What to Do to Lower the Cost of Heating

The cold months are drawing near and we have to be ready for it. We wouldn't want to be caught with our pants down would we? We must see to it that we have done everything to be ready in order to fight the cold.

The most basic thing that we can do is to have the heating for our homes ready, but the problem of course is that heating can be very expensive. Each year, heating is getting to cost more and more. So it gets to become even more of a headache.

Here are some tips that you can do in order to keep the cost of heating our homes down this coming cold season:

· The first thing that you can do in order to lower down your home heating costs is to simply turn down the heat. Getting it a degree lower, for example, could go a long way already. If you don't think that you can handle that then why not do it when you are out?

· In order to help in getting a more precise control of the heat in your place, you should get a more accurate thermostat. You should also think of getting one that is programmable.

· Another way that we can cut down on heating costs is by lowering the temp of the hot water that we use during winter. This should be easier to do than what you think. Experts say that we can cut down on the heat of the hot water that we use drastically, without us feeling any real difference.

· If the water heater that you are using is an old model then it probably lacks insulation. That means you are losing money because of heat loss which you can resolve with ease. You can just cover the tank with a blanket which could minimize the heat loss.

· Invest in the proper insulation of your home, especially if you live in an old place. The cost of getting the insulation updated will be worth it and would save you money in the long run.

· A house that has no air leaks is a house that is energy efficient. That means it suffers no heat loss due to those leaks from which heat can escape. You should see to it that you house is sealed all the time.

· If you have a fire place, it can be a suspect when it comes to heat loss in your house. See to it that the damper in your fire place is still in place so that it prevents the loss of heat from the inside.

· Try to let in as much sunlight during the day. In order to do that you should have your curtains or blinds open all day. That would help to build up the heat inside your house during the day.

· You can adjust your fan in order to get it circulate the air inside your house. You want it to push down the hot air from the top to go down.

Your Air Conditioning and What You Should Know   Water Heater Shopping - Choosing the Most Efficient Product   

What Type of Air Conditioner Should You Purchase for Your Office?

The environment you work in highly influences your productivity. When you work in a cool and serene environment, your productivity will be highly improved. To make the work environment cool, you need to fit the office with an air conditioner. An air conditioner alters the properties of the atmosphere like, temperature and humidity and sets them to your preferred levels. When the temperatures in the office are set at the recommended levels, your body will start functioning properly and this will in effect increase your productivity.

A wide variety of aerators that a person can choose from exists in the market. The air conditioners vary with the manufacturer but all serve the same purpose of regulating the temperatures and humidity of an office. Below are some types of air conditioners that one can get for their office:

1. Air Tempo R410A Air Regulator

This is an inverter air regulator, which has three working modes to ensure that atmosphere in the office is always in perfect condition. This aerator, unlike others, has an auto clean function. When off, it stays clean by automatic internally drying, which helps prevent formation of mildew and bacteria in the regulator. With this type of conditioner, you get to save on energy costs. Unlike traditional units, air tempo air conditioner defrosts when defrosting is needed. A traditional unit is used to defrost at intervals of ten minutes or so, thus consuming a lot of energy.

2. Oreck ProShield Plus Air Purifier

This is a portable air conditioner plus air purifier. As the name suggests, it serves two purposes, that of aeration and that of atmosphere purification. Traditional aerators only serve the purpose of regulating the temperatures and humidity levels in the office; they do not address the issue of atmosphere purification. A ProShield plus purifier aerator helps capture any pollution in the room's atmosphere. The most common form of pollution is air-borne dust. The aerator captures this microscopic dust allowing you to breathe super clean air. The dust is captured through an inbuilt filtration system.

3. LG High Efficiency Multiple Zone Invertor

This is an invertor air conditioner. The aerator has an atmosphere purifying system. This plasma purifying system help you breathe clean air. The LG aerator has a self-cleaning coil. With the self-cleaning coil, no bacteria or mildew can form in the unit. The air exchanger has an auto restart and auto operation functionality. These coupled with the24-hr on/off timer on the aerator allows you to have controlled atmosphere properties with infrequent adjustments on the cooler's settings.

With a wide range of conditioners to choose from, no single office should have uncontrolled atmosphere conditions. All the coolers serve the same purpose but some go a step ahead and ensure that you are breathing pure air. When you want to buy an air conditioner for your office, you can consider shopping for it online. On the internet, you will be able to compare the features and prices of different units easily and buy the best one.

