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!

Safe Fireplace Tips

Fireplaces are very popular because they provide heat and add to a home’s decor. The fireplace can be considered the age-old heart of the homestead, as families and friends often gather around fireplaces for conversation and bonding. However, fireplaces are accountable for a large number of residential fires every year, and because fireplaces use open flames, they can be one of the biggest fire hazards in your home. If your home has a fireplace, keep these precautions in mind for safe fireplace operation:

-Keep a fire extinguisher handy and never leave a fire unattended. Never use charcoal in your fireplace, as doing so can produce deadly carbon monoxide, and do not use gasoline, kerosene, or lighter fluid to start a fire. Burn only seasoned, dry hardwood, and use long-stemmed matches.
-Enclosing a fireplace’s opening with glass doors or a sturdy screen in order to protect against sparks. Also, never close the flue while a fire is still smoldering.
-Keep flammable objects such as holiday decorations, newspapers, carpets, drapes, and rugs away from the fireplace.
-Make sure your smoke detectors are working properly, as they can greatly increase the likelihood you’ll survive a fire. Test smoke detectors monthly, and replace the batteries once a year.
-To prevent chimney fires, protect the top of your chimney with a guard that keeps out birds and small animals, and keeps in sparks that could ignite your roof.
-Plan and regularly conduct family fire drills.

If a fire does break out, get out of the house immediately and call the fire department at a neighbor's house or with your cellular phone. Unfortunately, fumes often overcome most victims long before flames reach them, and if you must escape smoke, get down and crawl low under the smoke, keeping your head about 12-24 inches off the floor.

For fireplace alternatives, try an electric fireplace heater such as the NewAir AH-510E. These types of heaters use electricity, and are often inexpensive to both purchase and operate, while at the same time, providing decorative warmth. No smoke is emitted and no ashes are dispersed, making electric fireplace heaters attractive, convenient, and safe.