December 17th, 2008 — Flooring, Handy Man, Heating
Even though winter is the farthest thing from many minds right now, this is the perfect time to start thinking about your heating options. As heating oil and propane costs skyrocket, many homeowners are starting to think about different ways that they can save money on their heating costs. Here is a quick overview of the different options that are now available.
1. Wood stoves -
The old standard, but they still work. A wood stove should not be confused with a fireplace. These stoves are stand alone and must be vented through a pipe in the wall. They are incredibly efficient and can put out quite a lot of heat. Many are also made of materials that hold in the heat, making it last even longer. They do however require a lot of wood, which can be expensive and cumbersome to deal with. This option is best for those with plenty of storage space.
2. Corn stoves -
This is a new take on the old wood stove and it uses corn pellets to create heat. However, the popularity of ethanol has driven up the price of corn, and the weather may cause a great deal of shortages this coming winter. These stoves also have a tendency to leave a lot of black soot in the area and are not recommended for people with breathing disorders
3. Radiant floor heating -
This type of heating system utilizes small tubes that are placed in the flooring. Hot water is run through them on a constant basis, heating the room. These are pretty efficient, but very expensive to install. They are usually worth the effort, until one tube breaks and you have to rip up the flooring to replace it. This is usually best reserved for new home builds or those that are completely renovating their homes.
4. Electric baseboard or alcove heating -
These little heaters actually work pretty well and with the right installation, they can heat a whole room. There are still some complaints about cold pockets however with many of these heaters. The main downside is that they are usually not very energy efficient and can cause quite a drain on your wallet.
5. Central electric heating -
Right now, this may be the most economical choice for many homeowners. These furnaces are usually pretty efficient and run cleanly. You will need to change out the filters occasionally, but they are a great alternative if you’ve got a propane furnace that you need to replace.
6. Central propane heating -
As mentioned previously, propane prices are still quite high and these furnaces range from being very efficient to being very costly. Overall, they are probably the easiest to deal with, but right now, they are not the most economical. Until gas prices dip, many homeowners are just not willing to make the jump to switching to propane and with good reason. However, if your electric bills could already choke a horse, you may actually be able to save money in the long run with one of these furnaces.
Photo Credits: 1
Originally posted 2008-08-18 05:57:35. Republished by Old Post Promoter
Related Posts - Review of The Complete Guide to Ceramic and Stone Tile Black and Decker's The Complete Guide to Ceramic and Stone Tile is a must read for anyone that is considering renovating their home. This is a great guide that makes it very simple to understand how to do even complex tasks and the project section alone makes it worth......
- Simple Energy Solutions That Save Big Money As energy prices go up, many people are looking to alternative power solutions in order to save money. However, converting an entire house to go off grid can be costly, and the work involved may be too much for some homeowners. That doesn't mean that you have to abandon the......
- Choosing a New Flooring One of the easiest ways to dramatically change a room is by adding new flooring. Although in the past, many of us drifted towards plush carpeting, if you’re planning on selling your home, it’s time to do some rethinking. Any more, thick carpeting is associated with the 80’s and really......
- 6 Ways to Make That Small Space Look and Feel Bigger If you’re living in a glorified shoebox, it can be pretty depressing after awhile. Not all of us can afford the best apartments or houses and chances are you’re dealing with at least one room that is little more than a closet. While you may not be able to knock......
- Gas Versus Electric – Which is Best? The age old question of gas appliances versus electric appliances has been revived yet again and whether or not you are considering remodeling your kitchen, replacing your furnace or trying to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels, there has never been a better time to really think this issue through.......
Online Stores
November 3rd, 2008 — Energy, Handy Man
As energy prices go up, many people are looking to alternative power solutions in order to save money. However, converting an entire house to go off grid can be costly, and the work involved may be too much for some homeowners. That doesn’t mean that you have to abandon the idea of alternative power however, and there are plenty of small and simple solutions that you can implement that won’t cost much money, but can still reap big rewards.
1. Install a solar power water heater.
This is a very easy fix that just about any homeowner can try. A single panel is used that will be hooked directly into the water heater. You’ll be able to harness the power of the sun to help you heat your house’s water and you may be surprised at just how much money you can save.
