Question for Propane Guy.. heating an unfinished basement? part 2?

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Chatter Bo

1st Im sorry, I meant to rate YOUR answer as the best answer, so that reply when i rated was directed to you. 2nd, so ALL the vent free heaters, even the fireplaces arent safe to run 24/7?? how could we vent a vented one from the basement? could it go out a window? does it have to be higher than the top of the house? thats what we were told but we were told that by someone who wasn't educated in heating, i mean it sounds right but I have no clue so I figured I'd ask you.

Im renting the basement off my sister and need heat. come spring when I save enough money Im going to move but until then, Im worried im going to freeze. they dont want anything major installed and they dont want me to tap into their furnace because it costs too much to heat the house never mind adding another floor for them to heat.

would a couple electric heaters work? or a vent free fireplace? i know those are sold for use in homes. could a small pellet stove work and if so, could it be vented out a window?

and yes, one whole side is in the ground, so that 1 whole side is concrete. the other 1/2 of the house is 1/2 concrete and 1/2 insulated foundation. its a walk out basement.
"There are some fireplaces that can be vented using a "snorkel kit". Basically it comes out the basement wall at ground level and up about a foot on the outside wall. They can't be installed unless you have a bit of exposed basement at ground level on the outside."

So could we use a window for the snorkel kit? like keep one window open and then block the rest of the window somehow? even if we had to put a brick foundation under the stove to raise up the stove & make it level to the window? I doubt my sis would let me drill into the wall and speaking with her today, i dont think even electric heaters are an option due to electric bill.

see I cant afford to get someone in here to just look around, id like to have a plan and then have someone come in and do it.

Answer
As you could clearly see from my previous answer, I feel very strongly about vent free heaters. There is a very good reason that they are illegal to operate anywhere in Canada, many other countries and several of the US states. They are putting products of combustion into the air you are breathing. I would certainly never allow one in any home that I or any member of my family live in. They are that potentially dangerous. Especially if you are planning on using it for primary heat.

There are some fireplaces that can be vented using a "snorkel kit". Basically it comes out the basement wall at ground level and up about a foot on the outside wall. They can't be installed unless you have a bit of exposed basement at ground level on the outside. It does not need to be vented above the roofline. These appliances are what is called "direct vent". They take air from outside, burn it with the fuel and expel the burnt gases back outside. The flame does not communicate with the air inside the building that you are breathing. Much safer! Personally I look forward to the day when all appliances are of this design.

Fireplaces are not really meant to be run as a primary heat source either, but if you have a furnace heating the rest of the house then a fireplace for the basement area isn't too bad.

As I said previously, you really need to have someone knowledgable come in and determine the best option for you. Basements can be tricky for venting appliances properly.

Electric heaters would be safer than a vent free gas appliance, but they are very expensive to operate. I would explore a gas appliance first. It will be more expensive to install but cheaper to operate.

What ever way you decide to go, make sure you read the manufacturer's certified installation and operating instructions to make sure the appliance is suitable and legal to operate indoors!

Be warm ,but be safe!

Edit: Yes I have seen a window opening used for a vent before. But you have to block off the entire window. It can not used as a window anymore. A solid panel will have to block the entire opening and be sealed and the vent run through the middle of that. The gas supply line can be routed through there as well as long as the clearances are sufficient.

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Does anyone have one of those electric fireplace heaters/stoves? And if so, how do you like it?

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lolabear

I'm thinking about getting one but I'm not sure how affective they are or how even how realistic the flames look. Let me know if your happy with yours or not. Thank you!

Answer
I love mine, but I NEVER use it to heat. Way too expensive! Only for the appearance of a fireplace. The flames have fooled lots of people. Shop around. There are many different quality of stoves. Mine is a 5 year old Dimplex.

which name brand electric fireplace offers realistic flame & glow?

chazcortez

Answer
Dimplex makes some very convincing ones. They have a patent on the process. You can find them at www.dimplex.com. And at Aubuchon hardware.

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is it cheaper to use electricty to have my wall heater on or to plug in a portable heater?

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anonymity

It is so cold out and I am curious to know if it costs more to run my (not gas) wall heater or to purchase a portable heater. I really want to purchase one of the electric fireplaces that home depot sells, just wondering if it would help save my power bill.
Thank you
I am in Seattle

Answer
your wall heater should be more efficient than a plug in heater. The wall heater is most likely hooked to 240 volts which will use less energy to heat up a room than a plug in 120 volt heater. having insulated walls and attic and "newer" windows will keep the heat in. Check with your power company for windows or insulation, Most areas will pay for some of the work, depending on if your on low income or not. Good luck

Any tips for lowering the cost of heating a home with oil heat, besides turning the heat down ;-D?

hmm

I am thinking for next winter about possibly using space heaters. Or even an electric fireplace which would be both pleasing to the eye and warm. I live in New England.
A wood stove! Why didn't I think of this before... I guess I had to post the question to realize the answer myself... ;-D

Answer
Don't forget the old standbys: insulation, air infiltration (does your local power company offer energy audits?), poor heat circulation within a room (are you heating the ceiling while your feet freeze?), more efficient windows and/or window films, insulated draperies or shutters closed at night, and the remarkably effective old camping standby that if your hands or feet are cold, put on a hat (up to 30% of body heat is lost through the head).

