending on how often you're home. By setting the temperature a little lower when you're not home, you can easily save money and energy. Studies show that you can save up to 33% on your bills by reducing the temperature by a mere 3 degrees!

3. Use a tankless water heater like the Stiebel Eltron DHC 5-2 to boil water instead of a water heater that features a tank. Tankless water heaters use less energy because they keep the water at a constant heated temperature and they use up to 50% less power! If you have a larger home, the Tempra-36 by Stiebel Eltron can easily provide hot water for a home with up to 4 bedrooms! Also, though most tankless water heaters can reach up to 140 degrees, it is wise to keep yours at about 120. This prevents scalding as well!

4. If your central heating just isn't cutting it for you, use an electric space heater instead of turning up your heating unit. Setting the thermostat to a higher temperature won't warm up your home any faster; it will only make you pay more money.

5. If you're looking for an efficient yet decorative way to keep your home warm, you might consider electric fireplaces such as the NewAir AH-510E and the DeLonghi SFG1031. These beautiful, realistic fireplaces make your living room look and feel warm and comfortable. Refer back to this post if you want to find out more information about electric fireplace heaters!

Overall, it is rather simple to keep heating costs down and heating effectiveness up. With these tips and tricks, you'll be keeping your home warm while paying a lot less!

The Benefits of Using a Fireplace Heater

NewAir, DeLonghi, Muskoka, and now even Dimplex are all carrying the next-best alternative to a real fireplace - an electric fireplace heater! These beautiful units surprise everyone by providing a warm surge of heat and adding an extra touch of class to your home without the mess of a real fireplace! Here are some reasons why electric fireplace heaters are one of the most popular choices when it comes to heating homes:

These units are extremely safe and easy to use. Because, of course, they are not real fireplaces, electric fireplace heaters do not feature the mess that comes with using an authentic fireplace. There are no combustion or carbon monoxide emissions and - best of all - there is no smoke or ashes, making them perfect for those with asthma and sensitive noses. These heaters also use 90% less energy than gas and still manage to produce incredibly realistic flames. The heat comes out from the bottom of the unit and the glass doors are cool to the touch, meaning that curious hands won't accidentally get burnt or harmed! Units like the Dimplex DS5629 and the NewAir AH-500 are fully assembled the moment they arrive at your front door. You just have to plug them into any standard household outlet to feel immediate warmth!

Electric fireplace heaters save you money. All of the compact stove heaters from Dimplex only cost $0.03 an hour to operate without heat. This option can be a great asset for those who only want to see the realistic flames during the warmer seasons without turning on the heat. When the weather outside is colder, you can turn on the heat for only $0.05 more. Not only are you saving energy and helping the environment, but you also save money for yourself!

If you have a fireplace that is ineffectual or too compact, your best bet would be an electric fireplace insert like the Dimplex DFI2309. This insert fits right into fireplaces that run from about 10 to 15 inches deep!

Some of the electric fireplace heaters even have amazing, extremely advanced features. The GEF28WCDO fireplace heater from Muskoka features a cleverly concealed built-in wine cooler to store wines and other items! The GEF282ABL offers an integrated audio system with the fireplace to keep your home feeling comfortable and peaceful at all times!

Purchase an electric fireplace heater today and see what you've been missing out on!

Get Ready for the Cold Weather!

Summer is coming to an end (fall 2009 begins a week from today!); over the next few months the weather is just going to get colder. Of course, with winter months comes the need for a heater. Like everything else, there are so many different types of heaters. How do you know which one to choose?

By Area
People usually buy their heating or cooling devices depending on how much area it covers. There are space heaters, which are for personal spaces and small rooms. The Vornado SoleAir is an example for a personal space heater: this unit keeps your body warm by heating up only your feet! Other Vornado heaters use vortex action technology to blend hold and cold air to maintain a comfortable, warm temperature.

Larger rooms usually use garage heaters because they can heat more space. With 19,000 BTUs, the QMark BRH562 easily warms up large areas in a short amount of time. Infrared heaters warm people and objects without affecting the air quality and temperature. Infrared units like the HGW-308R wall mounted micathermic heater by Soleus save energy and operate silently to provide maximum comfort.

By Design
Buying appliances for your home sometimes requires you to be picky. After all, you wouldn't want something hideous standing next to your wall for everyone to see. Some heaters are designed with specific aesthetic qualities to provide optimum heat and unique designs. Electric fireplace heaters are extremely popular when it comes to aesthetics. Dimplex, DeLonghi and NewAir provide electric stoves that look like real fireplaces but don't come with the terrible mess or smell of a real wood-burning fireplace. Deco Heat heaters are also very popular. Like the Deco Breeze fans, the Deco Heat heaters look great and operate with a lot less energy than most heaters. For example, the Deco Heat DHH0386 oscillating space heater has a beautiful mahogany finish, and it warms the room up almost instantly!

Tankless Electric Water Heaters: The Truth, The Myth, The Legend

Tankless electric water heaters provide hot water only when it is needed. Unlike tank-type water heater, they don't produce standby energy losses that cost you money. How they work is that the hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe and into the unit, and an electric element heats the water to deliver a constant supply of hot water.

