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Home Heating Efficiency – How to Save a Bundle This Winter

You here it all the time … "turn down your thermostat and put on an extra sweater".  Really? Those who grew up during the Great Depression may be accustomed to doing just that.  But for the rest of us, aren't there other practical ways to reduce heating costs?  Regardless of the type of heating system you're using, there are several things you can do now to save a ton of money, yet still enjoy a cozy indoor environment all winter long.

Most homes throughout the U.S. use a natural gas central furnace system.  Others operate on propane, heating oil or electrical power.  For most home owners the option of installing an energy saving solar heating system, heat pump or some other "green" mechanical system to heat their homes is not logistically possible or is just too cost prohibitive.   So the question is - how is it possible to save a bundle on your home energy consumption this winter while still using your existing heating system?

Here are some relatively inexpensive and practical ways to do just that.

1) Insulate.  For a small investment, get extra insulation blown into your attic space.  Amazingly, millions of American homes have as little as 4 to 6 inches of the fluffy stuff in their attics.  You should have at least 12 inches.  Many municipalities and utility companies offer up to 100% rebates to have your insulation upgraded to help you save energy year round.  See what's being offered in your area.  

2) Seal cracks around doors, windows, foundations, crawl spaces and wall outlets. Restricting cold air infiltration can shave a bundle off your total heating bill. Caulking, expanding spray foam and weather stripping are readily available at your nearest home center and the cost is very small.

3) Clean your air ducts.  If you have a central forced air heating system, the ducts should be professionally inspected and/or cleaned periodically to maintain good air flow and ensure that a high percentage of heat energy is actually transferred to rooms, rather than impeded by blocked dirty air ducts.

4) Change your furnace filter once a month.  A furnace needs to have unrestricted airflow to maintain peak efficiency and effectiveness.

5) Upgrade your thermostat.  A night set-back programmable thermostat can help your heating system run more efficiently.  Program the thermostat to turn the furnace on only when heat is needed most (evenings, weekends, etc.). Set the thermostat to a low setting (around 50 degrees) just before leaving for work/school, then ½ hour before returning home, have the thermostat programmed to warm the space to 72 again.  If leaving town for long stretches, program the furnace to come on just often enough to keep pipes from freezing.  A 50 degree setting is recommended.

6) Zone heat.  Perhaps the best way to save money during peak heating hours (ie.,nights and weekends) is to zone heat.  What is zone heating?  Heat only the room or rooms you're in.  Most families spend most of their time in one area of the home during cold winter evenings.  No need to heat unused bedrooms, storage rooms, etc. that are unoccupied.  If you have a direct vent fireplace in your primary living room, turn the furnace off and allow the fireplace to heat the room.

It is important to note that a direct vent fireplace draws combustion air from the outside and emits its heat through a solid glass front, an excellent heat exchanger.  On the other hand, an open screen fireplace can actually cool down adjacent room spaces.  That's because the draw of flue gases through the open chimney also sucks already heated air and expels it to the outside.  We call this a B Vent fireplace.  Most newer homes use direct vent fireplaces.

If you don't have a direct vent fireplace, you may want to invest in a 99.9% efficient vent free gas room heater.   While not designed as a primary heat source, a vent free heater can throw a lot of heat into connected spaces as well.  It's even possible to heat an entire main floor with a single vent free heater.   In fact, many homeowners use their vent free heater as their primary heating system all winter long.

Sometimes it's the simplest things that have the biggest economic impact.  That's certainly the case here.  Taking practical steps now to decrease your home heating costs this winter can put a lot of money back in your pocket.

About the Author

Scott Workman is president and owner of Infra-Red Products Supply, Inc. and an expert in energy saving heating systems and methods.  For more information about efficient garage heaters, workshop heaters, home heaters, direct vent fireplaces, vent free heaters and more, visit => http://www.heatersunlimited.com and http://www.infraredinfo.com

Furnace $10.49 Furnace

Rat Rod, Work Shop Garage $404.99 David Perry Rat Rod, Work Shop Garage - Framed Giclee Print

Garage Shop Shelf $94.99 The shop shelf by GarageMate is an excellent way to store tools. The garage shelf mounts directly to studs and has a non-slip bench top. There is a storage drawer included.Features: &#149 Made of Plastic &#149 39x15 work surface &#149 All hardware included &#149 Storage Drawer &#149 Rotates a full 360 &#149 Color: Black40"tall x 16"wide x 8"deep