The very cheapest energy is that which you do not use.

One thing you do have to be careful of with a tighter and possibly cooler house: condensation on interior surfaces is a leading cause of mold. Air to air heat exchangers can increase air circulation while retaining heat.

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Best way to heat my house?

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Meagan P

As the cold came so Quickly this year i was forced to put my heaters on early, my house is 100% electric, during the winter months our electric is averaging $500/ month during the cold months. $225/mo during spring and fall when no home heating or cooling is needed and about $300/mo during the summer with Energy star window AC's on. My house is about 30 years old with poor ventilation, crappy doors but Good new widows and roof. The heaters are probably as old as the house too. We rent so any major home improvement is out of the Question, I have been thinking about purchasing a fireplace to help take some of the Burden of the electric bill, but im wondering would it even make a difference? i could use the fireplace to heat about 1/2 of my house (kitchen and living room, hallway and bathroom) and use the baseboard heaters for the rest the house (the 3 bedrooms) so i guess my question(s) would be:
Would a portable Fireplace help or hurt the electric bill?
What kind of Fireplace would be better?
i know electric and Propane would be basically my only options since i don't have natural Gas hookup and no chimney for wood burning.

And we are only 9mo into a 2 year lease breaking the lease would cost us upward of 5k so moving is not an option either (looked into it already)
or is there some kind of other fireplace that would heat my home? i see alot about Gel Fireplaces but cant find much info on them

Answer
Has this house got any insulation in the ceilings at all? Our other home was built in 1974 and was total electric. We never had any heat bills in the years we lived there that were as high as yours seem to be. We had a heat bill of just over $200 one time after 20 days of temperatures that never went above freezing during the day! We had 220 volt baseboard heat too. We used a 23,000 btu kerosene heater on occasion when the power was off, that heated the whole house. We had about 1,500 square feet. Unless there is a basement or crawl space under this house, natural gas or propane aren't an option because you need a furnace with duct work to each room to carry the heated air. There are some natural gas and propane radiant heaters that can be hung on outside walls. You'd have to check the fire code on these. An outside wall location may not heat the space required. the landlord would have to be involved with this because holes are required in the outside wall to run the gas line through. I hesitate too suggest a kerosene heater because they can cause a house fire if not used properly! Ask your landlord about the attic insulation. Is there any at all? How many inches? If insufficient attic insulation, would he have more put in? Make sure you turn the heat down to about 55 degrees in rooms not used during the day. Turn the heat up to 68 degrees when the rooms are occupied. Make sure the baseboard heaters are free of dust so they're more efficient. I would suggest that if you have a friend who's an electrician, that they check this house to see if there's a problem with the electric circuit. The month electric bills sound way to high for these modern times! Also, check to make sure the electric company is charging you the correct kilowatt per hour rate. You should have a different ( lower ) rate for a totally electric home. Hope you find an answer for these high electric bills.

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Why is a solar water heater storage tank placed at higher level than the solar panel itself?

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Glenn Scio

Help is really appreciated, since I will be sitting for a physics exam tomorrow. Thanks in advance!

Answer
Hey Glenn, don't know if you'll get this in time for the exam, but I will post it anyway. The only solar water heaters that need to have the storage tank above the panel are the thermo siphon types. When solar hot water was new, these were the only kind. The sun would heat the water during the day, and when the water in the solar collector exceeded the temperature in the tank, it would be lighter due to thermal expansion, so gravity would slowly force it into the tank, which displaced cooler water from the tank back into the collector. They worked the same as the old heatalaters built into stone fireplaces years ago. Most domestic hot water, or dhw solar systems today use a circulation pump to force the hot water from the collector to the tank, which is typically in the basement. The pump is usually driven by a small solar electric panel sitting along side the larger solar water collector. They work well together because when the sun is shining, it is warming the water the same time the pump is getting electricity.

Really there are some good websites to learn about this stuff rather than asking hacks like me online for your information, I will list some resources below you can google when you have time. Good luck, and take care, Rudydoo

I have the electric fireplace insert, but need a mantel...?

michitucky

All the sites I have found online offer fireplace/mantel combos only. I only need a mantel. I've even thought of just building my own and tried finding woodworking plans for them and have come up empty. I may just take measurements and build something rudimentary and then build around that using stone/wood etc.

Things to consider before answering:
1.We work for a major home improvement company.. not interested in what they have in stock.
2. I have searched to exhaustion online. Perhaps someone knows a site that I have not found yet.
3. I am leaning toward building my own, but would love ideas that are unique and creative.

Thanks so much!

Answer
If you are serious about making your own, consider what it is that you do not like about the stock items that you have not bought, as well as the over-all style you are trying to achieve in the room.