Keep in mind that tankless electric water heaters typically provide hot water at a rate of 2-5 gallons (7.6 – 15.2 liters) per minute. Smaller tankless electric water heaters are not meant to supply enough hot water for simultaneous, multiple use in large households. This means that there will not be enough hot water supplied if someone is taking a shower and the dishwasher is running at the same time. To overcome the insufficient supply of hot water produced by smaller tankless electric water heaters you can install a whole house type tankless electric water heater, install two or more tankless electric water heaters or install separate tankless electric water heaters for appliances that use a lot of hot water.

Tankless electric water heaters are so beneficial because they are extremely energy efficient. For homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, tankless electric water heaters can be 24 percent to 34 percent more energy efficient than tank-type water heaters. For homes that use around 86 gallons per day they can be 8 percent to 14 percent more energy efficient. If you install a tankless water heater at each hot water outlet, you can achieve an even greater energy savings or 27 percent to 50 percent.

It is important to consider factors like location, size, demand and application before purchasing a tankless electric water heater. Make sure you are purchasing a tankless water heater with the correct voltage and amperage and that you have a circuit or circuits that will support your heater. It may even be necessary to put the tankless electric water heater on its own circuit or circuits. Also consider where you will be using the tankless electric water heater and how much hot water that location uses. Each fixture has specific demands that must be met to ensure the greatest efficiency and optimal operation.

One especially important factor is the flow rate. Tankless electric water heaters generate a temperature rise based on the flow rate demanded. Also consider the ambient incoming water temperature. This can be affected by the climate you live in. The most important thing to find out is how much temperature rise you will need in order for your hot water to reach the desired heat.

Tankless electric water heaters should be properly installed and maintained for proper operation and energy efficiency. This means it is imperative that you hire a qualified and license plumbing and heating contractor. Request cost estimates in writing, ask for references, check the company with your local Better Business Bureau and confirm that the company will obtain a local permit if necessary when you hire a contractor. Following all of these guidelines should ensure that your tankless electric water heater lasts the entirety of its 20 year life expectancy.

Residential Energy-Saving Tips -- Consider a Programmable Thermostat or Space Heater

Rising energy costs and a lackluster economy have prompted many Americans to look for more creative ways to slash their electric bills this winter. Learn how your family can save money, the environment, and conserve energy by following a few simple steps. No big lifestyle changes or large cash outlays are required; just a willingness to try the following suggestions:

1. Replace conventional light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs. Studies have shown that fluorescent light bulbs last for years and that their efficiency can reduce your energy bill over time.

2. Turn off your lights, radio, television, computer, and other household appliances when leaving a room or heading to bed.

3. Consider using a programmable thermostat that can be preset to lower your home’s central heating system when you’re at work or asleep. Decreasing the temperature by as little as 3 degrees can shave off up to 33 percent of your heating costs over a season. One great model is the Honeywell TH6110D programmable thermostat. This affordable unit features weekday/weekend programming and offers precise temperature control.

4. Install draft-stoppers, caulk cracks, and cover your windows. These inexpensive methods prevent heat loss and will ensure your home is well-insulated.

5. Use an energy-efficient electric space heater as a way to add supplemental heat. Look for reflective heaters such as the NewAir AH-350 which warm people or objects in front of the heater without the energy losses and warm up time associated with traditional convection space heaters, or even models with automatic climate control such as the Vornado TVH600 whole room space heater.

The Patio Heater Dilemma

Entertaining outdoors is a great way to enjoy your time with friends and family. Yet when it gets cold an enjoyable time spent outside can quickly go sour. Patio heaters, while always very effective, often seem to lack style and sophistication. They also do not offer a great variety of size. One does not always need a commercial grade electric or propane heater, to heat a relatively small area, like a table on the patio or just a balcony itself. This limits the options of the consumer making purchasing an outdoor heater to cover smaller area that much more difficult.

Luckily, UniFlame recognizes this and has come up with a stylish and unique line of electric patio heaters that will not only warm effectively but also garner plenty of compliments. UniFlame, a company that has earned its reputation on well crafted and reliable outdoor heating has created a line of electric outdoor heaters that contain a wide variety of styles and colors to compliment any patio set. Each one is made to withstand the rigors of staying outdoors while maintaining their looks and reliability.

The Uniflame EWTR800SP New Orleans Electric Table Lamp Heater

A great example of one of these UniFlame heaters is the EWTR800SP New Orleans table lamp heater. Designed to drastically reduce the cold temperature, this outdoor heat lamp is unique and powerful.

Small and Stylish

Standing at 33 inches, and weighing only 14 pounds this heater is great for placement at any table or counter. It has a stylish curved stem with an extremely high quality mahogany finish that will garner immediate compliments. It is constructed from only the most heavy duty weather resistant materials to keep in running and looking great year round.

Powerful

Not to be outdone by its style, the EWTR800SP relies heavily on its quality craftsmanship to effectively warm up a large circle coverage of 12 feet. It uses electricity to heat its 1200 watt halogen bulb to produce over 4,000 BTUs of heat. That means you never have to worry about a propane tank running out of gas leaving you literally out in the cold. Plus placement is easy with its long 8 foot cord that has the ability to plug into any standard 120V outlet. It also comes complete with two safety features. It protects against overheating and has a safety tilt switch that will automatically cut power if it is ever knocked over.

Our Recommendation:

These outdoor Uniflame products are great. They are small, lightweight, powerful and can be placed easily where you need the heat the most. Best of all, each style and model work equally effective so all you have to do is choose the model that fits your patio the best. You will be impressed and satisfied with the heat that these models provide.