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The Gourmet Garage Cookbook $6.99 From New York's hottest and fastest-growing chain of gourmet food stores, a cookbook bursting with new flavors. Founded in 1992 as a supplier of fresh and exotic ingredients to the chefs and restaurateurs of New York, the Gourmet Garage became a retailing leg when it opened its doors to the public a few years later. Now, award-winning cookbook authors Sheryl and Mel London and the experts of the Gourmet Garage show you how to select from the dizzying array of both everyday and sometimes unfamiliar ingredients, transforming them into simple, wonderful meals in your own kitchen. Unlike other cookbooks, The Gourmet Garage Cookbook is organized by ingredient and takes you through every section of a specialty food store that is just one step away from the farmer. From the fruit section, papaya and lime combine in a relish for grilled shrimp. Gourmet yams are accompanied by pears, crystallized ginger, and distilled figs. Of particular interest to the home cook are the "Shop Smart" tips in each chapter which tell the reader how to choose the best and freshest products in the marketplace, and "Notes for the Cook," containing dozens of helpful hints for making the most out of fresh ingredients.

Wall Mounted Garage Vacuum $219.95 Create your own car detailing shop and save space. No more bulky canisters or complicated installations. The Wall Mounted GarageVac installs in as little as 10 minutes and takes up half the wall space of other garage vacuums. Designed with the garage in mind, the Wall Mounted GarageVac helps you organize your space and gives you all the tools you need to keep it clean. The Wall Mounted GarageVac is a central vacuum cleaner that just hangs on the surface of the garage wall. It can work with any garage organization system on the market. And there?s no need to be confined to the garage with your GarageVac unit! The wall mounted option makes GarageVac portable. Just take it off the wall when you?re heading out in the RV or Boat. Use it in the cottage or cabin or inside the home in the utility room or bonus room. The options are endless with GarageVac.   Comes with a unique 40 foot stretch hose that shrinks to just 8 feet for easy storage, a non-corrosive adjustable one piece wand, a crevice tool, bare floor tool and elongated dust brush that cleans your whole dashboard with just one swipe! Just wrap the hose around the power unit and store the tools neatly inside. The GarageVac is always at your fingertips for any job, not matter how large or how small.   The HEPA type filtration is standard with GarageVac so no dust or allergens are ever exhausted back into the garage. Each bag holds an incredible one gallon of dirt and is simple to replace. Just push up the latch and remove the door with your bag still attached. No dust to fly up in your face like when you empty a central vacuum canister. At just 9 pounds and 4 inches deep, GarageVac is the most compact and lightweight central vacuum cleaner on the market.     Features: Powerful garage cleaning in a compact design Mounts on wall or portable 40 ft. stretch hose shrinks to just 8 ft. Comes with 2 bags that each hold up to 1 gallon of waste HEPA type filtration helps control dust and allergens   In-Use:     Includes: 40' stretch hose Crevice tool Bare floor tool dashboard brush Telescoping wand Wand hanger NEW Flexible Wand with Detachable Brush

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Sprayza Blasta Garage. $13.99 Pimp your ride with Sprayza Blasta Garage. Assemble one of three cars, pop it into the workshop and customise with the Sprayza pens to create some air-mazing effects. Use the magic Sprayza pens and the activator to change the colours of your car and then add some cool metallic stickers for the finishing touch!Create your ultimate ride with the Sprayza Blasta Garage.The 2 in 1 marker and airbrush enables you to spray your car in the body shop showroom.Contains 3 different racing cars for you to assemble and spray.Batteries required: 0.For ages 6 years and over.EAN/MPN/UPC/ISBN: 8001444414622.WARNING(S):Not suitable for children under 3 years old.