There is no reason that a mantle has to be all wood. Consider materials like granite, marble, ceramic (or porcelain or glass) tiles, stainless steel or other metal... Depending on what material(s) you choose, it is very possible that using a lesser priced substrate with a beautiful material applied over it will end up being less expensive than going for wood.

I'm not sure which websites have good fireplace pictures, but there are countless books on fireplace design that could help give you some inspiration. Good luck.

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I have about 1000 squ.feet of living space in the lower section of my home, since this is where we spend most?

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ken e

of our days ,I am looking to buy a energy savings space heater to cut down on my heating costs this winter . I have heard so many mixed reviews on which heater to buy ,can anyone who really knows what they are talking about recommend the best heater to buy
I am leaning towards the infrared modals but not sure if the cost effectiveness that the makers state is actually true

Answer
If you have gas in your home. Get a new efficient gas fireplace. Not only will it save you a bundle on heating cost over any electric space heater but it will give you instant zone heating. It will offer a beautifully aesthetic live flame too. When you are done with the additional heat for the evening you can turn it off without waiting for a fire to ember and sucking the heat out of the home. The fireplaces are also more efficient then your furnace as they supply direct heat. In many areas you can get a vent free gas fireplace..Lowes has them for about $ 500.00. The savings would pay for themselves in 2 years times over the electric units.

How can I lower my electric bill!?

Kitty S

I have a direct vent fireplace I have been running a lot in place of my heat. I thought this would lower my electric bill. However, now my bill seems to be even higher! My home is approximately 1300 square feet and my bill is about $200.00 a month.

Answer
Your rates might have gone up like a lot of other peoples. Washing your clothes in cold water will save on the 220 hot water heater. Wash only when there is a full load. Saves on the 220 dryer.
Putting the hot water heater and the fridge on save or normal will help.
Turning everything off when not using saves.
Something over the windows helps to keep the heat in. Curtains and there are plastic kits that can be put on the inside of the windows.
Using the oven the least you can saves. Runs on 220.
Using a tiny night light during the night saves.
People say the curly light bulbs are cheaper to use than the other ones.

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Does anyone have info on "Heat Surge HT-Xl" furnaces made by the Amish ?

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HollysMom

I read about this furnace in the newspaper & thought it sounded GREAT, before I buy it I would like to know if anyone has bought 1 or knows of someone who has. Can you also give me your input on this furnace, every little bit will help. The newspaper is offering a $198.00 coupon.

Answer
Consumer Reports posted a video review of this exact item on YouTube. It's a Chinese made faux fireplace with an Amish-made wooden mantle. For some reason, it seems heaters with combustible housings are trendy lately. Check the first link I've included if you want to see what happens when something goes horribly wrong with a heater made out of materials that burn.

All 120v electric heaters are 100% efficient and they all max out at 1,500 watts (5,121 BTU). Buy the least expensive one that is made out of something that doesn't burn - that means not plastic or wood.

Looking for the 'BEST' Heater-experience preferred please :)?

Athena

We have a 2 story office building. The office space on top is currently not being used. The bottom office is long & narrow. It is approximately 1000 square feet with 14 foot ceilings. It is brick on the two longest sides (top to bottom) with the front wall totally being glass (windows). The back wall is brick and glass as well. There are 2 ceiling fans we use to keep the heat from totally going upstairs.
It currently heats with a propane furnace but when it gets really cold we spend about 300 on propane every two weeks to heat it. Not an option any more. I sure like the way the heat fills the whole place but we simply can't afford it.
I wanted to put a wood stove in but the stove pipe alone is over $1000 . We have offices on both sides of us so the stove pipe has to go up 2 stories and that is also not an option. Neither is a pellet stove.
I am looking at possibly getting an Edenpure Gen 4 or one of those Amish stoves. Those are really the only ones I have heard of so I am open if you have other ideas. I would like suggestions as to what you think might work in this space to heat it as well as your own experiences.

Thank you in advance for your replies.
Anyone?
Thank you PA for your thoughtful detailed answer. I wasn't looking for a free lunch just a solution that wouldn't eat MY lunch every month...*smile* Thanks again

Answer
I have friends with both - and like them........but there's no such thing as a free lunch. Their comments:

the Edenpure is safe around kids & pets because the cabinet stays cool . . . . . but no way does it heat an entire house - and doubt if it would evenly heat the space you describe. The Edenpure uses quartz infra-red tubes to heat a copper plate: you aren't getting the heat directly from the tubes - heating the copper plate makes it a steadier heat as the tubes cycle on and off. My friend says that it's nice for a room - does no good in heating adjacent rooms in his small house.

I believe the "Amish fireplace" units also use quartz heating tubes, but have a more powerful fan to distribute the air over a greater area.

Most plug-in electric space heaters draw 1500 watts @ 110 volts when on - - - I think that's the same consumption of the Edenpure and "fireplace". A disadvantage of quartz infra-red tube heaters is that the tubes burnout just like light bulbs . . . . they cost from $30 to $45 each and I believe the heaters have 3 or 4 of them. I understand that it's quite a job to disassemble the Edenpure to replace the tubes.

