Friday, September 30, 2011

Choosing the right heater for the application.

By Elmer Cervantes


When selecting a portable heating unit to buy it's important to consider all the available options, and the application you are purchasing one for.

Some applications require a very specific heater.

The right method is:-

1. Work out the volume of the area being heated in cubic metres.

2. Choose a 'K' or insluation value for the area - 1 = well insulated house, 4 = poorly insulated marquee or building site.

3. Make a choice as to the temperature rise you are looking to achieve in degrees C. So if you wanted it at 25 degrees, and you thought the coldest ambient temperature you expect to work from was 5 degrees C, you would have to use 20 degrees as the temperature rise figure.

4. Calculate the heating power needed from the information you have gathered using this equation:- (Volume in Cubic Metres) x Temp Rise in C x 4 x Insulation Value (K) = BTU/Hr needed.

5. If you need the output in kW divide the answer by 3412.

When you have the heat energy needed, you have a start, but you still need to choose the right type of heater for the job in hand. There are many factors to consider.

Firstly, if the power required is less than 10,000 BTU or 3kW then a 3kW Electric Fan heater is easily the most sensible choice. The problem you have is if the needed heat is much more than this - adding multiple heaters can take too much power.

You probably only have a 60A ring main at the most, so if you need 5 x 3kW heaters at 13A each, you will be tripping breakers and blowing fuses - pulling 65A!

When the supply is 110v rather than 230v you need a 32A socket per heater. These pull over 20A for every heater.

When you are using a 230v supply, you are limited to 13A per domestic UK plug socket. This equates to 3kW, more and the fuse will blow every time.

The next option is for 3 Phase Electric Fan Heaters. If you need a 9kW heater then a 16A 3 Phase socket can deliver the required heat. If you need up to 22kW you will need a 32A socket. Over 22kW requires a 63A, 3 Phase Socket.

If you don't have three phase electrics, then you really need to consider burning a fuel. The options are really gas or oil. There are various subdivisions in between these, propane, butane, diesel, kerosene - but we'll treat them as two seperate choices.

Cheap to buy, low maintenence heaters are the advantage of gas, expensive and occasionally difficult to acquire gas bottles are the main problem with them. There are many applications where gas is not suitable, if there are any flammables, such as paper, card or fuels then they will be deemed too dangerous. If there are people working in the area then the fumes have to be taken into account and you have to make sure the area is well ventilated. It's also worth remembering that the moisture given off will make any area very humid - so they are not good for drying.

With Diesel the advantage is fuel is cheap and you can always buy road diesel in an emergency if Kerosene or Heating oil are not available. The other advantage is that there are indirect versions available which can either duct warm, dry, clean air in or can be fitted with a chimney to flue the fumes and moisture out.

The disadvantage of diesel heaters is that they need regular servicing and can cost a lot to purchase. There are some heaters which are tricky to get parts for.

Lastly - there are infra-red heaters. These are perfect if you want to warm up one thing or one person in a large open area. Fan heaters won't work well in an open area if it is too big for the heaters - this is no problem for infra red.

What I'm asking you do to do is to look at all the options, consider the drawbacks and the advantages and to make an informed choice. Every heater has a right application, and every application has a right heater - to make sure you buy the right heater for your application - you need to approach it with some knowledge and some thought.




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Saturday, September 24, 2011

Stay Warm With Home Heating Furnaces

By Ben Garza


Winters would be unbearable were it not for the conveniences of home heating furnaces. Most residences use either natural gas or electricity to warm up the interiors of houses. Heat from natural gas sources is produced through burning of the fuel. The warmed air flows through the vents and immediately replaces the cold air.

Natural gas should be used with care when heating up houses because it can produce powerful carbon monoxide gases that are virtually undetectable, thus causing poisoning. Electric heating is the best method as it is clean with no harmful residue but it can be very costly.

Clearing up a vent in the house by using furnace filters ensures that the heated air is clean and not being blocked by any materials in the ducts. Furnace filters can save a resident money since a clean system is much more efficient and less costly to operate.

Most furnaces are operated through a thermostat. This tool can be set so that if a room is set at a certain temperature, the thermostat will heat up or cool if it falls below or above the set temperature. Digital thermostats make it very easy to customize the desired temperatures.

