Winter in Florida has been mild and I am sure our Northern visitors are loving it. Snowstorms have already made their way across the United States in December leaving much snow, loss of power and bitter cold. Staying warm from heating systems to space heaters can be costly. Here are a few tips to help keep those costs down, while staying warm.
Space Heaters
Do you have the right space heater? Trying to heat up a large room with a small space heater will cost you more and not provide the heat you need. Match the space heater to the room size. Check the manual for how many square feet the heater you have will be adequate per room you need heated. What is good about space heaters as well is that you can take them from room to room and only heat the room you will be in, saving you money.
Hot Water Radiator
Did you know that your Hot Water Radiator can lose up to 25% heat? The you are losing is going straight into the wall behind the radiator. This can be fixed by placing a piece of insulation board behind the radiator. Simply cut the insulation board to the size of your radiator, cover one side with aluminum foil. Place the board between the radiator and wall with the foil side showing. The heat will now bounce off the foil and into your room.
Tip: Before starting up your radiator for the winter, clean it off well for any dust and dirt accumulation. Dust and dirt will act as an insulation and your radiator will not emit as much heat.
Safety Tips for Hot Water Radiators
Heating System
The best way to save money here is to do something very simple: Change out the filters at least once a month. During the winter you are inside the home more often than any other time of they year, and with good reason to get out of the cold. Your filters collect pet dander and dust and with more people inside the home this time of year the accumulation is more frequent. Clean filters mean more air flow which means a cozier warm home.
Tip: Don’t forget about the cold air return vents. If they are on the floor be sure they are not blocked by furniture, drapes or rugs so they continue to feed your heating system.
Fireplaces
Its all in the type of wood you use. Soft woods like Pine will burn faster and not as hot as a hardwood. Hardwoods like Oak, Cherry, Apple and Maple burn longer and hotter. You could also purchase seasoned wood (Check your local hardware store) that lights up faster and also burns a long time. Get even more heat from your fireplace by using a method similar to the Hot Water Radiator.
Tip: Place a piece of metal in the back of your fireplace and let it emit the heat back into your room. Ask for this at your local hardware store as well.
Wood Burning Stoves are another alternative to heating your home. See what the folks over at PondMountainInn in Vermont have to say about their Vintage Cook Stove vs a new Cast Iron stove.
Always use safety when using heating systems such as space heaters, fireplaces and hot water radiators and wood stoves around your children.
More Heating Safety Tips from the National Fire Protection Association
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