Google Edenpure and "Amish Fireplace" "reviews" and "complaints" and you'll find posts by both satisfied and dissatisfied buyers.

Consumer Reports tested electric heaters a couple years ago: they didn't think much of either (and many others) . . . on their recommendation we got Honeywell baseboard heaters at about $65 each and are very satisfied with them.......maybe the info is still available at the CR website or BUying Guide.

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how to introduce two cats to eachother.?

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Ryan S

i've had an female american short-hair cat for 2-3 years now, and my family has decided to get another. we were thinking of getting a Siamese cat. hoping to get it as a kitten. do you have any tips to introduce them. i realize theres a chance they wont like eachother. but is there any thing i can do to ensure they get along ok, thanks!

Answer
Ideally, give the new cat his own room to begin with. He needs to settle in to this "safe room" before meeting other pets. The room must be made escape-proof and safe. Block any chimneys/fireplaces and if it is necessary to open a window for ventilation, fit a mesh panel (make it secure so that the cat cannot dislodge it). Switch off gas or electric fires and make sure there are no cables to be chewed (or they are tucked out of the way). A safe room is essential except when the household is quiet and you can watch or supervise them.

If your home is the sort where some rooms have glass panelled doors, it would be an advantage if the safe room is one of the rooms. This allows the newcomer and the resident pets to look at each other through the glass. Don't worry if you don't have such doors as there are plenty of other ways to start the introductions when the time comes. A windowsill or a seat allowing a view through the window are more important - the cat will want to start surveying his new territory and getting used to the comings and goings of others.

The safe room must be equipped with a cat bed or some description (a blanket-lined box, old armchair etc are fine if you don't have cat baskets). A hiding place (e.g. under the bed or a large upturned box with a hole in the side) is also essential as cats like to hide while they take stock of their new surroundings. Food and water bowls are essential. The litter tray should be placed as far away from the cat's sleeping place and the feeding place as possible. Like us, cats don't want to sleep and eat in the toilet (particularly in a toilet that can't be flushed). A scratching post or pad is advisable as are some toys.

If you think the room gets cold at night, there are a wide variety of heat-pads (electric, microwavable, simple thermal pads or fleeces) available or you could use a hot water bottle wrapped in towel. A battery radio (or mains powered if the cable can be tucked out of the way) tuned to a talk station (e.g. UK's Radio 4) can be used to provide company when the cat is in the room alone. Preparations need not be elaborate - just common sense!

If a safe room isn't possible because of lack of rooms or an open plan home, the alternative is a kitten pen (or kittening pen). Kitten pens are metal mesh pens approximately 1 metre x 1 metre square and 0.75 - 1 metre tall. They are collapsible and have plastic bases that are easy to clean and prevents the occupant from scratching the carpet in an attempt to dig his way out! The dimensions vary depending on the supplier. Some of the large dog crates that fit inside estate cars are suitable as long as the occupant cannot escape through the mesh and there is enough room for bed, food, water and litter tray. Large chinchilla cages might also suitable as long as its door is large enough. If you are only using the pen for short introductions (e.g. to a dog) then a smaller crate with a blanket in it will be fine as the newcomer will be spending most of his time in the safe room. It is possible to make your own kitten pens so long as there are no protruding bits of wire to cause injury. Whatever type cage you use, the door must be able to be shut securely (if in doubt, a strong bulldog clip usually does the trick). The cat inside the kitten pen can see what is going on around it, but feels safe inside the cage.

To make a kitten pen feel more secure, at least to begin with, you can put a sheet, blanket or curtain over the top and around two or three sides. One side should be left uncovered so that the newcomer and the existing residents can see each other. They will want to sniff each other through the mesh, try to put a paw through and will probably hiss or growl at each other. However they cannot attack or physically intimidate each other. ((more at link below)

back boiler gas fireplace?

Gemma G

hi
i live in a private rented flat, it has Worcester boiler in the kitchen on an external wall, but in the living room we have a hideous 60s fire with a back boiler i dont know if its still working of if its disconnected because to be honest i know nothing apart from its a fire lol.
what i want to know is how much roughly would it cost to have the back boiler and/or fire removed, and are there any grants to have it removed (im in the uk). ill probably replace it with a gel fire bowl or electric plug in as i only really want it for decoration.
thanks

Answer
It is not possible to give a quote without seeing the job and what is involved in removing the item. Contact local handymen who possibly advertise in the local paper and ask a couple of them for quotes. It could be £50 or £200 depending on how difficult the job is and what part of town you live in. The posh part of town is charged more for the same job. Since it is a rental you need to speak to the owner or his agent and will not get your money back for making "improvements" to the home. Can you just cover it with a rug and put ornaments on top ...?

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Electric Fireplace vs. Gel Fuel Fireplace?