Some electric heaters that use real wood to warm up an indoor area are very trendy. These may be found at major home improvement stores. All one has to do is plug these onto the wall outlet then wood is heated up electrically and it produces heat. Since it is a movable heater, it can be used to heat certain areas of the home that are in use instead of using natural and electric power to heat up the whole house.

Home heater furnaces have come a long way from the good old days of starting up a bonfire to warm up. They make it possible for occupants to stay indoors in comfort and enjoy life without regard to the outside weather.




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Friday, September 23, 2011

Using Geothermal Home Heating In Your Home

By Jack Lanford


In parts of the world where volcanic activity is occurring near the surface of the earth, pipes can be drilled down to capture the heat that is being produced from this activity. Using geothermal home heating is increasing in popularity around the world where the climates are as varied as the weather during the day.

These people who live where steam rises frequently through cracks and fissures developed a piping system to utilize the heat. Many towns and cities of various sizes now use municipal systems to transfer this energy into buildings and houses to keep them warm during the cold months. This has greatly reduced their reliance on fossil fuels.

Just about everywhere you go throughout the world, by digging ten feet or more down into the ground, you will find that the earth maintains a temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows just about everybody to tap into this reoccurring resource to heat their house when it is cold outside.

A set of pipes are laid in the ground that carries water. The water absorbs the heat from the earth and goes back up to a heat exchanger. There are refrigerants in the heat exchanger that collect the energy and send it to a compressor. The water will circulate back down below ground.

The compressor raises the temperature of the refrigerant. A pump sends this material to an air exchanger that has a blower. The blower then sends the air out into the house to warm the air.

Geothermal energy is a way to address the needs that we most commonly use nonrenewable power sources for. The pressure on natural resources has grown dramatically as population increases have occurred. Finding alternative ways to achieve the same results helps the planet to survive.




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Thursday, September 22, 2011

Heating Options For Your Garage

By Richard Hollins


You may like to work in your garage during the winter and if so then a garage heater might be something you are interested in; if so then knowing that there are two ways to heat a room could be helpful to you. Convection heating happens when warm air is circulated in a room while radiant heating uses heat that radiates from a source material.

You will probably already be using convection heating in your home but you are not advised to extend this heating into your garage. This is because there is the risk of carbon monoxide, car exhaust and other dangerous material entering your home through the duct.

If your garage doesn't require a lot of ventilation then you would be better having convection heating. Radiation heating does warm you quickly; however you have to be near the heat source or in its heat path to reap its benefits.

The following are some of the heating options that you can choose from.

- Electric heaters are the easiest to install as they do not require venting, and all houses have electricity. Despite the fact that the price of these heaters is lower than other types of heater, the cost to run them is higher.

- Many people use natural gas in the home and as such a natural gas heater is then a good option for the garage. These heaters will cost more to buy but are cheaper to run. However these heaters have to be placed near an exterior wall for easy venting of exhaust to the outside.

- You could also go for a propane heater as they are powered by portable propane tanks and are another low cost option. It is essential however, that you place these heaters near and exterior wall for ventilation as they produce carbon monoxide, soot and moisture when the propane burns.

- A wood burning heater is good if you are planning to spend the day in the garage as they generate heat for quite a long time.




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Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Finding Good Home Heating Options

By Jim French


Searching for good home heating options is something you want to get done before you ever have to wonder how cold it's going to get outside. This process should happen when everyone is comfortable so that you can get the most out of your home and not be freezing when the furnace installation is happening.

Most homes have a central air system, but that does not mean that the air is distributed evenly throughout the house. So, there must be ways to make sure that every room in the house is getting some air so that you are not moving around trying to stay warm.

Fireplaces are a wonderful option, but they are not always going to be efficient. You could use the logs that you have in there and simply light them, but you might have an easier time with gas logs. They are fuel efficient, burn clean, and they heat rather well.

You might also have halls and doors that are blocking the air from moving where it is supposed to go. There could be instances where you need to leave doors open, move things out of the hallway, or get an adjustment to your vents done so the air flows properly.

For a new furnace or repairs, you could call in a professional who will be able to work out the kinks and give you advice on what work you really need to do in your house. Sometimes, it might be easier just to get a new unit, and other times you can get by with just a repair.

Making sure the house is always warm shouldn't be a problem if you are checking out all your options and making sure that you are prepared to call a professional if need be. The best option is to have this done before cold weather arrives.