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Open Fires in a Draught Proof House - How Does That Work?

In the UK we love open fires / stoves as they are part of our heritage and also provide a focal point for a home. However they are not really compatible with our new strives towards energy efficiency. We are sealing up our homes to reduce draughts and this in turn starts to starve the fires of oxygen. The answer? In the UK we have regulations that state that if you have an open fire (solid fuel, gas) you have to have the appropriate ventilation to ensure that it is safe with regards to carbon monoxide etc. All very sensible, but many people only use their fires / stoves occasionally so get left with a great big vent that just pulls in cold air and negates any benefit that having a fire might give.

When the fire is in use, this vent is of course useful in preventing carbon monoxide issues for the occupants, but when not in use (and this tends to be most of the time) is just means draughts come whizzing through. Even if the vent were to be covered when not in use it would still represent a major cold spot for the house. When our reliance on stoves has diminished we are still having to allow for their use by making major structural changes (for the worse) to our homes. Are there any easy solutions? Well, sort of!

Many stoves are now available with a direct external air feed. This is effectively a dedicated air intake for the stove, so any air needed for combustion is brought into the stove direct from the outside. No reliance on internal air at all. They come in a couple of forms. Some bring air down the chimney and use the exhaust to pre-warm the intake air, others are pipes that bring air from a wall close by to the intake. So if you are fitting a new stove we would recommend that you insist on a model that has this dedicated air intake. This then allows you to conform to the regulations and maintain a warm home, even if you are only using the stove occasionally. It makes you wonder why all stoves don't come equipped with this really.

The problem remains for those people who have an older stove. The present answer of smashing a hole in an external wall and putting a plastic vent over the top just means cold air is brought across the room in order to feed into the fire - this really is madness. However a more sensible solution is still fairly simple, if more difficult to fit. Basically it still requires bringing fresh air into the house, but we would recommend bringing an air feed to as close to the fire as possible as this will reduce draughts throughout the house. An external vent (with filter to stop insects etc getting in) should be fitted to a point as close and convenient as possible to the fire. An insulated pipe / tube then needs laid to bring the air to the stove. The end of the tube then needs to be located as close as possible to the stove (side of the chimney breast for instance). A closeable metal vent then needs to be installed over the end of the pipe (a plastic one might melt if close to a stove / fire) so that you can still close it off when the stove is not in use. A bit of a phaff, but much better than a whole in the wall!

This type of solution will give you a better solution that you can control, that complies with the regulations (which is always important in the UK), doesn't just create draughts and cold spots in your home and still allows you to draught proof the rest of your home to a level that will cut your fuel bills.

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Why You Should Clean Your Homes Air Ducts Every 2-3 Years?

Indoor Air Quality: Indoor air quality is very important. Many of us have year-round air conditioning systems that cool and heat our homes. In conjunction, many of us also may be suffering from year-round allergies. We spend a lot of time indoors, and are incredibly vulnerable to indoor air pollution. Protect the health and well-being of your family by having your ducts cleaned professionally cleaned and sterilized with an anti-microbial.

Remember the last time you changed your furnace air filter? That old filter was literally packed with dust, dirt and other environmental debris that was flowing through the inside of your home and the inside of your heating ducts. If you think your furnace air filter will keep your duct work clean, think again!

Home Construction: From the time it was brand-new, your home's duct work may already have been contaminated with construction debris, rodent feces, dead insects and any other dirt and pollutants that may have made its way into your heating/cooling system--before it was "sealed" and completed. If you haven't cleaned your ducts since, you may be breathing in whatever was sealed inside from the day your home was built. The metal that makes up most ductwork is steel, and it was slightly oiled at the factory to keep it from rusting and otherwise deteriorating. Dust and debris can cling to that slightly oily surface as it is blown through your ducts.

Allergens and Respiratory Problems: You may appreciate the energy efficiency of your well-built, well-insulated home due to technologies employed to keep the cold out and the heat in, but this lack of movement also effects indoor air quality issues. Energy efficient construction tends to trap excess moisture in various locations throughout your house, often resulting in the growth of bacteria. And your ductwork is a prime breeding ground for bacteria because it can remain undisturbed for years unless you clean them every two to three years.

These dirty ducts may be harboring contaminants, bacteria or other pathogens which can wreak havoc on a person suffering allergies, asthma or autoimmune disorders--all the more reason to have your ducts cleaned, if you are an individual who suffers from respiratory issues. Young children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of contaminated indoor air.