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hh

I am thinking of putting a fireplace in my living room on an interior wall, just for looks and maybe a little extra heat in the winter. I dont know anyone who has either of these fireplaces so i was hoping for a little advice from someone with some experience in this area-- thanks for your help.

Answer
I don't agree with the previous comments.

I would suggest that you see the actual model of electric fireplace you are looking at. The downfall is that they don't look very real! Probably the most realistic is the dimplex multifire. Lennox has a nice one also that uses a dvd. Electric will give more heat, and be cheaper to operate. But make sure you see it first.

With the gel you are getting a REAL fire, which even the best electric can't compete with. The gel also crackles like a real fire. It will be more expensive to maintain. Cheaper gels do emit a slight odor. If you go with the gel I would recommend you use Sungel, it is the cleanest. You can even make it yourself, to reduce costs. They also make scented gels as well.
If you use it alot there will be some residual soot after a while, not a big deal.

If you use it on rare occasions, I would lean towards a gel, electric if you think it will get used more than twice a week.

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What is more cost efficient gas or electric fireplaces?

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MRS C B

Answer
Whoa, Whoa, whoa! Lets put some perspective to this answer shall we before we all jump on a bandwagon.

Your most efficient gas fireplace appliance will be a direct vent gas fireplace. they vent directly through the outside wall so it may or may not work with your current fireplace location. DO NOT go with gas logs for heat. vented gas logs are energy and fuel wasters and vent free gas logs effect your indoor air quality. Direct vent is the only way to go if efficiency is your key factor.

On electric...if you plugged your flue with a chimney balloon to prevent cold air infiltration and then put in a electric fireplace insert this is not a bad option. the electric inserts do a decent job putting out heat for relatively little KWH consumption.

Overall the direct vent will give you more heat efficiency for your dollar in use but it is going to be a couple thousand to have it put in. the electric fireplace option is maybe a couple of hundred and is a DIY project.

I have split level home and room tempeture is so different.....?

jpae0018

there's about 10 degrees difference down stair and upstair. my mother stays down stair and me and my husband stays upstair... espcially in summer time it's never cool enough upstair and frezzing cold down stair.... what can I do?
have celing fans in everyroom upstair... and closed the vent down stair...

Answer
I had this exact same problem. I have a downstairs fireplace with a wood stove insert I use for additional heating in the winter, to lessen my electric bill. I found the way to even things out was to use a whole house circulating fan. I installed it mainly for distributing heat in the winter but found it works for cool air in the summer. Mine was added after the fact and sits in the cold air return and is in addition to the fan in the bottom of my electric furnace. It runs all the time when I have to use heat, which is about 6-7 months out of the year. The heater vents upstairs are all only 20% to 40% open. The vents downstairs are fully open so most of the air flow is directed downstairs. The whole house fan equalizes the distribution of heat throughout the house by moving the air around all of the time instead of just when the furnace is on like the built-in fan does. It took me a while to balance out the air flow In a single level house, a couple of ceiling fans would do the same thing. In the summer, the only thing I change is to open the upstairs windows and the chimney dampers. You would be amazed how much air flow there is in an open chimney without a fire from a hot living room in the summer, especially after sundown when it gets cooler outside. It isn't perfect. There still is a difference between upstairs and downstairs, but it is much less than it was before I had the fan installed.

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lennox electric fireplace does not heat but has voltage.?

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Sherri

i replaced the element/motor and still no heat. fan motor does run and there is voltage across the wires to the element.
i replaced the thermo couple once, and it still didnt work. i replaced the entire unit and it came with a new thermocouple and still no heating. there is voltage across the thermocouple. i actually shorted across it to take it out of the loop and still could not get heat.

Answer
Is there a high temp limit switch in the line near the element? Is there voltage across that? If so, then the switch may be open and defective. It will look like a small cylinder connected to one end of the element and the other end connected to one of the line wires with probably a screw connection at the element and a slip connector on the line side. A true test would be to disconnect it and determine if it is open at room temp using your continuity check.

Any one out there ever buy an electric fireplace?

Atsa me At

for your home? Not an insert. Which did you buy? I would like to get one that has a large open face so I can see more of the flame..a no headache one...seems everything you buy anymore, if you don't know the correct questions to ask the sellers, they don't go out of their way to warn you of potential problems/hazards, well of course not they want to sell their items...thank you.

Answer
I wouldnt buy an electric if your looking for heat. They are stictly for looks. Sales guys will tell you "OH and it does 3000 or 5000 BTU" If you have a $30 space heater from Target that sits under your kitchen table, then you know how much heat that is. That will heat your bathroom after some time and thats it. All they put in them is a cheap little space heater. If your looking for something large to view Lennox makes the best one on the market but they charge for it. You will spend $2-3000 just for the fireplace and with 220v it will do 10,000BTU with 110v it just does 5000btu. But at that price I would just go for gas or wood, because you still have to purchase a full surround mantel. It def. looks the best out of all though because it doesnt use just standard lights. Other wise all the other brand are just cheap little boxes with lights in them with a 20 dollar space heater. Heat Surge claims to be Amish, but when purchased look on the back and you will see MADE IN CHINA, it's all chip board, Amish don't use chip board, so if the sticker is missing thats proof rite there.
I just recommend pick the one you think look the best, just don't plan on purchasing it for heat. And I would not leave the heater on for long times. Leaving just the fireplace on is just a 60W. bulb but with the heater at the same time you have about 1500w an hour