Death of a Garage Sale Newbie $9.99 Solving a murder mystery is much more than the BHN bargained for!   What could Ginger the baby boomer, Kindra the college student, Suzanne the pregnant mother of three, and Mary Margret the silver-haired real-estate agent possibly have in common? Who would’ve guessed… a passion for garage sales! This motley crew forms the Bargain Hunters Network–bonding while clipping coupons, attending half-price sales, and scouting clearance racks in their hometown of Three Horses, Montana. But when one of the four turns up missing, these shop-till-you-drop women must set their bargain hunting aside to take up an entirely new venture altogether–solving a crime.   As the three amateur sleuths retrace their friend’s fateful steps, they discover clues that lead them to suspect her murder is linked to an unusual garage sale purchase made on the morning of her death. But when their search unearths a disturbing secret that’s been carefully concealed for over twenty years, the women are drawn into a dark underworld filled with bribery, greed, and deception. With determined criminals who will stop at nothing to keep their secret safe, will these fiscally conscious females end up paying the ultimate price?        From the Trade Paperback edition.

Pelonis ClassicCeramic Furnace $91.99 Pelonis Ceramic 4-disc furnace heater

NewAir G70 Electric Garage Heater $199.99 Experience powerful, high-performance heat in areas such as garages, workshops, factories, work sites and more with the NewAir G70 electric garage heater. This 4,000 watt heater can provide quick primary, supplementary or auxiliary heat and covers large areas up to 400 square feet. Easy to install with the included mounting bracket, the NewAir G70 can be mounted on your ceiling or wall for safe, out-of-the-way placement. The NewAir G70 garage heater's built-in thermostat also consistently maintains your set temperature level. UL- and CUL-listed for safety. Heats 400 Square FeetThis 4,000 watt electric garage/shop heater easily warms areas up to 400 square feet, approximately the same size as an average 2-car garage. Versatile Mounting OptionsThe NewAir G70 garage heater can be attached to your wall or ceiling with the versatile, easy to use mounting bracket. Built-In Thermostat with Automatic Temperature ControlThe built

Jumper Cables Garage Pro Jumper Cables mtbc4ga16 $38.89 GARAGE PRO UNIVERSAL BOOSTER CABLES, SET OF 2 -- 0.38 in. outer diameter; 4 gauge x 16 ft.; 400 amps; Plastic-coated; With B10 clamp; Features copper-clad aluminum wirings and PVC cables; A high quality booster cable set; With 1-year Garage Pro limited warranty.. Auto Parts Warehouse has extensive Garage Pro Jumper Cables catalogs.We are now offering FREE shipping on all Garage Pro Jumper Cables orders over $50.00. Our secure garage pro jumper cables catalog is available every hour of everyday. Shop with confidence for all your garage pro jumper cables needs. Garage Pro Jumper Cables are In Stock and available today. Save up to 60% off dealer price on your next Garage Pro Jumper Cables purchase. Our online catalog contains a wide selection of the OEM and aftermarket parts you need at unbeatable prices

Seat Garage Pro Seat C98604-grey $152.4 GARAGE PRO UNIVERSAL OFF-ROAD RACING BUCKET SEAT, GRAY -- 35 in. H x 23 in. W x 19 in. D; 11 in. front to back; 13.63 in. front and rear left to right bolt hole measurement; Includes slider brackets; Comes with loops around headrest, center tufted fabric panels, and built-in seat belt slots; Features dual mounting system brackets on seat bottom frame that assure mounting stabilization to the floor and cold rolled tubular frame supporting cold foam and elastic webs for lasting seat wear; A high quality off-road racing bucket seat; This is a universal item, modification might be required; A floor mounted bracket will have to be fabricated if vehicle does not have an existing seat bracket; With 1-year Garage Pro limited warranty.. Auto Parts Warehouse has extensive Garage Pro Seat catalogs.We are now offering FREE shipping on all Garage Pro Seat orders over $50.00. Our secure garage pro seat catalog is available every hour of everyday. Shop with confidence for all your garage pro seat needs. Garage Pro Seat are In Stock and available today. Save up to 60% off dealer price on your next Garage Pro Seat purchase. Our online catalog contains a wide selection of the OEM and aftermarket parts you need at unbeatable prices

Shop Vac SHV9253900 Wall Mount Stainless Steel Garage Vac $400.14 Wet or dry use. 8 gallon stainless steel tank. Powerful 2 stage motor for longer life. 25 feet of hose 6 power cord. Accessories included. 14.8 W x 32.75 L x 14.75 H.