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Saturday, September 17, 2011

Selecting The Best Heating And Air Conditioning System

By Misty Stogsdill


Home climate control is only made possible and regulated through the use of specific climate control systems. The systems that offer climate control serve an integral function of providing the warm and cool temperatures needed for the indoor climate of the home throughout various portions of the year. People dealing with this issue should be versed in selecting the right heating and air conditioning unit to ensure they make an effective purchasing decision.

A large percentage of homes today rely upon larger and more centralized sources of air distribution for climate control purposes. This HVAC system is comprised of a large compressor that is capable of distributing cooler and warmer air throughout a series of ducts and vents that are located within each room. This system is known to be a large investment decision to make as needed.

Any consumer interested in this specific technology finds that there are an incredible number of options to consider when making this purchase. These are all very complicated to sort through when attempting to make a great choice for the home. Consumers that keep a few factors in mind are able to ensure they make an effective decision for their home.

The capacity of the unit in relation to square footage is always an essential component of this process. The capacity required for the home is usually based upon square footage and ensures the unit is able to effectively cool the home. There are specific charts and graphics on the actual unit that help determine what capacity is actually noticed on the unit.

Energy efficiency has now become a key focus when making this purchasing decision. Energy efficiency should also be factored into this buying process. Systems used for climate control are very expensive to operate throughout the year which causes energy bills to skyrocket in many cases. Ensure the unit bought is as energy efficient as possible.

A comprehensive and affordable maintenance package should be included with the purchase of this system. This is a very expensive technology to keep in great running condition throughout the ownership process. Manufacturers commonly offer maintenance and service packages which should be looked for when making this purchase.

Selecting a great heating and air conditioning system should include ensuring the cost of installation is kept as low as possible. Having this system installed upon purchase is often very difficult to have performed and lengthy in time frame to complete which makes the overall cost of the process incredibly expensive. Keeping installation costs low helps ensure the entire purchasing cost is as reduced as possible.




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Saturday, September 10, 2011

Making Under-floor Heating Systems Sustainable

By Joe O Dea


When contemplating underfloor home heating individual room control is as essential as the source of energy supplying the heat. As rooms face in different directions solar gain may possibly have a dramatic effect on the heat load of the room. Rooms with windows facing sunlight will heat faster when the sun is out and frequently additionally cool down a lot more rapidly when the sun is blocked off. This is why each room ought to have its own room sensor which need to incorporate predictive learning to take advantage of changing conditions. Room sensors with predictive understanding may reduce the operating cost by a minimum of 20% in comparison to regular thermostats.

This is also on account of the ability of the intelligent sensor to predict the actual time to allow the heat in to the floor screed so the room temperature is reached at specifically the expected time. This learning also dictates the correct time to quit heat entering the floor to allow heat already in the floor screed enter the room right up to the necessary heat off time. This prevents heat being produced for the space after the required off time which has no benefit to the occupier and can quickly lead to increased energy cost by 10%. The process of optimizing on the start and stop time has been examined in numerous studies, show there is a enormous gain in by using technologies also to improve comfort as well reduce running cost.

Choosing the correct control method is based on indicating the following (i) independent room control such as bathrooms and ensuite, (ii) automated optimisation on all heating areas, (iii) predictive learning on each room sensor, (iiv) independent weekly time schedule for each room (set up rooms based on weekly use pattern), (iv) weather compensation on the flow to the heating only, (v) priority hot water generation at max flow temperature. These couple of basic requirements will insure your control solution has the capability to supply greater comfort with lower operating price

It can be vital to insist your underfloor heating system is created to British Standard or German DIN Regular. This will guarantee performance and fit for purpose. The lower the design flow temperature the lower the running cost of the underfloor heating system. The design flow temperature is generally fixed at 35c this indicates when outside temperatures are at 0c a flow temperature of 35c will deliver a room temperature of 20c.

Systems designed at a higher flow temperature are significantly less expensive to set up nonetheless they are also much more pricey to use, especially when employing a heat pump. It is always advisable to demand a duplicate of the underfloor heating design before any pipes are fitted and identify the regular to which it complies. A lot of systems installed without having a design cannot deliver temperatureand result in very higher operating expenses.




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Heating repair , Cheap electric heater , Gas water heater , Home gas heaters , Bathroom heater 2012

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