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whats cheapest to run gas fire or electic fire?

electric fireplace $99 image

tony

Answer
Gas fire is much cheaper to run than electric. Plus electric fireplaces do not get as hot as gas fireplaces do which, in turn, does not heat a room faster.. Gas fireplaces MAY require a little bit of maintenance (cleaning soot off the logs, the soot coming from burning natural gas) compared to no maintenance of electric (unless the heat element goes out). Gas logs sets usually start at $49.99 and can go as high as $599 ( I haven't seen anything higher, unless its a 40"+ log set ).

Go with gas. Its more decorative, heats faster, and costs less.

Questions about electrostatic air cleaners?

bakazionee

Electrostatic air cleaners, also called electrostatic precipitators, are used in many industries to help reduce air pollution. These cleaning devices are installed inside smokestacks to remove particles of dust, soot ash, and other polluting materials in smoke so that they donât reach the air we breathe. The cleaners work by using the forces of electric attraction and repulsion. The charged particles in smoke are attracted to collection plates that have the opposite electric charge. The particles remain on the plates instead of moving out into the air.

The particles that enter the smokestack are electrically neutral. What has to happen to them as they move upward and reach the collection plates? Why?

To collect the greatest number of particles, should the collection plates be spaced closer together or farther apart? Why?

Which of the following materials would you use to make the collection plates: aluminium, glass, plastic, wood, copper, or fibreglass? Why?

And finally, why do you think these devices are not usually used in the chimneys of home fireplaces and stoves that are used for heating and cooking?

Answer
You have a pretty good handle on the operation of electronic precipitators, except you missed one step. The smoke particles will pass by charging wires to change their natural charge to the opposite charge of the plates that are directly after the charging wires. This way the efficiency of the precipitator will usually come out to about 99% down to 0.3 microns.

The collection plates are placed so close together that once they build up with dust and particles that they start to snap or arc from one plate to the next. They are spaced closely to allow the maximum number of plates in the unit. The more plates, the more surface area for capturing particles.

Aluminum is usually used because of its conductivity to electrical charge and resistance to corrosion. It is also much cheaper than copper.

The downfall to electronic precipitators is maintenance. They must be cleaned regularly in order to be effective. As the plates gather dust, they lose surface area for gathering more particles. Most homeowners would not tolerate the constant (weekly) maintenance. As far as restaurants go, many of them use electrostatic precipitators for smoke control. More information on those units can be found at http://www.smoke-eaters-supply.com/commercial-smoke-eaters.html. Using electronic cells in a grease environment may cause a fire hazard, so you usually won't find them in cooking hoods. I hope this helps.

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Gas or electric fireplace?

electric fireplaces in canada image

Barrycudda

We have an older model Napoleon gas 'stove' fireplace. It fits into a recessed area in the basement wall, cut into the foundation. It is about 3 feet wide, two feet deep, and goes right up to the ceiling. Lots of room for this little fireplace and the pipe.
I want to chuck this as it never did work to well, I have replaced the ignitor twice, and the vent on the outside keeps getting covered in snow putting out the pilot light.
I was thinking about getting an electric one.
A couple questions.
Should I go with another gas one, or possibly pellet or electric?
I live in western Canada so it does get used a lot-not so much for heating, but for 'warmimg up'.
Also, there will be space above it. Would it be safe to put a TV up there? It would fit nicely and look good, and free up more floor space.
Or, is an electric one a safer bet?
Thanks for your thoughts!

Answer
I have the Pellet stove in my barn office. Really like it. Burns clean and provides
great heat. I use wood in the house. I have 4 fire places in the main house.
Burn Oak only. Keep the house well hydrated. Has never let me down.

No outrageous electric or fuel cost. 100 percent clean burn and efficiency.

I am sure hydrated is not the word I want here, But you get the point.
Must be walking down Alz and Heimer blvd.

Why do few homes have central heating in Britain? Or, is that a complete lie?

Dinah

I read in a travel guide that few home have central heating or 'forced air' ventilation in the UK. Maybe that is because people have fireplaces, space heaters, or something like that. Were the houses simply built that way, older homes?
I just knew it! That travel guide never mentioned the discrete radiators. British houses have heat, indeed.
I would imagine that heat from a boiler would add moisture the atmosphere in the home as well. This is good, especially in dry cold weather, helps the skin stay conditioned.

Answer
That travel guide is wrong, as so many travel guides are about so many things. Being British I've never heard of forced air ventilation, but central heating by means of storage heaters or hot water radiators is almost universal in the UK. It works well for us as houses are generally so much smaller.