Wooden Parking Garage Play Set $89.99 This incredible brightly painted wooden garage has everything your little ones need to enjoy years of nonstop play. This 11 piece set has 3 levels of fun as well as 5 vehicles. An elevator carwash and an auto shop are all part of the excitement! Measures 20W x 20D x 17-1/2H. Easy to assemble. Ages 3 years and up. Exclusively ours.

Neon Garage Clock with Nova Design $84.14 Add some personality to your garage walls with this Nova design neon clockShop timepiece features quartz clock movement Clock features sleek chrome-style finish outer tripUses 1 AA batteryNeon operates on 110 volt AC convertor UL listedSlotted screw/nail hole for easy mountingAvailable in numerious designs as well as licensed logos17-inch diameter, 4 inches deep

Neon Garage Clock with Poker Design $80.92 Add some personality to your garage walls with this Poker design neon clockShop timepiece features quartz clock movement Clock features sleek chrome-style finish outer tripUses 1 AA batteryNeon operates on 110 volt AC converter UL listedSlotted screw/nail hole for easy mountingAvailable in numerous designs as well as licensed logos17-inch diameter, 4 inches deep

NewAir G73 Electric Garage Heater $279 Transform your chilly garage, shop, or workspace with the rugged and durable NewAir G73 electric garage and utility heater. Safer and more energy efficient than propane utility heaters with comparable heating power, the NewAir G73 offers the best in high-capacity heating. The NewAir G73 heater also covers areas up to 500 square feet, making it ideal for shipping/receiving areas, warehouses, garages, workshops, public buildings, service stations and more. Industry's Best Warranty & Return PolicyThe NewAir G73 garage heater is backed by the industry's most comprehensive warranty and return policy. In addition to the 1-year manufacturer's warranty, if you're not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can return it for a full refund. Heats 500 Square FeetThe 240 volt NewAir G73 boasts 5,000 watts of heating power that allows it to meet a variety of heating requirements for larger areas up to 500 square feet. Built-In Single Pole ThermostatThe G73 com

Flush Mounted Wall Garage Vacuum $269.95 Create your own car detailing shop and save space.  No more bulky canisters or complicated installations. The Flush Mounted GarageVac takes up half the wall space of other garage vacuums. Designed with the garage in mind, the Flush Mounted GarageVac helps you organize your space and gives you all the tools you need to keep it clean. The Flush Mounted GarageVac is the only central vacuum cleaner in the world that can be installed flush in a 2 x 4 stud wall. It can work with any garage organization system on the market.   Comes with a unique 40 foot stretch hose that shrinks to just 8 feet for easy storage, a non-corrosive adjustable one piece wand, upholstery brush, crevice tool, bare floor tool and elongated dust brush that cleans your whole dashboard with just one swipe! Just wrap the hose around the power unit and store the tools neatly inside. The GarageVac is always at your fingertips for any job, not matter how large or how small.   The HEPA type filtration is standard with GarageVac so no dust or allergens are ever exhausted back into the garage.  Each bag holds an incredible one gallon of dirt and is simple to replace. Just push up the latch and remove the door with your bag still attached. No dust to fly up in your face like when you empty a central vacuum canister. At just 9 pounds and 4 inches deep, GarageVac is the most compact and lightweight central vacuum cleaner on the market.   NOTE: Requires some electrical wiring   Features: Powerful garage cleaning in a compact design Mounts flush on the wall 40 ft. stretch hose shrinks to just 8 ft. Comes with 2 bags that each hold up to 1 gallon of waste HEPA type filtration helps control dust and allergens   In-Use:     Includes: 40' stretch hose Upholstery brush Crevice tool Bare floor tool dashboard brush Telescoping wand Wand hanger NEW Flexible Wand with Detachable Brush

Hoover L2310 GUV garage utility vac $205.22 Keep your garage cars or workshop Hoover clean with the Garage Utility Vac (GUV). This hanging garage/car vac has a 5 gallon tank capacity and heavy duty steel construction. Simply mount the storage bracket in your shop or garage hang the vac and plug the cord in. Heavyduty steel construction for lasting durability. 30 crushproof hose. 10 amp motor provides powerful suction yet quiet operation. Easy wall mount assembly no need to take up valuable floor space. Lifetime filter. Unit dimensions 29.5 H x 11 L x 11 W

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