When Should I Clean My Air-Ducts? 1. If your ducts have never been cleaned. 2. Every 2-3 years, more often if you have children or pets.

Once you have decided to hire a professional duct cleaning or home restoration company, they should give you a free in-home estimate. Hiring a reputable local company helps support a local economy and guarantees excellent service because nothing spreads faster than word of mouth. Afterwards, you should notice the difference when you turn on your heat--the air in your home should have a fresh clean smell.

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Improve Your Home's Heating and Cooling With a New Digital Thermostat

With the arrival of fall comes football, the changing of colors and colder weather. As the temperatures start to drop outside, it is important to make sure that your heating and cooling systems are prepared to keep you warm on the inside. A proper thermostat and HVAC inspection will ensure that your system is up and running to its optimal performance.

Thermostats

Many homeowners may be familiar with the older, more traditional circular thermostats that are in homes today, and while these do the general job of a thermostat (keep your house warm/cold when it needs to be); they do not offer you the options of zoning control and air quality control. Enter the new digital thermostats that are available today. These new thermostats, such as the Trane Comfortlink II, offering homeowners the ability to control how hot/cold it is in certain rooms, the quality of air that is coming into their household and even a digital photo frame! Some of these thermostats can be connected to your wireless internet and show you up to date weather, monitor your systems temperatures and how they relate to outdoor temperatures and also set up scheduling times for when the heating and cooling systems should be on and off. On top of these incredible options, the system also will help you save some money, by allowing you to keep a closer eye on when your heating and cooling systems are on and off.Have a room that no one uses? You can shut off the heating to that room with the thermostat instead of just shutting the vents to that room. In time these new digital thermostats will pay for themselves, and then more.

HVAC Inspection

During this time of year it is important to have a heating and cooling system inspection, not only to help determine if you have any leaks or cracks in your system, but to also ensure that everything is in working order. It is important to note that while checking the filters in your system is important, it should not be considered an "inspection". A full inspection conducted by a HVAC installer on your heating and cooling system will not only prevent potential damage and breakdowns in the future, but will also give you assurance that your system is running in peak operating condition. A full inspection should cover everything from ensuring that the system is running correctly during a normal cycle to checking carbon monoxide levels near the furnace/boiler and heat registers.

With a new digital thermostat and a heating and cooling system inspection done by a HVAC professional, you can ensure that your home will be warm and toasty during the upcoming winter months and that you will also have extra money in your pocket from the efficiency of your system and thermostat working together.

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Reasons Why Heating Is Expensive And How To Cut Costs

The winter months are looming near and if last summer was any indication, we are bound to face a huge difficulty during the cold season. The summer was characterized by record heat and drought conditions, all of which were brought about by climate change. If that is an indication of what's going to happen, then that just means that we will be facing a very cold winter.

We have got to be prepared in the best way that we can for that cold period, but what is it that we can do? First of all you need to be aware of why heating is becoming more and more expensive each year. Here are some of the reasons why:

· The cost of the fuel used for heating at homes is constantly on the rise.

· The cost of electricity which is also used for heating is also rising.

· Homes are not using the most efficient method and devices for heating.

· Homes are not sealed and insulated properly to prevent the escape of heat.

These are the reasons why heating a home can become more expensive than usual. So what can you do about it? There is nothing that you can do about the actual costs of fuel and electricity, but you can ensure that the way that you use it would be as efficient as possible, so you can get the most out of what you are paying for.

Here are some tips that you can follow during the winter months to see to it that your home heating is on the right track:

1. Buy new heating equipment which can provide you with a more efficient output. It might cost you more today but the overall savings that you can get in the long run would be well worth it.

2. Invest in the insulation of your home. Again this would cost more in the short term but over time you would be getting more out of it.

3. During the cold months you should turn down the heaters to a minimum when you are out. You can just turn it back to a high level once you get home.

4. You should turn down the thermostat in the water heater for you shower. As long as the water is not cold, it wouldn't make a difference to you. You would not feel the difference at all.

5. Make sure that you close all doors and windows so that the heat would not escape. Heat escaping through some open point is one of the most common reasons why home heating is not efficient. Something so simple could cost you so much money.

6. You can use a fan that is placed on the ceiling to drive down the hot air that has collected at the top of the room. The fan would allow the air to circulate more properly.

These are just some of the things that you have to be aware of when it comes to cutting down the costs of heating in your home.

Your Air Conditioning and What You Should Know   Water Heater Shopping - Choosing the Most Efficient Product