Older homes were of course only built with fireplaces but almost all have been converted to a hot water radiator system fed from a central boiler. When I was younger we had a coal fire at home in the fireplace, later converted to a gas fire with a boiler behind it that fed the central heating system. You will also find in most British houses an immersion heater to heat hot water in one of the bedroom cupboards, known as the airing cupboard and a useful place for the final drying off of laundered clothes as it's relatively warm in there. Now I live in a recently built flat, I have an airing cupboard and electric storage heating as gas is now deemed to be dangerous in a block of flats.

The one thing you definitely won't find in British homes to any great extent is air conditioning. The climate being mild and temperate just about the whole year round, thanks to us being an island (sea all around us does a lot to moderate the climate) on the same latitude as the south of Canada, it would just be pointless.

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to save in oil, me and my parents are looking to buy an electric fireplace...?

electric fireplaces ct image

killaboi12

can someone tell me a good electric heater thats visually pleasing, energy efficient, and will basically save me money on oil withou being a pain to look at... i live in ridgefield CT

Answer
i favor the upright,oil filled,electric heaters.

'Discuss how technology has effected our lives?

khuram s

Answer
Travel:
Cars could make a cross country in days. Same with trains only you didn't have to drive.
Planes can make a cross country travel in hours.

Communications.
Word of Mouth to
The Printed Word to
Radio to
Television to the internet.

Private communication:
Word of Mouth To
Mail To
Telegrams To
Telephones To
Instant messages.

Health:
Shamans to
Doctors to
Specialists

Guesses to
X-rays to
CT Scans to
MRI's

Preparing Food
Eating it Raw to
Cooking over an open fire to
cooking in a fireplace to
Cooking on a wood burning stove to
cooking on a coal oil stove to
cooking on a gas stove to
cooking on an electric stove to
cooking in a microwave oven.

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Can you switch a gas home to an electric one?

electric fireplaces 240v image

TeraBytes

I am looking a homes to buy, but I want an all electric home, with electric heat, air, stove, ect. Most of the homes in my area run on gas. Is it possible to convert a most gas home into a home run by electric? If it is possible, what is the process and how much do you think the cost would be?
Thanks!

Answer
It is far easier and cheaper to convert a gas home to electric, than an electric home to gas.

Consider the major applicances you will need to switch, most which can be done without major contracting and investment:

Stove: Electric stove will cost you about $300-800 depending on the model you choose. If you do not have 230/240v power in the kitchen, it will cost you about $600 to have a liscenced contractor run this wire.

Water Heater: Cost of a new water heater will be $200-600 depending on model and capacity. Lower cost models will run on 120V, probably no need to rewire, or at most, $200 to run a 120/230v line in your garage or where the heater is.

Furnace: This is the biggie..........converting to electric from gas will probably run you $1000-2000 because of the complexity involved with where a furnace is, how much is involved.

Hope you will leave the fireplace as gas........electric ones dont look good!

Wiring an electric Fireplace for 240v.?

Renovater

After wiring my cct brkr for 240v I had to have a repairman come in to see why my fireplace did not produce heat. He found that with the 4 wire connection, recommended, I was getting 117v from red to white and 117v from black to white. The problem being is that I also only read 117 from black to red, where it was expected to read 230-240v. Checked the wiring for my dryer which is also 240v, 4 wire and it did read 240v from black to red. Why do I only get 117 when I should be getting 240v?
Thanks everyone. I have already checked all connections. Cct breaker was pretty straightforward. I have the red and black on the single throw, double pole cct brkr. White goes to the neutral bar, bare to the ground bar. Checked at cct breaker, 117 at each from cct brkr from black to white and red to white and both read 117v. Between the red and black it read 0v. I double checked the dryer cct brkr and it read over on my 200v scale leading me to believe it was reading 240v.

It all seems very straight forward but I am not getting the expected values. Connections have been secured. Cct brkr is new and should not pose a problem because it gives me my 117 from each pole. Why would I get 0v when the dryer reads 240v? Is that the only difference between the cct brkrs is the dpst switch? What can I look for next?

Answer
Justwondering and Duncan are right. If you are getting 117V to ground on both legs and 0V difference between them, both breakers are on the same side of the electric service. In a residential single phase service, there are two wires that come out of the transformer from the electric company plus a common ground. Each of those two wires come out of the transformer 180 degrees from the other on the sine curve that alternating current can be represented with. Inside of your electric panel, you'll see a metallic buss bar that the circuit breakers are clipped or bolted to. If you look closely (don't EVER touch this with your body or anything that conducts electricity), you'll see that there are in fact two buss bars. One of them is connected to incoming line 1 by a lug connected to the bar and the other is connected to incoming line 2. The problem that you're having is that both the black wire and the red wire from your fireplace are connected to the same incoming line. This is a common do-it-yourselfer mistake and is easily fixed.