2. Wash your clothes in cold water.
If you’re not quite ready to convert your water heater over to solar power, you can still save money by washing your clothes in cold water. On average, this can save a household more than $60 a year, which may not sound like much, but when added to other solutions, it can make a difference.
3. Install Solar Air Heating Panels.
This is a great idea, especially if you are using a furnace that requires either propane or heating oil. The basic concept is that you are using solar power to run your forced air furnace and the savings can be significant. While you don’t have to re-fit your entire house, you may need to get an electric furnace, and of course, the panels to run it. However, this is a relatively small investment that will more than pay for itself in a short time, especially considering how high the prices have gone for propane and heating oil this year.
4. Line dry your clothes.
It’s funny, but a lot of our energy consumption has to do with laundry. We’ve already covered two tips on how to save big by using cold water, or changing how you power your water heater, but line drying your clothes can also save a significant amount of money. This is of course a little difficult in winter, but if you use this technique during the summer months, you can save quite a bit of money. You may need to use fabric softener for some clothes, but overall, this is a very easy and cheap way to get your clothes done.
The best way to save money on your energy costs is by watching your overall consumption. Consider installing new light bulbs that are more energy efficient, turn your heat down and your air conditioning up, and watch the length of your showers. By combining many different techniques, you can easily save money and you’ll only have to invest a small amount of money to get started. In fact, many of these options are absolutely free. Over a few weeks, you should start to see a big difference in your power and gas bills.
Photo Credit: 1
Related Posts - Gas Versus Electric – Which is Best? The age old question of gas appliances versus electric appliances has been revived yet again and whether or not you are considering remodeling your kitchen, replacing your furnace or trying to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels, there has never been a better time to really think this issue through.......
- Alternative Energy For Homeowners As home heating costs rise, and energy in general gets more expensive, many homeowners are turning to alternative means to power their homes. While many systems require a lot of effort to implement, there are quite a few that can be easy to install and quite economical. Whether it is......
- The Hidden Danger Lurking Under Your Bed and Over Your Head When it comes to looking for trouble spots in our homes, we are generally drawn to the obvious. Plumbing systems, heating systems and the things that we see every day will get the most attention when it comes to spotting early warning signs and taking care of problems before they......
- How to Install a Permanent Water Filter No matter where you live, there is a chance that you may be dealing with some contaminants in your water. Many of us have trace amounts of lead in our drinking water and this can be harmful to your health over time. It is a good idea to have your......
- More on How to Winterize Your Home Winter is just around the corner and this means getting your home ready. While this is mainly important for those that live in colder climates, many of these tips are useful even if you have a house in the desert. Getting your home ready for winter is actually quite easy......
Related Websites - Your Used Laptop Batteries in Future Cars Due to increased awareness about global warming and the mysterious rising of oil prices, there has been an increased demand for green hybrid electric vehicles. A green hybrid electric vehicle is a vehicle that is a combination of gas and an electric motor, which uses far less than the average......
- Green Electric Hybrid Vehicle In this day and age, especially with cities becoming so clogged with buildings, homes and people, having a vehicle is a necessity. Being able to get around is difficult without some method of transportation, and for that reason, it has become quite common for people to have at least one......
- Zero Pollution Motors' Air Car In the past, a car powered by a battery or even by air may have seemed impossible, but the technology to accomplish this has actually been around for many decades. This technology was overlooked in favor of combustion engines despite the superior technology of the air and electric engine over......
- Diesel Electric Hybrid Vehicles: An Evolution in Hybrid Vehicles Diesel power plays a vital role in the development of one of today's most important power train technologies, which is helping to significantly reduce fuel consumption and vehicle emissions from heavy duty vehicles. Hybrid electric technology is becoming increasingly popular as it offers hybrid-electric vehicles or HEVs that are powered......
- Green Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Toyota Prius Hybrid vehicles are being converted by their owners into vehicles that run purely on electricity. People who drive hybrid vehicles that are easy on gas to begin with are becoming increasingly interested in the idea of converting their vehicles from completely gasoline powered to completely electricity based. Drivers who own......
Online Stores