First... are there any open spaces for breakers in your electric panel? If there are, all you have to do is buy a 2 pole circuit breaker of the same type as the original breakers that came with the house. Circuit breaker types are indicated by 2 or 3 letters marked on the circuit breaker. If this is a fairly new house, it will probably be a MP-T, QP, QO, or HOM type breaker. A 2 pole circuit breaker is completely different from a tandem circuit breaker. While they both have two separate handles, tandem circuit breakers are usually not connected at the handle and usually feed both circuits from the same incoming line on the electric meter. 2 pole circuit breakers, on the other hand, are connected so that they both get turned on and off at the same time. They also connect each individual handle to a different incoming line on the electric meter. Unless your electric panel is at least 40 years old and one of a few rare types, a 2 pole circuit breaker should be twice as wide as a regular single pole circuit breaker.

Now... if you don't have any open spaces for breakers in your electric panel, you'll have to put in some tandem breakers. Look at the two circuit breakers directly above the one that you installed for your fireplace. Hopefully, they're single pole circuit breakers that say 15 or 20 on them. Go to the store and buy either a 15/15, 15/20, or 20/20 tandem circuit breaker of the correct type. Connect the two circuits that you looked at earlier to the tandem breaker next to the appropriate rating. Install the tandem breaker into the space occupied by the top breaker of the two that you're working on and remove the bottom breaker that is now not connected to anything. BE VERY CAREFUL WHILE YOU ARE INSTALLING BREAKERS TO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING METAL WITH ANY PART OF YOUR BODY. Keep your fingers only on the plastic part of the circuit breaker and don't let your fingers or any rings or jewelry touch any metal part of the electric panel. You will now have an available open space and can proceed as described above. As always, do not attempt anything that you feel you are not qualified to safely do. An electrician or qualified handyman shouldn't cost more than about $150 to fix this problem for you, so call one if you're not sure.

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Can you put an electric fireplace insert in anywhere?

best electric fireplace entertainment center image

Meagan P

Im looking at getting an electric fireplace entertainment center for the living room since our base board electric heater is Broken for some reason and its going to cost $1500+ for an electrician to come fix it and wire it correctly or something, we just don't have that kind of money for a house we don't own. anyways, i cant seem to find any good looking fireplace entertainment centers that i like that are for a reasonable price, so i was wondering since we have a great entertainment center now, and it has 2 drawers in the center that could be taken out can I just put an electric insert in there? or is there certain Materials that the entertainment center needs to be made of or Clarence problems and such? i cant seem to find info on this kind of stuff anywhere.

Answer
Anywhere there's a plug. Be prepared for your heating bill. That is simply a space heater. They are not made to heat a room.

Major updating or a few new additional circuits?

Robert

I am thinking of giving my finished basement (~900 sq. ft) a face-lift, including new(additional) overhead lighting and additional electrical outlets. I am curious whether I will need updating on wiring, panel (or even service capacity), or whether I might be able to just add some new circuits to my existing panel. The current panel (1961) has 100 amp service , spaces for 14 single-switch circuits, with seven of them currently in use:
A)20amp: supplying washer/dryer (gas) and electric sump pump which operates simultaneously with washer.
B)20amp: supplying refridg. , gas stove/oven and microwave.
C)15amp: supplying 10 wall outlets (3 in basement) and 4 single bulb overhead lights(1 in basement)
D)30amp: supplying A/C (new as of 2002)
E)20 amp: supplying 4 wall outlets (kitchen)
F)15 amp: supplying gas furnace (1996)
G)15 amp: supplying a wall outlet, garage door opener, and 3 single bulb overhead lights and 2 overhead fan/lights
H)15 amp: supplying 7 wall outlets (2 in basement) and 3 single bulb overhead lights
(No, I didnât wire the house, it came this way)
Currently I make use of the existing basement outlets for a dehumidifier (summertime), entertainment center and modem/router/printer on (C) and (2)electric lamps and electric fireplace on (H). I am looking to add another 4-6 or so wall outlets in the basement( for things like lamps or computers), and 6-10 florescent lighting fixtures (48â, 4 bulb, drop ceiling tile size) which will replace at least a couple of existing overhead lights.
I have only limited wiring/electrical experience, but am trying to get a rough idea of I should expect from an electrician before I call one to the house, i.e. I donât want to be âtakenâ or electrocuted. Any help/advice would be appreciated. Derogatory comments regarding my naiveteâ are welcome as well, just be kind enough to accompany it(them) by some useful/helpful info. Thanks.

Answer
it would be a good time to update your system it has some errors that i see such as: refidg. should have its own 20 amp dedicated circuit nothing else on it,the washer sould have its own while your current pannel could still be used and even the fridge and washer could be seperated and still have two open spaces left over in your pannel but consider the age 1961 thats 48 yrs old most electrical systems are 20-30 year life expectancy and now theres gfci (ground fault circuit interupter) and the recent requirement; arc fault protection in bed rooms that will probaly be required for all rooms eventually.theses are safety systems that protect you from electrocution (gfci) and fires (arc fault) in addition to grounded outlets which your system may or may not currently have.legally at least in maine you can wire your own house. but ask yourself this question: is my familly's safety important enough to me to have it professionally done? hope this helps you

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